Fly-tip road closure plan
VEHICLES could be banned on a road linking Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil – in a bid to stop the menace of fly-tipping.
Council members are considering the radical action to tackle the longstanding issue.
A ROAD linking Aberdare and Merthyr Tydfil could be closed to vehicles because of issues with flytipping.
Merthyr Tydfil Council will launch a consultation on placing an order banning vehicles on the road if the cabinet agrees at a meeting this week.
The road – officially named Cyfarthfa 64 and which runs from the top of Heolgerrig Road to the county boundary with Rhondda Cynon Taf – is a section of an ancient route across Mynydd Aberdâr between the Taff and the Cynon valleys, linking the old Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare parishes.
The cabinet report says a large amount of fly-tipping occurs along the edges of what is currently a byway open to all traffic and a road traffic regulation order is being proposed to deal with this problem.
If the order is made it will become an offence to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle on the route and it will be a matter for the police to enforce the order which could land those who flout the order with a fine of up to £1,000.
The report says it is evident that flytipping occurs along both sides of the route and that predominantly the flytipping occurs where the track levels off and the surface changes from tarmac.
The fly-tipping has been cleared several times by the council, by the Cyfarthfa Community Group and by representatives of Keep Wales Tidy and Natural Resources Wales.
A report received from a resident and officers’ observations show that the route has become blocked (impassable) on occasion due to the amount of waste deposited.
Residents claim the waste contains evidence regarding names and addresses.
Any order that is made would come under Section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Access for cyclists, horses and pedestrians would still be allowed.
There would be some exemptions to the order such as for use by emergency vehicles or by any local authority or statutory bodies, to enable work to be carried out in, on, under or near the right of way, use for agriculture or land management on any land or premises next to the right of way, use through the direction or with the permission of a police constable in uniform; and use with the prior written permission of the council.
The advertisement of the order would cost around £1,000 to £1,500, and would be met from within existing budgets.
The report concludes: “The main positive impact of this decision is that the public will have a more pleasant environment to walk in as it would become illegal to drive and fly-tip within this area.
“The environment would also benefit from this decision as people will be prosecuted if they break this law.”