Accompanying this newsletter is a document which summarises the case against Western Power Distribution’s application to build 346 houses and flats on the site of Llanishen reservoir. Given the scale of the application, it is likely to be several months before it comes before the Council’s Planning Committee. However, it is important that the Council and the media should be deluged with letters of protest well before this happens.
Letter writing is the single most effective thing that you can do to defeat this damaging planning application. Please write now, before this newsletter gets put on one side and forgotten!
The key letter to the
Council’s Development Countrol section should go to:
Mr. Phil Williams,
Development and Building Control Manager,
City Hall,
Cardiff, CF10 3ND
We have previously asked people to write to Mr. Julian Stedman, Cardiff’s Strategic Planning Officer, in support of our proposal for a North East Cardiff Green Wedge. This is a linked, but separate issue. Even if you have written to Mr. Stedman, it is important that you should write now to the Development and Building Control section to protest about the WPD planning application (No. 02/2750N).
The above letter is the most important one, but if you’re all fired up and want to write some more letters here are some ideas:
We believe that the reservoirs are currently owned by Dwr Cymru / Welsh Water, but that they are hoping to sell them to Western Power. This sale has to be approved by the water regulator, OFWAT. Welsh Water can only sell the reservoirs if they are surplus to requirements, but water from Lisvane reservoir is still being used to supply industrial customers in Cardiff Bay, and who knows what future needs for water may be in the light of global warming and climate change. If you think it is not in the public interest to sell the reservoirs to developers write to:
Mr. Philip Fletcher, OFWAT, Centre City Tower, 7 Hill Street, Birmingham B5
4UA
Email: Philip.Fletcher@ofwat.gsi.gov.uk
Many people were surprised to see that the local Wildlife Trust were backing Western Power’s scheme, but perhaps were less surprised when they learned that the developers had promised to give the Trust 50 acres of land, build them a Wildlife Centre and give them a large sum of money to manage part of the site. We believe the proposed development will actually be damaging to wildlife, and that the Trust should not be supporting this scheme. If you agree, and particularly if you are a member of the Wildlife Trust, please write to:
Mr. Roy Jones, Chairman, Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 OEH.
The proposed development will harm wildlife. Not only is there the risk of disturbance to the wintering wildfowl on the adjacent Lisvane reservoir SSSI, but the unimproved grasslands on the embankments of Llanishen reservoir are a nationally important site for rare waxcap fungi, as well as being a locally important site for uncommon plants, grass snakes, slow-worms and Cardiff’s only colony of glow-worms. If the potential damage to wildlife concerns you, contact the Countryside Council for Wales and ask them to object to the planning application. The person to contact is:
Dr. Sue Howard, CCW, Unit 4, Castleton Court, St. Mellons, Cardiff, CF3 0LT
Email: S.Howard@ccw.gov.uk
Llanishen Sailing Centre is currently the leading sailing school in South Wales, and has introduced thousands of youngsters to the sport. Many of them have gone on to represent both Wales and the UK in international sailing competitions. The Welsh Yachting Association has publicly stated that the loss of Llanishen would be a devastating blow to the sport in Wales, and that the shallow lake proposed by the developers would be barely big enough for the initial training of beginners, let alone anything more advanced. They do not believe that the water quality in Cardiff Bay is good enough for it to be a viable alternative. If you think it is important that children should have the opportunity to learn to sail in a safe environment, at a centre with an excellent reputation, please let the Sports Council for Wales know by writing to:
Dr. Huw Jones, Chief Executive, Sports Council for Wales, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, CF11 9SW
We are very pleased that the South Wales Echo have come out in strong support of our campaign. Please keep them informed of your concerns, by writing and copying letters to them, as well as the Western Mail, BBC and ITV. Contact details for the Echo are:
Steve Edwards, South Wales Echo, Thomson House, Havelock Street, Cardiff CF10
1XR
Email: steve.edwards@wme.co.ukReservoir Action Group