Hirwaun Gloucesters Site Under Threat Again
June 17, 2008
The Gloucesters Site is once again under threat from developers.Despite being refused planning permission in April last year, which was further dismissed at an appeal heard by the Welsh Assembly in October 2007, the developers have re-submitted plans to build 130 houses on the site which is much valued and used by the community as an area for recreation and leisure and home to an abundance of wildlife and flora.
There is a very real danger that councillors may approve this application despite overwhelming objections from residents over the last 2 years. Planning officers are of the opinion that proposed so called ‘improvements’ to the roads in and around the Church and Post Office which consist of speed bumps, widening of pavements and dropped kerbs will solve the existing
problems and accommodate a 61% increase in pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Residents however feel that speed bumps are not a solution - the problems which occur on a daily basis occur at low speed and are due to the sheer volume of traffic which uses the narrow roads in and around the centre of the village.
In order for this development to go ahead the developers will insist:
* our roads are made narrower - but what about school buses, delivery vans etc?
* drivers will have to negotiate unpopular speed bumps
* High Street Shops will have to remove advertising signs - so much for regeneration of our village centre
* our post box and litter bin may have to be moved
* our cash point facility at the Post Office may be under threat - amuch needed and an asset to try and help keep our Post Office open
Over 500 residents objected to this proposal last time.
Over 500 residents also responded to the consultation of the emerging local development plan asking that Hirwaun be developed as a tourist area and that the Gloucesters Site be developed into a nature reserve with facilities for walking and cycling which would link up with local cycle networks and the Brecon Beacons National Park. Hirwaun residents have demonstrated that they wish to have a say in the way in which Hirwaun is developed. They are not opposed to the principle of more housing, they want any new housing to be in appropriate locations which do not have a detrimental impact on the roads of the village and do not deprive the community of amenities which have been enjoyed by generations of Hirwaun residents.
The planning application will be heard by the development control committee of R.C.T. Council on Thursday 19th June at 5p.m. at the Sobells Sports Centre.
Residents of Hirwaun who are opposed to this application should make every effort to attend the meeting to show the strength of feeling in the community.
There is a very real danger that councillors may approve this application, please show your support for the future of Hirwaun.
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