* The fire as seen from the town centre.
* County
Councillors Melvyn Mile and Graham Timms on the Horseshoe Pass, scene of the fire
last summer.
An official probe
into the massive mountain fire near Llangollen last summer is to be held in March.
And the area’s
two county councillors who called for it have welcomed he day-long evidence
gathering meeting which will take place at the International Pavilion on
Wednesday March 20.
The fire
ripped through acres of moorland around Llantysilio and the Horseshoe
Pass burning for six weeks in July and August.
In September
Llangollen councillors Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile called for the county
council to hold an inquiry into the fire and its impact on the area.
As a result
the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee will hold the special meeting in
March.
A letter to
the councillors from committee chair Cllr Huw O Williams says: “We will be
examining evidence from last summer’s fire on Llantysilio Mountain, near
Llangollen, and its impact on the local area.
“For this
purpose an evidence gathering a meeting of the committee will be held at the
International Pavilion in Llangollen at 10am on Wednesday March 20. The meeting
will have a morning and afternoon session and will be open to the public.
“The inquiry
is not intended to apportion blame on any individual, service, organisation or
group with respect of the fire or its management.
“Its aim is
to understand what happened and learn lessons from the event in a bid to
improve the management of similar incidents in future and minimise the
disruption caused to nearby communities and businesses.
“At the
morning session the committee will be examining evidence relating to the
emergency services and other public organisations’ response to the fire along
with the management of the incident.
“The
afternoon session will be devoted to reviewing evidence relating to land
management matters and the fire and incident management’s effect on local
businesses, residents and communities.
“Representatives
from various services, organisations, communities and businesses either
involved or affected by the fire will be invited to give evidence at the
meeting.
“In the
meantime, the committee would also like to hear from individuals affected by
the fire about their experiences during this time and the impact it had had on
them, their businesses or community since.”
The letter
adds that if anyone has photographic, video or written evidence they would like
the committee to consider, they should send it to: Rhian Evans, Scrutiny
Co-ordinator, Democratic Services, DCC, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin LL15
1YN, or email to: rhian.evans@denbighshire.gov.uk by February
12.
Cllr Mile said: “We are keen that the response to the fire by
North Wales emergency services, the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County
Council is examined so that lessons can be learned to prevent such an event
happening again.
“The fire caused devastation to the environment, flora and fauna as well
as a prolonged effect on local farmers, businesses and communities. It is
important that those affected by the fire will be given an opportunity to put
evidence to the committee.”
Cllr Timms said: “We asked for the committee to hold its meeting in
Llangollen Pavilion to make it easy for those living near the fire site to
attend. It is important that a full and detailed investigation is held.
“We have been working hard to get an important piece of evidence released
by the Local Resilience Forum which is now expected very soon.
“Its report has been drawn up by the officers and emergency services
involved in the response to the fire and we hope that it will help to enlighten
us about the actual situation.
“There have been lots of rumours and misinformation about the fire and
we need to be able to look at the evidence before jumping to conclusions.”