A culvert near Abersychan has collapsed, sparking safety concerns for walkers and riders using the path above.
The culvert’s wall seems to have fallen apart last week. A path goes right over it, used by people walking and riding horses. It’s been referred to as South Wales’ largest derelict site.
The area had coal mines until the 1980s and ironworks even earlier, in the 1800s. A coal tip sits next to the path above.
Roger Rudge, who lives below the culvert, told the council about it on February 13. The council bought The British back in 2016.
Roger said no one has checked it yet and believes it broke before he reported it. He said coal dust blocks the culvert, and water spills from coal tips all the time.
He warned workers last autumn that the culvert couldn’t handle all the water, believing that rain made it worse. The culvert is too small, he explained, and the water flowing over it caused the collapse.
Roger thinks quick action would have saved money. At 78, he said early repairs would have cost less; now, it will be a bigger, more expensive job.
Michele Mitchell, who leads the council’s highways and transport, said they received the report and will respond soon. They are aware of the wingwall damage.
An earlier check in November found the culvert okay. They will check it again and plan repairs. The coal tips are category D, which means they pose a great risk; someone inspected them last September, and Category D requires inspection every three months.