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South Wales Argus
23-06-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Monmouthshire Council considers sports and play facilities
Monmouthshire County Council has produced an action plan and assessment of playgrounds, parks and public areas known as a 'play sufficiency assessment' to give an overview of opportunities to play outdoors. The council also has £182,619 available this financial year, from a £5 million funding pot agreed between the Welsh Government and local authorities, to improve the quality of play spaces, refurbish playgrounds and support the creation of accessible play spaces and opportunities for children. How the funding is spent in Monmouthshire is due to be determined by the council's Labour-led cabinet while members of the people scrutiny committee discussed the play report at their June meeting. Llanelly Hill independent Simon Howarth said more sporting facilities are needed in the north of the county such as a 'three G, four G or whatever five G pitch'. He said: 'In the winter a lot of children can't do sport and do not have the facilities up here. 'It's virtually impossible in this part of the county. Hockey, football, rugby you name any sport in the winter, in rural locations, it becomes virtually impossible.' Cllr Howarth said he was also concerned some children prefer to 'go up to their bedroom and go on the telephone or computer' but said that is expensive and not all are able to afford such items. READ MORE: ALN sessions at Newport splash park face offensive comments Conservative councillor for Goytre, Jan Butler, asked if the council's play service could run some play sessions in its park, which has been revamped with funding from the community council. Cllr Butler said when the park was upgraded, using money as a result of a housing development, the local council had also been mindful to include older children which she called in the 'awkward' ages of 10 through to 12. She said: 'A survey was done and it showed we were missing out on the 10-12 age group, the equipment we've got in now is suitable and they've come back in.' Play manager Becky Hall said holiday activity days are dependent on funding, with staffing a significant cost, but said she could contact the council in Goytre for further discussion. It was also noted the quality of play areas are about more than equipment and could also include access to nature and open space with accessibility also an important factor.
South Wales Argus
08-06-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Great Wall of Clydach steel fence to be removed says council
The 2.1 metre, or six foot, tall steel fence appeared suddenly and without warning across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the UNESCO Blaenavon World Heritage site in April. Locals dubbed the 200m long galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes as the 'Great Wall of Clydach' and demanded its removal. Monmouthshire County Council, which said it had to take action to stop people accessing Pwll Du Road that runs across the face of the mountain and has been closed to traffic on safety grounds for the past five years, has now agreed to replace it. An arrow pointing towards the line of the fence along the mountainside. The council has said it will use stock fencing instead and the posts at either end of the road, supporting the fence, will be reduced in height. It will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Independent county councillor for Llanelly Hill, Simon Howarth, said he was pleased with the outcome but critical of the council's actions and costs involved. He said at a recent meeting held at Clydach Village Hall the council said it will be going out to tender to remove the fence but costs would be in the region of £20,000. At a public meeting held in April the council confirmed the bill for putting up the fence was £40,000. Cllr Howarth said: 'The fence is coming down. They did say they are going out to tender and the cost is around £20,000, which hasn't gone done very well. We shouldn't have got here.' The fence line running through the middle of the road will be removed and replaced with 1.5m high stock fence while existing posts and embedded gates at either end, that aren't visible and prevent access for vehicles, will be retained. Cllr Howarth added: 'Overall we are where we should have started but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off.' The councillor said he was also pleased the council has said it will allow access to the backside of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians though some points still have to be made safe. A close up of the fence that has been out across the Pwll Du Road on Gilwern Mountain. He also said the council will hold talks with farmers and commoners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road, which he welcomed. A council spokesman said: 'Following a positive meeting, the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape.' The council had said previous measures to keep vehicles off the road including gates and boulders had failed as they had been damaged or removed while a rockfall in 2023 had prompted it to commission a further report which has suggested the road should be closed to people, as well as vehicles. That also outlined alternatives including new footpaths over the top of the mountain, and below the existing road, and rebuilding the road but moving the carriageway further back into the mountain which the council had said would cost millions of pounds.
Wales Online
04-06-2025
- General
- Wales Online
200m steel fence blocking beauty spot view to be removed after public outcry
200m steel fence blocking beauty spot view to be removed after public outcry The 2.1m-tall steel fence appeared suddenly and without warning across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the Unesco Blaenavon World Heritage site in April The fence that has been out across the Pwll Du Road on Gilwern Mountain, north Monmouthshire (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A massive fence erected without consultation across a mountain and overlooking a scenic spot is set to be dismantled following public outrage. Residents were angered when the 6ft steel barrier was unexpectedly installed across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and near the boundary of the Unesco Blaenavon World Heritage site in April. Locals dubbed the 200m long galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes the Great Wall of Clydach and demanded its removal sparking a planning dispute. Monmouthshire County Council, which argued it had to intervene to prevent people from accessing Pwll Du Road that runs across the face of the mountain and has been closed to traffic due to safety concerns for the past five years, has now agreed to take the gate down. The council has announced it will instead use stock fencing and the posts at either end of the road, supporting the fence, will be reduced in height. It will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Farmer Wayne Elliot has been battling Monmouthshire council over the road, that is now fenced off, since 2020 (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Independent county councillor for Llanelly Hill Simon Howarth said during a recent assembly at Clydach village hall council authorities announced a plan to tender the dismantling of an unpopular fence for approximately £20,000 – a figure that has unsettled many residents. Article continues below The councillor said: "The fence is coming down. They did say they are going out to tender and the cost is around £20,000, which hasn't gone down very well. We shouldn't have got here." Following the uproar over the original £40,000 expense to erect the barrier it will now be replaced by a less obtrusive 1.5m-high stock fence while the current posts and concealed gates that bar vehicle access will remain in place. Cllr Howarth expressed frustrations about the financial impact, saying: "Overall we are where we should have started but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off." The 2.1m-tall steel fence overlooks the village of Clydach in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) The councillor said he was also pleased the council has said it will allow access to the back side of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians though some points still have to be made safe. He also said the council will hold talks with farmers and commoners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road, which he welcomed. Article continues below A council spokesman said: "Following a positive meeting the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape." Earlier safety measures, such as installing gates and boulders, had been ineffective since they were frequently damaged or removed. As a result of a 2023 rockfall incident the council commissioned another report, which proposed banning pedestrians in addition to vehicles from using the road. That report also suggested potential alternatives including the creation of new footpaths above and below the current road and realigning the road farther into the mountain. However the council has said these alternatives would require a multi-million-pound outlay.
BBC News
30-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'Disgusting' mountainside fence to be removed after backlash
A huge fence put up across a mountain and overlooking a beauty spot is to be removed after a public 2.1m (6ft) tall steel fence - dubbed the "Great Wall of Clydach" by villagers - was erected without notice last month, along the Monmouthshire village's Pwll Du Road, spanning 200m (652ft).It sits across the face of Gilwern mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and close to the boundary of the UNESCO Blaenavon World Heritage claimed the galvanised steel structure with sharp spikes was "disgusting" and demanded its removal. Monmouthshire County Council, which said it had to take action to stop people accessing the road - which has been closed to traffic on safety grounds for the past five years - has now agreed to replace it, according to the Local Democracy Reporting council has said it will use stock fencing instead and the posts at either end of the road, supporting the fence, will be reduced in will also be painted to blend in with the surrounding countryside. Simon Howarth, independent councillor for Llanelly Hill, said he was pleased with the outcome, but was critical of the council's actions and costs involved, saying "we shouldn't have got here".He said, at a recent meeting held at Clydach Village Hall, the council said it would be going out to tender to remove the fence, but costs would be in the region of £20, a public meeting held in April, the council confirmed the bill for putting up the fence was £40, said: "Overall we are where we should have started, but around £50,000 to £70,000 worse off."The councillor said he was also pleased the council intended to allow access to the backside of the fence, between it and the mountainside, for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as holding talks with farmers and landowners over access for moving stock from the Keeper's Pond end of the mountain road. A council spokesman said: "Following a positive meeting, the local community and the council agreed with the proposal to reduce the height of the back line of the palisade fencing, replacing it with stock proof fencing and painting the reveals and pillars with a suitable colour to blend in with the landscape."The council had said its previous measures to keep vehicles off the road, including gates and boulders, had failed as they had been damaged or removed, while a rockfall in 2023 had prompted it to commission a further report which suggested the road should be closed to people, as well as report outlined alternatives including new footpaths over the top of the mountain and below the existing road, or rebuilding the road but moving the carriageway further back into the mountain, which the council had said would cost millions of Wayne Elliot, who was involved in court action that ruled the council was responsible for the road, previously said he had been battling with the authority since 2020 to get it moved back, claiming "the farmers would help do it, they'd get it done in a week".But a council spokesperson shut down this suggestion, saying it was "not going to happen".
South Wales Argus
28-04-2025
- General
- South Wales Argus
Meeting arranged in May to discuss giant Clydach steel fence
Villagers in Clydach faced councillors and officials in a heated meeting before Easter to demand answers over how the 200 metre long fence, that is intended to prevent access to an unstable road, was put up across a mountain overlooking their village in the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Monmouthshire County Council apologised for a lack of communication before putting the fence up in early April which it described as a temporary, nine month, solution and agreed it could pull it down earlier if an alternative could be found. They also said they could consider reducing its height and painting it a darker colour. Council chiefs insisted action was required to prevent people accessing Pwll Du Road, on Gilwern Mountain, which has been subject to a temporary closure for the past five years due to rockfalls putting it at risk of collapse. Councillor Simon Howarth, who represents Llanelly Hill, including Clydach, said an overwhelming majority of local residents want the fence removed and do not think it would have been allowed in other locations. An arrow pointing to the line of the fence along the mountainside. 'Ninety-nine point nine per cent want the fence removing,' claimed Cllr Howarth: 'If the scenario was on Pen y Fan, Sugar Loaf, Bloarange ,Skenfrith or the Black Mountains would they have considered putting up a palisade fence 250m in length? Off course they wouldn't. 'It's ghastly and it is out of keeping and a total abuse of the countryside. It's something you would put in a town or city in an industrial estate.' Cllr Howarth also described the sharp, pointed fencing as in 'totally bad taste' while at the recent public meeting residents raised concerns it could pose a danger to wildlife including peregrine falcons that nest in the former quarry on the mountain. The next meeting, where council officials will update members of the public on the proposals, will be held at Clydach Village Hall on Monday, May 19 at 6.30pm. It was originally proposed to hold the meeting on May 14.
