Forest Farm under threat from development
The planning extension by Whitchurch Hospital has gone before the Councils Planning Committee has been granted after a site visit took place, as requested by Whitchurch Councillor Linda Morgan.
The planning committee were rather perplexed as to why a 16 year old plan was being presented to them now but ultimately stated that if it was refused it would be appealed to the Welsh Assembly and ultimately granted (as done in 2001) and this would cost the council more money.
The development would see between 300 and 500 new houses and flats being built on the hospital meadows which are within yards of the forest farm nature reserve.
You can download the planning report here (PDF format)
and Julie Morgans comments can be read here
The plans include:
- 330 new homes to be built but that could increase as the plans for a new hospital on the site have now been scrapped.
- Access via a new roundabout at the current Hospital entrance on Park Road.
- The traffic assessment states 330 new homes will create only 28 vehicle movements at peak times!
- The Operational Manager of Parks Services issued no comment on the plans
- The Operational Manager of Environmnetal (pollution control) issued no comment on the plans
- The Chief Officer of Education issued no comment on the plans
- Only 230 addresses were written to for consultation. Friends of Forest Farm was not informed by the council.
Obviously we are deeply concerned about how this development would effect the nature reserve and find it impossible to understand how the Council have empowered us to protect the nature reserve yet exclude us from discussion as best as they can and dismiss our concerns so quickly.
During the site visit a heron was spotted sat in one of the neighbouring trees which would probably not happen if the meadow was a housing estate.
A map showing where the development will be built can be seen here.
Email from Iolo Williams, click for fullsize:
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