Concerns at plan for 450 new homes
PEOPLE living close to a site where developers plan to build 450 new houses have claimed their own homes could be flooded.
Around 200 people from Tondu and Aberkenfig, near Bridgend, packed a public meeting to voice their concerns.
They fear that the planned building work for land west of Maesteg Road in Tondu would affect rain water falling on the site, potentially leading to its run off into surrounding areas.
“Concerns were raised about houses in Aberkenfig being flooded again because of a shift in the hydrology of the site and adequate measures not being taken by the developers to mitigate this,” said resident Claudette Evans.
She further alleged: “During previous development of the current housing estate and the Lidl supermarket, residents were inundated several times over the course of construction during heavy rain.”
But Vahe Zarifian, the technical co-ordinator acting on behalf of Merthyr Mawr Estate, which has submitted the planning application to Bridgend council, moved to reassure residents.
When asked to comment on the residents’ concerns after the meeting, he said steps would be taken to ensure that in bad weather, surface water would not run off the new estate into surrounding properties.
“With regard to flooding, the site itself is outside the zones defined by NRW (Natural Resources Wales) of being at risk of flooding,” he told the Gazette.
“To control the surface water run offs from the development, it is proposed to provide attenuation on site whereby at times of high rainfall, the surface water run offs would be held on site and then later in drier periods released into water course (s).
“Technical reports on drainage strategy provided to Bridgend council have proposed mitigation measures to ensure that there is no adverse effect from the proposed development on flooding both within the site and also outside and onto neighbouring land downstream of the site.
“The drainage strategy report has been approved by Bridgend council’s technical officers and NRW.”
The public meeting at Tondu Cricket Club was organised by members of the Tondu and Aberkenfig Hub and was attended by Ogmore AM Huw Irranca Davies AM, Dr Dai Lloyd AM, Coun Tim Thomas and a representative of Ogmore MP Chris Elmore.
Spokeswoman Claudette Evans said the Hub wants the proposals in their current form to be thrown out and urged residents to lodge their objections with local councillors.
She said they were particularly concerned about “the proposed change in alignment to the main Maesteg Road”, the increase in traffic if the development goes ahead, pressure on local services and “destruction of the open land where the development is proposed”.
Mr Zarifian said: “The concerns raised with regard to traffic have been assessed through detailed technical studies.
“Mitigation measures would be implemented to address any adverse effect as a result of traffic impact from the development.
“The master plan provides ample public open spaces and amenities including a woodland which would be retained.
“Bridgend council will also impose contributions from the developer through its Section 106 requirements.”