Deadline passes with no challenge

Following the decision by the Welsh Government Minister for Regeneration and Housing, Carl Sargeant A.M., to reject Western Power Distribution's (WPD) planning appeal there was a six week period during which WPD could challenge the Minister's decision in the High Court.  No challenge was forthcoming, which means the Minister's decision stands.  Effectively, this makes it unlikely that WPD will be able to build on Llanishen reservoir, as the Minister decided that the development would harm the setting of the reservoir which is a listed historic structure.  The recent sale of the houses at the top of Rhyd-y-Penau Road also suggests that WPD have decided not to pursue any access to the site from the Cyncoed side.  Whether this means that they have completely given up the idea of a housing development at the reservoirs, or have some other plan that they wish to pursue, remains to be seen.

WPD Houses on Rhyd-y-Penau Road to be auctioned

Good news for people who live on Rhyd-y-Penau Rd and the Nant Fawr wild flower meadows.  The houses purchased by WPD at the top of Rhyd-y-Penau Road have been put up for auction.  This suggests they have finally abandoned any attempts to put in an access road to the reservoirs from the Cyncoed side.  Lets hope they have decided to cut their losses and withdraw altogether from plans to put a housing development on the reservoirs!

Western Power Loses Appeal !

Today the Welsh Government Minister, Carl Sargeant AM, announced his decision on the Planning Inquiry held in 2011 to consider Western Power Distribution's proposed housing development at Llanishen Reservoir.  We are delighted to announce that Western Power Distribution lost their appeal, which means their planning application has been turned down and the development will not now go ahead.  The Minister's Decision is available at the following link:

http://wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/developcontrol/decisions-made-by-the-minister/llanishen-reservoir-decision/?lang=en

The grounds on which the appeal was rejected include damage to the listed reservoir structure and its setting, as well as the proposed access from Lisvane Road.  Significantly, on this occasion it was the planning inspector who recommended rejection of the appeal and the Minister agreed.  The full decision document runs to some 262 pages, and the RAG Committee will be considering this in detail over the next few days.

This is a very significant outcome for our campaign to prevent the housing development and protect Llanishen reservoir and surroundings for the enjoyment of future generations.

Walk to Save Our Reservoirs

As part of the fundraising efforts for the Reservoir Action Group another 'Save our Cardiff Reservoirs Walk' is planned for Saturday 6th July and details of the event are on the website www.socrw.co.uk

Also in addition to the main walk on 6th July a further walk (on a smaller scale) is to take place as part of the Cardiff Walking Festival on Saturday 4th May.  This walk has 15 places and is a linear route of 20 miles. A minibus will take walkers from the Scout Hall in Pontcanna to Cwmcarn and the walk will return to Cardiff over the hills of Twmbarlwm, Mynydd Machen and the Rhymney Ridgeway then along the Nant Fawr corridor past the reservoirs back into Cardiff.

You can book a place on any of the routes and the additional event through the website www.socrw.co.uk.  Or if you can help out on the 6th July with marshalling then do please let me, Chris Lewis, know – tel. 029 20238576 or email saveourcardiffreservoirswalk@gmail.com.

RAG AGM 21st March 2013

RAG held their twelfth Annual General Meeting on Thursday 21^st March at Rhyd-y-Penau Primary School.  The meeting was opened by Andrew Hill, who reported that we were still awaiting the decision of the Welsh Government Ministers on the re-opened planning inquiry, which was held in the summer of 2011.  An outcome had been expected sometime last summer, but there was still no resolution.

At this meeting Andrew Hill stood down as Chairman, as he and his partner, Mary Corin, have now moved to Cornwall.  Mary also stood down as RAG Secretary.  A new set of officers and Committee members were elected by the meeting, and the new RAG team is:

Chairman – Richard Cowie	Committee members:
Vice-Chairman – Ceri Davies	Mike Dean
Secretary – Phil Savage Treasurer - Bernard Adshead	Anne Gee Graham Good
Press Officer – Chris Lewis	Dulcie Wilks
Liaison Officer – Mike Walker	Martyn Wyatt

Photo by Richard Bosworth

In taking over as Chair, Richard thanked Andrew and Mary for all their hard work over the last four years, and presented Andrew with a plate (see left) and jug to commemorate their time in office.  An official vote of thanks was recorded, to the general acclaim of the meeting.

Questions at the end of the meeting, reflected the frustration of several members that there had still been no decision made by the Welsh Government on the 2011 planning inquiry.  Several people asked whether we could be doing more to put pressure on the Minister.  The Committee agreed that the delay was regrettable, but did not think that RAG as an organisation should try and force the issue.  Of course, it is open to members to contact the Welsh Government, in a personal capacity, to inquire about the delay, and it was noted that the Minister with responsibility for Planning has recently changed.  It is now Carl Sargeant AM , who can be contacted at correspondence.carl.sargeant@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Update October 2012

Dear RAG Supporter,

I expect you have been wondering what is happening about the reservoirs.  So are we!!  We are still awaiting the decision by the Welsh Government Ministers about the Public Inquiry which was held last summer.  As you may remember from our previous newsletters, the planning inspector who presided over the inquiry, Mr. Richard Poppleton, reported to the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, John Griffiths AM, last April.  We fully expected a decision sometime over the summer but nothing has materialised.  We do not know why there has been such a long delay, nor do our elected representatives in the Assembly and Cardiff Council.  However, quite properly, our AMs and Councillors have not been pressurising the Welsh Government, and are patiently awaiting the outcome like the rest of us.  We can only assume that the Welsh Government is considering the appeal by Western Power Distribution, regarding their proposed housing development at the reservoir, very carefully, and is taking its time to ensure that its decision is legally water-tight.  Needless to say, as soon as a decision is announced we will try and get the details out to our membership.  In the meantime, the RAG Committee is making plans for the future of the reservoir, in the hope that the appeal is rejected and development at the site is finally ruled out.

 

Another recent announcement which will be of interest to RAG members, is that Cardiff Council have just announced their Preferred Strategy for Consultation regarding the Local Development Plan 2006-2026.   Although this includes plans for more than 45,000 new homes around Cardiff, it reiterates the importance of protecting the natural environment and particularly the river valleys, of which Llanishen Reservoir forms a part.  It was agreed by the full Council on 25th October, and there will now be a six week consultation period.  Please click on this link to find details of Public Meetings and Public Drop-in meetings about the new LDP which will take place in early November.  Julie Morgan, AM for Cardiff North, is also holding a meeting this coming Friday, 2nd November, in Llanishen Leisure Centre at 7.30 pm.  This is promoting a campaign to establish a Cardiff Green Belt in addition to the long-standing protection of the four strategic river valleys.  Any interested residents are welcome to attend.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Andrew Hill

Chairman, RAG

 

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Reservoir Girl Wins Olympic Sailing Silver Medal!

RAG would like to congratulate local sailor Hannah Mills and her partner Saskia Clark on their outstanding achievement in winning a silver medal in the women's 470 class in the London 2012 Olympics.  Hannah, who comes from Dinas Powys, attended courses at Llanishen Reservoir when she was learning to sail.  This only underlines the important part that the sailing school at Llanishen reservoir played in inspiring a generation of young sailors who went on to represent Wales and the U.K. at the highest level.  It seems almost criminal that such a resource should be lost due to the greed of a U.S. multi-national corporation in their bid to turn the reservoir into a housing estate.  Cardiff Council still has a lease to run sail training on the reservoir and should force the current owners, Western Power Distribution, to refill it and rebuild the sailing centre, which was bulldozed to the ground.  We need facilities like this to bring on another generation of young sailors like Hannah!

Read more...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19210016