VILLAGERS have been left fuming after their “beauty spot” has been ruined by a massive steel fence.
The 200m metal wall was erected along in 2020 and cuts across the Gilwern Mountain in Monmouthshire, .
It's been dubbed the “Great Wall of Clydach” by locals who have demanded the council remove it and return the back to its original state.
In a heated meeting on Wednesday, residents fumed as insisted the steel wall was put in place to block off a road it says is at risk of collapse.
conceded that the barrier could be lowered or painted green in an attempt to make it less of an eye-sore but villagers were left unimpressed with one calling the fence “disgusting”.
Many have insisted the fence be pulled down straight away despite the council's original plan to keep it up for nine months.
According to the authority, its placement is a protective measure – safeguarding locals from potential rockfalls onto the road.
This comes as a was recorded in the area in 2023.
But for many angry locals, the fence's visual impact is devastating – with some even arguing that the glare from its metallic surface could lead to car accidents.
Former county councillor Martin Thomas told Wales Online: “What about the visual impact?
“It could cause the first fatality on the Heads of the Valleys road with people looking up at the glare, that's how bad it is.”
Another raging resident said: “You don't understand if you think that's okay to put that fence up there.”
Others expressed frustration over the lack of communication around the fence's installation, which is believed to have cost £40,000.
Meanwhile, locals raised concerns over the fence's potential impact on local wildlife saying it might harm their breeding practices.
Villagers took the localpage to update each other in lieu of any official information, complaining about the design and lack of consultation, with many pointing out the fencing’s ‘inadequacy’.
Linda Lane wrote: “Heritage Site, you’re having a laugh. Absolutely hideous spoilt a beautiful area, how have you let them get away with this !!!
“If it’s supposed to be unsafe,by the look of that you will be walking on the unsafe side too.”;
Thomas Humphreys added: “National Parks... what a joke, they come down on residents like a ton of bricks for painting your windows the wrong colour then allow something like this, shocking!”;
While Wayne Elliott shared: “I noted it going up early in the week and e-mailed the local authority as they previously agreed to have open dialogue with the community before further acting in regard to the roads temporary closure.
A spokesperson for Bannau Brycheniog National Park said: “We can confirm we have received an enforcement complaint, and we are investigating it further.”;
A further public meeting has been arranged for May 14.
