Hundreds of objections raised to mountain bypass proposal

CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a bypass on Caerphilly Mountain could be reconsidered following hundreds of public objections.

The road – to the south-east of Caerphilly – is one of several projects being considered as part of Caerphilly Council’s plans to regenerate the county over the next five years.

A public consultation on the strategies contained within the “A Foundation for Success and Draft Caerphilly Basin Masterplan” documents was launched earlier this year.

While the former strategy only attracted 22 responses over a six-week period, the masterplan drew 422 responses – 337 of which offered direct objections to the bypass, with only four in favour.

Caerphilly council believe the bypass could alleviate traffic congestion and improve air quality in the area.

Calls were also made for the blanket protection of all green land and for new developments to be built to the north of the county, as opposed to the Caerphilly Basin. Councillors were asked to recommend the approval of both strategies, with amendments relating to the responses, at a meeting last week.

But Labour councillor Sean Morgan, deputy leader of the council, proposed another recommendation for members to consider.

“The recommendation, in recognition of the many replies to our consultation, is that the need for the eastern bypass be reconsidered under the review of the local development plan,” said Cllr Morgan.

The move was welcomed across the political divide, with Plaid Cymru councillor Linsday Whittle saying the bypass would “decimate” Caerphilly Mountain.

Referring to greenfield sites, Cllr Whittle added: “Caerphilly land is not here for profit, the green fields are here now for the benefit of the people of Caerphilly and our tourists as well. I’m delighted that in this document there is reference to the fact that there will be no new greenfield sites identified in the Caerphilly Basin.”

Plaid Cymru councillor Stephen Kent said that there had been “mass opposition” to the bypass when the council’s LDP was last revised three years ago.

Cllr Kent asked: “Now with 96% of consultation mentioning this, why isn’t it just removed? “It would be a lot easier to remove the thing. The reconsideration could go either way.”

The meeting also heard that environmental analysis completed in the last six months had shown air quality was improving in the area.

Labour councillor James Pritchard said: “You have 337 people opposed, and only four in favour. That tells you everything you need to know.

“The bypass, as far as we’re concerned, is completely dead in the water.

“Should this come back to the LDP [local development plan] in 2021 there’s no way I’ll be supporting it. There’s only so many times you can annoy the public.”

Other masterplan proposals for Caerphilly town include the expansion of Caerphilly Business Park to include a Metro station, a new multi-storey carpark at Morrison’s and improved offerings at tourist sites.

The meeting heard that the Caerphilly Basin masterplan was the first of several planned by the local authority to regenerate specific areas across the county borough.

Cllr Pritchard added: “There’s a bit of a positive vibe around Caerphilly town now.

“You see a bit of negativity on social media but I feel the tide might be turning a bit.”