[Closed] Bye bye Brechfa

11.39. No questionnaire responses from mountain biking groups

ps rest of the info in on the RWE web site including plans - another little area of peace and tranquility lost.

Mountain Bike Trails
11.49. Approximately 1.2km of the Gorlech mountain bike trail (approximately 6% of the overall length), which is suitable for intermediate mountain bikers, will be used as access tracks for the proposed development and there are two points within the site boundary where sections of new access track will crossthe mountain bike trail. Because of the nature of the trail (i.e.
one-way system), it may be necessary for the trail to be closed at times during the construction period. As such there is the potential for temporary impacts on users of this trail during the construction of the wind farm. This is considered to be of moderate adverse significance. The other mountain bike trails are a sufficient distance from the proposed development that they will not experience any adverse impacts.

No questionnaire responses from mountain biking groups were received

Have seen how these things pan out elsewhere probably find half the Gorlech trail closed without notice. It appears that what is being said is that the green and the blue trail are a substitute for any impact on the red, Gorlech trail.

I cycle at Brechfa every week and it is a great place for peace quiet which is going to be lost.

Reading the report, I don't see where it becomes "bye bye brechfa"? Temporary (and probably fairly long-term) closure but not destruction, and since they're talking about access only I'm assuming that it's fire-road sections. Some talk of including diversions too.

bye bye in terms of another area being ruined by these white elephants.

From what i just read its only a small part of the Gorlech. At Afan, the energy company are going to build a whopper of a trail in return for them putting up some turbines. I think that's a great deal. They can stick one in my garden if they decorate my house for me.

Believe it when you see it at afan. It was supposed to be in place prior to construction of the wind farm but i believe the developer has managed to find a way out of that.

Also bye bye in terms of the deforestation and development ruining the 'feel' of the place.

Or maybe the Afan trail is in already its just used by JCB racing

Unfortunately, it seems that this how it is from now on. The same elements that make a good trail centre are also attractive for windfarm developers. Afan, Nant y Arian ( with more proposed for the area north of Nant y Moch), and now Brechfa will all have windfarms close by. Are they all bad though? Some temporary disruption, and after that, will the turbines really make a difference to your enjoyment of Brechfa? most sections of the trails are within the trees so i'm guessing the long term eye sore impact will be pretty low.

When this happening? Have booked a cottage near there in the summer.

Planning was only passed today, so recon you'll be ok for the summer

FC have stated there'll be no clearfelling to accomodate the turbines- felling is to be kept to a minimum using existing cleared areas. Whether that actually happens or not is another question o'course but the area marked out for the East development does enclose a big chunk of unforested land.

yes, they really will make a difference to my enjoyment of Brechfa but hey ho. It would be interesting to find out who the mtb consultee was.

Nipper, if you ever fancy a blast round there give me a shout. I'm in pembs.

So, we lose 6% of the Gorlech trail in exchange for some wind turbines?
And the other trails won't be affected?

So we get wind energy and lose less than 2km of red trail?

And this is bad why?

Seems cracking to me. Better than the ****ing awful gas power station that they've just built to heat up Milford Haven near me, ignoring several environmental impact assessments.

After looking at this [url= http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/515242/data/306042/1/rwe-innogy/sites/wind-onshore/united-kingdom/in-development/project-locations/blob.pdf ]map[/url] it looks likely to have an impact on the first climb, wooded singletrack and descent section

Nothing against the windfarms but with most of these trail closures, a small amount of work to take the trail by a different route would largely keep it fully useable to MTBers - I wonder how many people read these threads & decide to go elsewhere for a ride.

I doubt that this is the end for Brechfa, or anything like it. what annoys me is that none of us were aware of it. Any half-serious consultation would have made it to STW and Bikeradar. They clearly got away without a proper attempt to seek views from MTBers. How did that happen and how do we stop it happening again?

From what I know (not speculation, like many on here), the majority of the Gorlech trail will be closed because although the trail itself will only be slightly affected, vehicle access will close the route as it is because of safety issues.

A diversion will be set up, but this will dramatically reduce the distance, meaning it won't be a very worthwhile ride. I believe new sections will be rebuilt following the work, but no details have been released about this.

The Green, Blue and Black trails will not be affected as far as I am aware.
Brechfa Bike Club were made aware of the wind farm and as a group we had spoken to RWE about alternative diversions to improve the quality of a temporary route and also suggested building a new trail first so that it could stay open and still be worth riding.

My understanding was that the turbines at Brechfa East where the Gorlech trail is haven't been approved yet, only the turbines in Brechfa West where there are no official MTB trails???

If the Gorlech does end up temporarily closed/shortened it would be a pain, but it's not like we aren't spoilt with loads of other good riding locally!

My understanding was that the turbines at Brechfa East where the Gorlech trail is haven't been approved yet, only the turbines in Brechfa West where there are no official MTB trails

The site area for Brechfa Forest East covers a large part of the Gorlech trail, and construction work is stated as being "likely to be completed over 19 months", so including the felling that will take place prior to construction the Gorlech trail will be considerably foreshortened for a period of about 2 years.
A map of the site area is included at the end of the [url= http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/571562/data/306034/4/rwe-innogy/sites/wind-onshore/united-kingdom/in-development/brechfa-forest/Brechfa-Forest-East-Non-Technical-Summary-English.pdf ]summary document from RWE[/url]

Isn't this like moaning that someone has changed the wallpaper down at the local gym?

Why not just buy an OS map and get out into the countryside for some mountain biking in real mountains?

From what I know (not speculation, like many on here), the majority of the Gorlech trail will be closed because although the trail itself will only be slightly affected, vehicle access will close the route as it is because of safety issues.

A diversion will be set up, but this will dramatically reduce the distance, meaning it won't be a very worthwhile ride. I believe new sections will be rebuilt following the work, but no details have been released about this.

The Green, Blue and Black trails will not be affected as far as I am aware.
Brechfa Bike Club were made aware of the wind farm and as a group we had spoken to RWE about alternative diversions to improve the quality of a temporary route and also suggested building a new trail first so that it could stay open and still be worth riding.

So its not the end of the World then is it.

Its a temporary inconvenience at best, at the worst theres a wind-farm there now. Hardly a big deal...

So, we lose 6% of the Gorlech trail in exchange for some wind turbines?
And the other trails won't be affected?

So we get wind energy and lose less than 2km of red trail?

And this is bad why?

Seems cracking to me. Better than the **** awful gas power station that they've just built to heat up Milford Haven near me, ignoring several environmental impact assessments.

Exactly.

Brechfa Bike Club did speak to RWE and directed us to the FC Wales, an alternative route for the Red Gorlech trail was put forward but was rejected by the FCW as they didn't want a legacy! we also spoke to Carmarthenshire CC! RWE left it to the FCW and took on board their plan for the trail!

To be fair RWE only accepted what the FCW put to them! I wont tell you what the local FC manager want's to do to the trails on a public forum! but has anyone wondered why Brechfa isn't part of Cognation?

I wont tell you what the local FC manager want's to do to the trails on a public forum!

In all fairness said disclosure can only be in MTB interests surely.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-21760773

So its not the end of the World then is it.

Its a temporary inconvenience at best, at the worst theres a wind-farm there now. Hardly a big deal...

I think the major issue is that it will have a direct effect on businesses, especially those in Abergorlech near the Gorlech trail. There are many places that were started to take advantage of the amount of Mountain Bikers coming to the area.

Alternative suggestions have been made that would have kept the trail at a good standard during the work, but these have been largely ignored. It is not a case of "not in our back yard", more a case of why reasonable suggestions have been flatly ignored.

I think the major issue is that it will have a direct effect on businesses, especially those in Abergorlech near the Gorlech trail. There are many places that were started to take advantage of the amount of Mountain Bikers coming to the area.

Alternative suggestions have been made that would have kept the trail at a good standard during the work, but these have been largely ignored. It is not a case of "not in our back yard", more a case of why reasonable suggestions have been flatly ignored.

Yep, Ill agree with that.

We really need an advocacy group, BC isn't up to the task.

+1

The East development will affect a large part of the Gorlech trail, only the last 2 sections of singletrack will be left in place, the rest will be in the construction zone and out of bounds, but the East development hasn't been approved yet! so [u]no start date[/u].

We weren't against the development, only tried to secure the best for the Trails and failed miserably! But at least we tried!

We really need an advocacy group, BC isn't up to the task.

[url= http://imba.org.uk ]IMBA UK[/url]

Did they know anything about it?

I know what I'd prefer.

a) 1.2km of trail for grown ups to play at bicycles on.

or

b) a source of power that is environmentally friendly, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and will go some way toward cleaning up the mess that the baby boomer generation has made for my generation to live in.

Yes, it would definitely be 1.2km of trail 🙄

munrobiker - Member

I know what I'd prefer.

a) 1.2km of trail for grown ups to play at bicycles on.

or

b) a source of power that is environmentally friendly, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and will go some way toward cleaning up the mess that the baby boomer generation has made for my generation to live in.

Yes, it would definitely be 1.2km of trail

From the hilltop (at 200m) five minutes ride from my house I'll soon be able to see 'environmentally friendly' windfarms on every single piece of high ground surrounding this city.

There's loads around where I live. Would you rather look at this, the smoke of which can be seen across entire counties?

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Since you live in a city, what view exactly are they spoiling?

Since you live in a city, what view exactly are they spoiling?

I have typed about six responses to this, but deleted them all in favour of -

What a stupid comment! 🙄

You do understand that when you go to high ground you can see along way, don't you?

(And the windfarms I've referred to AREN'T a long way away.)

Reading the report, I don't see where it becomes "bye bye brechfa"? Temporary (and probably fairly long-term) closure but not destruction, and since they're talking about access only I'm assuming that it's fire-road sections. Some talk of including diversions too.

This.

They can stick one in my garden if they decorate my house for me.

And this.

niloC - is it worth making further representations to Carms CC. What is the FC manager's view on the trails?

Nipper DM me, addy in profile if you want to know what we tried, too long winded for here!

munrobiker - Member

There's loads around where I live. Would you rather look at this, the smoke of which can be seen across entire counties?

I'd rather we had already invested in nuclear power plants instead of sticking up a bunch of pointless windmills that produce such little electricity we end up buying all our power from the French.

I live in Carmarthenshire. It's filled with some beautiful countryside and I feel lucky to experience it on a daily basis. The Brechfa turbines will be visually intrusive, from great distances- I know, a whole bunch of them are currently being erected on Mynydd yr Gwair, just above where I live.

We are a VERY energy hungry nation. Producing electricity by traditional means (esp. by burning fossil fuels) is no longer a wholly acceptable option and as such alternative methods of sustaining our lifestyles need to be sought. Efforts are being made to improve energy efficiency- e.g. 'better' appliances, more highly insulated buildings, retro- fitting improvements etc. Many of these can/ have been grant-aided. However, when all is said and done, we have a finite quantity of hydro-carbons available to us (what ever that may be, figures are conflicting) so it seems to make sense to delay their consumption as much as possible and to reduce CO2 output as well.

I was wholly unaware of the planned schemes at Brechfa and annoyed! that I missed the consultation. I'd have voiced support for the scheme overall but would have suggested that an alternative MTB route/ routes were put in place during construction work.

As others have implied, 'Bye bye Brechfa' is a strong title. Local providers are making a living from the MTB trails and may well be hit by closures- they will also be hit by carelessly worded internet threads.

Brechfa is a working forest that has several roles to play. These roles continue to evolve. Initially timber for pit props and trench warfare, later for pulp, later still for construction timber. Only relatively recently has the remit for providing a pleasant landscape come in, and even more recent still, the provision of leisure activities. And as yet, all of these at Brechfa are provided free of additional charge.

I'm not complaining about the turbines. It is a shame that the way they are to be constructed seems to be going to damage people's livelihoods, albeit on a temporary basis.

If we dont get energy affordably in the future you and I wont even oafford a bike to ride on the trails. Sad but true.

From the hilltop (at 200m) five minutes ride from my house I'll soon be able to see 'environmentally friendly' windfarms on every single piece of high ground surrounding this city.

And a couple of decades ago you would have seen slag heaps, tramways and pitheads.

I'd still go to Brechfa to ride the black and the blue trails, especially with Cwm Rhaeader and some great natural riding so near.

I know what I'd prefer.

a) 1.2km of trail for grown ups to play at bicycles on.

or

b) a source of power that is environmentally friendly, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels and will go some way toward cleaning up the mess that the baby boomer generation has made for my generation to live in.

Yes, it would definitely be 1.2km of trail

What, as opposed to a nice green nuclear plant - which can power hundreds of times the area at a hundreds of times smaller physical footprint? Instead of something idiot hippies thought up?

10 quid partly cynical partly humorous bet says that Wind farms will end up contributing to global warming fairly significantly and If you don't get why look up the theory.

A lot of you are basing your assumptions on wind turbine technology from a decade ago. They are much, much more powerful now and the old "they take more power to make than they will ever produce" argument is now nonsense.

Yes, nuclear is the real answer, but the general public is too thick to realise that and so wind power is filling some very small holes.

Yes, nuclear is the real answer

My only concern with Nuclear...

Is what do we do with the waste??

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