At the weekend a few of us were talking to a chap in the general Blaenau Ffestiniog region and got talking about the Maenofferen mills and the rapid rate of deterioration there.

He said he had been told that CADW had taken them on with the intention of re-roofing and preserving them.

Has anybody heard of this / or got any more information on it?

If true, it's a fantastic development. The rot has set in there, but it's not to late to stop it.

Wasn't so long ago that the same topic was being discussed: http://www.aditnow.co.uk/community/viewtopic.aspx?t=530 

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That would be good news if it is true! The workshop roof has deteriorated very badly in the last year too.

Well, I contacted CADW today, but haven't heard back yet... Will post if I hear anything...

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I was at this mine a couple of weekends back and bumped into a guy wandering round the mills (almost literally... he jumped about 3 foot!) - he told me the same thing.

There's been some work going on up there to block the path up the mountain and it also looks like there's stuff gone missing since I was last there in May. The blacksmiths forges have also been badly damaged but not sure whether that was vandalism or just natural decay.

There has been no work on blocking the paths up to maenofferen! we still use them!!

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The main roadways upto the mine that I've used in the past have definitely had rock tipped across them is a couple of places... must be using a different route to you Dylan!

From what I've seen the road from the bottom of Rhiwbach No. 2 incline to the mills has had its course altered - these roads have never constituted a public right of way though.

I was just going to say something along those lines now!

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I wonder if CB is referring to the path up from Bethania? That has been in use for over 30 years to my knowledge. I wonder how you make a "footpath" a "public footpath"? It is even marked on 1:25,000 maps as a "footpath".

(make note to self - find out about creation of public RofW).

So, look what I just found:-

"Creation of new public rights of way
In England and Wales, a footpath or bridleway may be expressly dedicated by the owner as a public right of way. However, unchallenged use by the public, as of right, for at least 20 years, may give rise to a presumption of dedication under Section 31 of the Highways Act 1980. And a presumption of dedication may arise under common law after any appropriate period of time."

Hmmm, food for thought me thinks.

Oh that it were that simple!
Public rights of way have their origins in Common laws which have been much modified over the past 100 years or so by statute. This has lead to considerable complexity in the law, although recent statutory developments have done much to bring the law in line with modern needs. It is still a complex area and it may be found more edifying to find out how to prevent the creation of a public right of way than its creation!
Chapter 3 of Countryside Law, Garner & Jones, Shaw & Sons, 1997 ISBN ) 7219 1062 9 is a good starting point, whichever direction you may wish to travel.
Highways Act, 1980, Schedule 6, thereof, is not commonly used to create PROW. Its use is rare outside the creation of the now established, long distance footpaths.
In this situation (the thread) I would expect to find a letter,notice or memo of rebuttal (of presumption of dedication) lodged with the Council (County &/or Parish).
CADW, if involved, will be interested in this area for the creation or easement of site access.
Is all CADW property inalienable or do they also hold alienable titles?

The thing about creating a public path to Maenofferen is, that you'd be creating a Public right of way in to what is classified as a working mine/quarry. not a good idea i think!

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There is already one going within feet of the area you are now crushing. I wasn't thinking of one going right into MO as it happens, more extending the one that ends near Rb incline 2 head, and up to the OAL in vicinity of Rb 3 incline head. Also, as that makes access to OAL easier, I understand that there is provision in CROW Act for such an eventuality. I must confess I also have another idea but have no intention of disclosing that at this stage!

Wouldn't trying to Railroad a footpath through just wind Llechwedd up and make them even more hostile towards 'visitors'? At the end of the day it is their land and they are trying to run a business from it.

From what I've seen local people have walked their dogs on the Votty, Bowydd and Maenofferen area for years - wouldn't trying to change this just get Greaves' backs up?

Just a thought.

I agree with you regarding that path! that's the most pointless path I ve ever seen! if im correct it stops at the top of no 2 inclain, and restarts near the top of no 3 inclain. I guess our ancestors must have had the ability to levitate or had a flying carpet or somthing lile a large blondin to traverse them over the land!!

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Interesting to see so many on the case! I have no knowledge whatsoever of this path nor land nor owners.
The Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, places County Councils under a duty to keep their definitive maps and statements under continuous review and to make modification orders as and when necessary. These maps and statements are the starting point and must be referred to when addressing issues of public right of way. They will not usually contain information on easements, which some may confuse as being a right of way. If the path in question is not on the definitive map and it is wished to attempt to make it a PROW (and not an easement) then I hope you have alot of patience!
CADW may look upon the lack of access in the same manner that the MOD uses it on their nature reserves!

I agree with you regarding that path! that's the most pointless path I ve ever seen! if im correct it stops at the top of no 2 inclain, and restarts near the top of no 3 inclain. I guess our ancestors must have had the ability to levitate or had a flying carpet or somthing lile a large blondin to traverse them over the land!!

Now the Area around and beyond the Rb 3 incline is OAL though it makes gaining the extra bit of path needed to gain access to the OAL should be easier than if the OAL wasn't there.

Has anymore been found out about CADWs possible involment in the MO mills?

However it is possible to acces the open acces land from cwm-penmachno / bwlch side so does the path from no 2 inclain really need to be extended?! 😉

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However it is possible to acces the open acces land from cwm-penmachno / bwlch side so does the path from no 2 inclain really need to be extended?! 😉

That is fine if you are at Cwm Machno. Also getting to Bwlch is not easy except by car, and there is little room to park! Whereas the Public footpath that ends at Rb 2 incline comes straight up from centre of Blaenau and would need little extension to reach the OAL.

I dont know if this is of any use but here goes.
If you want to get to MO mill etc easiest route try this.
Blaenau high st, coming from the direction of "old" Ffestiniog, look for a road on the left steeply ascending. Identifiable by a sort of hand rail, not easily missed. Turn off up there and drive up passing an old mill on the right with a waterwheel. Go to the end but park so as to leave a turning circle for the farmer who uses the sheep pens at end. The adjascent house is the home of a lady from Suffolk who is nice to talk to, as is the farmer.
If you climb the ascending path it will take you to MO "office" level that was, and is a far easier route than parking in Blaenau.
RF

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