Testun llawn:
We strongly object to allocating Site 4069 for housing and request its permanent removal from the preferred sites list. Our reasons for this are as follows:
Strain on limited local services and facilities
Colwinston lacks many everyday amenities (no shop, limited public transport, no mains gas). New residents would increase pressure on the already oversubscribed primary school, community hall, and any remaining local resources, potentially leading to longer wait times or reduced quality without corresponding investment.
Increased light, noise, and visual pollution
Introducing a new cluster of homes on open farmland would bring additional outdoor lighting, garden/vehicle noise, and domestic activity into a currently dark, quiet rural area. This could diminish the peaceful, dark-sky character valued in countryside villages.
Affecting wildlife (including protected species) and residents' quality of life
Site 4069 and its surrounding woodlands and meadows provide essential habitats for protected species, including bats and dormice, which rely on these areas for foraging and nesting.
The site lies near ancient woodland (part of the National Forest initiative) and open fields supporting farmland birds, hedgerows, and pollinators. Development could fragment habitats, disrupt wildlife movement, and reduce biodiversity — especially if hedgerows or trees are removed for access/visibility. Development on this site would disrupt these habitats, threatening local biodiversity and the survival of these species.
Community projects, including the Colwinston Old Ford Project and environmental initiatives supported by the Colwinston Community Council, have installed bat boxes in local woodlands and meadows to create habitats and monitor species. These efforts collaborate with the Vale of Glamorgan and Bridgend Bat Group, which records and tracks bat populations across the region. Development would undermine these ongoing conservation efforts.
Potential dilution of community cohesion
Rapid growth in small villages often shifts the demographic balance toward more commuter households less connected to local traditions, events, or volunteering. Colwinston's strong sense of identity (tied to its history as a "Thankful Village," ancient customs like Collyball, and Agatha Christie links) could weaken if newcomers outnumber long-term residents, reducing participation in village life.
Higher risk of surface water and groundwater issues beyond flooding
Beyond already known drainage problems, building on farmland removes natural absorption capacity. Compacted soils, new hard surfaces, and altered drainage could raise the water table locally, increase run-off into the village's underground watercourse/Brook, and exacerbate low water pressure or contamination risks in a groundwater-sensitive area. Adverse effects on local wildlife corridors and habitats as mentioned above.
Unsustainable infrastructure
The village already faces narrow lanes, school congestion/safety issues, no public transport, dangerous A48 access, chronic drainage/sewage/flooding problems, unreliable utilities, and low water pressure. Further homes would worsen all these without realistic mitigation. To date, road conditions are poor on entry to the village, this is only going to worsen with increased traffic.
