Gates reappear blocking a popular path, sparking outrage. Locals fight for access, claiming decades of use.
The community is upset about this gate issue and wants access to the nearby forest, which belongs to Natural Resources Wales (NRW). A petition and a Facebook group have been started, with some people advocating for it to be officially designated as a public path.
The council maintains that the path is on private land and not a registered public right of way. Residents have contacted their councilors, their MS, MP, the local authority, and NRW for help. Locals say people, including dog walkers, cyclists, riders, and even school groups, have used the path for decades, often remembering walking it as kids.
David Williams, 49, who lives near the path, says people have used it for 80 years and worries about the potential loss of access. Three years ago, Sport RCT advertised the walk, highlighting its valley views, with the route going over the now-blocked private path.
David hopes the path will become a public right of way, as the access point has been used for over 20 years and is the only way to reach that part of the mountain. This blockage also impacts cyclists and riders trying to access other areas.
They’re gathering proof of long-term public use to support their request for public right of way status. The petition has already gathered almost 2,000 signatures, requesting continued public access to the forest path. Police officers went to Vicarage Terrace and dealt with a dispute between two men, which was resolved without further action.
An NRW spokesperson is aware of the access problem and is looking into their legal position, promising an update soon. The council reiterated that the gates are on private land, their height is within regulations, and they will not comment on legal agreements regarding access rights.