The abandoned ‘road to nowhere’ that’s become disgusting illegal dump
THIS is the appalling state a disused dual carriageway has been left in after years of being used as an illegal rubbish dump.
The section of dual carriageway off the A48 in Coedkernew, Newport, is known locally as “the road to nowhere” and has been left unused for many years.
Although the road is blocked off to traffic, residents have said the long strip of land south of a roundabout outside Quinn Radiators is attracting huge amounts of fly-tipped waste.
People who live nearby say they have been highlighting the issue for a number of years, but claim their complaints are falling on deaf ears.
Piles of tyres, as well as domestic, industrial and building waste are now strewn along the strip of land, and attracting vermin.
Brian Miles, who lives nearby in the Peterstone area, said the road had always attracted fly-tipped rubbish since it was built about 20 years ago.
“As far as I’m aware it has never been used,” the 60-year-old said.
“The only time I have ever seen it used is when the BBC filmed episodes of Doctor Who.
“It’s horrendous. You need to come off the road as well. If you go into the shrub you will find lots more. There is thousands upon thousands of tonnes of waste down there and it just grows. Nothing ever gets taken away.”
The section of disused road stretches from the roundabout outside the entrance to Quinn Radiators Limited. It was built during the development of the Imperial Park estate in the late 1990s, when electronics firm LG set up its factory in Newport with promises of creating more than 6,100 jobs.
The plant eventually closed in the mid-2000s, having never delivered on the employment opportunities the multi-million-pound investment was expected to bring.
The road appears to have been built to accommodate further development on land next to the Imperial Park site, which has never materialised.
A cycle and footpath has been built alongside the road but huge areas have become an easy target for fly-tippers of all types.
“Everything you can imagine is down there,” Brian said. “There’s the remnants of a beauty salon, advertising hoardings, domestic waste, building waste and tyres everwhere. There’s rats everywhere down there.
“People are up in arms about it all.”
As chairman of Wentlooge Community Council, Mr Miles said he had repeatedly tried to bring the matter to the attention of authorities but it was still unclear who was ultimately responsible for the land.
A Newport City Council spokeswoman said: “The land in question is owned by a number of organisations and private owners.
“We’re currently working with partners including Natural Resources Wales, Fly-tipping Action Wales, police, fire and Welsh Government to establish all ownership details and develop an action plan so we can prosecute and prevent further dumping.”
But the council declined to confirm whether any part of the land was owned either partially or wholly by the local authority.
Newport City Council is listed as the sole registered owner of land “lying to the east of Church Lane, Coedkernew, Newport”, according to a title deed from HM Land Registry.
A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The road is owned by Newport City Council. Welsh Government owns a plot adjacent and this is partially impacted by the fly-tipping that has accrued on the council-owned part over the years.”