Fontygary Park owner could face NRW prosecution over waste

We reported in March how a “waste mountain” had allegedly been left to rot by owners of Fontygary Holiday Park on their land in Rhoose - a site of important nature conservation.

At the time, NRW wrote to local residents informing them a 'section 59' notice had been served to remove the waste, with Fontygary owners given until June to remove. However the waste is still there.

Photos show large piles of rubble on about a half-acre of pristine land on the Rhoose coastline owned by Tim McIlveen.

Locals have described “shocking photos” which show waste dumped on the site to an “industrial scale” on a nature reserve and field used for touring caravans and young families.

However, the situation isn’t as clean-cut as it seems.

Mr McIlveen has been open and frank about the “waste mountain”, saying he does not want it there, but he is waiting for planning permission to build a “tourist destination” on his land which he claims Vale Council want him to pursue.

Mr McIlveen wants to use the waste to help build his tourist destination as well as a cycle path, which is said to have been permitted by the council, and which Mr McIlveen says is very much a council initiative.

The mountain of waste residents have described as 'shocking' (Image: Supplied)

It's said to be stored to be used on future building projects (Image: Supplied)

'Now considering enforcement response': Latest from Natural Resources Wales

Natural Resources Wales told us they were on the land at the start of July, confirmed the waste is still there and are now pursuing a response in line with their enforcement and prosecution policy, which could include injunctions, sanctions and prosecutions.

Operations manager Fiona Hourahine said: “Our officers visited the site on July 7 to assess compliance with the section 59 notice.

“It was confirmed it had not been complied with as the waste had not been removed and remains in situ.

“We will now be considering our enforcement response to the offence(s) in line with our Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.”

Natural Resources Wales has been on the site to see if the waste is going to be removed (Image: Supplied)

Fontygary owner Tim McIlveen wants to speak to residents about the issue (Image: Supplied)

‘It’s incredibly frustrating no one is speaking to us. We do not want to do anything illegal’: Fontgary owner

We spoke to Fontygary owner Mr McIlveen just a few days ago, when he said it is frustrating he cannot talk to local residents about his plans.

• Read what the owner of Fontygary Leasure Park Tim McIlveen had to say about the waste on his land when we first met him in March

Extraordinarily, Mr McIlveen said he knew nothing about the latest visit from NRW on his land – which further frustrates him in his quest to find out what is going on.  

“The last thing we want to do is anything illegal,” said Mr McIlveen. “It is so annoying people will not speak to me.

“We have recently put a whole load of waste through a crusher which makes it useable building material.

“The waste will go to a cycle path which we have permission to build, but we do not really want to build as its no benefit to our business, but the council want us to build it and to make a ‘tourist destination’.”

Want it gone? Blot on the landscape? Is the owner in the wrong? Does he have a point in wanting to store use the waste to expand the park? Let us know your thoughts at harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.