No scandal (From Penarth Times)

No scandal

WITH regard to the "public scandal" accusation from Vale Councillor Tony Williams (Penarth Times, March 31).

What"s so scandalous about the Vale Council"s Unitary Develop-ment Plan?

Certainly not, as Cllr Tony Williams makes out, the Welsh minister"s intervention on account of unresolved objections from affected residents and the general public that he needs to consider.

Not just a few awkward individuals but more than 1,000 objections to the dumping of a further 700 houses on green fields at Rhoose and hundreds of objectors to a new quarry in the Wenvoe valley.

Both these proposals were inserted into the UDP at a late stage, when people had no chance to put views at the public inquiry.

The council claims they have to accept the inspector"s agreement to these proposals. False. They have to give "clear and cogent" reasons if they fail to follow the inspector"s recommendations. And they should hold a "modifications" public inquiry for which there"s been plenty of time since the objections were submitted in spring 2003.

Moreover, the council decided to reject the inspector"s strong recommendation for a Green Belt, covering the undeveloped areas around Leckwith, Michaelston-le-Pit, Dinas, Penarth, Sully and Wenvoe. The inspector"s report said the protection of these areas by a formal Green Belt is "essential".

The scandal, Cllr Williams, is in your council"s excuses for disregarding the inspector"s verdict. They made the extraordinary claim that a Green Belt "could have a serious detrimental effect upon both the growth dynamics of the region and regional sustainability".

When challenged, they said this was the opinion of council members and officers, but are unable to show any report to justify this.

The Vale does not speak for the South East Region. The SE Region Planning Liaison Group turned down the "serious detrimental effect" claim.

The minister, Carwyn Jones, has responsibility for upholding the planning process in Wales. It"s surely his duty to step in when the Vale Council both tramples over individuals" rights and misuses planning legislation.

Max Wallis

Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth

Westbourne Road

Penarth