Yet again its been bought to out attention that people are ignoring the no vehicle rules! And are starting to use the FOC name to warrant driving up to the adit. Please STOP immediately! desist from using the track, I am sorry but you will have to walk up. We only have permission for vehicle access for maintenance only! This does not cover every tom dick and harry that knows us or has helped out on maintenance.
I now have a very upset land owner, that has now imposed vehicle restrictions to the point we are only aloud 1 vehicle on site at work weekends! The land owner involved spends allot of time repairing the track so he can tend to his sheep. And is fed up with people ignoring our requests for no vehicles on site!

I will remind you if we loose vehicle access then then the Cwmorthin project is as good as over!!!! And 3 years of careful negotiations will be for nothing!

Many people have gone to allot of trouble and personnel expense so you can keep exploring Cwmorthin. We dont ask for much apart from a few simple doo's and dont's.

The people concerned you know who you are, So please don't take the ****!

A sign on the gate at the bottom might help for those who don't visit forums much?

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A sign on the gate at the bottom might help for those who don't visit forums much?

Its not our gate to do that, but we are currently in talks of getting the gate locked. But its not as simple as talking to one land owner. Its more like 4 land owners!

Then again there should be no need, as its not take a rocket science to see there is no right of way.

Would it perhaps be worth adding some repairs to the track to the list of things to do at future work weekends?

The most significant problem with the track is the two drainage channels that cross, with considerable erosion regularly occurring downhill of them. Given the slope that the drains are on, I'm not sure whether building a ramp up to them with concrete wouldn't just move the problem, but it's probably worth a go?

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Would it perhaps be worth adding some repairs to the track to the list of things to do at future work weekends?

The most significant problem with the track is the two drainage channels that cross, with considerable erosion regularly occurring downhill of them. Given the slope that the drains are on, I'm not sure whether building a ramp up to them with concrete wouldn't just move the problem, but it's probably worth a go?

This something we have talked about in the past and I am now going to recommend to the owner involved that we help maintain the track. I also thought about concrete but I think your right it will just move the problem.

It just winds me up that some people seem to think it will be ok to drive up, and they will not be seen. The land owner keeps a very keen eye on what happens and most of the time its a case of he will see you but you will not see him.

I suspect that the problem with the drains is that they are not at the same angle as the slope, plus they have a vertical upstand.

A concrete ramp starting off relatively flat and then running into the ground at about 70 degrees to the horizontal, with a sort-of sawtooth effect at the edge would probably work better than the current arrangement. Certainly worth a go, anyway.

Some new grilles wouldn't go amiss, either - probably welded into place.

Mind, I'd guess the traffic levels due to genuine FoC work are pretty minimal in the grand scheme of things: I'd also suggest that one-off casual visitors are more likely to cause issues than regulars, as seems to be the case over the other side of the valley.

I suppose the other answer might be to negotiate a 'toll' access with the fee going to the upkeep of the road? That said, I doubt anyone would actually contribute, as is oft the case with the donations - "would you chappies who are propping the roof up please mind getting out of the way so we can have a look around?"... ::)

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Will keep you updated as how talks go this week, the other thing is when vehicles are parked up at Cwmorthin there on private land as all the land in front of the mine is owned by another party. So again he is not happy with his land being used as a public car park!

Then again a clamping operation would fill the Cwm fund up well 😉 😉

Buy the man a wheel clamp and leave the key at the Greasy Spoon
That'll teach 'em to walk up in the first place :lol:

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No matter how many signs you put up etc, if the gate is unlocked people are still gonna drive up.

DP

No matter how many signs you put up etc, if the gate is unlocked people are still gonna drive up.

I am suprised it is unlocked. Traditionally it was always locked...

No matter how many signs you put up etc, if the gate is unlocked people are still gonna drive up.

I am suprised it is unlocked. Traditionally it was always locked...

your very right, until about 2 years ago. No one really knows why its unlocked.

Personally i think the first course of action is to talk to all landowners and get the gate locked again.

DP

sounds easy dont it DP ;D

This was done by me in March and I was told it was being sorted.

But rest assured I will be making noises to get it locked from now on

Gents... I fear this is going round in circles!

I've had a look down the back of the sofa and I am willing to procure and donate a sign to be mounted on the gate which will say, in Welsh and English, that there is no public vehicular access to land beyond, with reference if needs be to the relevant legislation.

I will happily get the thing made up, together with the relevant mountings and fit it to the gate, if you, the Friends of Cwmorthin are in agreement?

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That would be great Vanoored. I was going to get one myself, but, one in both languages would be even better. Let me speak to the land owner first this week tho 😉 and make sure he is happy.

I have a meeting at the weekend with all concerned parties to try and move the locking of the gate issue forward.

After a recent meeting with the main partied involved, the process of getting gate locked has started but is going to take some time to sort the red tape!

The police have also been informed about the growing nuisance and anyone found to be there without permission may be liable to a section 59 notice!

The current issue of how many vehicles that FOC are aloud to have on site is a ongoing matter. And still remains at 1 vehicle!