Testun llawn:
I am objecting to HG1 KS2 because, as someone living with health problems and mobility limitations, I can already see how difficult daily life in Dinas Powys has become in terms of transport and access. Adding 250 new homes north of the village will make those challenges significantly worse.
Traffic congestion on Cardiff Road is already a daily problem. At school times and rush hour, traffic often builds up along the main road and side roads. When there is an accident or blockage on Pen-y-Turnpike Road, the entire village backs up. On those days it can feel as though there is no way in or out. For someone who needs to attend medical appointments or manage ongoing health issues, this is not a minor inconvenience. It creates anxiety and uncertainty around whether you can reach a GP appointment on time or get home safely.
Although Dinas Powys has two train stations, they are not easily usable for someone with mobility difficulties. Access is not fully step-free, and the stations are not practical for wheelchair users in all circumstances. Even where trains are available, they do not take you directly to local GP surgeries, hospitals etc. Rail services are also regularly disrupted during heavy rain and storms. The railway runs through one of the lowest points in the village and services are cancelled when flooding risk increases. This means it cannot be relied upon as a dependable alternative to driving.
Bus services are not a straightforward solution either. Buses have limited space for wheelchair users. If the designated space is already taken by a pushchair, you may be required to wait for the next service. That is not inclusive or reliable transport planning. If development of this scale increases demand further, waiting times and service pressure will only worsen.
Flooding is a real concern. The Vale of Glamorgan’s Section 19 Technical Report (December 2020) confirms that flooding in Dinas Powys was caused by surface water runoff from elevated land to the north and northwest of the village, the same direction as the proposed development site. The report records that residential properties were affected and that the existing highway drainage system was overwhelmed. This is not a theoretical issue. It has already happened. Increasing hard surfaces upstream through development risks sending even more water into a drainage system that has already failed under pressure.
The drainage beneath Cardiff Road is old and was never designed for the traffic levels or rainfall intensity we now experience. Given the increasing frequency of severe weather events, expanding development in this location feels irresponsible and unsafe.
The site is also within the Green Wedge separating Dinas Powys from Llandough. That open space is important not only visually but psychologically. It gives the village a clear boundary and sense of separation. Development of this scale would narrow that gap and change the character of the village permanently.
Local schools and healthcare services are already stretched. As someone who depends on access to medical care, I am concerned that additional housing will increase pressure on GP appointments and community services without any clear guarantee that capacity will expand first.
There are also environmental concerns, including the presence of habitats suitable for protected species. This land is not empty or unused; it plays an ecological role that would be diminished by large-scale development.
For all of these reasons: traffic congestion, unreliable and inaccessible public transport, known flooding mechanisms from the same catchment area, strain on healthcare and schools, and the loss of Green Wedge land, I believe HG1 KS2 represents unsustainable development and should not proceed.
