Environmental groups ‘being shut out’ of road talks - claim
ENVIRONMENTAL groups have been “shut out” of talks over a major new road linking the A48 to the M4, it has been claimed.
The new road would run from junction 34 of the M4 to the Sycamore Cross junction of the A48.
Two possible routes have been identified - to the east or west of the village of Pendoylan.
Vale of Glamorgan Council hopes the new road will reduce journey times and congestion, but more than 1,500 people signed a petition, set up by the Woodland Trust, opposing the plans due to fears over the loss of ancient woodlands.
Concerns have also been raised that the road would bring pollution within metres of Pendoylan Primary School. Now campaign group Vale Communities for Future Generations has criticised the review group looking into the route, saying the make-up of the group favours road and freight transport bodies over environmental groups.
The review group, agreed by the council’s cabinet in January, is made up of representatives of Vale of Glamorgan Council and relevant neighbouring councils, Welsh Government, Network Rail, rail operators, public transport operators, Sustrans, the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, the NHS and representatives of three community councils. A spokeswoman for Vale Communities for Future Generations said: “The only conclusion one can come to is that by deliberately excluding necessary expert opinion from the review group, the decision to proceed to the third stage of the consultation process and ultimately to build the road has already been decided. “
“This is not democracy. It is unfair manipulation of a fair consultation process to arrive at a predetermined decision.
“The report presented to the review group is being kept under wraps, so families who will lose their homes under the council’s road plans, and numerous others who have written to complain, will continue to be kept in the dark about why certain experts, with possibly differing opinions to the council, were excluded from the review of consultation.”
Both routes will in places be nine metres high and run alongside Pendoylan within metres of the conservation village, local homes and the village school, the campaigners say.
They also say the council is trying to avoid a delay to the proposals as it needs to request £1.5million from Welsh Government by the end of January for stage 3 of the Weltag consultation process.
The council says no decision has yet been made on the plans.
A council spokesman said: “No decision has yet been made on whether to build a new road between junction 34 of the M4 and the Sycamore Cross junction of the A48. Feedback from the consultation is being processed and full consideration will be given to all views expressed.
“The council’s cabinet will decide the next step for this project later in the year and it would be premature to comment further until all comments on the matter have been received.
“The make-up of the review group was agreed by cabinet in January and includes professionals with expertise in the economy, built and natural environment, culture, health, community, road, active travel and public transport.”
The spokesman added: “Should the project progress to a detailed phase, relevant consents and permissions would need to be secured. There would need to be a great deal of further information gathering in respect of many environmental matters.”