Testun llawn:
Key Concerns:
• Impact on Village Identity and Countryside
o Development would permanently alter the rural character and village identity of Dinas Powys.
o The greenbelt and surrounding countryside would be lost, negatively affecting residents and visitors.
o Local wildlife habitats and nearby SSSI locations would be adversely impacted, reducing biodiversity.
• Traffic and Road Safety
o Existing road network is already insufficient for current traffic levels. For large parts of each day it is almost impossible to exit from Dinas Powys in any sensible time frame due to congestion.
o Problem areas include Argae Lane, St Andrews Road, Westra, Cardiff Road, Mill Road, Penyturnpike and the village square. The recent Scholar’s Park housing development at the top of Murch Road has led to very heavy traffic at an already busy crossroads.
o Parking around the village has become dangerous and over-crowded with people regularly parking in inappropriate places and causing further congestion.
o Regular pedestrian, cycle, and equestrian use is dangerous due to lack of pavements in several sections.
o Capacity on trains is limited and at peak times, rail carriages are often full. There are very limited car parking facilities for commuting via rail links.
o Additional housing could add up to 500 more vehicles, worsening congestion and safety hazards. It is unrealistic to assume that new residents will not increase local vehicle numbers. Surveys of housing developments, including local and national travel behaviour data, consistently show that most households remain car-dependent, resulting in a significant rise in traffic following new housing construction. https://www.transportfornewhomes.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Building-Car-Dependency-2022.pdf
https://www.rtpi.org.uk/new-from-the-rtpi/new-housing-fails-to-move-away-from-car-dependency-report-finds/
o Narrow pinch points on Argae Lane (single lane) and sections of Westra and St Andrews Road create delays and increase accident risk.
o Roads are already used as a high-speed cut-through from Barry to Cardiff and Penarth, impacting residential safety.
• Flooding Risk
o Cardiff Road, Mill Road, and St Andrews Road are prone to seasonal flooding, sometimes rendering them impassable.
o Runoff from the proposed development is likely to worsen flooding issues, affecting road safety and access.
• Pressure on Local Services
o NHS services, schools, dentists and other community facilities are already overwhelmed.
o Previous housing developments near Cross Common Road and The Murch increased population without corresponding expansion of services.
o Further population growth from this site would exacerbate pressures on healthcare, education, and transport infrastructure.
