Former Caerphilly MP Ron Davies has denied attempting to block bike trails on Caerphilly Mountain, after video footage emerged showing the 70-year-old moving logs and rocks.
Mr Davies, who was Secretary of State for Wales between 1997 and 1998, is shown in the footage placing logs around the area of the mountain known as The Warren.
The bike trails have become the setting of a turf war between local mountain bikers and residents, with the former claiming residents had been “sabotaging” trails with obstructions to discourage riders from using them.
Mr Davies denied that he was blocking bike trails, telling BBC Radio 5 Live on Thursday morning: “I’ve never blocked or obstructed a footpath in my life.
“In fact, I’ve unblocked obstructions on a few and that’s what I was doing when this covert video was taken.
“I was actually removing an obstacle from a footpath.
“I have spent all my life walking the footpaths in this part of the world.”
He added that the area was “enormously attractive”, but had been “trashed” by some, “putting people at risk”.
Caerphilly Woodlands Trust has said it is “shocked and appalled” by the supposed sabotage of trails.
The conservation group said in a statement: “We extend a warm welcome to all public visitors to the enclosed area of beautiful woodland known as Coed y Werin, within the National Resources Wales (NRW) owned and managed The Warren woodlands situated off Van Road in Caerphilly.
“The Trust is shocked and appalled by the dangerous actions of individuals sabotaging trails used by cyclists within the Trust’s enclosed area of woodland and the surrounding Caerphilly Mountain common land.
“We do not condone or encourage this reckless activity from our membership or the public.
“The Trust welcomes entering into constructive conversation with local cycling groups to resolve these issues amicably.”
Looks like something and nothing to me, what is the world coming to when folk can’t take some exercise and enjoy the outdoors without being filmed by a hidden camera placed in a tree, sad times we are living in.
Sad world you cannot ride your bike without risk of being trapped like an animal.
A member of the public happened to be riding there last week with his wife, he unfortunately hit a log that had no reason to be placed on that section of track and came off the bike cutting his eye.
This member of the public is a member of staff within the nhs.
It could have been an experienced rider or a child either way its certainly not something of nothing.
Endangering the lives of locals enjoying the area for quiet recreational activities.
This, what appears to be mis-information when one reads Ron Davies version of the event, is another example of secret unexplained, covert activity targetted at this man for neferious, unhealthy and obnoxious reasons (It appears, again) against a man who has given a lifetime of dedicated public service to the communities of Caerphilly Borough. and to Wales, He deserves better.
Not unexplained. Sorry to put a damper on things for you but the sabotage had been going on for some time and I imagine the people who recorded it where just as surprised to see Mr Davies as he was to see the footage.
Regards
Mountain biker.
Unfortunately not. There has been significant involvement from local groups, NRW and the Police to find the offender. The evidence is now clear who it is and the Police will be visiting Ron no doubt.
You might say that they will be badgering him.
It was the Russia the US tolled it must be true .
Shove off Sparky;-)
Although you can not believe everything you read in the news, the footage, interviews and comments made by the man in question are impossible to ignore! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and opinions however when it comes to dangerous acts like this to ultimately endanger peoples lives it needs to be reviewed and dealt with by the police. If its not ron in the footage maybe someone needs to dig deeper.
The photo accompanying the article looks like it was taken by a stand of large beech where there are a few boughs on the deck, nothing to do with blocking trails.
There are many pictures online that are alot more clear for people who don’t know the woods. This is a section of a popular track and these logs did not fall from that tree.
If you are actually a real Councillor Mr Williams I’m shocked that you would publicly support the action of a person trying to injure other people. There is significant evidence of logs rocks and wire strategically placed across trails. As a local residents I will be looking to see if this is actually a Councillor and escalating. Your stance on this is disgraceful.
I am a ‘real councillor’ and where on earth do you get the idea that I condone, let alone support, anybody who wishes to injure others? You won’t have to spend much effort in finding me, I am on the Caerphilly Town Council Website. If you wish to make a complaint please do so, my views are well documented on the this paper’s archives and other places.
For your information I support the preservation of our open spaces and woodland and its use by the public for recreational purposes. I do not condone laying traps blocking trails and have spent many hours of work, both on my own and with the woodland trust clearing trails, removing garbage, laying dead hedges on the boundaries.
I have no idea who you are as, unlike me, you conceal your identity but cordially invite you to call me walk the paths and point out the evidence you say you have seen of deliberately placed traps. Then perhaps we can, together, do something about it.
You should view the bbc wales interview with Ron Davies, as a seasoned councillor it apears that Ron is dogging the questions and the reporter is having to really badger him for a straight answer about the ongoings in the woods.
I do not possess a TV, have not done so for seven years. If there is a case for him to answer you must go to the police.
Well you have an internet connection and a search engine!
It’s pointless Bobjob. He’s as evasive as Ron.
See what you did there? you lost the argument in the process on the very serious issue the bikers are being subjected to.
Lost what argument? If Richard Williams has only seen one still photograph you can understand why he defends his friend of 16 or 17 years, but there is far more information about than that photograph. The bbc wales interview is quite direct with Ron Davies dodging the questions and not even denying that he has caused the trail sabotage, and saying there could be many people doing it.
These saboteurs need to be stopped
I’m glad to hear you are a real Councillor. In which case I would expect you to look into the finer details of such a serious issue before brushing away the article with quote “nothing to do with blocking trails”. I apologise if I have this incorrect but it seems your taking the very same stance as Ron who also says he has nothing to do with blocking trails. As I say if I have this incorrect I apologise and look forward to your statement condemning the actions of Ron Davies specifically???
P.S. There is no need to walk the paths, there has been plenty of photographic evidence submitted to the Police and NRW. I hope this now becomes a Police matter and this menace can be brought to answer for his wrongdoing.
You were ‘incorrect’ but apology gracefully accepted. For the information of all commentators I fully support anybody using the woodlands for recreation, this is the way we have a chance of preserving them from ‘developers’ who wish to destroy them.
That said I don’t think the evidence that I have seen indicates that any particular person is responsible for setting deliberate traps. I am perfectly willing to change that opinion in the face of new evidence but in that case it becomes a matter for the police to prosecute.
I have enjoyed our hills and woodland for fifty years as a walker, motorcyclist, camper, horseman and, on occassions, as a cyclist. As I have said before we need to work together to share peacefully the little bit of recreation space we have.
Although your willing to accept an apology it still seems you are unable to see what’s under your nose and condemn Rons actions. I will be honest and I’m not surprised. Having taken the time to read your other comments on this thread I can see the tight knit group that you all must have together. You sir will only see what you want to see. I hope you are able to sleep at night if/when Ron manages to put someone in hospital or worse.
Although you appear to consider that you are judge and jury on this matter, I make no such claim. If you have proper evidence against an individual go to the police. If you want me to help show me the traps laid.
Regarding the woods in the Warren and Coed Y Werin area, If you had tried to cycle around that area 16 years ago you would have encountered scrap cars, hypodermic syringes, garbage and all sorts of other hazards. I know because I helped clean it all up.
It’s ok I definitely wouldn’t expect help from you as it’s obvious where your allegiance lay even with footage under your nose alongside Ron’s continued alternative versions of events. It wasn’t him, then it was, then it was his garden, now he’s clearing the trails. For your info I have been riding around these areas (not specifically the Warren) for around 15 years with no issues up until these recent traps laid by an ex-minister, it’s disgraceful and I cannot accept any type of defence of his actions. We are going round in circles. We will have to agree to disagree. However I sincerely hope that Ron is stopped from further endangering innocent people.
Put your name to your obnoxious statements, in which case you may well be exposing yourself, oop`s sorry, inappropriate, what I mean to say is ; in which case you may leaving yourself open to legal challenges.and possible hefty compensation.
Or, by jumping to unproven and probably legally challenged accusation you make under the anonnimity of your postings on this media, be very careful how far you go with this.
Take `Pete`s advice friend, and back off; you are wrong on all counts except you are addressing a good,; industious; honest; responsible, elected Councillor. Identify yourself or retreat, you have NO right to vilify, totally incorrectly an elected public representative,
He’s admitted it Councillor. But he reckons he was removing debris.
Well I speak as I find Pete. Over a period of sixteen or seventeen years I have, many times, seen Ron Davies clearing paths, digging drainage and filling in deep holes – I have never seen him block paths.
That being the case my mind tells me, in the absence of any reliable evidence to the contrary, that if he says he was removing debris he probably was.
Perfectly reasonable thing to say Councillor but his evasion speaks volumes.
He`s a politician for gods sake; when did you last hear any one of that breed give a straight answer; with the exception of comrade Corbyn of course
“He’s a politician” is not a viable excuse for not giving a straight answer.
I think you are all to blame ,you all need to look in to your inner soul an see the light.
Give not to receive ? We must all look at the hate and give to love open you heart and get some love.
That took you about ten minutes to write. Shall I get you some crayons?
That’s why you to need the love of the light in your heart
The footage shows a very recognisable area that has rocks in a pile off a path by a large tree, it clearly shows a man moving / rolling these onto the path.
The path in question is a desire line used by cyclists to keep the more busier walkers paths clear of bikes moving at any speed.
Riders use this as a precaution of safety for themselves and other users.
To hit something like that could be life threatening for an experienced rider let alone a family on a leisurely ride.
There are also hundreds of photos that have emerged from the past few months as well as photos of that area before and after the events of this week.
Paths are being blocked i am just glad there has been no life threatening injurys as a result
I was referring to the still photo, not any footage, as I think I recognise it as just off from the path I regularly use when walking. I may well be wrong.
Going to do anything to cover his own trails thou isn’t he excuse the pun.. but it’s only now come to light and made the media in a negative manner he’s back tracking. Mountain biking plays a massive part in South Wales especially the Caerphilly area. Personally until a tragedy happens mountain bikers are doomed.
Yet more lies from the infamous Ron Davies. The attempts by Ron and his friend to injure cyclists has been an ongoing saga for some time. He feels the woods are his and his alone. After agreements were put in place by local groups Ron Davies has been caught red handed on camera obstructing trails with the intent to hurt people. Hopefully the Police will be visiting Ron with the minimum of a warning. Typical of a Councillor to back Ron when the facts are there to be seen. His actions should be condemned and I’m disgusted that a Councillor (if he’s even real) would come out publicly and support the actions of those intending to injure people.
Calm down Hboy. He is a real councillor and he didn’t back Ron’s actions.
I know your upset with Ron’s actions and so you should be but your barking up the wrong tree there.
Ive walked around this area and seen the logs, stones and wire laid across the trails. Its obvious that they have been placed with intent to blockade and sabotage the routes, the culprit/s need to be caught before someone gets injured!
From the press reports ive seen Ron Davies has changed his story 3 times on this matter, so far, he was claiming it was in his garden?
History has a habit of repeating its self and its well known that Ron Davies enjoys his leisure time in the woods getting close to nature
Thanks bob appreciate the common sense answer from someone with knowledge of what’s been going on
This has been going on for a while purposely placed logs rocks branches even barbed wire on the trails,even freshly sawn branches been cut to block trails it’s only a matter of time before someone gets seriously hurt,and who ever is doing it should be accountable for there actions of endangering people’s lives
What about contacting the owners of that house that is in the wood? On the boundary fence there are signs warning of CCTV, maybe they have caught some one up to no good?
He has also been caught red handed and admitted it on film.
If what you say is true; share it or withdraw it;
The footage was on social media earlier this week, i will find the link and post as requested
The footage is on Facebook, it is currently on a page that is not public.
I have requested a weblink of the video to enable me to paste in the comments for you.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154532664669450&id=728294449
Love or hate it this area has been designated for this purpose. I’m shocked and appalled that anyone would want to cause harm to the users. If Ron Davies did indeed undertake these actions I’m sure he’ll face repercussions. He of all people should respect the proper and safe way to challenge this.