PET(4)-01-12 p10b

P-03-252 Opposing RAF St Athan Northern Access Road (Boverton Residents)

Petition wording
We call upon the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to amend its plans for the proposed Defence Technical Academy at St Athan so that no northern access road is constructed and that the green field sites at Tremain's Farm, Picketston and Eglwys Brewis are preserved.

This would take into account the views of 95% of the 395 individuals consulted in Boverton.

Petition raised by: Boverton Residents

 

First considered by the Committee: October 2009

 

Number of signatures:This petition was raised by Boverton

Residents, and it collected 3 signatures.  In addition, the petitioner collected 377 signatures for an associated petition.

 

Supporting information:
Whilst we have no objection in principle to the regeneration of the airfield site, we believe it should be within current airfield boundaries. We further believe that the development should utilise current access routes, as have been used since 1938. No new road should be built to the detriment of local residents, particularly those residing in Boverton, or indeed those of surrounding areas, who will have to suffer adverse effects resulting from increased traffic and loss of amenity. These will include an unacceptable increase in traffic related and light pollution in addition to an unacceptable loss of green field sites. Nor should the taxpayers of Wales bear the imposition of such an unessential cost burden.

 

We believe that development outside the current airfield boundary is contrary to the principles of The Sustainable Development Scheme of the Welsh Assembly and Vale of Glamorgan UDP policies. We also consider that once the road and Service Family Accommodation are constructed precedent will be established for future development, the road providing access for the purpose.

 

Quotes from the report by the Vale of Glamorgan Planning and Transportation Department:

‘Road Traffic: As there are planned new roads and junction improvements associated with the development and the development is likely to lead to an increase in road traffic on the existing roads in the local area, emissions from road traffic in the area could also increase’.

 

‘predicted to experience a noticeable change in traffic flows and increases in ambient noise from traffic on new development roads affecting the amenity of existing and future site occupiers in close proximity’.

         

The existing dwellings that would lie closest to the NAR and remaining SFA sites are those at Millands Caravan Park, Millands Farm, Old Froglands, Froglands Farm, Splott House, Rose Cottage and Oaklands.’

 

Thus, there is clear recognition that there will be a significant increase in traffic and consequent environmental pollution.

 

Residences to the north/north-west of Boverton adjacent to the B4265, Monmouth Way, Denbigh Drive, Cardigan Crescent and Harding Close in particular, lie less than 60 metres from the proposed access road junction and 30 metres from the B4265 which will carry all additional local traffic. They are closer to the proposed junction than any of the sites referred to. They will be the most adversely affected of any in proximity to the development.

 

It has to be remembered that these areas already experience a degree of pollution and, should the development proceed, will have to bear an unacceptable increase in all resultant pollution. There has been no consideration of this and it is of particular note that no conditions have been placed on the granting of the Planning Consent to protect these residents from the permanent affects of the development.

 

It is planned to build the SFA’s, and indeed the NAR, on land previously designated in the plan as ‘recreational’.  The site is on green field land that enjoys the protection of the Assembly and Vale of Glamorgan policies.  Development of any description here, be it road or housing, will deprive the community at large of considerable amenity and be in contravention of these. 

 

It is also feared that since planning permission has been granted future development will ensue, as precedent will have been set. This will be of further detriment to the area.

 

All but 9 signatories of a petition submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council Planning Committee objecting to elements of the planning application are residents of the area most likely to be affected.  Ninety-five per cent of those asked to consider signing the petition did so with just 18 of the 395 residents contacted declining to sign the petition.