Object

Representation ID: 2035

Received: 07/02/2019

Respondent: Alan Strawbridge

I wish to register my objections to the designation of the above plots as being suitable for housing development for the following reasons.

1. All these plots are green field plots - I would expect the LA to exhaust the available brown field sites before turning to farm land

2. All these plots are adjacent to, or feed into difficult and busy junctions, raising safety concerns for road traffic and pedestrians. The turning into Plas y Fforest is already dangerous with fast traffic towards the M4 overtaking vehicles slowing down to turn right.

3. There is already considerable rush hour traffic congestion at the Pont Abram roundabout and at the mini roundabout at the Black Horse. The proposed delopments would add to this congestion since these are the only main routes out of the area. Pont Abram would be a particular concern. At peak times it is already very dangerous. You have to accelerate at maximum speed to pull out into a gap in fast moving traffic and then immediately brake hard at the lights while cars coming around the roundabout towards Swansea are still accelerating and attempting to cut across.

4. You will be aware that there have been significant problems with the sewers serving Plas Y Fforest. Additional housing would be likely to exacerbate these problems.

5. There are no amenities in this area except for the post office and the pavements are limited. All the sites are on, or at the top of a steep hill. Consequently residents in these developments would use cars for most trips. There is no Doctors surgery in the area (there is one on the Swansea side though this is already at capacity)

6. The land is steep with underlying rock. Any development would increase the rate of surface water run off, which already streams down from the farm during heavy rain.

7. One effect of the proposed developments would be to turn the quiet cul de sac of Plas y Fforest into a main thoroughfare. You will be aware that the road is congested and is already showing significant signs of settlement. The development sites are located on popular footpaths through the farm onto the hill and through the woodland next to Llanedi Road and would reduce the opportunity for walking in the area.

8. Pontarddulais and Fforest/Hendy have grown significantly over the last 10 years. Unfortunately, neither Carmarthen nor Swansea LAs have improved the infrastructure or amenities. There is very little on the Carmarthenshire side.