just had this from christopher williams, hes fighting the case to keep it open so i take it its open for 3 months
id still double check tho
Hi all,
The Sarn Helen Byway Road should be open to, (road legal), motorised users for tomorrow. If it’s not open, and you turn up to use it, you are within your rights to move obstructions just enough to permit your vehicle to pass, (provided that you haven’t travelled there specifically to move obstructions). Given that the some of the obstructions are 10-20 ton boulders and large tree-trunks - that is easier said than done!
Energybuild which owns the stretch of Sarn above Seven Sisters does not usually cause any problems, however, if anyone experiences any intimidation / threats, etc. from any of the other Landowners, (yes, I’m mainly referring to Walters Maesgwyn operatives and motorsports organisers who may have hired the site from Walters), please let me know! Also take photos if possible. We are trying to make sure the Police tackle them for every infringement and since the temporary TRO expired it does seem to have made a big difference, since the temporary TRO expired and walkers / riders / cyclists have been able to get onto the site - they’ve been leaving people alone.
R.O.W.A.N. has been fighting hard to prevent the Walters Group from stealing this amenity from the public. It’s been an uphill struggle and is ongoing. This section of road is under great scrutiny and ‘misbehaviour’ only provides Walters ‘friends in Council’ with the excuse that they need to further restrict vehicular access. So, please don’t give them any more excuses. Please;
Stay on the road: If you wander off onto the Walters site or into the forestry or surrounding fields you are liable to get a s59 notice, (your vehicle may be seized if there are future infringements), you may be fined, receive points on your licence, etc. This area is policed by RAFT, (the Rural and Forestry Team). The local Police Sergeant, Geraint Jenkins, is a RAFT member. Sgt Jenkins seems to be generally sympathetic to our position and has been taking a hard-line with the Walters Group over their intimidation of the public but if you’re being naughty on the mountain and he catches you – don’t expect any form of preferential treatment!
With the wind-farm now up and operating, Walters now have permanent security staff throughout the Maesgwyn site 24-hours / 365 days. If you have left the Byway and are using private tracks, given the change in ethos on the site, you are probably far less likely to get confronted, but then you are very likely to get photographed and reported.
Remember it IS a REAL PUBLIC ROAD: Legally you are ‘on-road’ (even if it FEELS like ‘off-road’). You can be charged with numerous motoring offences such as speeding, reckless driving, dangerous driving, etc. If you are there to enjoy a ‘green-laning’ type of experience then you will find few better places to be. If you’re there to tear around the place or create a muddy pit so that you can try out your winch – then you are risking your licence. There are plenty of proper off-road sites where you can enjoy more energetic forms of 4x4 sport.
Respect other rights of way users: You may encounter equestrians and cyclists. You will, almost certainly, encounter walkers. OK, it’s a road but please behave courteously to other users of this highway. Some of the walkers will be part of the Neath & District Walking Club. This Club counts amongst its membership at least one very senior official from the Neath, Port-Talbot Council. This club has provided evidence which helped to increase the duration and effect of TRO and, we believe, wishes to ultimately close this road to motorised vehicular users, (which sits well with the agenda of the Walters Group). If they see 4x4 drivers or scrambler-riders causing damage, behaving aggressively to other road users, driving recklessly, aggressively, etc. Also, the offenders are highly likely to be photographed and reported. A significant proportion of this areas Police force is also extremely 'Walters-friendly' and so reports of motorised misdeeds are likely to receive disproportionate attention. It also helps them to advance their argument to exclude motorised user altogether.
Club Activities: One of the ‘sticks’ we’re using to fight the Walters Group with is the possibly unlawful status of the motorsports they have been holding at the Maesgwyn site. This is a 2 edged argument inasmuch as club activities such as ‘off-road runs’ may need to look at whether they require any of the permissions we’re quoting, (such as land-owners permission / local authority permission, MSA authorisation, etc.) By far the safest way of sorting out a ‘run’ is probably just to make it an event where a few friends get together. If it’s posted on a club website, if there are charges / fees involved, if you’re using club insurance cover, if you’re using public roads, (which include Byways), then you risk being seen to have organised a motor sports event unlawfully on a public road.
This is a link to maps of the site which show you the other 3 Byway roads which you are permitted to use. Maesgwyn maps & photographic resources. These are excerpted from NPT Councils Definitive map, Map 2 is the map which shows most of the Maesgwyn site rights of way;
Grid Six - map 1
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Grid Six - map 2
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Grid Six - map 3
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]Grid Six - map 4
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]As this is a 1970's map, the location / designation of various of these rights of way will have been altered in cases, (e.g. when the opencast was 'backfilled' & terraformed).
This is WALTERS GROUP OWN map of the site, (taken from a planning application submission).
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] This is the main site I use to post anything & everything relating to Hirfynydd / Maesgwyn.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]If you have any queries and want to ask about the specific whereabouts of the byways, your rights on the byways etc. email this email address, (don’t hold your breath waiting for a reply though as it’s usually only checked weekly), or call in at 61 Roman Road and ask for Brian or myself, (I live across the road but can be mainly found with Brian & his wife).
Other than that …
Enjoy!