Latest news with #GateGate
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Residents celebrate as neighbour's gate is removed
Residents have been left "elated" after a neighbour's security gate, which previously blocked access to a foresty, has been removed. The gate, which prevented entry to Cwmparc forest, was erected in February and stirred a passionate campaign in Treorchy, Rhondda Cynon Taf - including a peaceful protest and petition with 4,284 signatures calling for its removal. The homeowners previously said the gates were for their safety but they were found to obstruct the highway, the council said, so a legal order was issued in April for the gates to be taken down. Richard Clarke, campaign leader, said he was absolutely delighted to see the gates removed so the community can "get back what they missed". Residents protest to remove neighbour's security gate Council orders removal of homeowner's security gate "I have had hundreds of congratulatory messages, we have all had congratulatory messages," said Mr Clarke. "When we started it we didn't know what we would be up against," he said, adding that "so many people" were now relieved. "Protecting the highway is a statutory requirement, the public must always have access to the highway. It shows that in the end justice has prevailed." Mr Clarke said the whole process took four months to get to enforcement action, with hundreds of banners, posters and stickers put up around the town in solidarity. The notice served to the homeowners by the council expired on 8 June, but the gates remained. The family living in the gated property moved to Cwmparc over a year ago, and previously said their private entrance had been abused in a way which they felt left them with no choice and were working on an alternative route. "When the council didn't take immediate action, we were on an knife edge," Mr Clarke said. "We realised we needed to do something, so many of the Gate Gate campaigners emailed Andrew Morgan asking for something to be done." On Thursday, leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council Andrew Morgan issued a statement which said the access arrangements put in place by the homeowners "did not fulfil the legal order for the gates to be removed". He said the homeowners had the weekend to fulfil the legal order, and that the council would dispatch contractors to remove them should they not be removed within that time. Mr Clarke said he had been up to the site on Friday, after the gates were removed that morning, and he met many "very very happy" locals. "It is amazing to see what a difference this campaign has made to people's lives. "One woman had tears in her eyes," he said, adding another went to see the trees she planted in memory of her husband and brother. Mr Clarke added behind every campaign was a good group of people, and thanked campaigners for their unwavering effort. He said he wanted to extend the same community spirit to the homeowners, and he never wished them ill. "They may have chose to do something we disagree with, but they should now be left in peace," he added. Speaking of what it means going forward, Mr Clarke said the school holidays were a crucial point for the community. "For the first time in over 100 days, children can go there, it's just at the end of the street. "I said I wouldn't celebrate until after the gates were down, I have come to Hot Gossip cafe and they have given me a free cappuccino. "I don't do it for reward, but this in itself is worth it," he said. "I don't know what I will do now actually, this has taken up every minute of my time for the last four months."
The Sun
11-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
We're at war over neighbour's HUGE 6ft gate blocking shared path – they were told to rip it down… but accuse US of abuse
A VILLAGE row is threatening to boil over after a wealthy family ignored council orders to tear down a huge 6ft gate. Locals have been battling to remove the "gates of hell", which block a popular mountain path in Cwmparc, Rhondda Valley, South Wales. 7 7 7 Homeowners of Vicarage Terrace installed the eyesore in February this year, later hiring 24/7 security guards and using CCTV to monitor the imposing blockade. In a statement, they claimed that the work had been done to put a stop to "illegal parking, out-of-control dogs, people urinating, aggression, theft, drugs, and air rifles" on the land. They added: "A decision was made that we needed to put security gates at our home to keep our children safe." But locals were left fuming at the barriers, which were constructed on private land, but shut off a path that has been used for decades. They prevented access to a highway leading to a beauty spot on Cwmparc Mountain. announced it would serve the wealthy family a legal notice. And on May 8, council chiefs officially gave the owners, named locally as Laura and Adam Drew, one month to remove the metal obstruction. Now, over a month later, the massive gates remain in place, but a new gravel path has been created to run alongside them. Locals who have been involved in the 'GateGate' campaign say it is unclear whether they are able to use the " temporary path". Last Friday, council leader Andrew Morgan confirmed the local authority was aware of the interim footpath. He said: "This work wasn't agreed in advance and will be considered once the notice expires. Our kids' play area was blocked by huge 6ft privacy fence "Any access proposals can only be considered after the notice ends and must meet these key conditions: "The public must always be able to access the highway. "The route must remain safe and usable for people walking, cycling, or riding horses. "There must be a clear plan with a timeline to make the highway rights permanent and follow planning rules." But now the enforcement notice has expired, Richard Clarke, one of the campaign leaders, explained locals are awaiting "definitive action". Richard added: "We are now in a position where we await the council to ensure that we have continued access to the obstructed highway. "The gates remain both a physical obstruction and detriment to the visual impact of the area. 7 7 7 "It is my view that the council needs to act swiftly to ensure that it is not seen as doing a U-turn on its previous enforcement decision. "The Gate-gate campaign has consistently argued that a makeshift path constructed in haste is unsuitable as a long-term solution. "We sincerely hope the leader of the council remains true to his word and will provide us with continued access to the highway leading to the forestry. "Our campaign slogan was 'No to the gates!'. Having the gates continue to visually oppress us while we utilise a temporary path just reminds us of how the use of this road was taken from us. "We hope the council considers the feelings of the community and makes the right choice from not only a legal perspective but also a moral one for the benefit of the community as a whole." The owners preside over a small patch of land that visitors need to cross to reach the mountain, 1,600ft above sea level. They put up a sign saying 'no unauthorised access' and made it look like an official forestry sign. More than 70 people turned up for a peaceful protest in the rain, waving banners proclaiming: "No to the gate. Our mountains are there for all to enjoy." A social media campaign is also under way and a petition has been signed by more than 3,000 locals. One villager fumed: 'A walk up the mountain was like stepping into heaven, but now we can't get there because of the gates of hell. "It's a horrible way to treat people." David Powell, 53, who lives just 200 yards away, said: 'There's a fella threatening to use his pick-up truck to attach some chains to the gates and pull them down. 'I hope it doesn't come to that, but feelings are running high and people feel their right to walk up the mountain has been stopped. 'I've used that path all my life, I go up there to look at the Peregrine falcons, buzzards and red kites. 'It's a mountain paradise that the locals have used as far back as anyone can remember.'
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Couple who built £10k electric gates to block access to footpath by their 11-bedroom 'Bond villain' mansion lose war against walkers
A couple who put up imposing £10,000 electric gates to stop locals enjoying a countryside 'paradise' have been ordered to take them down after a long and bitter feud with walking campaigners. For sixty years, walkers, cyclists and horse riders have used a path next to a sprawling mansion in the South Wales Valleys. Then the Drew family moved in. Villagers were outraged when wealthy chartered accountant Adam Drew blocked the right of way by installing 8ft-high gates and two security cameras. Locals were angered further when an official looking sign went up at the entrance saying 'No unauthorised access'. Mr Drew and his slimming consultant wife Laura, both 40, claimed they had been subjected to illegal parking, dangerous driving, out-of-control dogs, dog-fouling, people urinating, aggression, theft, drugs, and air rifles. They said the last straw came when torches were shone into bedrooms where their children were sleeping. In a statement the wealthy couple said: 'A decision was made that we needed to put security gates at our home to keep our children safe.' The ugly grey barrier caused fury in the quiet village of Cwmparc, near Treorchy, where locals set up a 'No To The gate' campaign and carried out peaceful protests. Four thousand people signed a petition which was handed in to Rhondda Cynon Taff Council who recognised the 'strong community feeling' over the gates Four thousand people signed a petition which was handed in to Rhondda Cynon Taff Council who recognised the 'strong community feeling' over the gates. The access row - christened GateGate by locals - was also taken up by Rhondda MP Chris Bryant and Senedd Member Buffy Williams. Residents even threatened to sell up claiming they moved to the area so they could enjoy Cwmparc mountain for cycling, walking and summer picnics. The Drews bought the property known locally as the 'James Bond Villain House' for £500,000 and it is without doubt the most prestigious address in the village just outside the Brecon Beacons National Park. The well-off couple, from the nearby town of Porth, said they have 'enjoyed settling our children into such a beautiful, welcoming community.' But residents of nearby Vicarage Terrace say they hardly ever see the family and accuse them of not mixing with the locals. One neighbour said: 'You never see them, I don't even know how they get in and out. Never mind the James Bond House, it's more like Fort Knox. 'The only time I've seen the fella is when he told me to move my recycling bags from the spot in the street where I've been leaving them for years. 'They've made no effort to integrate, which is a shame because this is a friendly, welcoming place.' Adam Drew is the Chief Finance Officer at Kyriba, an American firm advising banks and companies on financial performance. Wife Laura is a Slimming World consultant who shed six stone herself in her late twenties. The pair were married while on holiday in Cuba in 2009 and have three children. The couple are both listed as directors of Fortitude Accountants Wales Ltd based at their former home in Porth, Rhondda. Locals have questioned why the family needs an 11-bedroom property which boasts four kitchens and six bathrooms. The house came with a piece of land country lovers need to cross to reach Cwmparc Forestry, described by villagers as a 'little piece of paradise' in the Spring and Summer. But following a lengthy inquiry the Drews have been ordered to remove the gates after RCT Council ruled highway rights exist because the path has been in public use for over 20 years. Council leader Andrew Morgan OBE said: 'Based on the legal advice I have received from Council Officers, I have today signed a Delegated Decision Order concerning the removal of the gates at the entrance to Cwmparc Forestry. 'Following this decision, I hope that we, as a Council, can work with owner of the property where the gates are located for them to be removed without having to move to the next level of enforcement action. 'We recognise that there is strong community feeling around this issue and now that the Council has gathered all of the legal information and taken the time to review all of the facts and evidence available, the Council believes that there are strong legal grounds to order the removal of the gates. 'We ask that residents bear with us while the legal order is now served.' The notice is being served under Section 143 of the Highways Act 1980 and officers are authorised to remove the obstruction and recover costs if it is not complied with. The council pointed out that public access to the forestry has been 'exercised freely and openly since the 1970s'. MailOnline visited the house to get Mr and Mrs Drew's reaction to the council order but there was no reply.
