ryn Quarry Gelligaer: Retention and Formation of Earth und ... · ryn Quarry: Repositioning of Quarry und APPENDIX Viewpoint Photo AJA/ Viewpoint . From the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway

LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRAISAL (LVA) APPENDIX Illustrations AJA/01 LANDMAP data (V&S, Historical, Cultural) AJA/02 LANDMAP data (Geological, Landscape Habitats) AJA/03 Viewpoint Photo Location Plans AJA/04 Viewpoint Photo VP1 AJA/05 Viewpoint Photo VP2 AJA/06 Viewpoint Photo VP3 AJA/07 Viewpoint Photo VP4 AJA/08 Viewpoint Photo VP5 AJA/09 Viewpoint Photo VP6 AJA/10 Viewpoint Photo VP7 AJA/11 Viewpoint Photo VP8 AJA/12 Viewpoint Photo VP9 AJA/13 Viewpoint Photo VP10 AJA/14 Viewpoint Photo VP11 AJA/15 Landscape Mitigation and Planting Strategy Anthony Jellard Associates September 2017

Bryn Quarry Gelligaer: Retention and Formation of Earth Bund, Land scaping and Associated Works

Bryn Quarry: Repositioning of Quarry Bund APPENDIX

Visual and Sensory, Historical and Cultural LANDMAP Aspect Areas AJA/01

VISUAL AND SENSORY ASPECT AREAS CYNONVS143 Llanfabon: A pleasant landscape, with some attractive rolling farmland away from the built form urban edges of Nelson, Blackwood and Treforest... This incongruous mix of combination of elements of rural field patterns, isolated settlements/farmsteads and built form urban edge and pylons/masts leads to a complex overall character..., essentially rural with upland feel...broad views across valleys , and up to upland hills/outliers of Mynydd Eglwysias and Meio that dominate inward views...Maturing managed vegetation on restored land at Pe-nallta Community Park. Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: Moderate

HISTORICAL ASPECT AREAS CYNONHL695 Nelson Corridor: The rapid expansion of industrial activity and associated settlement in this area during the late 19th-early 20th century has removed substantial traces of earlier patterns of landscape and settlement in this area; however, there is significant evidence for Roman and medieval occupation in this area . Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: Moderate CYNONHL634 Gelligaer and Llancaiach: This area has been assessed as outstanding, due to the fact that it represents a remarkably coherent, rich multi-period landscape with significant remains of Roman military occupation represented by the auxiliary fort at Gelligaer and its associated civilian settlement. Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: Outstanding

CULTURAL ASPECT AREAS CYNONCL056 Designated Landscape: Large expanses of (mostly) upland and moorland landscape that are present throughout the Study Area. They have been variously designated statutorily as Sites of Special Scientific Interest by the Countryside Council for Wales, or by Unitary Authorities as Special Landscape Areas, Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation or as part of the Coalfield Plateaux..Such designations are a reflection of 20th/21st century perceptions of the value of protecting both natural habitats and of rural areas of lesser importance though possessing much aes-thetic and sensory value. They contain variously historic and contemporary evidence of human occupation and exploitation in the form of prehistoric monuments, redundant industrial workings and transport systems, and of forestry. As such they are a commodity for leisure enjoyment as well as providing very extensive ''green lungs'' to supplement those identified in urban landscapes that they surround. Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: Outstanding

CYNONVS260 Machen-Ystrad Mynach Hill and lower plateau

grazing moderate

CYNONVS317 Mynydd Eglwysilon and

Mynydd Meio Upland grazing

high

CYNONVS114 Blackwood

Urban low

CYNONVS143 Llanfabon

Hillside and scarp slope mosaic

moderate

CYNONCL056 Designated Landscape

Other institu-tions High

CYNONHL695 Nelson corridor

Nucleated settlement Moderate

CYNONVS384 Nelson Urban

low

CYNONHL695 Nelson corridor

Nucleated settlement Moderate

CYNONHL634 Gelligaer and Llancaiach

Regular fieldscape Outstanding

CYNONHL701 Rhymney Valley Other settlement

High

CYNONHL978 Mynydd Eglysilian and

Meio Marginal land Outstanding

CYNONHL660 Blackwood and the Sir-

howy Valley Other settlement

High

CYNONHL017 Quakers Yard, Treharris

and Trele Nucleated settlement

High

CYNONHL556 Mynydd Bach and

Mynydd-y-Grug Marginal land Outstanding

CYNONCL045 Rhymney Sirhowy and Ebbw valleys Urban settlement

High

CYNONCL056 Designated Landscape

Other institu-tions High

CYNONCL050 Penallta

Other industry High

CYNON-CL049 Ystrad

Mynach Other Urban

High

CYNONCL052 Llancaiach Fawr and

Nelson Tourism

Outstanding

CYNONCL051 Gelligaer Common Other institutions

Outstanding

CYNONCL046 Maeyscymmer Hen-

goed Leisure/recreation

High


Geological, Landscape Habitats LANDMAP Aspect Areas

AJA/02

LANDSCAPE HABITAT ASPECT AREAS CYNONLH133 Improved Grassland: Difficult to assess as much of area is improved grassland which is relatively low value... There are many hedgerows and a large variety of other valuable habitats present in small patches which greatly enhance value of area. Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: High

GEOLOGICAL ASPECT AREAS CYNONGL009 Gelligaer-Blackwood: E-W 'corridor' in upland plateau across NW-SE trending Rhymney & Sirhowy valleys, produced by erosion of mud-dominated upper Pennant sandstones (Upper Carboniferous) above Mynyddislwyn coal. Low angle dips produce N & S-facing dip slopes, cut by NW-SE Gelligaer, Llanfabon & Pandaron faults. Extensive mine workings in the Mynyddislwyn & Rider seams. Boulder clay cover extensive. Overall LANDMAP Evaluation: Moderate

CYNONGL009 Gelligaer—Blackwood

Other moderate

CYNONLH133 Improved grasland

high

CYNONGL051 Gelligaer—Blackwood

Nelson– Treharris Glacial mountain valley

high


Viewpoint Photo Location Plans AJA/03

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown Copyright. All rights reserved Licence No. 100055084

VP11

VP3

VP2

VP1

VP4

VP5

VP6

VP8

VP9 VP7

VP10


Viewpoint Photo 1 AJA/04

Viewpoint 1 From road and informal green space on southern edge Gelligaer : View looking southwards with Mynydd Eglwysilian prominent in the distance. The land between Gelligaer and the quarry site is flat, peaty and relatively sparsely vegetated. The initial earth bund construction works are visible in the middle ground. Even when fully constructed, the views to the hills beyond will be maintained and the bund will have a gently contoured appearance, with mitigation planting of small copses, hedgerows with trees and pasture grazed by cattle and sheep. The bunding will effectively screen the great majority, if not all, of the quarry works. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13191 96726



Viewpoint 2 From Aneurin Bevin Avenue, Gelligaer: Area of Public Open Space within housing with some limited views out in direction of site. The initial bund works are visible but muted colours, separation distance and the higher elevation of the viewpoint limit visual effects. When the earth bunding is complete and mitigation planting established, the works will appear as a natural element in the middle ground landscape with the views of the hills beyond maintained. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13155 96913



Viewpoint 3 From footpath on southern edge Gelligaer, north of site. Views of the partly constructed earth bunds largely screened by boundary hedgerow which has a significant number of mature trees. Area of bunding to be constructed to the left of the photograph towards the transmission line, will be more open and visible. However, the gentle gradients and comparatively low height of the bunding, combined with mitigation planting, will allow the landform to be comfortably assimilated into the wider land-scape. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13010 96757



Viewpoint 4 . From the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Promoted Footpath close to northern edge of Penybryn: Land to the north west of the site falls away towards Penybryn reducing the potential visibility of the proposed earth bunds. The high voltage transmis-sion line is a significant visual detractor. The earth banks will be visible from this location but the gentle gradients and comparatively low and variable height, combined with mitigation planting, will allow them to be comfortably assimilated into the wider land-scape. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13506 96427



Viewpoint 5. From the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Promoted Footpath further south of Viewpoint 4 and on high point within field . On this higher ground more of the site and the wider context is visible. The edges of Gelligaer and the high voltage transmission line are prominent. There are also long distance views of hills to the west . Again, the earth banks will be visible from this location, but the gentle gradients and comparatively low and variable height ,combined with mitigation planting, will allow them to be comfortably assimilated into the wider landscape. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13382 96159



Viewpoint 6. From the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Promoted Footpath near the southern end of the site. From here, only a small section of the bund will be visible due to the screening effect of the existing mature hedgerow. Where the bund is visible, . the gentle gradients and comparatively low and variable height combined with mitigation planting, will allow it to be comfortably assimilated into the wider landscape. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13100 95971



Viewpoint 7. Towards site from "eye" of Sultan pit pony earth sculpture in Penalta community park. Present quarry is invisible. The initial stages of bund construction at the southern end of the site are partly visible, but mostly screened by existing topography and woodland. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 13138 95476



Viewpoint 8. View from road leading to Nelson RFC. Typical view from Nelson, existing quarry is not visible as it lies beyond the skyline. Similarly the proposed earth bunding will also not be visible . OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 11043 95809



Viewpoint 9. View from Public Open Space at eastern end of Nelson. Existing quarry and proposed earth bunding are invisible, hidden behind the ridge. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 11732 95456



Viewpoint 10. View from Rhymney Valley Ridge way footpath south of Gilwern. Present quarry is barely visible, as will the proposed earth bunding. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 11336 94395

The site



Viewpoint 11. View from minor road on Mynydd Eglwysilian looking north east towards Bryn Quarry. Light coloured buildings of the settlement of Gelligaer much more visible than the existing quarry working. It will be difficult to discern the proposed bunding with its muted colours and naturalistic landscape mitigation treatment. OS GRID REFERENCE: ST 12017 93055

The site

Bryn Quarry: Repositioning of Quarry Bund

APPENDIX Landscape Mitigation and Planting Strategy

AJA/15

ryn Quarry Gelligaer: Retention and Formation of Earth und ... · ryn Quarry: Repositioning of Quarry und APPENDIX Viewpoint Photo AJA/ Viewpoint . From the Rhymney Valley Ridgeway

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