Misplaced Pages

#908091

64-629: The pipeline was expected to cost around £700 million, and was, according to the National Grid, expected to transport around 20% of the gas needed to meet UK consumption in future. Construction of the pipeline was estimated to take approximately three years, aiming to end in October 2007. Environmental controversy surrounded the decision to build it, especially through sections of the Brecon Beacons National Park where

128-528: A "critical" part of future energy needs on 7 February 2007 by the Department of Trade and Industry . The route includes unstable areas such as Trebanos , liable to landslide and earthquake due to extensive historic mineworkings, which are deemed too dangerous for mains gas to be piped to local homes. Local people raised concerns and permission was denied in November 2006, but the pipeline was still laid in

192-407: A "huge blow". Most of the national park is bare, grassy moorland grazed by Welsh mountain ponies and Welsh mountain sheep , with scattered forestry plantations , and pasture in the valleys. Common ravens , red kites , peregrine falcons , northern wheatears , ring ouzels , and the rare merlin breeds in the park. The Brecon Beacons National Park was established in 1957, the third of

256-466: A bilingual nation as it did not treat English and Welsh languages equally, and ambassadors of the park were not consulted on the name change. A digital marketer dismissed the campaigner's argument, stating tourism would not be impacted, and the national park authority stated they are prioritising Welsh names going forward. Llyswen Llyswen is a small village in Powys , Wales on the west bank of

320-558: A continuous massif of high ground above 300 metres (1000'). The A470 road forms the approximate boundary between the central Beacons and Fforest Fawr. The highest peak of the Black Mountain is Fan Brycheiniog , at 802.5 metres (2,633 ft). There are notable waterfalls in this area, including the 90-foot (27 m) Henrhyd Falls and the Ystradfellte falls to the south of Fforest Fawr. The Ogof Ffynnon Ddu cave system

384-499: A few suppliers such as Russia. This energy security concern accounted for the great rapidity in planning of the pipeline route, starting in 2003, as existing South Wales pipelines were too small to transport the gas needed from the planned terminals. An alternative subsea route using similar technology to the Langeled pipeline , which was being planned and built at the same time, was ruled out for expense reasons. Critics suggested that

448-426: A iiii. or v. myles of Monemuth , and on the other side as nere to Cairmerdin ( Carmarthen ). Though this be al one montayne, yet many partes of him have sundry names. Leland ascribes the name "Banne Brekeniauc" to the hills surrounding "Artures Hille" (Pen-y-Fan), also calling the range the "Banne Hilles". The term "Brecknock Beacons" was used in the eighteenth century and referred to the area around Pen y Fan, which

512-543: A reservoir. Local councils such as Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council were pressured to speed up planning permission. Planning decisions were pushed through, as in the case of the Cilfrew Pressure Reduction Installation which was approved only by excluding certain protesting councillors from the vote, a process deemed illegal by a high court judge saying "it is a wonder that anybody votes on anything". The result of this decision led

576-581: A significant role during the Industrial Revolution as various raw materials including limestone, silica sand and ironstone were quarried for transport southwards to the furnaces of the industrialising South Wales Valleys . The Brecon Beacons Mountain Centre was opened in 1966 to help visitors understand and enjoy the area. This western half of the national park gained European and global status in 2005 as Fforest Fawr Geopark , which includes

640-520: A slightly smaller area than it does presently. A 'Variation Order' was made in June 1966 to extend it by about 4.5 square miles (12 km ) at its southeastern extremity. West of the canal, the boundary had previously been drawn along the boundary between the (then) administrative parishes of Llanover and Goytre. The park is managed by Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, a special purpose local authority with responsibilities to conserve and enhance

704-707: Is 1220 mm (48 inches). Construction began on this section in February 2007. The contractor for the Felindre to Brecon section was Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture and for Brecon to Tirley section, Murphy Pipelines Ltd. The contentious nature of this section led to consultations with key statutory bodies, such as the Countryside Council for Wales , English Nature , the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority ,

SECTION 10

#1732793672909

768-516: Is 1220 mm (48 inches). It runs to Aberdulais where, at the Cilfrew Pressure Reduction Installation, pressure is reduced so that gas can flow into the existing pipeline network serving south Wales. The contractor is Nacap Land & Marine Joint Venture. Starting from a new compressor station at Felindre near Swansea the pipeline runs to Corse near Tirley, Gloucestershire , where it connects with

832-585: Is a national park in Wales. It is named after the Brecon Beacons ( Welsh : Bannau Brycheiniog ), the mountain range at its centre. The national park includes the highest mountain in South Wales, Pen y Fan , which has an elevation of 886 metres (2,907 ft). The national park has a total area of 1,344 square kilometres (519 sq mi). The Brecon Beacons and Fforest Fawr uplands form

896-547: Is also a standards committee with three members. Between 1995 and 2020 the park authority had 24 members, sixteen appointed by the local authorities and eight by the government. Outdoor activities in Brecon Beacons National Park include walking , cycling , mountain biking and horse riding , as well as sailing , windsurfing , canoeing , fishing , rock climbing , hang-gliding , caravanning , camping and caving . A long-distance cycling route,

960-590: Is growing at such a rate, that analysis shows that the UK will become increasingly dependent upon imported gas over the coming years." This depletion was predicted by Hubbert peak theory . As a result, the energy policy of the United Kingdom is likely to become an increasingly important issue and importation of liquid natural gas from the Middle East will help diversify UK energy supplies otherwise dependent on

1024-498: Is located two miles (3 km) north of Merthyr Tydfil town centre. Mountain rescue in south Wales is provided by five volunteer groups, with the police having overall command. In serious situations they were historically aided by Royal Navy or Royal Air Force helicopters from RM Chivenor or RAF Valley , but since 2015 this task has been performed by Bristow Helicopters on behalf of HM Coastguard . The five groups are: The groups are funded primarily by donations. Their work

1088-505: Is not restricted to mountain rescue – they frequently assist the police in their search for missing or vulnerable people in the community. The Brecon Beacons are used for training members of the UK armed forces and military reservists . The Army ’s Infantry Battle School is located at Brecon, and the Special Air Service (SAS) and Special Boat Service use the area to test the fitness of applicants. An exercise unique to

1152-442: Is on the southwestern edge of Fforest Fawr. Numerous town and community councils operate within these areas and include the town councils for Brecon and Hay on Wye and the community councils for Cefn-coed-y-cymmer , Llanfihangel Cwmdu with Bwlch and Cathedine , Llangattock , Llangors , Llanthony , Llywel , Pontsticill , Pontsarn and Vaynor , Talybont-on-Usk , Trallong , Trecastle and Ystradfellte . The geology of

1216-518: Is shewn by ourselves." Following the Norman invasion of Wales , Llyswen became subject to the Marcher Lords and in the 12th century formed part of the lands of Walter de Clifford . Most villages in the area were fortified with a motte-and-bailey castle and a possible site for Llyswen Castle has been identified, though no supporting documentary evidence exists. Llangoed Hall to the north of

1280-524: Is the highest of the Black Mountain. The park was founded in 1957 and is the third and most recently designated national park in Wales , after Snowdonia (Eryri) and the Pembrokeshire Coast . It is visited by approximately 4.4 million people each year. The name Bannau Brycheiniog is first attested in the sixteenth century, and 'Brecon Beacons' first occurs in the eighteenth century as "Brecknock Beacons". Bannau Brycheiniog derives from

1344-823: The Black Mountains in the east, the Brecon Beacons and Fforest Fawr uplands in the centre, and the Black Mountain in the west. The park is entirely within Wales and therefore excludes the Olchon Valley and Black Hill , which are part of the Black Mountains but in the English county of Herefordshire . The central Brecon Beacons range comprises six main peaks, which from west to east are: Corn Du, 873 metres (2,864 ft); Pen y Fan,

SECTION 20

#1732793672909

1408-535: The Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales, despite repeated objections from the National Park Authority. The Park contains a number of environmentally sensitive areas in the UK, including numerous sites of special scientific interest , and special areas of conservation like the River Usk and its tributaries. The pipeline was allowed within the Brecon Beacons National Park as it was ruled

1472-595: The Brecon Mountain Railway . The railway is a 1 ft  11 + 3 ⁄ 4  in ( 603 mm ) narrow gauge tourist railway on the south side of the Brecon Beacons. It climbs northwards from Pant along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir (also called 'Taf Fechan' reservoir by Welsh Water ) and continues past the adjoining Pentwyn Reservoir to Torpantau railway station . The railway's starting point at Pant

1536-682: The Caledonian orogeny . Further faulting and folding, particularly in the south of the park is associated with the Variscan orogeny . The area was inhabited during the Neolithic and the succeeding Bronze Age , the most obvious legacy of the latter being the numerous burial cairns which adorn the hills of the centre and west of the National Park. There are remnants of round barrows on Fan Brycheiniog, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. The former

1600-556: The Environment Agency , the Welsh Assembly Government and Blaenavon World Heritage Partnership. The pipeline was completed in November 2007, which was marked by the opening of a valve at Felindre by Government Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks . Brecon Beacons National Park Brecon Beacons National Park , officially named Bannau Brycheiniog National Park ( Welsh pronunciation ),

1664-600: The Norman font remains. Unusually, this destruction (common in the Victorian period) drew adverse comment at the time. A contemporary editorial in Archaeologia Cambrensis said: "We are sorry to hear that this ancient edifice has been pulled down...We have no right...to remove the handiwork of our forefathers...It would be better to let the old buildings, plain or ugly as they may be, pass down unscathed to our children, who will have more respect for them than

1728-610: The River Wye . It was formerly within the county of Brecknockshire and now forms part of the Community of Bronllys . The nearest town is Brecon approximately 8 miles (13 km) to the south-west. 'Llys-wen' is Welsh for "The White Court" and the settlement is first mentioned as a site of a court where the sons of Rhodri Mawr , ninth century King of the Britons, might arbitrate their differences. It has been suggested that

1792-642: The Taff Trail , passes over the Beacons on its way from Brecon to Cardiff , and in 2005 the first walk to span the entire length of the park was opened. The 99-mile (159 km) route, called the Beacons Way , runs from Abergavenny via The Skirrid ( Ysgyryd Fawr ) in the east and ends in the village of Llangadog in Carmarthenshire in the west. A railway with narrow gauge trains is run by

1856-479: The Black Mountain, the historic extent of Fforest Fawr, and much of the Brecon Beacons range and surrounding lowlands. The entire national park achieved the status of being an International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2013. In 2006 and 2007, controversy surrounded the government decision to build the South Wales Gas Pipeline through the park, the National Park Authority calling the decision

1920-554: The Brecons Beacons range from the national park, the range is sometimes called the "Central Beacons". In April 2023, the national park changed its name to Bannau Brycheiniog in English , abandoning the previous English name Brecon Beacons . The area covered by the national park stretches from Llandeilo in the west to Hay-on-Wye in the northeast and Pontypool in the southeast, covering 519 square miles (1,340 km ). It principally consists of three mountain ranges;

1984-540: The National Grid to declare a force majeure notice in April 2007 to avoid any responsibility for any delays in gas delivery. In June 2007 a High Court ruling meant the Brecon protest camp featuring tree houses and tunnels open since January was closed down with a number of protestors arrested and substantial local disruption to roads. In Peterstow Herefordshire , protestors forced the National Grid to choose another site that

South Wales Gas Pipeline - Misplaced Pages Continue

2048-508: The National Park Authority called it a "huge blow". The pipeline was completed in November 2007. Ruled a national energy security issue by the government, the pipeline's significance lies in the UK's move from being a net exporter to a net importer of energy as the North Sea oil and gas fields are used up. National Grid stated that, "The reality is that the offshore fields are decreasing in output and demand for gas from homes and businesses

2112-452: The Roman road between Llandovery and Brecon Gaer : one at Trecastle , two at Maescar, and one near Y Gaer at Aberyscir . To the north east of Y Gaer, a section of the Brecon to Kenchester route was discovered in two places. North east again, a hitherto unknown Roman road was discovered at Pipton , between Llyswen and Three Cocks , and a large Roman enclosure ditch near Hay-on-Wye . In

2176-703: The Romans came to Wales in 43 CE, they stationed more than 600 soldiers in the area. Y Gaer , near the town of Brecon was their main base. During the Norman Conquest many castles were erected throughout the park, including Carreg Cennen Castle . Brecon Castle is of Norman origin. There are many old tracks which were used over the centuries by drovers to take their cattle and geese to market in England. The drovers brought back gorse seed , which they sowed to provide food for their sheep . The area played

2240-510: The Welsh bannau , "peaks", and Brycheiniog , the name of an early medieval kingdom which covered the area. The English name is derived from the Welsh one; in the eleventh century the town of Brecon is recorded as 'Brecheniauc', which became "Brecknock" and "Brecon". In a paragraph on Brecknockshire, John Leland 's 1536–1539 Itinerary notes that: Blak Montayne is most famose, for he strecchith, as I have lerned, his rootes on one side within

2304-642: The area is the ' Fan dance ', which takes place on Pen y Fan. In July 2013 three soldiers died from overheating or heatstroke on an SAS selection exercise. An army captain had been found dead on Corn Du earlier in the year after training in freezing weather for the SAS. On 17 April 2023 it was announced that the National Park had officially adopted the name Bannau Brycheiniog in both Welsh and English. The new official English name became Bannau Brycheiniog National Park , or "the Bannau" for short. The change took effect on

2368-455: The area north of the National Park between Brecon and Hay there were also found Bronze Age cremation sites and a post-medieval structure. Archaeologists commented that "the construction of the... pipeline provided a useful, if somewhat spatially limited... opportunity to investigate a section of countryside not often subject to modern development. The discoveries made during the project, whilst generally small in scale, help expand our knowledge of

2432-430: The area. As one local said: "If there was a shift or a landslip again, my fear is that the pipe would fracture, and we'd get an enormous gas leak." National Grid claimed that the pipeline would be secure. An undiscovered Roman road was found during the building of the pipeline near Brecon and was partially destroyed as a result. The construction of the pipeline made it possible for archaeologists to study four sections of

2496-537: The biggest LNG terminal in the world and is a joint project between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil . It then runs to near Waterston, the site of a second, smaller terminal, Dragon LNG , which is run by a consortium in which BG Group is the major partner. Pipeline routing was planned January 2004 to March 2005; while consent and land acquisition took from March 2005 to spring 2006. Construction began on this 120 km (75 mi) section in March 2006. The pipeline diameter

2560-472: The central section of the park. To the east are the Black Mountains , which extend beyond the national park boundary into England, and to the west is the similarly named but distinct Black Mountain range. These ranges share much of the same basic geology, the southerly dip of the rock strata leading to north-facing escarpments. The highest peak of the Black Mountains is Waun Fach (811 metres (2,661 ft)), and Fan Brycheiniog (802.5 metres (2,633 ft))

2624-403: The concerns raised by the anti-pipeline protest movement at County Mayo , Ireland organised by Shell To Sea . The tactics used were similar to those used in similar environmental direct action protests. The opposition was also supported by a perception by local Welsh people that a pipeline like this would not be permitted in England, raising echoes of the infamous drowning of Capel Celyn for

South Wales Gas Pipeline - Misplaced Pages Continue

2688-636: The decision, with its leader Jane Dodds comparing it to movements in New Zealand. Conservative MP James Evans described the move as "not a priority" for locals and raised concerns over cost, and the local Conservative MP, Fay Jones , argued that the English name could have been kept. Upon the news of the name change the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated "I'm going to keep calling it the Brecon Beacons, and I would imagine most people will do that too." Catherine Mealing-Jones,

2752-443: The existing gas pipeline network. To permit the new pipeline to operate at the intended 94 bar, a Pressure Reduction Installation (PRI) is required before it joins the existing National Transmission System – the 'motorway' of gas distribution in the UK. National Grid applied to Forest of Dean District Council in 2006 for planning permission to construct a PRI at Corse but this was refused by the council and an appeal against that decision

2816-465: The highest peak, 886 metres (2,907 ft); Cribyn , 795 metres (2,608 ft); Fan y Bîg , 719 metres (2,359 ft); Bwlch y Ddwyallt , 754 metres (2,474 ft); and Waun Rydd , 769 metres (2,523 ft). These summits form a long ridge , and the sections joining the first four form a horseshoe shape around the head of the Taf Fechan , which flows away to the southeast. To the northeast of

2880-533: The history and prehistory of eastern Powys." The environmental consequences of the pipeline and the perceived lack of local consultation led to considerable protest. Protests were organised by local groups along with Safe Haven Network, supported by climate change action group Rising Tide UK. Work was delayed by protest in November 2006 at Trebanos . Other protests and camps occurred at Milford Haven , Cilfrew , Alltwen , and Brecon , with locals and activists regularly disrupting work. There were strong similarities to

2944-497: The money on the pipeline and terminals would have been better spent on renewable energy sources which would provide permanent energy security and would also have prevented global warming . National Grid claimed that the project also had significant benefits for the Welsh economy: "The pipeline means for the first time, South Wales will be at the 'front end' rather than the 'tail end' of the UK gas transmission network. At present, gas flows west into Wales from England." It also stated that

3008-571: The mountain simply 'Beacon'. A slightly wider definition was used in 1809 by the Breconshire historian Theophilus Jones , who wrote that 'of the lofty summits of the Brecknock Beacons, that most southwards is the lowest, and the other two nearly of a height, they are sometimes called Cader Arthur or Arthur's chair'. This implies that "Brecknock Beacons" referred to only three summits, including Pen y Fan and Corn Du. To distinguish

3072-522: The national park consists of a thick succession of sedimentary rocks laid down from the late Ordovician through the Silurian and Devonian to the late Carboniferous period. The rock sequence most closely associated with the park is the Old Red Sandstone from which most of its mountains are formed. The older parts of the succession, in the northwest, were folded and faulted during

3136-543: The natural beauty of the park, aid visitors' enjoyment of the park, and support the economic and social well-being of local communities. The National Park Authority has 18 members, twelve are appointed by the area's local authorities and six by the Welsh Government. Of the local authority members six are appointed by Powys County Council, and one each by the councils of Blaenau Gwent, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and Torfaen. There

3200-441: The park authority's CEO, stated: "the name Brecon Beacons doesn't make any sense – the translation Brecon Beacons doesn't really mean anything in Welsh", adding that "a massive carbon-burning brazier is not a good look for an environmental organisation". Mealing-Jones admitted that people can refer to the park by either name, and that the change "isn't compulsory", but hoped the emphasis on the Welsh name would encourage people to use

3264-404: The project will "secure Wales' energy supply for many years to come, and will allow further economic development in South Wales." In Milford Haven, concerns have focused on the possibility of collision between LNG tankers and oil tankers in one of the UK's busiest ports, as well as the danger that the terminals will be a target for terrorism. A 16-mile section of the pipeline passed through part of

SECTION 50

#1732793672909

3328-402: The remains of a hill fort above the village might be the location of this court. The site of the parish church may be of equal age or older. It is dedicated to St Gwendoline, one of the many saintly offspring of King Brychan of Brycheiniog , who is said to have been killed by pagan Saxons and buried in nearby Talgarth . Unfortunately the church was destroyed and rebuilt in 1862 and only

3392-530: The ridge, interspersed with long parallel spurs, are four cirques (Welsh: cwm ) or four round-headed valleys, which from west to east these are Cwm Sere, Cwm Cynwyn, Cwm Oergwm and Cwm Cwareli. The Black Mountains in the east are clearly separated from the central Beacons range by the Usk valley between Brecon and Abergavenny. Waun Fach (811 metres (2,661 ft)) is the highest mountain in this range. The Brecon Beacons range, Fforest Fawr, and Black Mountain form

3456-446: The route. National Grid replaced, levelled and cultivated the large amount of vegetation, subsoil and topsoil which had been removed to a width in places of a dual carriageway in an attempt to restore the land to its original condition. They consulted and used a wide range of environmental experts to help restore the environment. Beginning at Herbrandston , west of Milford Haven , the pipeline connects to South Hook LNG which will be

3520-422: The same day, the 66th anniversary of the park's designation. The authority stated that the change was to promote the area's culture and heritage, as well as part of a wider overhaul of how the park is managed and to address environmental issues , such as climate change , and removing references to carbon-emitting beacons. The plan for the park to become net zero by 2035 and to address environmental concerns

3584-405: The term. She stated: "We’d always had the name Bannau Brycheiniog as the Welsh translation and [...] we wanted to be celebrating Welsh people, Welsh culture, Welsh food, Welsh farming". In May 2023 more than 50 local businesses in the national park campaigned for the "Brecon Beacons" name be restored alongside the Welsh name as a dual name. The campaigners say the decision did not respect Wales as

3648-596: The three Welsh parks after Snowdonia in 1951 and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in 1952. It covers an area of 519 square miles (1,340 km ), which is much larger than the Brecon Beacons range. Over half of the park is in the south of Powys ; the remainder of the park is split between northwestern Monmouthshire , eastern Carmarthenshire , northern Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil , and very small areas of Blaenau Gwent , and Torfaen . The Park as designated in 1957 covered

3712-517: The village was built in 1633 by the Williams family of Old Gwernyfed in nearby Aberllynfi . It was lost to the MacNamara family (apparently after a game of cards) in about 1800 and subsequently much rebuilt. A London hatter called Archibald Christy bought the house in about 1860 and later had it extensively redesigned by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis , who formed the romantic notion that it

3776-655: Was excavated in 2002–4 and the ashes in the central cist dated to about 2000 BCE using radiocarbon dating . A wreath of meadowsweet was probably placed in the burial. Over twenty hillforts were established in the area during the Iron Age . The largest, and indeed the largest in South Wales , were the pair of forts atop y Garn Goch near Bethlehem, Carmarthenshire – y Gaer Fawr and y Gaer Fach – literally "the big fort" and "the little fort". The forts are thought to have once been trading and political centres. When

3840-583: Was itself was sometimes called 'the (Brecknock) Beacon'. For instance, Emanuel Bowen's A New and accurate map of South Wales (1729) labels the peak as 'The Vann or Brecknock Beacon', John Clark's 1794 General View of the Agriculture of the County of Brecknock refers to 'the Vann, or Brecknock Beacon, the undisputed sovereign of all the mountains in South Wales', and an 1839 tithe map of Cantref parish labels

3904-531: Was more expensive but more environmentally friendly for their installation. The pipeline is operated at a higher pressure than other gas pipelines in the UK: 94 bar (1364 psi) instead of 85 bar (1231 psi). This pressure is higher than most standard pipelines worldwide, though other such high-pressure pipelines have been successfully run in Germany, for example. It is buried 1.2 m (4 ft) underground for most of

SECTION 60

#1732793672909

3968-740: Was refused by the Secretaries of State in December 2007. An application to construct a PRI on a second site, 400 metres (yards) from the first site, was lodged with Tewkesbury Borough Council in 2008 but was refused unanimously by that Council's Planning Committee on 2 February 2010. National Grid appealed against that decision. This 122-mile (196 km) section passes through 16 miles of the Brecon Beacons National Park . Pipeline routing and environmental impact assessment took place from October 2004 to summer 2006 and consent and land acquisition took from winter 2005 to February 2007. The pipeline diameter

4032-484: Was supported by Welsh actor Michael Sheen . The change was described by a local as "pride" for Welsh-speakers, while others admitted both names would probably continue to be used. As part of the name change, the park also adopted a different logo, replacing its previous logo showing a lit beacon. Plaid Cymru's Welsh language spokesperson supported the move, while the Welsh Liberal Democrats welcomed

4096-893: Was the site of the original 'White Court'. In 1987 the house was bought and much restored in Edwardian style by Sir Bernard Ashley , who subsequently opened it as the Llangoed Hall Hotel and fabric design centre. It is now a grade II* listed building. The romantic radical and poet John Thelwall built himself a "hermitage" at Llyswen Farm during his exile in Wales. His friends William and Dorothy Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge visited him there in August 1798. The figure of "The Solitary" from Wordsworth's later poem 'The Excursion' may have been based on Thelwall in Llyswen. A travel guide of 1847 referred to Llyswen as

#908091