Testun llawn:
Concerns Regarding the Church Farm Development
The proposals for Church Farm raise several serious concerns that further demonstrate the unsoundness of the RLDP.
A1 Retail Unit and Risk of Change of Use
The inclusion of an A1 retail unit within the Church Farm plans is presented as a community benefit, yet there is no guarantee that this unit will ever operate as a shop. Developers routinely apply for change‑of‑use permissions after approval, and there is a legitimate concern that this “retail unit” could later be converted into additional housing. This would reduce promised community facilities while increasing housing density beyond what has been publicly consulted on. The RLDP provides no safeguards to prevent this outcome.
Unsafe and Inappropriate Access Point
The proposed entrance to the Church Farm development is extremely concerning. It is located on a narrow section of road, in close proximity to a school, and adjacent to an existing shop that already generates local traffic and pedestrian activity. Crucially, this road is the only route into the village from the east. Introducing hundreds of additional vehicle movements at peak times will create serious safety risks, particularly for children walking to and from school. The RLDP provides no evidence that this road can safely accommodate the increased traffic.
Traffic Chaos at Peak Times
Because this road is the sole eastern access into St Athan, the additional vehicles generated by the Church Farm development will cause significant bottlenecks. Morning and evening peak times will be particularly affected, with queues forming along a route that has no capacity for widening or alternative diversion. This is a clear example of development being proposed in a location where the road network is fundamentally unsuitable.
Inadequate Public Transport and Increased Car Dependency
The RLDP repeatedly claims to promote sustainable travel, yet the proposals for these villages directly contradict that aim. St Athan, Flemingston and Eglwys Brewys have no railway station, limited and unreliable bus services, and no realistic active‑travel links. Without credible, funded improvements, new development will force residents to rely almost entirely on private cars, increasing congestion, pollution, and carbon emissions. This directly undermines the Council’s own climate‑change and sustainability commitments.
Absence of Local Employment Opportunities
The RLDP proposes significant housing growth without any realistic strategy for local employment. Previous employment sites have either reduce, closed or been repurposed, leaving limited job opportunities especially in the more rural areas where the majority of the housing development seems to be proposed. Most residents must commute to Barry, Cardiff, Bridgend or further afield, and new development will only increase outward commuting. This contradicts the RLDP’s stated objective of creating balanced, self‑sustaining communities.
Increased Surface Water Flooding from Loss of Farmland
The conversion of agricultural land into housing poses a serious flood‑risk concern. Farmland currently provides natural drainage and water absorption. Replacing it with hard surfaces will increase surface water run‑off, heighten flood risk for existing homes and roads, and place additional pressure on drainage systems already known to be fragile. The RLDP does not provide robust, site‑specific drainage strategies or long‑term maintenance plans to address these risks.
No Provision for Upgraded Infrastructure or Essential Services
One of the most serious shortcomings of the RLDP is the complete absence of any provision for upgraded essential infrastructure to support the proposed population growth. The plan does not include additional GP or dental capacity, increased fire, police or emergency service provision, meaningful road network improvements, or investment in community facilities. This omission makes the RLDP fundamentally unsound, as it fails to provide the basic services required for safe, healthy, functioning communities.
Potential for Increased Anti‑Social Behaviour and Pressure on Policing
The RLDP also fails to consider the social impacts of large‑scale development in rural villages. Rapid population growth without corresponding investment in community facilities, youth services, open spaces, and policing capacity increases the risk of anti‑social behaviour. St Athan, Flemingston and Eglwys Brewys are currently served by a police force that is already stretched, with limited local presence. Additional housing without increased policing resources will place further pressure on officers, reduce the ability to respond promptly to incidents, and undermine community safety and cohesion.
