A DELIBERATE grass fire which claimed two hectares of land at a multi-million pound regeneration project has stoked fears for the safety of its wildlife.

An area of land the size of two rugby pitches at the British in Talywain was set alight on Saturday, March 25, and firefighters from Abersychan and New Inn fought the flames for an hour and a half.

The fire was reported close to the Big Arch on Lodge Road, at the site of a £3.7million re-development which was agreed by Torfaen council last year.

Although just a small portion of the 528 hectare site was attacked by arsonists, security concerns for largest area of dereliction in south east Wales still remain.

Gwyn Jenkins, of Herbert Road, Garndiffaith, feels it is an impossible task to police the site, but his biggest worry is the threat to animals and the environment.

“My main concern is the danger posed to the wildlife,” said the 67-year-old.

“Looking at the damage caused to the site near to the quadrangle, none of the plant life will be able to grow again for a while.

“Then you’ve got birds nesting and other animals up there – that is what upsets me the most – the threat to the wildlife,” said Mr Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins added that he has raised the issue of the security at the site in the past, but due to it large size, little can be done to enforce and effective strategy.

“There is nothing that can be whatsoever to make the site secure,” he said.

“I have talked to David Leech, who is heading the project up with Torfaen council, and it seems like policing the area is an impossible task.”

A Torfaen council spokesman shared Mr Jenkins’ fear over the danger to wildlife, but praised the fire service for its quick response.

“This fire was started deliberately. The British is very close to people’s homes and this fire could have had devastating consequences,” he said.

“Not only has a large area of the landscape and the wildlife that lives there been destroyed but it could so easily have led to loss of life.

“We would like to thank the Fire Service who dealt with this fire over the weekend and would appeal to those responsible to consider the damage they cause and the lives it endangers.”

The deputy chief fire officer Mick Crennell from the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Chair of the All Wales Strategic Arson Reduction Board said: "Arson and deliberate fires can put the lives of Emergency Services personnel and members of communities at risk.

"It is a crime that can carry heavy fines or even a prison sentence.

"Emergency Services have to spend valuable time responding to deliberate fires which can leave other areas more vulnerable, we cannot be in two places at once.

"Over the last decade, we have had considerable success in reducing the incidence and impact of deliberate fire setting within our communities.

“However, I believe that there is more we can achieve.

“I recognise the importance of working closely with our partners and our past success is a direct result of the hard work, innovation and drive of our Strategic Arson Reduction Board and the dedicated practitioners from all the agencies who have been out there delivering initiatives within our communities.

"Through the Strategic Arson Reduction Board, the three Welsh Fire and Rescue Services, four Police Services, the Welsh NHS, Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Government and others have developed a new Wales Arson Reduction Strategy that will help to re-focus efforts in this area and to broaden the responsibility of communities for arson reduction activity in Wales.

"By working with our partner agencies and our communities, our aim is to encourage a cultural shift across Wales so that arson is seen as socially unacceptable by all.

“We will take action to support this positive and lasting cultural change to create a Wales that we all want to live in, work in and to visit now and in the future."

A spokeswoman from the Wildlife Trusts Wales said: “The Wildlife Trusts in Wales are concerned about the prevalence of these fires and the impact they will have on wildlife.”

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said: “We work together with the fire service to investigate all such deliberately set fires and have officers across the force patrolling all of our communities.

“Setting deliberate grass fires is an extremely reckless and dangerous activity, the consequences of which can be far-reaching for the environment, wildlife and local communities.

“Grass fires divert essential emergency services away from those who are vulnerable and in need, and a partnership approach is the only way to tackle offenders."