Testun llawn:
I wish to object to the proposed development of around 380 homes on land next to the A4226 at Weycock Cross. My objection is based on concerns about traffic, infrastructure, environmental impact and the importance of this road as a key access point to the airport.
1) Increased traffic on an already busy road
The A4226 is an important route linking the the area to Cardiff Airport and the town centre. It already suffers from congestion especially during rush hours and busy airport travel periods. Adding around 380 homes would lead to a large increase in daily vehicle movements. This would likely make congestion worse, increase journey times and reduce the reliability of travel along this route. Planning policy expects new developments to be supported by suitable transport infrastructure. In this case it is difficult to see how the current road network can cope with the extra traffic without serious impact.
2) Previous findings in 2014
Earlier assessments in 2014 found that development at this location would harm the flow and capacity of traffic on this road. Those concerns related to the physical limits of the existing road network. There is little evidence that these limits have changed since then. Allowing a development of this scale without major road improvements appears inconsistent with earlier findings.
3) Impact of additional pedestrian crossings
A development of this size would likely require new pedestrian crossings on a busy main road so that residents can safely cross the road. Whilst safety is important, additional controlled crossings on a busy main road will stop traffic more often Combined with the extra vehicles from the development this would likely increase queues and delays. This effect needs to be properly considered when assessing whether the site is suitable for development.
4) Pressure on drainage and Sewage Systems
There are also concerns about whether existing drainage and sewage systems can cope with a development of this size. An extra 380 homes would create a significant increase in waste water. If local systems do not have enough capacity, there is a risk of overflows or system failures. This could lead to pollution entering nearby water courses, including the Millwood Stream, affecting water quality and wildlife.
5) Impact on Wildlife
The site currently supports local wildlife including foxes and bats. Bats are a protected species and can be affected by habitat loss and increased lighting. Developing this greenfield land would lead to habitat loss and disturbance to local wildlife. Planning Policy Wales and the
Environment (Wales) Act places a duty on public bodies to protect and improve biodiversity.
6) Importance of Access to Cardiff Airport.
The A4226 is one of the main access routes to Cardiff Airport, which is am important for passengers, staff, and businesses. Increased congestion caused by a large housing development on this route could
harm that access. Planning decisions should take into account the need to protect key infrastructure such as airport access routes.
Conclusions
For these reasons - including increase traffic, increased traffic, infrastructure concerns, environmental impact, the importance of maintain good access to Cardiff Airport - I believed the proposed development would have a negative impact on the area. I therefore ask the Council to refuse the application.
