Big Spring Clean Visits Gelligaer Common

A group of volunteers recently visited Gelligaer and Merthyr Common as part of the Big Spring Clean initiative to tackle fly tipping. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A total of 26 volunteers collected over 200 bags of rubbish and recycling, as well as several tonnes of larger items including tyres and commercial waste. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The volunteers came from a number of organisations including Caerphilly County Borough Council, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council, Keep Wales Tidy, Fly-Tipping Action Wales, Gelligaer and District Young Farmers Club, Biffa Waste, Miller Argent, Gwent Police and the Probation Service. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The clean-up took place following a recent meeting of the Cwm a Mynydd Agricultural Network, where members requested an awareness raising event to address the increasing anti-social behaviour that is blighting common land. Fly grazing, off road bike/quad bike riding and fly tipping all present a danger to members of the public who use the land for legal recreational activity such as walking and mountain biking, as well as livestock which grazes the land. This anti-social behaviour also presents an eyesore for both residents and visitors to the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event was organised by the Cwm a Mynydd team which is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities-Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Julie Smith, a member of the Caerphilly Activity Group and volunteer on the day of the clean-up said: “It is so sad that our beautiful countryside is seen by some as a place to dump their rubbish. This land is our heritage and we should protect it, not destroy it”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Sustainable Development said: “Thank you to everyone who attended the clean-up on Gelligaer and Merthyr Common. Fly tipping within the county borough cannot be tolerated, as it blights our precious countryside and creates a health and safety hazard to members of the public and the livestock who call the common land home”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Further clean-up events are planned on other commons within the borough, starting with Eglwyslian Common in July. Anyone who wishes to become involved can contact the Cwm a Mynydd Team on 01443 838632. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To report instances of fly tipping within Caerphilly county borough please contact Caerphilly Street Pride on 01443 866566. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​