Richard Clarke, a member of the Open Spaces Society, writes about the shenanigans at Cwmparc, Treorchy, in Rhondda Cynon Taf
The quiet community of Cwmparc, Treorchy, nestled beneath the dramatic Rhondda mountainside in South Wales, has always cherished its easy access to the open land above. For generations, locals have walked, cycled, and ridden horses along the short, vital road leading from Vicarage Terrace up to the forestry tracks where signs welcome the public. This access, the only safe route onto the mountain, was a part of our way of life, an unspoken right.
On 17 February this year, that right was challenged. Overnight, gates appeared across this well-used road.
Protest walk
This galvanised the community into action. An online group, quickly dubbed ‘Gate-gate’ by locals, sprang up. David Williams, owner of a local printing company, Advasign, produced banners and posters. We organised a peaceful protest-walk with a simple plan, to meet at either side of the gates in the hope that the owners, recognising the strength of our community’s feeling, would open them.
Despite a severe weather-warning, over 100 people braved the elements. Walkers met on either side of the gates, but the owners refused to open them, and those who had taken the forest route had to return the same way, up the now-perilous track. It made a good story for the reporter who was present, and the story broke on national news.
The media attention helped propel our campaign. With a petition gaining in two weeks more signatories than voted in the last council elections, we enlisted the support of our local councillors, who helped us navigate the bureaucracy regarding the obstruction of a highway.
We soon discovered that the road, despite decades of uninterrupted public use, was not formally recognised as a public right of way. Undeterred, we embarked on gathering historical evidence to apply for its inclusion on the definitive map. Simultaneously, we pressed the council to take immediate action to remove what we argued was an illegal obstruction.
The Ramblers Cymru annual meeting unanimously passed a resolution condemning the obstruction. ‘No to the gate’ posters appeared throughout Cwmparc.
I spent countless hours in the local library, meticulously piecing together the history of the road’s usage. Soon, our campaign was visually present on every street corner and our evidence was mounting.
After weeks of dedicated research, we submitted a comprehensive evidence pack to the council. We now await its decision with cautious optimism, firmly believing that the weight of evidence and public support will prevail.
Credit: Open Spaces Society
