Damage left after rave at windfarm
POLICE cleared a rave held at a windfarm in Rhondda Cynon Taff on Sunday morning following complaints of “noisy music” from local residents.
South Wales Police attended the site at Mynydd Bwlfa windfarm in Hirwaun, where they estimated around 500 people to be in attendance.
Police remained at the site most of the day to ensure that those unfit to leave due to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs did so safely and to avoid further disruption.
According to the landowner, who wished to remain anonymous, this meant that some of the “ravers” were forced to stay the night at the site on Sunday.
“They said they cleaned up after themselves, and they have taken the bottles and stuff like that, but there is tissue left over from where people have gone to the toilet.
“They have also damaged two fences, which they must have brought down when accessing the site.
“We have no idea how they got there or knew about it – they would have had to drive through our neighbours’ farm before even getting to ours.”
There have been several raves recently across South Wales, one of which sparked a police warning.
The landowners were made aware of the disturbance on their land at around 9.30am Sunday morning, and said they were later informed that police had been monitoring the situation since Saturday evening.
They also said that sheep and cattle are usually in the area where the rave was held and that a flock of sheep had ran into a neighbouring field.
“We were back and forth there yesterday to check on the sheep, as we were worried they would get hit by the vans and cars leaving.
“We don’t mind people having fun – but they have damaged our fences quite badly.
“One fence post must have been rammed by a car as it was so damaged.”
People came from as far as Exeter and Devon to attend the rave. One person claimed there were around 1,000 people there altogether.
The landowners were also concerned for the safety of the partygoers, as the fence that was damaged in order for people to park their cars was blocking the entrance to a bog.
“We don’t even let animals go near there, it is so bad – you would be gone.”
The sound of the rave was reported being heard as far away as Treorchy, which is 10 miles from the site.
A spokesman for South Wales Police said officers left the area at 12.45pm on Sunday.
They spent most of the morning at the site, denying access to the area and assisting anyone who was fit to leave.
Officers invoked powers under Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act to order people to leave the site.
One man was arrested and cautioned for possessing a Class A drug.
An investigation is under way to establish if any damage was caused to the property.