Vandals set fire to rubbish left at South Wales beauty spot

WARNINGS have been issued after fly-tipped rubbish was set on fire at a Welsh beauty spot.

Video has been released showing the danger caused after rubbish was set alight on Bogey Road in Merthyr Tydfil.

On Tuesday, April 3 Merthyr resident Scott Maybank travelled to the picturesque mountainside to show off the area to American motocyclists. But the dad-of-four was left speechless after finding a pile of flaming waste left abandoned on the side of the road.

Scott, 32, said: “The group wanted to have a phone conference to show off the roads we have in South Wales. I’ve seen the situation there as there’s been a lot of talk about the fly-tipping, but I assumed it had been cleared or some of it taken away.

“It was there on the side of the road, burning away.”

The incident follows pictures which were posted online last month showing the extent of the flytipping on the rural road leading to Cwm Bargoed. The pictures, taken by Independent councillor Andrew Barry, show piles of furniture, children’s toys and food waste as well as sofas and bin bags in nearby lakes.

Scott said: “We have so much beautiful scenery in South Wales we want to show, but you also get this.

“It’s taking fly-tipping to a new level. It’s one thing dumping it, but another burning it. What if there were two cars which had met each other on the road? Children play up there and there are horses and sheep roaming.

“It only takes one little accident and you have an animal on fire.”

He added: “I’ve lived in the area for a long time so I always see if there’s letters there or any details to report it, but they had all been charred to bits. They’re not hiding it, they’re putting it in plain site.”

Last month Merthyr Council approved plans to introduce on-the-spot flytipping fines of up to £400 instead of time-consuming and lengthy prosecution cases.

To see the video, go to walesonline.co.uk