Cock-up of Wales
2 March 2015
Two years ago the society objected to the planning application for the Circuit of Wales motor-sports development on common land, just north of Ebbw Vale in south Wales. At that time the developer, the Heads of the Valleys Development Company, stated optimistically and inaccurately on its website that ‘planning permission is the final hurdle’.
Although the development now has planning permission it has not yet gone ahead—because it would take common land. There are many who claim that the objectors are holding up a development which will bring jobs and prosperity to the area. Their ire should be directed at the developers who opted to site the motor circuit on a common. For the applicant has had to find land to offer in exchange for the 245 hectares (nearly one square mile) of open moorland which would be submerged under concrete, and to make an application to Welsh ministers for the exchange, under section 16 of the Commons Act 2006. The public inquiry into the application opens on 10 March.
The application site, before
and after
It seems a bizarre idea to plonk this development on a windy moor, and even more bizarre to use common land with all its constraints. But apparently the developers knew little about commons and the laws which protect them when they started out, otherwise they would not have claimed two years ago to be nearly there.
The land to be taken, a great stretch of moorland reaching up to the Brecon Beacons National Park border, is in the former urban district of Ebbw Vale, and thus it is subject to section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925. Walkers and riders have rights to enjoy every square inch of this common and it is an exhilarating place, with wide views towards the beacons and south to the valleys.
Struggled
It is clear that the developers have struggled to find exchange land. They have persuaded Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council (BGCBC) to offer up six sites for registration as common. The remainder, more than one third, is to come from Wentwood Forest, 30 miles away in Monmouthshire, which is leased by the Welsh Government to Natural Resources Wales. Of course the Welsh Government is the decision-maker in this case so there is the question of conflict of interest. Since the minister must consider the interests of the neighbourhood, this site must fail on its distance from the neighbourhood which enjoys the existing common.
None of the parties appears to have considered its obligations towards horse-riders. A report went to the BGCBC executive on 16 April 2014, by Andrea Jones, the council’s head of legal and corporate compliance, recommending the council to offer sites in its ownership as replacement land. In this report she stated that the replacement land would become ‘subject to an automatic right of open access to the public in accordance with the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, unless the land was within 20 metres of residential properties’. That is wrong on two counts—the land would become subject to section 193 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (not the CROW Act) with rights for riders, and on s193 land there is no restriction for land within 20 metres of residential properties. Might councillors have taken a different decision if they had been correctly advised?
Greenmeadow, seen from the opposite hillside. Much of it is already mapped as access land
In any case the six sites are not suitable as exchange land. They are some distance from the replacement land and serve a completely different purpose. They are small and scattered. They are already subject to public access on foot, indeed some of them have been gifted (Garden City woodlands, Ebbw Vale) or publicly-funded for that purpose (Sirhowy woodland, Ebbw Vale). Byrn Farm at Brynmawr is close to a residential area and, in common with the other sites, is already enjoyed for recreation.
Byrn Farm, already used by walkers and cyclists and games
Bryn Farm and Greenmeadow Farm (at Abertillery) are already partly mapped as access land under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
Bryn Farm, already mapped as access land.
Greenmeadow Farm, already mapped as access land
The sites are in the main not suitable for horse-riders.
Garden City exchange land, too steep for riders
And, as walkers and riders have access to the whole of the land to be taken, they will have rights over the whole of the replacement land. This may be provided in law, but in practice it won’t happen as many of the sites are densely wooded and criss-crossed by fences.
Fencing at Waun y Pound, Ebbw Vale, on the proposed exchange land
We have seen the draft management plans for the sites, and there is no reference to clear-felling the woodland or removing the encroachments such as fencing. Indeed, the opposite, there is mention of erecting stock-proof fencing to introduce grazing, and the applicants even expect to do this later this year! Once again they seem to have forgotten the constraints of common land and the requirement to obtain ministerial consent for any works there.
Dense woodland makes much of the Crown Avenue site inaccessible on foot or horseback
Dense woodland at Waun y Pound
As for Wentwood Forest, this is already accessible since it is part of the forest estate, and the British Horse Society has a concordat with the Forestry Commission Wales (now part of Natural Resources Wales) to provide access for riders. And once again, there is no plan to clear-fell the forest so the access would only be along rides and not freely available as it is on the land to be taken.
Objectors
Our general secretary will raise these and many other points at the public inquiry later this month, and will call Mark Weston, director of access at the British Horse Society, as a witness. Other objectors include the Brecon Beacons Park Society and Gwent Wildlife Trust. Natural Resources Wales, the Welsh Government’s adviser, has put in excellent submissions. Its access statement includes a detailed analysis, ending with ‘it is difficult to conclude that the replacement land is of equal value’.
We hope that the Heads of the Valleys Development Company is regretting that it decided to meddle with common land. Its handling of the matter has been sloppy and disingenuous. The delays are of its own making.
every success
Very interesting to listen to the general tone of the above piece, As someone who was born and after many years living abroad, now continues to live in the upper valley, it seems your intention individually or as an organisation is to show just how insightful and generally clever you are,this is not a fulcrum for you to lever your dogmatic approach onto the local population.
I have no doubt that you as an organisation or individual has genuine concerns, however the kind of semantics you seem to revel in, will only add to the long and painful decline that our communities are currently experiencing , if you lift your head from the legal text for one moment you will notice, the very same land that you seem intent on using to strangle the life from our childrens futures ,stretches from Manmoel to Abergele,
God help us if you succeed,and if you do, i hope you have some viable alternatives for job creation ,because we will need them !
Wales need this a rubbish bit of land being turned into something useful that will bring many many jobs and future businesses like staff to maintain the circuit motels for people to stay in even help improve Cardiff airport for international fans to visit. Whats even more important it will put the South Wales valleys on to the international market. Its a win win so people STOP knocking it we need it.
You tell the people and children of this area that your standing in the way of job creation and their future…. Wales has an abundance of open spaces this is just a small part of it, if you want to look at empty fields with no jobs and no infrastructure then find a field in London to do so, This is our Country and the people of this part of Wales want this to happen so kindly take your miss judged campaign elsewhere.
why did they not get involved in stopping that monster opencast in Merthyr that was common land. come and see the mess we live with for a few jobs for Merthyr people
As mentioned in response to previous posts on this subject, the society is a statutory consultee on all applications affecting common land. In this instance, we are working on behalf of local members and with other local organisations. We regret that there will be differences of opinion on the use of this land.
It’s seems that the people of wales count for nothing to the open spaces society, especially the people of Blaenau Gwent, thousands of acres of industrial land,as been reclaimed,tens of thousands of people were once employed in these industries, but those jobs have now gone,on the land now sits lakes,trees and grassland,but no jobs and no income into the area,here is a great opportunity to creat thousands of jobs and millions of pounds into to local community, from a measly 800 acres of mainly wasteland, you people are blinded by your own selfishness.
Dear sir, or Madam, this is a desolate area of land, misused by vehicles racing around, by rubbish dumpers. Its devoid of any wildlife of special interest. I have spent a lot of time in the area. Fact is you are against Motorcycling, We have windfarms, and Solar farms creating a blot on the Welsh Countryside , but you lot don’t care about that.
We do fight wind and solar farms when members request us to do so, and when they adversely affect our interests, ie commons, greens, open spaces or public paths.
Oh what a bunch of Luddites!! I simply lose patience with you single issue groups who want to stand in the way of prosperity, the enjoyment of thousands of people to say nothing of the employment and hope that a project such as this gives the many needy in this hard hit part of Wales.
I would bet the majority of your strength and membership comes from comfortable people who know little or nothing about deprivation, lack of motivation and hope and I would also question the numbers that support your organisation as I doubt that they are at all representative of the general public.
As it happens I an a councillor in a National Park and I would fight tooth and nail to preserve much of it but a National Park is not a museum for those that are privileged to live there – they have to earn a living in this century, not the last. They and the park needs to grow, breath and prosper and occasionally conflicts of interest have to be resolved in favour of the common good, not the narrow bigoted minority.
I know enough about public and planning enquiries to know that the final judgment will be made primarily on legal grounds and interpretation of national planning guidelines. I just hope and pray that the people of Blaenau get something inspiring to compensate for their past difficulties.
Where is the proof that all these promises are not hollow ones, based on wishful thinking, and greed, by a few who will benefit, not covered by any reality nor clear chances to the people in the area.
Dear Erich,
Though an outdoorsman I’m not an expert of the issues around common land and access that OSS are concerned about, but my company prepared the documentation for the public enquiry on the business case for this facility so I can answer your questions.
The facility will be a hub for the clean tech automotive industry centred on a entertainment and motorsports area. This means that R&D and low volume manufacturing for things like hydrogen fuel cell cars, solar, batteries etc. Wales is academically very strong at this and the UK automotive industry is also strong contributing something like £70bn to the UK balance of payments. MTC’S view in 2013 was that the UK automotive and motorsport sector, which fuel a significant part of Circuit of Wales’s business model, was positive.
Industry highlights which support the Circuit of Wales business case include;
• There has been £6 billion of investment into the UK automotive industry in recent years (2010-2012).
• The industry has seen its fortunes transformed, and has now grown to become the fourth largest automotive producer in Europe, making 1.58 million vehicles and 2.5 million engines in 2012.
• Automotive accounts for 129,000 jobs in over 2,700 businesses. Those businesses produce 5.2 per cent of manufacturing employment and 7.3 per cent of manufacturing output.
• The sector is sustaining high levels of growth, with production set to increase at 9% a year.
• Substantial investment by global car companies suggests that the UK is a relatively competitive location for manufacturing. Analysis of trade data shows the UK has a comparative advantage in certain high end manufactures and suggests no comparative disadvantage in the broad transport equipment sector.
• The industry members of the Automotive Council expect to take on more than 7,600 apprentices and 1,700 graduates over the next five years.
• The UK is the World leader in the global spectacle of motorsport. We have a strong motorsport sector with 4,500 UK motorsport engineering companies who typically reinvest ~30 per cent of revenues in R&D, and have a high level of engineering expertise.
The thing I am really keen on this development is that it will help the UK and Wales seize the once in a lifetime opportunity to capture market share and create new supply chain companies as the transport economy changes from petrol or diesel engines to less carbon intensive technologies. Circuit of Wales’s unique solar driven, clean-tech automotive credentials and Wales’s leadership in Formula E drive trains, hydrogen fuels cells, and other future fuels should permit the facility to secure high growth commercial tenants.
I hope this helps,
Mark
I am a lifelong resident of Ebbw Vale. I back the building of this circuit 100%. It will bring much needed needed money to the town. Once again people who are not from the area are trying to dictate what is good for us. The Welsh assembly is only interested in improving places along the M4 corridor, for the good of the towns on the Heads of the Valleys this must go ahead.
I agree 100% with Anthony it’s not that the Welsh government doesn’t want the race track its where it’s being proposed. Blaenua gwent is really run down we need this to happen ! I won’t be surprised if it ends up along the M4 corridor.
Listen to the people of Blaenau Gwent because 99.9% of say yes to this project. We need this and want it.The land in question is marsh land its unsightly and nothing could possibly live their. We should be welcoming this project with open arms.
Stop living in the dark ages.
Who gives a toss about random land, just sitting there doing nothing.
Land just sitting there doing nothing isnt going to achieve anything. Solving unemployment and land value for massively under appreciated townspeople/and area of the country is obviously the way forward.
Will the 6,000 predicted jobs be seasonal part time or permanent. How many people are employed at other race circuits in the UK and do the employees travel from circuit to circuit during the racing season with their specialised skills and knowledge? I have spent a lot of time hillwalking on the land intended for the circuit of Wales and observed numbers of skylarks grouse newts and other wildlife. Just my observation. I have also been a keen motorcyclist attending GP’s at Silverstone Donnington Park etc and also travelled to the Isle of Man to watch the TT. The one thing the planned circuit of Wales has going against it is the height above sea level which could cause races to be delayed or cancelled due to bad weather. The cross winds are a bit fresh to put it mildly never mind the rain which could put many people off coming to the area. If the circuit should fail what happens next!
Hi Kevin
The weather question came up in my mind too. However it is dryer in Ebbw Vale in the racing season May-October than it is at Silverstone, which is the UK’s leading circuit and one which enjoys the highest utilisation of any motorsport’s facility in the world.
Why not think +++ Kevin lets go forward with this plan. Anything that brings work to an area such as this needs grabbing with both hands.For gods sake give the people a chance.Not the newts & wild life.Let the people have jobs to buy food. Or we will end up having to eat the wild life!Lets give it our Best wishes and hope that it happens.For the people of this area!.
Perhaps I’m letting my head rule my heart or just turning an old f***t, but common sense tells me the terrain is just too high and wild for such a venture. Then again if people are prepared to work hard enough they could make it work and while they are at it why not try and get the Rhyder Cup at West Mon golf course.
I’m a biker pure and simple. I travel to race tracks to ride and spectate. I have visited abadare for motorcycle racing and stayed locally spending my money in hotels and shops etc.I would love to visit the circuit of wales spending my money and having a good time if it’s ever built, as would many thousands or racing fans world wide. The only thing stopping us is the red tape and conservation nuts. Build it and the money and jobs will follow. I wish the circuit developers all the luck!!
i really cant believe that so many sad depressing people actually object to something like this.oh no what about the countryside?? come on there’s hundreds maybe thousands of square miles of undisturbed countryside in this country, the wildlife have legs,wings or even swim, i am sure if the want to they could very easily move.
so many people (probably of the gray haired generation) have nothing better to do than to object to things that bring money, jobs and investment to the area and not to mention FUN and enjoyment to tens of thousands of people.
all i can say is GET A LIFE YOU SAD MISERABLE PEOPLE. i really hope this gets the go ahead but i sadly think it will never happen.
Wales is and should be proud of it countryside, it has some of the best national parks in the UK and beyond. People come from all over the world to visit them. But not everyone wants to be a hotelier or waiter.
Racing tends to be at the forefront of technology attracting and encouraging the brightest and most innovative people who have ideas, spawn other technical industries and innovations, and bring vibrancy to a community. Wales Desperately needs to stop these smart people thinking that Wales has nothing for them!
Please Please Please STOP
I am a fan of motor sport but it has to be in the right place the problem with this is its in a place of outstanding countryside and has to be protected by laws for the next generation .I would like to see more road racing. New roads around the towns better parking like a mini tt its not a area for jobs like where I live but having some bike racing would be great and there would be some jobs and still places to walk. Everyone would win
hands off our track we have so many great other things in gwent (not)
I grew up and worked in Silverstone, and can tell you that although it has the British GP and Moto GP, I know what a struggle it is for the place to break even, yes it did bring jobs, but not the numbers promised by CoW. A good MotoGP could bring in over 146,000 people for a weekend, but other weekends you’d be lucky to bring in 20,000 and that would one be one or two other weekends, with only about 10 events a year. It’s not a lot. Rockingham the last modern circuit to be built (2001) was meant to regenerate the former steel area of Corby, but is now barely used by a few minor championships. I have nothing against the idea of a Welsh circuit, but think this CoW proposal is sold on pumped up, false promises.
If we understand the Consultants Reports correctly, Circuit for Wales are looking to have total traffic flows of about 55,000 vehicle movements (Event + normal traffic).
Event Traffic is over 40,000 and needs to flow through the A465 in 2 or 3 hours, as we understand it impossible with the existing infrastructure, the entire area would be grid locked for some hours, thus damaging the other parts of the economy and shuting off access to points west.
Although taking a trip to the proposed site the wind and cold will definitely put you off watching racing for a prolonged period. Having said that I used to be a keen biker and spent many hours riding over Llangynidr moor without even noticing the weather, in Summer months I admitt
We should go ahead after all what else have we.