Stop Western Powers Housing Development on Llanishen Reservoir

Ted Thurgood Chairman RAG tells us that here is a chance for you to help RAG Save Our Reservoirs by emailing your objections to the Planning Department in response to WPD’s latest addendum to their environment Statement.

Western Power’s Fourth Planning Application No. 06/01101/E for Housing Development on Llanishen Reservoir

Your Chance to Register Your Protest

Western Power’s recent second addendum to its environmental statement deals with the following main issues:
· The landscape effect of the proposed access road across the Nant Fawr meadows.
· Further information regarding the hydrology of the site.
· Further information regarding the landscape impact from scheduled ancient
monuments to the North of the site.
· Increase in the width of the access road across the Nant Fawr meadows from 5.5 to
6.1m
· Updating of bus route/frequency information.
· Minor relocation of the proposed “Tiger crossing” on Rhyd-y-penau Road.

Throughout the document the reference to the Wildlife Trust, who were to take on ownership of those parts of the development not being built upon, has been changed to 'Wildlife Trust or other body to be approved'. References to draining the reservoir at the start of the development have been changed throughout to read "Unless (the draining) is carried out prior to the implementation of planning permission".The additional information provided in this second addendum does not change the fundamental reasons for objections to the development. These are:
-that the development goes against the Council's own planning policies to protect the City's river corridors from development;

- that any decision would be premature due to the large planned development of homes adjacent to the north of the reservoirs between Lisvane and Pontprennau;

-that an area which encompasses two SSSI is clearly important for preserving biodiversity and should be protected from any development and the resulting risk of disturbance.

In fact, the situation pertaining to the SSSIs is now much worse. It is clear that the Wildlife Trust are no longer interested in taking ownership of the two Sites of Special Scientific Interest on the reservoir site, and it is not clear who will become the owners if the development goes ahead. This uncertainty is very worrying, as there are now no assurances that the wildlife interests at the site would be protected in perpetuity if the development goes ahead. This is a key reason for lodging a further objection to the changes that are listed in this addendum.

WPD's second addendum changes nothing. Their planning Application would cause unacceptable harm to amenity and open space interests contrary to Policy 7 of the adopted City of Cardiff Local Plan and to the Nant Fawr Corridor linking this part of the City to the countryside beyond and thus conflict with Policies C1 and B4 of the South Glamorgan (Cardiff Area) Replacement Structure Plan and with 1J, 2.J.6, and 2.J.9 of the Deposit Version of the Unitary Development. It should therefore be rejected.

TIME FOR ACTION
Use whichever arguments most fit your personal concerns but make sure that the Planning Department is aware of your strong objections to Western Power’s totally inappropriate Fourth Planning Application.

Email your objections to Phil Williams at: developmentcontrol@cardiff.gov.uk

Under this heading:
Planning Application No: 06/01101/E
For the attention of Tim Walters