THE Vale of Glamorgan Council seems intent on turning the Vale into sprawling suburbia, reliant on cars to reach shops, employment, etc. The current house building target of 10,000, a 19 per cent increase on current dwelling numbers, which developers are very eager to deliver ahead of the LDP timescale, will surpass all previous building records.

19 per cent on 2011 numbers would mean an extra 12,950 vehicles on our roads, and an extra 4,000 commuters into Cardiff, resulting in an extra 1,400 cars during the morning peak hour, and 1,600 in the afternoon peak hour, through either Baron's Court or Culverhouse Cross.

Traffic from the Vale has to pass through either Baron's Court or Culverhouse Cross on its way to Cardiff, and only a minority have access to train services. There is no credible plan for sustainable travel alternatives.

Clearly, there isn't the capacity at Baron's Court for an extra 800 vehicles during the peak hour in the afternoon. Traffic delays will inevitably increase throughout the day as drivers increasingly try to avoid peak times. Increasing road/junction capacity will only release the latent demand that is already stored up as people avoid being caught in the daily queues.

The demolition of the former HTV studio, a unique and valued work space, at Culverhouse Cross has removed hundreds of employment opportunities from the Vale and west Cardiff. In terms of spatial planning and the environment, this is a disaster. Meanwhile, we still await the delivery of the Cardiff Airport and St Athan aerospace enterprise zone.

The Vale needs jobs, so people can walk to work - expensive road and public transport expansions sit idle outside peak hours. Buses utilising the barrage, will have to negotiate Penarth and Dinas Powys' congested streets.

We need to go back to sustainable/spatial planning basics, ensure that employment, facilities and excellent public transport are at the heart of planning decisions, review the housing target, and create homes to meet the needs of our communities.

Ian Perry

Via email