The removal of the SLA designations from the LDP cannot but be an adverse change. The failure to take account of this substantive change and substantiate why this is not a significant weakening of the LDP from its current form is of great concern.

We encourage Carmarthenshire’s Forward Planning Department to set this right before the LDP is examined and re-introduce the SLA designations into the Plan to address the issues raised in this letter, re-providing a substantive part of the means to protect and enhance our outstanding and high valued landscapes for future generations.

Please see letter in full as attached.

Carmarthenshire Residents’ Action Group: Representations to the public consultation of the Second Deposit Revised Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan 2018-2033 and the Integrated Sustainability Assessment

We, Carmarthenshire Residents’ Action Group, are responding to the public consultation on the Carmarthenshire Local Development Plan 2018-2033 (Second Deposit) (‘Revised LDP’) to raise concerns with regard to the plan making process in relation to landscape(s) within the LDP’s geographical area. We request several changes to the plan on the basis that we consider the plan not to be sound and request the opportunity to make representations during the examination process.

This letter contains a series of comments and objections in relation to landscape policies, and approach to policy making with regard to landscapes, within Carmarthenshire’s Revised LDP drafting process, including the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (‘ISA’).

This letter also consolidates a series of comments made via the online comments portal on the proposed Revised LDP. It refers Carmarthenshire’s Forward Planning Department and, in due course, the appointed Examination Planning Inspector, to Carmarthenshire Residents Action Group’s petition to maintain the Special Landscape Areas within the 2018-2033 LDP. This petition has raised 438 signatures, details of which are contained within Appendix 1 of this letter.

A strong objection is raised, backed by significant local support, to the removal of Carmarthenshire’s locally designated Special Landscape Areas within the Revised LDP. Objections are also raised with regard to the replacement landscape related policies in the second Deposit Revised LDP with materially weakened policies compared to the existing 2006-2021 LDP (‘Current LDP’). The letter also raises concerns with regard to the assessment carried out in the ISA as it pertains to the Sustainability Objective on Landscape.