Residents furious over plans to build homes on children's playing field

Yahoo

7 days ago

Early stage proposals to create 22 new homes in a Neath Port Talbot village have been brought forward despite objections from residents.
The plans from housing association Tai Tarian could see the new homes created at a site on Brynna Road in Cwmafan on land that currently serves as a playing field next to a children's play area.
The local housing association says it is currently exploring the potential development of the 22 homes which could help address the "heavy demand" for housing in the area.
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If taken forward it would be made up of two walk-up flats and four bungalows, along with 10 two bedroom houses, four three-bedroom houses and two four-bedroom houses.
They would also include parking for all of the homes with an allowance of one space per bedroom, together with additional visitor spaces that would "ensure minimum impact on parking availability in the area."
A report from the housing provider said: "Tai Tarian is exploring the potential for a development of 22 family homes on land owned by us in Cwmafan.
"This is just a proposal at the moment and is subject to further investigations and the usual planning and approval process.
"The site is at Brynna Road and is adjacent to a children's play area which would be retained and upgraded if the project went ahead.
"There are currently thousands of people on our waiting list in search of a home, and with this proposed development we are looking to address this issue, particularly in Cwmafan where we are seeing a heavy demand."
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However, speaking in response to the proposals many residents in the village said they were opposed to the development that would take away a well-used public green space described as an oasis for locals.
They have also launched a website in order to save the playing field known as Brynbryddan along with a petition that had already gained over 600 signatures at the time of publishing.
Ben Sutcliffe-Davies lives near the site and says with generations of his family having played at the field he wants to keep it for others to use in the future
He said: "This field belongs to the village and nobody has the right to take away an open green space that so many local children use to play on.
"It's incredibly important for people's well-being here and is also one of the last pieces of open land like this in Cwmafan.
"It has been here for over 70 years and means so much to the community, so we're definitely not going to let it go without a fight."
A section of the petition adds: "The field next to our park is more than just a green space. It's an oasis for our children and us amidst the urban sprawl, a place of respite where we can breathe fresh air and play unencumbered by the concrete infrastructures.
"We cannot stand by and watch as this vital asset of our community is stripped away from us to give way to yet another housing project."
A pre-application consultation over the Brynna Road plans is now expected to take place before any submissions are made to the local authority.