Messages of Support
for the Reservoir Action Group

"I am only too pleased to support the work of the Llanishen Reservoir Campaign.

Well before getting elected as MP for Cardiff Central, in May 2005, I was aware that the loss of such a significant site to Cardiff would be disastrous. I support wholeheartedly the campaign to protect the area around the reservoir, protecting the fauna and flora specific to the site and ensuring its use for future generations.

Now that the fourth application by Western Power has been rejected (October 2007), I hope that the campaign will go from strength to strength and that Western Power will finally realise that their development plans are not wanted or needed in Cardiff."

Jenny Willott MP, Member of Parliament, Cardiff Central

"Cardiff Friends of the Earth fully support the campaign by RAG to prevent any housing development at Llanishen reservoir and to develop the area as part of a green wedge that will link Roath Park with the countryside to the North of Cardiff. The reservoirs are of high conservation importance and the surrounding grasslands also contain many rare fungi, plants and animals that will be seriously harmed if this housing development goes ahead. Cardiff Friends of the Earth does not believe that the proposed nature reserve will make up for the loss of the existing habitat.

We call on Cardiff County Council to respect their own local development plans and Local Biodiversity Action Plan and to ensure that the reservoirs are protected for future generations to enjoy".

Cardiff Friends of the Earth

"I was astonished to learn of WPD's application for residential housing development on the sites of Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs, and congratulate you on the high visibility of your campaign against this extraordinary proposal. As a former Rhydypenau Road resident in the 1970's and 1980's, I consider that the area has already seen a high level of residential development over the past 20 years, as a result of a short-sighted housing development policy on the part of Cardiff City Council, and it would be a major tragedy if the Council continued to pursue a policy of allowing the relentless erosion of its few remaining open spaces."

Jonathan Evans MEP for Wales
Leader of the Conservative Party in the European Parliament

"In the 1980s I campaigned against development of the Nant Fawr green corridor, South of Rhyd-y-Penau Road. We won that fight because the Planning Inspector accepted that the area has an outstanding ecological importance. This led to the formation of the Friends of Nant Fawr who have worked hard to maintain the whole area both North and South of Rhyd-y-Penau Road. I am totally opposed to any development around the reservoir which would destroy a jewel in Cardiff's crown, one of the precious green areas which make life in Cardiff so special."

Jenny Randerson, Assembly Member, Cardiff Central

"I am very happy to support the Action Group. It is vital that this important strategic open space stretching from Lisvane to the City is kept for recreation and conservation use."

Sue Essex, former Environment Minister, Welsh Assembly Government.

"I believe the campaign to protect and preserve this area of Cardiff to be of tremendous importance and it can be assured of my full and continued support. It is vital that we do all that is possible to safeguard an open space that is so precious. Indeed, we must do this not only for our benefit but also for that of future generations".

Julie Morgan, Member of Parliament, Cardiff North

"In this part of Cardiff we are constantly battling to preserve our beautiful open spaces. Our environmental heritage should exist for everyone to enjoy. We must succeed in this battle to stop the development of Llanishen and Lisvane reservoirs, and the campaign has my 100% support."

Jonathan Morgan, Assembly Member, Cardiff North

"I am very happy to support this campaign. I believe it is essential that we save the reservoir and the open space for current and future generations to enjoy. There are many reasons to save this site, here are just a few:

• Lisvane Reservoir is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and Llanishen Reservoir is currently used for recreational use.
• There are four sites of Nature Conservation importance within this site.
• There are 40 Tree Preservation Orders on the site.
• The land around the reservoirs is shown as open space on the existing City of Cardiff local plan. The site is an integral part of the Nant Fawr corridor, which is identified as a strategic wild life corridor linking together a number of conservation sites and forming a natural green buffer between communities.

I have received many letters from local residents expressing their concern for the future of the area. I will continue to fight against this proposed development."

Jon Owen Jones, former Member of Parliament, Cardiff Central

"The three rivers and the streams that flow to the Severn Estuary through Cardiff have given us the superb and unique inheritance of corridors of green land and water: a wonderful urban-and-countryside character. Wherever we live we are not far from parks and large open spaces. Llanishen reservoir forms an integral part of the Nant Fawr green corridor and I applaud RAG's efforts to protect it from housing development. We have a duty to future generations to hand over this environment and this heritage not only firmly protected but sensitively enhanced."

Ewart Parkinson, former: City Planning Officer of Cardiff; Director of Environment for South Glamorgan, President of the Royal Town Planning Institute.