The Future of Bryn Euryn

We have sent out an invitation to everyone via email to an open meeting to be held in September. It is as follows:

The Future of Bryn Euryn?
Have your say before it’s too late


The Council has decided to go ahead with a feasibility study into fencing off large areas for animals to graze, despite huge public reaction against the idea.

As a result the ‘Bryn Euryn Users Association’ (BEUA) has been formed by people who love Bryn Euryn, to preserve and protect it as it is and have a voice on matters concerning the area.

We would urge everyone who cares about Bryn Euryn, to attend a

Public Open Meeting

Monday 7th September 7.30pm

Colwyn Bay County Cricket Club
Penrhyn Avenue, Rhos-on-sea


All members of the public, Council and Assembly representatives and bodies connected with the management of Bryn Euryn are invited and will have the opportunity to have their say.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Refreshments will be available.

For further information contact 07955 202083 or
07976 829202

A copy of the new Associations Constitution was also attached and nominations for officers requested by 5th September. All are welcome.

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

BRYN EURYN USERS ASSOCIATION

2. Objectives

The objectives of the Associations will be:

· To have a voice on all Council matters pertaining to Bryn Euryn
· To protect the reserve for the sole benefit of people and wildlife
· To preserve and protect the natural habitats on Bryn Euryn
· To encourage responsible dog ownership
· To prevent Bryn Euryn becoming over managed or developed
· To share information with the public relating to Bryn Euryn
· To actively encourage community spirit and social interaction
.
3. Membership

Membership shall be open to all users of Bryn Euryn and interested parties, but voting and Committee representation will be limited to 18yrs and over.

The Association will be a non profit making organisation. Any membership subscription will be decided at the Annual General Meeting.

4. Officers of the Association

The officers of the Association will be:

o Chairman
o Vice Chairman
o Treasurer
o Secretary
o Publicity/Fund Raising Officer (if no subscriptions)
o Social Secretary

Officers will be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting.
All officers will retire each year but will be eligible for re-appointment.

5. Committee

All business will be managed through the Association Committee.

The quorum required for business to be agreed at Association Committee meetings will be four.
The member of the Committee nominated to represent the Association on the Conwy Council Bryn Euryn Management Advisory Group (MAG) will voice the views of the membership, and vote accordingly.

No member of the Conwy Council Bryn Euryn Management Advisory Group (MAG) can also act as representative of the Association.

6. Finance

All Association monies will be banked in accounts held in the name of the association.

The Treasurer will be responsible for the management of the finances of the association.

The financial year of the Association will end on 31st August, and the accounts audited by either a member of the Committee or Association with a suitable financial background.

The audited statement of annual accounts will be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting.

Any cheques drawn against Association funds should hold the signatures of the Treasurer plus one other officer.

7. Annual General meetings

Notice of Annual General Meetings will be given by the Association Secretary. Not less than 14 clear days notice to be given to all members.

The AGM will receive a report from officers of the Association Committee and a statement of the audited accounts.

Nominations for officers of the Association Committee will be sent to the Secretary prior to the AGM.

Elections of officers are to take place at the AGM.

All eligible members have the right to vote at the AGM.

8. Amendments to the constitution

The constitution will only be changed through agreement by majority vote at an AGM.

9. Declaration

Bryn Euryn Users Association hereby adopts and accepts this constitution as a current operating guide regulating the actions of members.

SIGNED: DATE:

NAME:

POSITION: Association Chair

SIGNED: DATE:

NAME:

POSITION: Association Secretary

Drink & Drug Problems on the Bryn

From the front page of this weeks North Wales Weekly News.

Why is the Council's Managment group more interested in grass than sorting out the really problems?

Can they really think livestock will be safe up there with all that is happening?

http://www.northwalesweeklynews.co.uk/conwy-county-news/local-conwy-news/2009/08/20/drinkers-and-drug-addicts-target-rhos-on-sea-nature-reserve-55243-24482547/

Drinkers and drug addicts target Rhos-on-Sea nature reserve
Aug 20 2009

Bryn Euryn
DRINKERS and drug addicts are using a historic tourist attraction to hold hedonistic parties leaving the site in an unsightly mess.
The 13th century manor house at Llys Euryn at the Bryn Euryn Nature Reserve in Rhos-on-Sea is strewn with empty beer cans, cigarette packets, condoms and broken lager and vodka bottles.
The Weekly News also found large boxes of unopened lager stashed in bushes nearby, Also at the site are the remains of small fires and tin foil, often found where hard drugs such as heroin has been prepared. Walkers also reported finding needles at the site.
Set off Tan-y-Bryn Road, the secluded ruins are a popular walking spot for hikers and dog owners who say the otherwise tranquil spot has been ruined by the litter.
Michael Barratt of Oak Drive in Colwyn Bay often walks his two dogs at Bryn Euryn and was disgusted by the mess.
"It is a disgrace, I’ve noticed people have been building fires and leaving cans and bottles," he said.
"It is a beautiful place – the mess is disgusting as it is one of the few nice places you can go. It spoils it for everybody else as the ruins are a nice feature."
Ann Davies from Rhos-on-Sea was walking her two dogs Merlin and Harvey and blamed the mess on youngsters using the site to drink.
"There is a lot going on up here with the kids. We see cans and fires up here. If they come up here they should clean up after themselves," she said.
Merfyn Jones, 79, from Colwyn Bay was walking with his dogs and said discarded hypodermic needles posed a danger to walkers using the site.
"There is often a mess here. My mate has been up there and found needles and all sorts of things," he said.
"It is an untidy mess. Tourists and people from abroad come and that is the site that meets them. They should have more respect for the area, but it is a sign of the times."
Bryn Euryn resident Wendy Kitson added: "Most of the time it is cans and cigarette packets. It concerns us because of the wildlife but also because of the children. I have children who often go blackberry picking and there are broken bottles. It is quite sad."
As a Grade II listed building the ruins at Llys Euryn date back to the mid-13th century when it is believed a timber medieval hall stood which was occupied by the tribal leader Ednyfed Fychan, who served Llywelyn the Great and was the ancestor of Owen Tudor.
This original building was probably burnt in 1409 during the Glyndwr revolt and rebuilt shortly afterwards as a late medieval fortified home to the Conwy family until 1629 when it was sold to Sir Peter Mutton.
In the late 1990s the building was subject to a conservation project when stone chippings were used to prevent vegetation and a sign about the site’s history was erected.
A spokeswoman for Conwy County Council, which is responsible for the site, commented: "This information has been forwarded to the Environment Service and Countryside Service.
"We can confirm over the last three months we have not received any reports or complaints of sharps or drug paraphernalia at this location. We would ask members of the public to report any such problem hotspots to the Environment Service."
Contact Conwy’s Environment Service on 01492 575337.

More Mindless Vandalism (not the council plans this time)

The yobs have been at it again, an email has been sent by a supporter to the Police and copied to the council, let's hope they are considering all the problems with yobs when they decide whether to introduce grazing, we dread to think of the harm they could do to animals or the damage they will do to the fencing.

One good thing that has come out of the councils silly plans is the Bryn Users Association, hopefully by working with the Police and council something can be done to stop the yobs.

Dear Cheryl,

I believe Alun Jones has been in touch with you previously about fires at the Bryn. Last night(Saturday), in the lower meadow next to the black seat there was another party with many Strongbow cans about and branches SAWN from the trees in the area to make a fire, they even took a saw with them, which they left behind and I now have. It was discovered early Sunday morning by a Bryn Users Association walker, who contacted me and told me he had removed the cans and hidden the saw in the bushes.I went up with my camera and took the attached pictures. The culprits obviously came down via Aled Drive, as there were Strongbow cans in the street, and a tree branch cut down on the path from Aled Drive to the Bryn.

Some of the branches cut down were from healthy trees which obviously would not burn. This has become a regular occurrence every summer now, but unfortunately we only discover the carnage next day. About 2/3 years ago the same thing happened, but on that occasion they sawed down trees and bushes in Aled Drive gardens in the night on the way down, on that occasion I went around with PC Nigel McLaughlin assessing the damage.We keep stressing to the Council the danger of following up their plans to put fencing and animals in the very same area, to no avail so far, had there been fencing in the area I am sure they would have had a lovely bonfire, not to mention the danger and terror to the animals, as the last group that lit fires up there had Bull-terrier type dogs with them.If I can be of assistance to you or you want the saw please contact me.

Regards

How Much Will It Cost Us?

How much will it cost, a basic thing anyone needs to know before they commit to do something or make a decision, figures have been quoted in emails between the council and CCW but for some reason they aren't being given in response to our request: -

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to change public open space into grazing land; this is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Please send me the following information: -

Full details of proposals by the Countryside department to introduce grazing to Bryn Euryn.
To include details of the extent of proposed grazing.
Estimated cost of works required to create grazing areas.
Estimated net annual income.

I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format if available otherwise paper

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days of your receipt of this email. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing/email that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.



Yours sincerely,

The response: -


Thank you for your enquiry below.
In response to question 1 it is advised that there is no current proposal to introduce grazing onto Bryn Euryn.
The Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve Management Advisory Group has asked that officers look at, and report back on, the feasibility
of introducing such grazing. That exercise has not yet been completed (anticipated completion in October 2009).
There is no information currently held or available for questions 2,3 & 4 —
these aspects are however to be considered and will form
part of the feasibility exercise when completed.

If for whatever reason you are unhappy with the response please contact us direct by e-mail or by post addressed to Conwy County
Borough Council, Information Regulations Unit, Bodlondeb, Conwy ,
LL32 8DU .
Uned Reoliadau Gwybodaeth/lnformation Regulations Unit
Cyngor Bwrdeistef Sirol CON WY County Borough Council
E-Bost / E-Mail: info-regs.unit@conwy.gov.uk

Loss of Play Area - Info Request

Supporters with children are concerned were their kids will be able to play if the council bring in grazing animals so we asked if they had consulted the various associations (thank you Google). Once again it seems the work will be done once they have made the decision to proceed - isn't the feasibility study supposed to be about considering all the problems before a decision is made?

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to change public open space into grazing land; this is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

With regards to the grassed open spaces on Bryn Euryn currently used by children as a play area, please send me confirmation that the following bodies will be consulted before any decision is made to change the open space into grazing land: -

· The Sports Council for Wales
· The National Playing Fields Association
· The Land, Access and Recreation Association
· Environment Agency
· Countryside Council for Wales

I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format if available otherwise paper

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days of your receipt of this email. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing/email that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Yours sincerely,


Council response: -

Further to your request received 29/7/2009 it is advised that there is no firm proposal to change
public open space into grazing land. Council officers are only looking at the feasibility of
introducing grazing.
There is no information currently held regarding who may be consulted, or about the consultation
process. This will be a matter for consideration by the Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve
Management Advisory Group when it meets to consider the outcome of the feasibility exercise.
If for whatever reason you are unhappy with the response please contact us direct by
e-mail at info-reqs.unit(E0conwy,qov uk or by post addressed to Conwy County Borough Counci l.
Information Regulations Unit, Bodlondeb, Conwy, LL32 8DU

Management Advisory Group - Info Request

We wanted to know more about the 'Management Advisory Group' so sent in the FOI request below: -

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to change public open space into grazing land; this is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000

Please send me the following information: -

· Terms of reference for the Bryn Euryn Management Advisory Group.
· Details of how members are appointed and how interested members of the public or associations can apply to join the group.
· Details of how often the group meets, date of next meeting, agenda and facilities for members of the public to attend?

I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format if available otherwise paper

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days of your receipt of this email. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing/email that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.


Yours sincerely,


Council response: -

Thank you for your enquiry below.
The terms of reference for the Bryn Euryn Management Advisory Group (MAG) are simply confined to
'overseeing the management of the Local Nature Reserve.'
The Management Advisory Group is made up of invited local councillors and representatives from the
Countryside Council for Wales and other organisations. It was decided at the last meeting to invite a
member of the Bryn Euryn Users Association to the next meeting. The MAG meetings are not public
meetings and therefore not open to the public. Local residents can make representations to their local
councillors.
The MAG meets twice a year; an informal meeting on site in the summer and a formal meeting in the
winter. The next meeting will be in October/November, to discuss the grazing feasibility report. The date
has not yet been decided.
If for whatever reason you are unhappy with the response please contact us direct by e-mail or by post
addressed to Conwy County Borough Council, Information Regulations Unit, Bodlondeb, Conwy LL32
8DU .
Uned Reoliadau Gwybodaeth/Information Regulations Unit
Cyngor Bwrdeistef Sirol CONWY County Borough Council
E-Bost / E-Mail: info-regs.unit@conwy.gov.uk

Heath & Safety Concerns

Many of our supporters have real safety concerns about the plans to introduce grazing. We assumed that as part of the feasibilty study the council H&S department would investigate and make a decision, it seems this will only happen once they decide to go ahead with their plans!


Head of Health & Safety Department
Conwy County Borough Council
Bodlondeb
Conwy
LL32 8DU

Dear Sir/Madam,

Freedom of Information Request - Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to change public open space into grazing land; this is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

As you may be aware there have been a number of recent deaths associated with dog walkers using land grazed by livestock, see enclosed news articles. As the council intends to introduce livestock into an area heavily used by dog walkers, children and families please send me the following information: -

· Details of risk assessments that have been undertaken to determine if the risk to the public is acceptable. If such risk assessments have not already been undertaken please forward when they have been.
· Details of any resultant operational codes of practice and method statements to safeguard the public, especially children who currently play on the proposed grazing area.
· Detail of traffic risk assessments, the council intend the livestock to be moved to a from the public open space several times a year, the steep access track is narrow, unfenced and has large drops to the side. Being little used it currently has a lot of pedestrian use, practically by children, families with push chairs and mobility scooters. I trust you will agree it is vital that there are suitable and sufficient safe systems of work in place for the large vehicles which will be use to transport livestock.
· The council are also considering bring water for the livestock to site using bowsers, presumably these will heavy trailers to be towed up the steep track on a regular basis and therefore deserve their own specific risk assessment?

I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format if available otherwise paper

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days of your receipt of this email. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing/email that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

The council response: -

I am in receipt of your letter dated 29 July 2009 in respect of a Freedom of Information
request — Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve.

I have made enquiries with our Countryside Services Manager Tom Gravett and the
Project Officer Alun Jones who is responsible for this area with regard to the information
that you require.

I am reliably informed that notwithstanding the importance of the four points you raise
(existence of risk assessments) the status of the project is very much at an early stage.

Should the project be considered further, then a robust risk assessment will be
undertaken to identify the prevailing hazards. I thank you for taking the trouble to identify
the obvious ones.

Your request will be kept on file and in the event that the project materialises, then a full
Risk Assessment and associated Codes of Practice will be forwarded to you.

Thank you again for drawing our attention to the matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Disabled Access - Information Request

Some of our supporters have mobility problems so the Freedom of Information request below is vital for them: -

Dear Sir/Madam,

Freedom Of Information Request - Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to change public open space into grazing land; this is a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

I understand an ‘informal’ meeting of the Bryn Euryn Management Advisory Group was held on Monday 20th July, 2009 at which it was decided to proceed with a feasibility study to change public open space into grazing land.

Please send me the following information: -

· Confirmation that the needs and rights of users of Bryn Euryn with mobility issues were considered when the gate adjacent to Llys Euryn was erected. Previously there was no gate allowing the public open space to be readily accessed by users of mobility scooters.
Confirmation that the proposed new fencing and gates will comply with the following: -
The Disability Discrimination Act 1995
The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, with specific reference to the requirement for local authorities, when authorising the erection of stiles, gates or other works on footpaths or bridleways to have regard to the needs of people with mobility problems.
That the design of any new gates will comply with BS8300 (2009).
I would like the above information to be provided to me in electronic format if available otherwise paper

I understand that under the act, I should be entitled to a response within 20 working days of your receipt of this email. I would be grateful if you could confirm in writing/email that you have received this request.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Council response below, we don't feel it really answers the questions fully and the information we have seen from the CCW says gates will be 'kissing gates', no use to people in mobility scooters: -


Thank you for your enquiry below.
1) The gate adjacent to Bryn Euryn cottage was installed about 10 years
ago in connection with woodland management works on the wider Local
Nature Reserve. The gate was installed primarily to prevent any use of
Bryn Euryn by off-road motorcycles and other unauthorised vehicles.
Access by those with mobility issues was not specifically addressed at
the time, as it was considered that the wider topography and terrain
presented particular access difficulties. Subsequently however,
specific access requests have been addressed positively. The
specification of the gate will be reviewed as part of the feasibility
exercise currently being undertaken in respect of the potential to
introduce grazing to Bryn Euryn.

2) There is no information on this, as yet, as there is no specific
proposal for new gates and fencing. However, these items are being
considered as part of the feasibility exercise referred to in 1 above.
The specification of any gates is to be addressed within the exercise,
and due regard would be given to relevant legislation and standards.


If for whatever reason you are unhappy with the response please contact
us direct by e-mail or by post addressed to Conwy County Borough
Council, Information Regulations Unit, Bodlondeb, Conwy, LL32 8DU.
Uned Reoliadau Gwybodaeth/Information Regulations Unit
Cyngor Bwrdeistef Sirol CONWY County Borough Council
E-Bost / E-Mail: info-regs.unit@conwy.gov.uk

More No Freedom of Information

Supports of Save Our Bryn have sent off a few Freedom of Information (FOI) requests over the last few weeks. In part it was an attempt to help the council with their feasibility study as we were asking reasonable questions that anyone doing a meaningful study would have considered.

I am sorry to report that all the replies so far have been hardly worth the effort and not really in the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act. In contrast with the single FOI request we made to the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) resulted in around 80 pages of very interesting information and 4 maps! Much of the information from the CCW is emails to and from the council so when we see the responses from the council we aren't that impressed.

David Jones, MP - Bryn Euryn update

Save Our Bryn Supporters meet with David Jones, MP this afternoon. He was very helpful and supportive as usual for which we are very grateful.

Copied from his web site, http://davidjonesblog.com/2009/08/13/bryn-euryn-update/

Bryn Euryn update

Held a meeting this evening with users of Bryn Euryn.
The nature reserve management committee has now decided to commission a study into the feasibility of fencing off part of the Bryn for grazing. An aerial photograph illustrating the proposal shows that about a third or more of the site, including the two large open areas, would be fenced off, meaning that dogs would have to be kept on a leash for much of the time.
This is a miserable, killjoy proposal that threatens to curtail the enjoyment of hundreds of walkers. It richly deserves the opposition it has attracted.
The users are now forming an association, the first meeting of which will be on a date yet to be fixed in September. It will seek representation on the management committee, which is entirely proper.
The meeting will no doubt be advertised on the Save our Bryn website, so do please keep visiting it. I will be attending if available.

More anti-social behaviour at the Bryn on Saturday night

More ASBO activity on the Bryn over the weekend. Details and the need for this regular problem to be considered in the feasibnilty study nicely summed up in a email to the Warden from a Save the Bryn Supporter copied to us: -

Dear Alun,

More anti-social behaviour at the Bryn on Saturday night, although we did not find out until early Sunday morning when walking and seeing the results. The hollow in the ground in front of the seat in the lower meadow is becoming a regular fireplace. Branches had been pulled off the trees again to light a fire, 24 cans of strong cider and glass was scattered about with other rubbish, including dog faeces close to the seat area. This has all been removed by myself and another 'Save our Bryn' supporter, but I attach photos which do not really capture the mess which we found. Five youths with two bull terrier- type dogs and carrier bags were seen walking in the direction of the Bryn by a local resident in the late evening, presumably they were the culprits, though fortunately this time they did not cause any local damage as far as I am aware, which often happens when they stagger home drunk in the night. As this is in the area for proposed grazing, I dread to think what effect they and their dogs would have had on ponies at night and probably in the dark, and I am sure any fencing in the area would have made welcome firewood and led to an even larger fire, causing animals to panic and injure themselves. The Bryn is a totally different area at night, especially but not only at weekends, as any local residents will tell you, we dread the arrival of October when fireworks go on sale, when we get rockets etc., being let off at all hours of the night. There is no point calling the police, as it is a huge area to police in the dark at night on foot. I hope the feasability study that is being carried out, presumably in conjunction with yourselves, will bear this in mind, as walking around the Bryn during the day is a completely different experience. I would never leave any animal of mine to the mercy of the characters that use the Bryn at night, especially as we would know nothing until finding the results next morning. Experts and others walking the area during the day would know nothing of this. I hope I am not in a position in a year or so after a tragedy has taken place to say that we warned you. I hope you will take these comments as constructive and bear them in mind when conducting the study.

Regards

No Freedom of Information!

A supporter made a freedom of information request as shown below: -

Further to the proposals by the Countryside Department to use part of Bryn Euryn for grazing, I am requesting under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, to know:

The identity of all councillors as well as any other organisations who have voted on this subject.
Exactly which way each named councillor and (if applicable) non elected representative has voted.

The responce was disappointing to say the least: -

There was an informal meeting on 20th July 2009 of the Bryn Euryn Local Nature Reserve Management Advisory Group (MAG), and no formal notes / minutes are made of such informal meetings. There is, however, a completed attendance register for this meeting and the following members of the MAG were recorded as being present:

Cllr D Roberts ( Conwy County Borough Council)
Cllr M Thomas ( Conwy County Borough Council)
Cllr P Edwards ( Conwy County Borough Council)
Cllr R Parry ( Conwy County Borough Council)
Cllr P Richards ( Colwyn Bay Town Council)
Mr K Clarke ( Colwyn Bay Civic Society)
Dr J Osley (Countryside Council for Wales )
Mr I Halfpenney (Cadw)

A vote was taken as to whether or not to complete the feasibility exercise being undertaken by staff of Conwy County Borough Council’s Countryside and Rights of Way Service. No record was made of which members of the MAG voted, nor of which way individual members voted. The vote was recorded as four to three in favour of completing the feasibility exercise. In view of the concern expressed by some parts of the local community, it was also agreed to invite an appropriate community representative to the next meeting of the MAG at which the results of the feasibility exercise will be considered.

So of the seven people who voted on such an important issue the council can't remember! And they call this Management?

What type of wildlife are they managing?

A good point which was raised by a supporter recently, since the council started 'managing' the Bryn has anyone noticed a reduction in wildlife? Is all the grass cutting to blame?