Objections to rugby club planning applications

CONTROVERSIAL planning schemes linked to a Cardiff rugby club have attracted scores of objections from concerned residents.

Plans have been submitted for 25 homes to be built on land at Llanishen Rugby Club on Usk Road – while separate plans would see a new pitch and clubhouse built on land owned by Llanishen High School.

Residents living near the Usk Road site, between Fidlas Road and Llanishen Reservoir, have submitted an objection claiming the housing development is inconsistent with the Local Development Plan and that the scheme has a number of issues.

They have said the site is designated as part of the Nant Fawr river corridor and falls as part of the LDP which says “the natural heritage, character and other key features of Cardiff’s river corridors will be protected, promoted and enhanced”.

The campaigners say the proposed development would contradict this policy of protecting the river corridor. They say it will also result in a loss of open space.

The campaigners argue it is too close to existing houses and that the current 4ft fence would be replaced with bigger walls.

They claim that extra traffic would also be created at what is described as “an already a dangerous junction”.

A separate planning application for a new all-weather 3G pitch, clubhouse and changing rooms at land currently used by Llanishen High School has also been submitted to the council.

That too has had a number of individual objections from residents of Heol Hir, Station Road and Everest Avenue.

A petition of 176 names has also been submitted.

The proposed site for the new clubhouse and 3G pitch would occupy 40,000 square metres at the northern part of the existing school grounds.

The clubhouse would be built on land currently used as Llanishen High’s indoor tennis courts.

It would host both events and be open for visitors.

The pitch would be next to the clubhouse and replace the existing rugby ground.

It will be used by both Llanishen RFC and the school.

Residents have previously raised concerns about the hours it would be open.

The current school pitches are only used during school hours but the new pitch could be used between 8am and 9pm between Monday and Friday, 9am to 9pm on Saturday and 10am and 9pm on Sunday.

The applicant says no traffic will be generated by the clubhouse and on match days the school will make their bus bays available for teams.

There will be 36 parking spaces created.

The applicant says that most of the construction work would be over the summer when the school is closed.

No date for when the two items will be decided by Cardiff council has been published.