I WAS somewhat alarmed to read the article in the Penarth Times of December 1, relating to the possibility of the installation of a cable wakeboarding facility at east lake Cosmeston.

As a visitor to the lakes almost daily for 24 years, especially for birdwatching – indeed I used to lead monthly birdwatching walks – I cannot think of anything less suitable for this location.

First and foremost, both lakes at Cosmeston are designated as sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) due to the presence of a rare and endangered species of plant which grows around the margins underwater.

On top of this there’s a resident population of around c.60 mute swans, 90 or so coot, moorhens, great crested grebes, various ducks at different times of the year, not to mention reed and sedge warblers, and reed buntings that nest in the reed bed adjacent to East Lake.

The schedule one species, Cetti’s warbler, is also present in these reeds and possibly breeds.

The wash created by this activity will disturb the endangered underwater vegetation and has the potential to disturb nesting birds within the reeds, including the swans and grebes whose nests are at water level.

The Vale of Glamorgan website itself describes the SSSI status of the lakes, and the whole of the park is designated as an LNR (Local Nature Reserve (LNR), which also highlights its unsuitability for such an intrusive water activity.

The current allowed uses for canoes and scuba-diving are far less intrusive and present no problem in my opinion.

Readers may be interested to know that there is an online petition against this proposal which has generated around 4,550 signatures to date.

Please write to your councillor and urge them to oppose this proposed development.

For those that don’t know, the facility would involve the erection of two pylons to support the cable which tows the wakeboarder around.

There is more information about this on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website.

John Wilson

Westbourne Road

Penarth