REVIEW OF PART OF THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE COUNTY OF POWYS AND THE COUNTY BOROUGH OF MERTHYR TYDFIL IN THE AREA OF PONTSTICILL

DRAFT PROPOSALS

Appendix A

SUMMARY OF INITIAL REPRESENTATIONS RECEIVED

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council confirmed that the proposed changes highlighted in the original plan are unlikely to have any major implications for the services of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. They put forward a recommendation that consideration be given to the boundary being extended further, to include Dolygaer Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the properties to the north of the reservoir. The Council provided a plan showing the suggested boundary. They considered that if Dolygaer were to be located within the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil, it would benefit significantly from the broad external funding sources available in the valleys areas. They considered that this would alleviate the current requirement for the submission of business cases to Powys when the main beneficiaries of the centre are primarily from the valleys.

Powys County Council considered it appropriate that the community and county boundaries should be altered, as previously suggested, to ensure that the whole of the settlement of Pontsticill is contained within the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. The Council considers that it would not be in the best interests of effective and convenient local government for a settlement, such as Ponsticill, to be partitioned in this way. They consider however that the Dolygaer and Upper Neuadd area, to the north of Pontsticill Reservoir, and any other more rural properties and farms to the north of the settlement of Pontsticill should remain in the community of Talybont-on-Usk and the County of Powys. The Council considered the topography and settlement pattern of these areas are more akin to those of the communities that embrace the Brecon Beacons in their County.

Talybont-on-Usk Community Council supported the change to the boundary [suggested by Powys County Council].

The Lieutenancy of the County of Mid Glamorgan considered the proposals and supported the suggestion made by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council for the boundary to be extended further to include the Dolygaer Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the premises to the north of the reservoir.

Brecon Beacons National Park Authority did not have any objections to the proposed amendment to the boundary as it does not have any direct implications on the National Park Boundary.

Dyfed-Powys Police Authority wrote to say that the Divisional Commander for Powys considers that the proposed changes are common sense as they move the Brecon Mountain Railway, Pontsticill Station and Dwr Cymru Water Treatment Works into the County Borough of Merthyr Tydfil. It was considered that whilst the police are rarely called to these properties, both have the potential for service demand due to their nature of business. Any responding police unit would be dispatched from Brecon which is approximately 20 miles away. Dowlais Police Station, South Wales, is only two miles away and in an emergency would probably attend first. The proposed changes are therefore supported by the Authority as it will undoubtedly provide a more effective response by policing services if they are requested at the aforementioned buildings.

The Brecon Mountain Railway Company expressed concern that the proposed boundary would pass along the middle of the railway track, so that one rail would be in Powys and one in Merthyr. They also pointed out that the boundary would bisect their Cafe at Pontsticill.

Two residents objected to any changes of the existing boundary. They consider that historically rivers have formed natural boundaries and are an important part of our heritage. They consider that any change will have a detrimental effect on the following:

The County and Parish details on property Freehold Deeds;
Land Registry details;
Costs incurred to resolve the above;
Rateable Value, Council Tax and Water Rates;
Public services, etc.;
County boundary stock proof fencing required for the control of movement of stock, responsibility for the costs, maintenance and ownership will need to be clarified;
Ownership of access roads;
Planning issues arising from the complexity in dealing with multiple Authorities.

Two residents expressed concern over the proposed boundary change. They considered that the proposed change will:

Place their farm in two counties/communities;
Create two separate holding numbers;
Split a field causing severe movement restrictions within a single field;
Put the farm on continuous stand-still due to current legislation;
Create a duplication of all Local Authority and Welsh Office documents.