Aqua Park assessment at Cosmeston delays once again

Campaigners opposing the attraction said they were informed that, following “internal discussion”, the report assessing the trial would no longer be considered this month and is now scheduled to go before Cabinet on February 5.

Posting on social media, campaigners said the delay had reignited concerns that unresolved issues were being pushed aside, particularly around environmental protections at the site.

Cosmeston Lakes Aqua Park (Image: Submitted)

They said that six months after the Aqua Park was introduced, key questions remained unanswered, including matters relating to SSSI assent, biosecurity, ecology and water quality at Cosmeston Lakes Country Park, which is designated as a local nature reserve.

Campaigners added that they continue to work with regulators including Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), as well as the council itself, but maintained that the case against granting the Aqua Park a long-term lease was “objective and overwhelming”.

The Aqua Park was installed on the eastern lake at Cosmeston as a temporary trial during summer 2025, following approval by the Vale of Glamorgan Council. From the outset, the decision proved controversial, prompting protests, petitions, and repeated calls for transparency over environmental assessments and planning requirements.

Opponents argued the attraction was incompatible with the site’s status as a nature reserve and raised concerns about noise, disturbance to wildlife, and the impact on water quality. Supporters, meanwhile, said the attraction brought families to the area and boosted local tourism during the summer months.

The trial officially ended in September, with the council committing to review feedback and evidence before making any decision on the future use of the lake.

Responding to concerns about the latest delay, Cllr Bronwen Brooks, Vale of Glamorgan Council Cabinet Member for Sustainable Places, said the report had been postponed to ensure feedback received before Christmas could be properly considered.

She said: “The report was delayed so comments on its contents received before Christmas could be properly reviewed. Taking this time was important to allow all feedback to be carefully considered. The report is scheduled to be presented at the next available meeting on February 05.”

However, some residents fear the timing could allow decisions about future use of the site to progress without full public consultation.

Hundreds gathered at Cosmeston lake to protest against aqua park (Image: Newsquest)

The delay comes amid heightened environmental sensitivity at Cosmeston, where warning signs were installed in December after nearby cases of bird flu were confirmed, reinforcing concerns among some residents about pressures on wildlife at the park.

With the Cabinet meeting now set for early February, campaigners say they will continue to press for full disclosure of ecological data from the trial and a clear commitment that any future proposals will respect Cosmeston’s protected status.

For many, the drawn-out process has become symbolic of a wider debate about how leisure developments are balanced against conservation in one of the Vale’s most valued green spaces.