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Churchgoers are fundraising for a new CCTV system after growing frustrated with their church wall being hit by lorries.
St Tudor’s Church, which has sat at the top of Mynyddislwyn for more than 1,000 years, has seen its outer wall hit at least 15 times since 2016 – costing thousands to repair each time.
The church is surrounded by narrow lanes and sharp bends difficult for HGVs to get around, with the most recent crash happening in November.
To make matters worse, the church has also been attacked by vandals in recent months, with the lychgate being plastered with graffiti.
Churchgoers are now hoping to raise £6,500 to install CCTV cameras to help protect the ancient Grade II* listed monument.
Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, church warden Elizabeth Tomlin said: “The police and the insurance company insisted we put up a good CCTV system. It will cost a lot, but it will be a high quality one to identify the culprits and cover the road and the lychgate.
“We hope the CCTV will deter people. It will be high quality CCTV so it will work at night too.
“But £6,500 is more than the church can afford.”
Ms Tomlin continued: “When you see the damage, your heart just sinks. You think ‘oh no, not again’. You just feel despair.
“We’re so fed up with this now.”
She added: “We’re doing our best to keep rebuilding the boundary wall. It has to be built back as a dry stone wall due to it being a listed building. But there’s not many people out there who can fix dry stone walls.
“One time, the wall was hit before we could even fix it from the previous time it was hit.
“Residents and farmers even come out to try and stop the lorries coming down this road.”
Ms Tomlin urged businesses on Nine Mile Point Industrial Estate in Cwmfelinfach, where many of the lorries are travelling to and from, to let drivers know not to come over the mountain.
“Our heritage is being gradually destroyed. The church is a part of the heritage here. It’s terrible trying to keep up with this.
“There needs to be a sign telling drivers that there’s a right angle bend. Lorries can’t get around it without hitting the wall.”
The longstanding issue with lorries driving through the narrow lanes has even caused damage to residents’ cars – with one car being completely crushed back in 2017.
A few years ago, in response to the issues, Caerphilly County Borough Council put up signs at Pentwynmawr roundabout, both approaches to the A472 Sainsbury’s roundabout and Troed y Rhiw road in Wattsville.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise money for the new CCTV system.
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