This
section outlines proposals for improved timber haulage from Pentre
Forest, using the windfarm tracks, that would significantly reduce
timber lorry journeys through surrounding communities.
The
plans arose out of discussions with the Forestry Commission (FC) regarding
the windfarm. The windfarm, if permitted, would provide the opportunity
for an alternative route to haul timber extracted from the Pentre
Forestry block. The current planned route involves hundreds of lorry
journeys over several years passing through residential streets in
Maerdy and Aberdare. This would be avoided by the proposed alternative
route across the windfarm.
The
scheme would capitalise on the windfarm assets with little additional
works required to obtain the benefits.
The
Pentre forestry block is situated above Pentre on the Cefn-y-Rhondda
ridge between the Rhondda Fach and Rhondda Fawr (See Figure 5.1).
The Pentre forestry block is isolated from the larger area of FC estate
to the north-west.
The
current timber haulage route is shown in Figure 5.1. The route involves
timber being hauled on lorry’s through residential streets in
Maerdy, then on the A4233 over the hill top to Aberdare; through the
centre of Aberdare, before joining the higher grade A-roads of the
A4059 and the A465(T). The FC have a legal right of way from Pentre
Road, Maerdy and also a prescriptive right of way across land owned
by RCT at Wood Street.
The
current route presents some negative issues:
- There may be
disturbance to residents in Maerdy and Aberdare from timber lorries.
- There may be
disruption to road users on the A4233. The A4233 has steep slopes
and tight hairpin bends that will require negotiation by lorries
that may slow other traffic.
- The A4233 through
Aberdare goes through the commercial heart of the town and involves
narrow congested roads especially entering Aberdare.
Table 5.1 and Graph 5.1 show the volume of lorry movements planned
over the next 25 years:
Table
5.1
| 5
Year Period |
Lorry
Load |
Lorry
Journey (each way) |
| 2006 |
0 |
0 |
| 2007
- 2011 |
512 |
1024 |
| 2012
- 2016 |
106 |
212 |
| 2017
- 2021 |
172 |
344 |
| 2022
- 2026 |
106 |
212 |
| 2027
- 2031 |
194 |
388 |
| TOTAL 2007-2031 |
1,090 |
2,180 |
Graph 5.1: Timber Lorry Journeys
Although
the figures give an indication of movements for each 5 year period,
the working practices of the FC tend to concentrate the harvesting
of each 5 year period into a single working year; i.e. there is likely
to be intensive harvesting / haulage activity in one year in each
5 year period.
Figure
5.1: Current and Proposed Timber Haulage Routes
The
Maerdy Windfarm is located on land to the northwest of Maerdy, between
the Maerdy coal tip and the Tynewydd Forest. The location of the windfarm
provides a link between the Pentre forest block and the rest of the
FC estate and, hence, an alternative timber haulage route.
The
alternative route is shown in Figure 5.1. Timber would be hauled across
the Maerdy coal tip, then across wind turbine access tracks, before
linking up with existing forestry tracks in the Tynewydd Forest and
out onto the A4061 Treherbert – Hirwaun road, joining the A465
(T) at Hirwaun.
The
route has several comparative benefits to the current route:
- The
route avoids passing through any communities whatsoever.
- The
route utilises the high grade A4061, which is a much better road
than the A4233 (Maerdy – Aberdare road).
This
alternative route would therefore be a significant improvement on
the current haulage route and remove substantially all the identified
issues with the current route.
The
route takes advantage of the stone access tracks put in place to reach
the wind turbines. The wind farm layout has been designed to accommodate
a track route across the site so that this timber haulage opportunity
can be taken up if so desired by all parties. (Note: this has not
been done at the expense of any environmental optimisation, but within
the constraints identified).
Once
the Tynewydd forest has been reached alternative routes through it
exist. The timber haulage lorries could take further advantage of
the upgrading work undertaken to one of the forestry roads to facilitate
the delivery of the wind turbine components. This would reduce further
the track upgrade and maintenance work that the FC have to perform
during timber haulage operations and the associated environmental
consequences.
By
using the wind turbine access tracks and the upgraded forestry road
for an alternative haulage route, best advantage would be taken off
the windfarm and impacts on communities in Maerdy and Aberdare and
local road users significantly reduced.
The
amount of additional work required to take advantage of this route
would be minimal in extent and prima facie in its environmental impact.
Additional studies may be required, but much indicative information
has been collected through the windfarm environmental impact assessment.
A
small section of additional track would be required to link the windfarm
access tracks to the Maerdy coal tip. A length of new track approximately
500m long would be required. There is, however, an existing trench
for 85% of this route (See Figure 5.2). The track would run the length
of this existing trench, minimising new land disturbance. There would
only be an estimated 80m of new track on undisturbed ground. This
route is across Council owned land adjacent to the coal tip.
The
coal tip is flat, used heavily by lorries in the past and should be
suitable for timber lorries to traverse without major upgrade. Long
term plans, exist to remodel the coal tip and if this timber haulage
scheme proceeded, it may be requested that maintenance of an access
route across the tip be incorporated into those plans. Discussions
have been held with the RCT reclamation team to make them aware of
these proposals.
Therefore
the total route would require little additional works and take advantage
of existing and proposed infrastructure:
-
High Quality A roads
-
Tynewydd Forest forestry road upgraded for Maerdy Windfarm
-
Access tracks to Maerdy Wind turbines
-
Existing trench between windfarm and coal tip
-
Existing Maerdy coal tip
Figure
5.2
Note: All approximate
The
scheme has been advised to RCT Estates Department and discussed with
them. RCT own the Maerdy coal tip and the intervening land to the
windfarm site. The department advise that the matter can be examined
further following determination of the planning application for the
windfarm.
The
Forestry Commission originally raised the alternative timber haulage
opportunity and have assisted with development of this alternative
haulage proposal. Appendix 1 contains their comments and information
regarding the scheme.
This
report outlines proposals for an alternative timber haulage route
to extract timber from Pentre Forestry Block. The alternative route
would remove over 2,000 lorry journeys through residential streets
of Maerdy and Aberdare across 5 or 6 specific harvesting years up
to 2031.
The
proposed alternative route takes advantage of access tracks built
for the proposed Maerdy Windfarm and involves minimal additional works.
Comment
on the proposal is invited.
