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Concern over Blaenavon’s World Heritage Site status

08 Jun 2023 5 minute read
Blaenavon Ironworks. Photo Mark Mansfield

Twm Owen, local democracy reporter

Windfarms, water pollution, illegal off-roading, and declining numbers of farmers grazing sheep have all been identified in an official review as risks to Blaenavon’s World Heritage Site status.

Blaenavon and its surrounding area was granted World Heritage Site status by United Nations cultural body UNESCO in 2000 in recognition of its international importance as the world’s major producer of iron and coal in the late 18th and the early 19th century.

The status recognises the preserved sites of Blaenavon Ironworks and the Big Pit mining museum, as well as a primitive railway system and workers’ houses and the social infrastructure as contributing to the area’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).

The Blaenavon World Heritage Partnership has had to review the site to ensure it still meets the OUV standard.

In 2021 Liverpool become only the third location to be stripped of the World Heritage status. The city’s waterfront held the status but new developments, including the new football stadium, now under construction, for English Premier League side Everton, were considered to threaten its unique qualities.

A report, presented to Torfaen Borough Council’s cabinet, said as part of the review of the status a 300 question questionnaire had to be completed – and it had been concluded the OUV of the Blaenavon site has been maintained and remains intact.

But it found eight, of 82 factors that could negatively affect the status, are considered current or potential risks. Five, of those eight, were identified as relevant at the last review in 2013.

Wind turbines

The report said the potential impact of renewable energy facilities, such as wind turbines, has increased from “minor” to “significant” during the 10-year period, with a number of large scale wind farms, termed as Developments of National Significance, currently proposed close to the site boundary.

The report warns: “There is the potential for cumulative visual impact on the upland area of the World Heritage Site which may negatively impact upon the attributes which convey OUV.”

It says the world heritage partnership will try to minimise any negative visual impact through the planning system but the risk is out of its control.

Landscape crime, such as illegal off-roading, is also reported as having increased since the last review, while the risk of arson and fires in upland areas is a further risk.

A Gwent Police officer is due to be seconded to work with Torfaen and other local councils to address off-roading, funded from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, while land management, such as creating fire breaks, are intended to manage the risk of wildfires. Land management is also intended to address the risk of bracken in the uplands, which is described as a “hyper-abundant species”.

But a decline in the number of commoners using the uplands for grazing sheep, which contributes to the management of the landscape and maintaining its open character, is one of the three new risks identified.

The report says the risk from declining numbers of commoners is “extensive” and “significant” but says the trend is “static” and they are supported through a management group and funding for land management from the ‘Dragons Teeth’ micro-hydro scheme.

Linked to the decline is the risk from changes in traditional ways of life and the loss of knowledge systems and land management practices. It says while long term management plans are in place to address this further resources are required to fully implement them.

Pollution

The third new risk identified is ground water pollution due to an adverse impact on ferrous structures of materials laid to the lower yard of Blaenavon Ironworks. Remedial works to remove the material is planned by heritage body Cadw in 2023/24. The impact is considered to be “insignificant” given the “restricted” area affected and the risk can be removed once the work is completed.

Rainfall is also a risk to the area’s scheduled monuments but these are monitored and work to improve drainage is ongoing.

Ten management actions have also been recommended, including making better use of UNESCO policies and advice and improving implementation of a tourism strategy.

Cllr Sue Morgan, the cabinet member for finance, said many had doubted the status would be awarded in 2000.

The Labour member for Pontnewydd, Cwmbran said: “The status has been to the advantage of Torfaen as a whole, and Blaenavon in particular, and reminds us all we can think big and have big dreams for Torfaen.”

Leader Anthony Hunt said people travel “from quite far away” to ride-off road bikes and quads and cause damage to the landscape and livestock but was pleased action is being taken.

The Panteg councillor said: “I think we should rightly be proud of the World Heritage Status in Blaenavon these are not ten a penny and is something we should cherish as a local authority.”

The UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport will have to submit the final review to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by July 31 this year.


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Mark
Mark
9 months ago

The whole place is a gem. It has what I regard as real history. Not kings, queen’s, generals or commanders but tells the story of ordinary and common people, the ordeals they endured, the efforts they made to improve their lives and the legacy they left us both morraly and politically which still affects us all today. It is a shame they cannot make a film or a TV series based upon Alexander Cordell’s book Rape of the fair country which is based in this area. The interest and publicity it would create would go through the roof and would… Read more »

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
9 months ago
Reply to  Mark

A TV series is a great idea, I hope it gets picked up, maybe Mr Sheen could put a word in…

Last edited 9 months ago by Mab Meirion
Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas
9 months ago

When visiting my friends in Brynmawr we often walk in this area. It’s an absolute nightmare round there for people on scrambler bikes now. It’s a shame, as an ex-miner I love the industrial history of that area and think Big Pit is a fantastic museum. Wildlife is also brilliant round there, very diverse, the Grayling butterfly, in steep decline in most places is absolutely thriving around Garn-yr-Erw. Yet the experience of walking there is ruined by noisy two-stroke engines; there are Cuckoos there but you’d be hard pressed to hear them. We really must recognise the value and protect… Read more »

George Bodley
George Bodley
9 months ago

Its quite incredible that the Garndyrrus ironworks site workers houses were occupied until 1931 the remains of which can be seen below the ironworks site.

Charles Coombes
Charles Coombes
9 months ago

Disagree with comments about windfarms. They are the creating energy for thexway we live now, much as Blaenavon did.
Agree that off road motir biking does a vast amount of damage and associated harm.

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
9 months ago

Yes agree that the Wind Farms are necessary to support our electric carbon neutral lifestyles BUT they should be Cymric not foreign owned, should be placed with sensitivity in relation to such things as Blaenafon. If the off-road biker activity is illegal (are they on private land without permission?) then why are the police not stepping in and doling out fines and bike conviscations? That would soon sort out the problem. Another strand is to check if it is a Club that is encouraging bikers to use the area. Pressure on the Club to be responsible citizens might actually work… Read more »

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