Meeting about Quarry Application Sunday 24 Feb 2008 10.45 am

Dear All
I'm writing to let you know about a meeting I have just found out about. I'm sorry if you receive this too late to attend, but I'm hoping some of you may be able to go.The meeting is to be held at the old washery (concrete pork pie !), on the old road between Crumlin and Pontypool (just off the A472). Don Touhig, MP for Islwyn will be there, so we need to have as many people there as possible. This meeting point will be very close to where the 100 lorries a day would meet this already congested road.
You may remember that Torfaen asked Peakman, the developer, for a lot more information back in December 2006, based on an independent aggregate consultant's report they commissioned which questioned the quality of the stone, and therefore the financial soundness of the stated intention to quarry. Well Peakman have finally submitted this information and the results of the 100 tonne rock sample they took last year back to Torfaen. This means that they are obviously pushing on with their application, so we need to step up the campaign again.

Notes on how to object to the planning application

Objections to a planning application must be made on planning grounds – not on the perceived impact of a development. The most significant grounds you can use to object to this development are:

Leisure amenity
Biodiversity
Ancient woodland

Leisure amenity
You can object to the development on the grounds that the canyon is an informal leisure amenity, used by people for walks, cycling and dog walking. Let torfaen know what you use the area for and how often, otherwise it may all soon be gone !

Biodiversity. The site encompasses a wetlands, pond, cliffs, grassland, woodland and heath. This is a very broad range of habitats which will be disrupted or, in the case of the wetlands, pond and current cliffs, completely destroyed.
Sightings in the area of Hen Harriers – a species classed as red (high) conservation priority by the RSPB.

Ancient woodland There are 3 ancient or ancient replanted woodlands in the areas: Map Ref:
ST253999 Classified by the Woodland Trust as Ancient semi-natural woodland (2.82 hectares)
SO252007 Classified by the Woodland Trust as Ancient semi-natural woodland (9.05 hectares)
SO249011 Classified by the Woodland Trust as Ancient replanted woodland (0.45 hectares)

It would appear that the new service road will pass directly through ST253999 and affect one other area of new woodland.

Planning Policy Wales is a Welsh Assembly document that gives overarching planning policy. Paragraph 5.2.8 states:
“ancient and semi-natural woodlands are irreplaceable habitats of high biodiversity value which should be protected from development that would result in significant damage.”

It also states: “local planning authorities should seek to protect trees, groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have natural heritage value or contribute to the character or amenity of a particular locality.”

http://www.planning-aid-wales.org/whatispaw/index.asp

Biodiversity is covered in the environmental statement that accompanied the application, but you may wish to raise some questions regarding this or suggest a fuller survey needs to be undertaken because some areas of the canyon were inaccessible. There is some anecdotal evidence from residents of Red Kites and some sightings of Hen Harries have been made in the area.

Email Template Please read and adjust before sending off to torfaen planning
to Duncan.Smith@Torfaen.gov.uk (planning department)
cc stopthequarry@illtyd.co.uk
subject Quarry Application 03/P/09336
Dear Torfaen Planning
Could you register my objection to the proposed development at Tirpentwys, Hafodrynys, Pontypool, Torfaen please 03/P/09336
Please delete, add and adjust the list below as necessary.
I regularly Walk/ Cycle/ Dog Exercise /horse ride /picnic / hunt /camp /golf /explore /bird watch /nature watch on the mountain and in the canyon
The noise, pollution and disturbance from the lorries would ruin this
The road widening and new roads, traffic lights and gates on the common would spoil this
The new road through the woods would spoil this
I remember / have been told about how much dust and noise is generated when the mountain is moved and put into lorries let alone rock crushed, this would destroy my enjoyment of my home/ garden/ allotment and cost me extra time and money in dust cleaning
The planning application says that one of the first areas to be destroyed by dumping earth that cannot be sold would be the lake, I think the lake should be protected and kept for future generations to enjoy
If this development were to go ahead the wildlife including birds of prey, small mammals, aquatic life and lichen would have nowhere similar to live, even if they weren't destroyed by the crusher, the noise or the dust or diggers
Type your Name here
Type your full address here including postcode

Route down onto A472 though Ancient Woodland

The meeting held at the Soffryd Community Centre on Tuesday August 8th 2006 at 20.15 was very well attended. Thankyou very much.

Foxgloves in the Canyon

Can you see the bee ?

Please write to Torfaen, your MP, your AM, your newspaper, anyone to save all this ..

Canyon in the Snow

There must be somewhere less beautiful to quarry

Photos

Basic Information

HELP SAVE BLAENCUFFIN “CANYON” !

On the road between St. Illtyd and Pantygasseg/Hafodrynys
see
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=51.7026&lon=-3.1012&scale=25000&icon=x

A planning application has been resubmitted to Torfaen County Borough Council by Peakman Ltd, they want to sell aggregate from the Torfaen end of the “Canyon” left by the open cast mining. The rock will be processed by three huge crushing and screening machines, and operations will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. 100 lorries per day will leave the site and travel across Mynydd Llanhilleth to near Pantygasseg Old School where a new road will be built to join the Hafodrynys Road. The work is estimated to take at least 20 years to complete then the site will be “landscaped”, our heritage wiped out. Only 12 new jobs will be created. Even worse, the applicants say that if successful, they will apply to do further work in the western Blaenau Gwent end of the site.

If it goes ahead, this application will have a huge impact on this peaceful and beautiful mountain. If you do not want the Canyon destroyed or if you do not want more opencast type disruption, then you MUST write to the address below explaining why you do not want the application to be granted.

Points to consider in your letters include:

· What will the impact on the landscape be? The Canyon and surrounding forestry can be seen for miles. The application contains no artists impressions of what the site will look like during or after the work.

· How will it affect footpaths and bridleways? Several public rights of way run through the site.

· What will be the impact on wildlife? The site currently has a variety of woodland, wetland and heathland habitats, and Gwent Wildlife Trust have said that the cliff faces are potential breeding sites for Peregrine. The canyon is unique, I know of nowhere else like it.

· How will vehicle movement affect the area? Surely the road between Crumlin and Pontypool is congested enough !

· What will happen after the 20 year period is up? Could further development take place? What happens if the company run out of money before the restoration is completed?

· What will the noise pollution, light pollution, water pollution and dust be like? The site and surrounding mountain are very peaceful and are well used by walkers, cyclists, horseriders etc.

· Are we certain that there is a need and demand for the materials that can’t be met elsewhere?

Please send your letters as soon as possible to:
Neil Boardman
Planning Officer
Torfaen County Borough Council
County Hall
Cwmbran
NP44 2WN

Quote:-

Re: 03/P/09336 –Recovery of secondary aggregates, Tirpentwys, Hafodrynys, Pontypool, Torfaen


Moss and Lichen Pictures