Homes plan could put country park at risk, say residents
PLANS to build as many as 100 houses could ruin a popular Aberdare park, residents fear.
The plan is for up to 100 houses to be built on land at Cwm Farm near Dare Valley Country Park.
It would be made up of 70% open market homes and 30% affordable homes and will see the existing farmhouse kept, improvements to the existing access onto Dare Valley Park access road, and the reopening of the Graig Place and Dare Valley Park access road junction to vehicles.
Carla Jackles, who lives in Ty Fry, has voiced residents’ fears that the development could ruin the popular Dare Valley Country Park because of the extra traffic it could bring.
A petition has been set up by residents who oppose the plans which have not yet been lodged with the council officially but are undergoing pre-application consultation.
She said: “This will cause delays and ruin the country park.
“This will impact residents of Aberdare and Monk Street as well as commuters and people who use the country park.
“It’s going to spoil it and cause havoc with the wildlife and conservation.”
She said this development would affect the flow of traffic on an already “chaotic” Monk Street and Maerdy Road as the plan is to turn what is currently a public footpath into a bypass.
Ms Jackles said the road they want to use as a bypass is currently a public footpath with garages.
These garages are privately owned and rented and the area also acts as an overflow car park at times and Welsh Water also uses the area.
She said: “They plan on opening this public footpath used as a school crossing as a new main road.
“This will make the country park a housing estate. It won’t be safe for pedestrians or cyclists anymore.
“I live on the Graig. Our homes and my school run with my two kids will be directly affected. We have not had any letters even though they plan on ousting residents out of parking outside their home with double yellows for better flow of traffic. This road can’t take any more traffic. The water pipes are bursting from the heavy flow of traffic Welsh Water have said. It’s frustrating, many people who own garages don’t even know about it.”
A design and access statement prepared by WYG Group on behalf of the developers Trustees of Cwm Farm Estate says it complies with planning policies and would provide much-needed affordable homes to the wider benefit of Aberdare.
It says the development would be sustainably located a short distance from locally accessible services and facilities and sustainable modes of public transport in Aberdare town centre.
It also claims that dependency on car journeys will reduce because of its convenient location which will encourage walking and cycling.
The statement says: “The proposed development is well served by existing infrastructure and facilities and in close proximity to public transport. The site is in a sustainable location.
“The site is unconstrained by ecological, landscape, flood risk and heritage constraints.
“The proposal will deliver much needed housing to meet an identified need.”