Llwydfan
Pont Rufeinig
Dolwyddelan
Conwy
LL25 0JG

Tel/Fax: 01690-750-368
rogerlatham@rsla.giointernet.co.uk

01 November 2004

Dear  Sir

Re: Proposed Transportation of Slate waste

I wish to state my objections to the removal of secondary aggregates (i.e. slate waste) from Blaenau Ffestiniog in the neighbouring county of Gwynedd.

Shown below are some photos I took of the 18 wagon Freightliner Heavy Haul test train, taken from inside my home, on the afternoon of Sunday the 17th November 2002.

The combined train weight was almost 2000 tonnes according to the article titled “Slate waste traffic” at www.penmorfa.com.

I attended the public meeting regarding this issue at Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy, Llanrwst on Friday the 29th October 2004.

After listening to the views of all parties, I remain strongly opposed to this scheme as I still fail to understand one thing: why is it necessary to remove the slate waste in the first place?

How can it be sustainable to transport all this waste as far as Greater Manchester and the West Midlands in England?

I believe the anticipated cost of the project has already increased to approximately £64 million (and no doubt it will continue to creep upwards).

£64 million (?) pounds is an awful lot of money to create an estimated 48 jobs in Gwynedd, at the expense of an estimated 133 jobs in Conwy.

With regard to this project, the Alfred McAlpine company has one overwhelming vested interest: to make as much profit as possible out of this slate waste, in addition to the profits already being accrued as “the world’s major producer of natural slate” as they modestly proclaim.

I have lived adjacent to the Conwy Valley railway since 1955 and can vividly remember the old freight trains hauled by small, steam tank locomotives.
The scale of those freight trains cannot be compared with the huge monsters that are being proposed for this idyllic, rural and peaceful country branch line.

I have expressed my fears, together with many other concerned residents, about the probability of structural damage to our homes by these massive freight trains. This damage is not limited to adjacent homes, it also extends to local schools, churches, chapels, community centres, etc. as well as the dry-stone walls bordering the line. These walls are approximately 130 years old, and in poor condition. Permitting daily freight trains of around 2,000 tonnes to use this line will shake these walls to rubble and cause a serious threat to our local farmer’s livestock, other animals and children, etc.

Mr Elfyn Llwyd’s response to our very real fears, was to flippantly recommend that every one who owns a property along the entire length of this line, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have a structural survey undertaken, at their personal expense, wait for ‘freight train damage’ to affect their properties and then try to obtain some sort of compensation.

The silence emanating from the McAlpine camp shows a cynical disregard for the fears and quality of life of the ordinary people who will be affected by this lucrative slate waste removal scheme (whether it be by road or rail) – their vested interest being more profit.

I was utterly amazed that the Snowdonia National Park Authority (SNPA) had no representative at the Llanrwst public meeting. If a resident of the Snowdonia National Park wished to create, for example, an additional window in their property, they would need to complete 6 application forms, plus other associated paper work (and fee!), forward their application for approval by committee and convince various relevant parties that the additional window would not be an eyesore, etc.

Yet, the daily running of noisy, polluting and massive freight trains along a scenic branch line, inside their own national park, appears to be of no consequence.

The Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales (CPRW) in its recent booklet entitled “I Care for Wales …do you?” has contributions from HRH the Prince of Wales and several other celebrated and famous people passionately praising Wales for its scenic beauty, the richness of its culture and the depth of its history and traditions.

HRH the Prince of Wales contributes:

“The landscapes of Wales are a precious natural asset, which need to be protected and enhanced. We are rapidly losing so much of what is left of our local culture and environment and when we finally wake up and find it is all gone, it will not be possible to re-invent it”.

As you proceed from Betws-y-Coed, up the beautiful Lledr Valley, and towards the heart of Snowdonia, the scenery is second to none. People come from all over the World to enjoy it, by road and rail. After passing through Dolwyddelan, the landscape becomes unspoilt and wild – it would be sacrilege to industrialise this Welsh jewel in this beautiful country of ours.

The income from tourism in Wales is substantial. People come to Wales for its charms, its castles and its outstanding beauty. They pay good money to experience unspoilt country villages, roads and “little railways” together with unpolluted air, peace and tranquillity – a rare commodity these days.

The last thing this area needs is the go-ahead for this project, especially at the expense of the tourist trade which brings in so much revenue. Looking to the future, there is so much scope to boost the income from tourism; with the completion of the Welsh Highland Railway, with the right backing, it could be possible for visitors and locals to board a (steam?) train at Llandudno Junction and travel to Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Caernarfon and back, using three different railway systems.

Surely something like this would make far better use of Objective 1 money, and create more jobs, as opposed to boosting a private company’s profits?

Again, quoting from the CPRW’s booklet, Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas comments:

“On the other side of the Pass the fantastic slate heaps of Blaenau Ffestiniog can be seen – reminding us of our industrial past”. He also adds “Some think that the pyramids of slate are an eyesore, but they are an important reminder of our history”.

I return to my original question: why is it necessary to remove the slate waste in the first place?

Yours sincerely,

(Roger S. Latham)

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