GARY ALEXANDER BOURNE, RHUDDLAN PART ONE

Protest at council depot near Rhuddlan nature reserve
A protest has been held over plans to maintain a council depot next to a Denbighshire nature reserve.
Welsh Secretary Peter Hain and local politicians visited the £140,000 17-acre reserve on Friday at Rhuddlan, which is due to open by Easter.
Some locals claim a highways storage depot should be knocked down and the site incorporated into the reserve.
The council said the depot had been there for more than 20 years and would be used "occasionally".
Controversy has surrounded the site for several years, after it was earmarked for a recycling centre, which some local residents opposed.
However, those plans were scrapped following demonstrations, as well as concerns from Environment Agency Wales.
The council then agreed for the land in its ownership to be used as a nature reserve, and the scheme has attracted funding from a number of sources.
Volunteers from the community and the Rhuddlan Environment Group (REG) have been helping to transform the area into a reserve.
But the group is unhappy that the council wants to maintain a holding depot next to the site.
The REG said the council initially promised to devote the entire parcel of land to the nature reserve, but now plans to maintain the depot.
Brenda Taylor, REG chair, said: "We have been misled.
"We initially put in our own planning application for a country park, but withdrew those plans because the council asked us to work with them.
"We never would have done that if they'd told us they plan to have a holding depot there.
"A holding depot will have an ugly visual impact and will be a hazard to all users."
Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane, who visited the site with Mr Hain, said he thought the protesters had a "valid point".
However, he said he did not want the issue to affect any future funding, adding: "It's a fine balancing act".
Mr Hain said the nature reserve was "hugely impressive," adding: "With Rhuddlan castle lording over it, it's got huge potential for attracting visitors and local people to really enjoy the natural heritage."
Denbighshire council said proposals had been discussed with a local management group, which agreed with "all aspects of the project".
It added: "Part of the site has been used for highways storage purposes for over 20 years.
"As part of the project, this area will be reduced significantly but there is a need for a small residual part of the land to be used occasionally by the council.
"By the end of March, more than 7,000 trees will have been planted, natural habitats created and improved on what was previously a derelict piece of land."
The council said the reserve would benefit residents and visitors "for generations to come".

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[BarringtonDailey]

lol.

WTF is this about? Some random pics of some random brown field site....to the music of Presley. I don't know what to say? I'm the 13 viewer too! Gogogogogogog.

[MRGABOURNE]

SORRY. WRITE UP NOW IN PLACE