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
5 comments:
Well done, as a daily walker with my dog of the Canyons, I am fully behind you on stopping the quarry.
I have already sent in a letter opposing planning application, and a 300+ signed petition from Llanhilleth. Special thanks to Sue Dennis, Sarah Smith and Rebecca Smith in helping me with the petition.
If I can be of any other assistance please contact me on the following e-mail address: smicker1962@btinternet.com
Regards
Chris Smith
Well done, as a daily walker with my dog of the Canyons, I am fully behind you on stopping the quarry.
I have already sent in a letter opposing planning application, and a 300+ signed petition from Llanhilleth. Special thanks to Sue Dennis, Sarah Smith and Rebecca Smith in helping me with the petition.
If I can be of any other assistance please contact me on the following e-mail address: smicker1962@btinternet.com
Regards
Chris Smith
Yes I also walk the mountain road near the canyons regularly. I have great memories of wandering the moors as a child and would hate to see this destroyed by heavy industrial quarrying. We have had enough of this in the past.
I have e-mailed the planning department as you suggested. I remember the open-cast mining in the sixties and am appalled that the peace and tranquility of the mountain are threatened once more.
I'm an aber boy, the moors and hills up on Coity were my playground, even tho I left aber 40 odd years ago I still come back every year as my family(at least the dead ones) are buried both in brynithel cem and St Iltyd's graveyard. I planted daffodils and peonies over my parents and we come to see them flourish.
I remember the farmer who sold the coal to the ncb, I used to visit him on the farm he bought with the proceeds to breed herefords, he couldn't escape the fact he was a mountain man. In my youth I used to hunt the foxes and rabbits that abounded there, later I used to wander with my girl friend( in the summer at any rate) seeking the privacy that we craved.
You don't need another opencast there, particularly as it's for someone else's benefit, it's a wondrous place, even the rubbish that has built up tells a story.
Don't let it happen.
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