The report featured in last week’s Observer explaining the Heritage Park developers case for Pleasant Valley is a carefully crafted whitewash of the project.

The residents acknowledge that the present Heritage Park is run well and looks good.

However, the article does not reflect that the two public car parks discourage use by the public by arranging one as appearing to be exclusive to the Heritage Park, and the other being made unusable due to 5 foot high piles of aggregate.

Nor does it acknowledge that many of the lodges could effectively be permanent residencies.

Because the present site looks well is no reason for the whole valley to be overtaken by ’mobile’ houses.

The public consultations have resulted in no apparent changes to the original plans.

Independent professional assessments show serious doubts about the economic effects and job creation.

No account has be taken of the consequent loss of the of amenity, visitor enjoyment, community and wild life that will be affected.

The developers do not publish their business plan that would show details their calculations.

It is clearly not true that there will be no detrimental impact on the area. The 75 proposed lodges are, for planning purposes, classed as caravans, in reality they are substantial bungalows.

The realisation that the application to extend the Heritage Park holiday lodges was such a huge and complex development has dawned slowly in this community.

As people have woken up to the sheer extent of the proposed development, the impact that it would have on the community and the environment has become clear, concerns and objections have grown exponentially.

The recently formed Stepaside & Pleasant Valley Residents Group has presented objections from the community to the planning application.

Over 120 people have joined the group and represent a high proportion of this small community.

It is estimated that the permanent population of Pleasant Valley is already swamped by nearly double the number of visitor bed spaces.

The objections by the group are extensive and under the headings: Contravention of PCC Local Development Plan; Inconsistency with Previous Planning Rejections.

Inconsistencies and Inaccuracies in the Application; Traffic, Congestion and Reduced Accessibility including roads, parking, footpaths, including The Old Dramway; Environment - Land, Flora, Trees and Wildlife; Sustainability; Flooding; Sewage; Coal Mining – unknown old workings; Noise/Light Pollution and Loss of Amenity; Impact on Local Services; Human Rights & Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015; Detrimental Effect on the Character of Stepaside; Heritage; Oversight and Policing By Council.

Residents of Stepaside and Pleasant Valley comprise people who have been born and lived in the area all or most of their lives, and others who have moved here from further afield.

All have in common that they are here because it is a peaceful, beautiful rural location. Conversations with visitors reveal similar motivations for holidaying here. In short, people live in, and visit, Pleasant Valley because it is aptly named.

The SPVRG have presented objections on many different grounds, indeed it is hard to see how this application could be allowed when other much more modest applications have been refused in the past.

The fact that the development contravenes the Local Development Plan alone should stop it in its tracks. However, there are very many more, and significant grounds on which to refuse this planning application.

Not least that it will forever change and disfigure the village and the environment, this contravenes the Well Being of Future Generations act.

It will make the roads and footpaths dangerous places to be, and spoil the village for residents now and future generations.

Friends of the Earth, amongst others, support the objections to this project.

Ben Morris

Chair – Stepaside & Pleasant Valley Residents Group.