Holding Local Authorities To Account Can Be A Painful Business
Sent to the community engagement officer for Hefin David MS in response to the response from Caerphilly County Borough Council to my complaint regarding the appalling dumping of rubbish and lack of footpath maintenance in CCBC. The original complaint follows this response.
Once again CCBC add insult to injury! The response is simply not good enough, with no effort made to understand the major shortfallings of the authority in all things footpaths, outdoors and safety. Indeed, in at least one respect, the officer has misled you in his response.
In my capacity as a founding member of European Trails I am once again shocked by CCBC's response.
It is disgraceful for any authority to state 'The promoted walks / routes throughout the county have all temporarily ceased promotion subject to a complete review' with no timeline for the reviews completion and with no maintenance of existing highlighted routes being undertaken.
The officer then states
'To be able to deal with issues such as obstructions (missing or derelict furniture (stiles / gates etc.), missing signs / waymarks etc.), we would appreciate specific location details'
this said with no reference to my detailed submission of descriptions of locations found on one day long walk. I detailed multiple missing styles and no signage and blocked paths. I supplied a GPS route map recorded as we hiked giving our precise route. To make things easier for CCBC I have attached a map marking the points I described.
I have reported concerns of works being undertaken that could be damaging a protected area. For CCBC to get back and say 'not my job' is simply not good enough. Concerned members of the public do not know where to go with such complaints and when a complaint is made to them I expect them to investigate and pass on to their contacts within the relevant authorities.
'In regard to the issues on LANB/FP46/2, we are aware of access issues, and these will be tackled in due course. Your constituents’ details (name only, as we do not have contact details) have been added to our records for the issue for completeness (ref. CAMS01882).'
I have no idea what this represents and how it relates to my complaint. This again is another issue when dealing with CCBC and wastes so much time. The officer should have made this response available in language that I and other members of the public can understand.,
The officer then says
'Public Rights of Way require regular, frequent use and periodic maintenance, otherwise nature will reclaim them. We do not have capacity to survey the entire network, and therefore cannot act proactively. We therefore react to reports where issues have been encountered. The paths which are public rights of way are not ‘missing’ as they are recorded on the Definitive Map and Statement, but we understand your constituent’s position that they are inconvenient to use at best, and impossible to navigate or negotiate in the worst case scenario. Mr Lamb’s position and business is well placed to provide us with on-the-ground information, and we look forward to working with him in making the necessary improvements.'
But this is NOT true!
On the 27th December, I contacted my local councillor, Councillor Simmonds, informing him of the poor and dangerous state of footpaths above Pontywaun. I've chased this matter on numerous occasions and despite Councillor Simmonds stating that he had passed the matter on to the relevant department and assuring me that someone would be in touch with me no contact has been made from CCBC. Within a couple of months the paths in question, due to bramble growth, will once again be unwalkable. I have no faith that the footpath team have been to visit any of the areas highlighted by my most recent complaint and it seems they are not able or do not care to investigate the footpaths above Pontywaun.
This statement by the officer is wholly unacceptable:
'With regard to the point raised regarding large amounts of waste deposited, Enforcement Officers have investigated but to date they have not found any evidence to confirm who is responsible. This investigation has included the installation of cameras in the area but these were unfortunately stolen. As the land is in private ownership, Officers have been meeting with the landowners regarding the waste and its removal. Environmental Health will continue to liaise with the owner regarding the waste, but as waste on site has little associated public health impact cannot enforce the removal at this stage.'
My hikers were, as I have reported, shocked by the state of littering and dumping on Mynydd Eglwysilan. It's a nationally important site for various reasons and simply leaving dumped waste on the mountaintop for years on end is wholly unacceptable.
As I have said, Wales Outdoors will NOT be developing guided walks in the area until we have assurances that the area has been cleared and measures have been implemented to ensure that dumped rubbish is removed and that those dumping, when identified, are to be prosecuted. On that point, I detailed dumped rubbish above Pontywaun at the end of 2024 and informed CCBC that I found an addressed letter within the rubbish. Despite chasing this matter the rubbish has not been removed and no one has been in touch to gain the details for the addressed envelope.
Finally, with regard the Rhumney Valley Ridgeway Walk - this route is home to at least one ultra-marathon race and as such, unless maintained, will cause all sorts of access issues and lost runners. Certainly this is not a great way to showcase Wales, what with the paths issues and the enormous amounts of rubbish.
Original Complaint
Sent to relevant councillors and an MS regarding the terrible state of land management on Mynydd Eglwysilan.
I write to you out of anger and concern for the state of the hills that surround the Aber Valley and the access to those hills and I seek an immediate plan of action to remedy the points that I raise.
On St David's Day I led a group of 11 people on a hike, beginning at Llanbradach Railway Station and heading through housing to Hendreddeny Park and up onto the tops, following these as much as is possible along the route of Senghenydd Dyke and final steeply descending back to Llanbradach. You'll find exact details of the route here - https://www.outdooractive.com/.../scenic-hike.../310629931/
Hendredenny Park - Rhumney Valley Ridgeway Walk has been moved and is not signed at any point, from the road or through the farm and onto the hill. There are no styles and a wire fence has to negotiated. This is in part a long distance trail and if graded would not get one star because it is not passable as a walking trail.
There is no signage to or at Eglwysilan Road
On the approach to Mynydd Eglwysilan, when the path is metalled for a short distance, there is a huge amount of litter.
Turning south we enter what can only be described as an industrial tip with very many dumped piles of rubbish, many of which have obviously been there for years. You do realise that this is adjacent to a nationally important historic monument?
Directly above Llanbradach diggers are excavating rocks and piling them up at a parking area. Please can you explain this given the proximity of Senghenydd Dyke and the nature of the terrain which is rich in megalithic remains.
The public footpath leading almost due east and directly to Llanbradach has been removed. There is no signage and the styles have been hidden. We found two styles nearby. A forest has been planted without consideration of the footpath and so it is impossible to stick to the line of the path. Indeed, we gave up and found our own way down using what easier access routes we could invent on the hoof.
My group were outraged and shocked by two main points, the missing footpaths and footpath signage and of Mynydd Eglwysilan being used for years as a tip.
Have you, as those with authority in the area, no respect for the hill environment and no respect for the history that sites in this area represent? How can I plan to bring tourists to see the historical remains? I would be ashamed to do so!
I therefore demand that you respond with a clear plan to remedy the points that I have raised and with a timeline for doing so.
I represent Wales Outdoors, a Caerphilly based hiking and guiding business and European Trails, an organisation that aims to improve the standards of hiking trails in Europe. I am a member of Caerphilly Tourist Association.
Remember, we have a social hiking group walk on the 3rd May and this will have a meet point of Blaenonneu Quarry Car Park and will visit Llangattock Escarpment and a fine cave Eglwys Faen. Join Us!
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