Article submitted for the next edition of the Diary.

Pontyclun Residents New Town Working Group

Questions surrounding the nature of the ‘New Town’ development near Leekes are becoming ever more urgent as the planning application is about to be made.

Following a public meeting in Pontyclun last July a working group has been conducting a local survey and engaging with planners and developers. We have found that many people in Pontyclun would support some development on the Leekes site but there are many concerns which must be addressed before the development is allowed to go ahead.

• Through out South Wales we have allowed developers to make large profits by providing the lowest quality retail development with uncontrolled impact on local communities. This must not be allowed to happen again.

• This time the questions of traffic congestion must be answered before the development starts. There will need to be large scale investment in improving and reducing  the flow of traffic on the A4119 and A473. Unless this happens the congestion caused by this new town will kill off any other economic activity in the Ely and Rhondda valleys.

• As important the new town needs to be linked to local communities by a network of pedestrian paths and cycle ways. We must learn from the rest of Europe and not assume that every shopping trip requires a car journey.

• We value our existing village centre. It is possible to have new shops which support existing shops but it requires good planning which links new developments with existing communities.

• The area around the Leekes site is at risk of flooding. The new development must reduce flood risk and protect the environment of the Clun Valley.

• South Wales has had enough of the cheap, cheerful and concrete. If there is to be a development it must be of the highest quality, well planned to integrate into local communities, protecting local businesses and with the highest quality public spaces, attractive and sustainable buildings.

Please come to our public meeting on 4 October. Please visit our blog on http://pantvalley-newdevelopment.blogspot.com/

Margaret Griffiths

6 Llantrisant Road

Pontyclun