Testun llawn:
The Green Wedge site contains a network of native hedgerows (several of them species rich), all classified as Priority Habitats under Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. These facilitate bat commuting and dormouse movement routes. Multiple bat species use the site, including Common and Soprano Pipistrelle, Noctul, Daubenton, Serotine and Brown Long eared Bat. Development would cause: loss/breaching of critical flight lines; introduction of artificial lighting that disrupts foraging and commuting; potential loss of a mature Ash with high roost potential. Lighting impacts cannot be fully mitigated within a residential estate and would severely degrade the ecological function of the site and adjacent woodland.
Hazel Dormouse, a European Protected Species, nest within the site. Hedgerows and woodland edge provide food sources and connect directly to high quality woodland habitat capable of supporting a population. Hedgerow loss, lighting spill and disturbance could well compromise this species. Dormice and their resting places are strictly protected under the Habitats Regulations. The site lies within the home territory of a Badger clan and is used for foraging and movement. Development would disrupt these routes and increase risk of harm during construction. Otters have also been observed (fresh footprint) in the central wet ditch and frequently recorded in the nearby Nant Talwg watercourse. In fact a dead otter was only recently seen in February 2006 by Cwm Ciddy (a road casualty). Pollution risks from construction, drainage changes, and lighting impacts that could disturb nocturnal movement. The central ditch is likely used as a commuting link, despite seasonal drying. Further ultiple species of birds were recorded, including Skylark, Song Thrush and House Sparrow, all Section 7 Priority Species. Development would remove nesting habitat, increase disturbance, cause irreversible loss of farmland bird territory. Impacts could also be catastrophic for reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. Field margins, the wet ditch, hedgerows and woodland edge will all be degraded. With building work a fragmented landscape will fundamentally destroy a wildlife corridor into the wider Vale of Glamorgan. Development will inevitably therefore cause deterioration of habitat connectivity and introduce artificial lighting and disturbance and will diminish biodiversity. The development of KS1 and the destruction of the Green wedge will lead to unavoidable ecological harm, contrary to Planning Policy Wales (PPW) Edition 12, The Environment (Wales) Act 2016, Sections 6 & 7, TAN 5: Nature Conservation & Planning, Local LDP policies SP10, MG20, MG21 and MD7
For these reasons, the allocation of this land for development is ecologically unsound and should be removed from the RLDP.
However configured, the HG1 KS1 will drag Barry closer to Rhoose, destroy the preexisting functional Green wedge (defended robustly by Vale Planning in 2014/15), facilitate urban coalescence, worsen pollution/noise and create clearly evidenced ecological harm. KS1 should thus be removed from the RLDP.
