Swansea Friends of the Earth
Cyfeillion y Ddaear Abertawe
In 2002 Merthyr Village Ltd submitted two separate planning applications for its two-phase proposals on 244 hectares of land on the outskirts of Merthyr Tydfil. This development is effectively building a small town in the countryside, with retail, leisure, offices, hotel and a football stadium This would be on a site of considerable ecological and archaeological importance. It appears to us that this application may have been a stalking horse for an opencast coal mine application.
In March 2003 the National Assembly for Wales directed that the application should be referred to the Welsh Assembly for determination.
In January 2006 a public Inquiry began . Many local residents who were opposed to the application gave evidence. Swansea FoE supported these and also gave evidence. Evidence was given by CCW on the Ecological Importance of the site and indicated that it was of international importance with regard to fungi. CADW also gave evidence of its importance to industrial archaeology.
Later in the year the Inspector’s report vindicated the position taken by environmentalists by recommending that the application be turned down. The Assembly agreed with the Inspector’s determination and refused the permission.