Save Our Woods campaign into its fourth battle

Fight against developing land near Radyr Court Road enters its 17^th year

A CAMPAIGN against the development of land between Radyr Court Road and De Braose Close is into its fourth fight over 17 years.

This patch of woodland, on the Taf River Corridor, has been the subject of three previous planning applications, with the first being back in 2004.

Save Our Woods has so far been successful in stopping developers build dozens of homes on this protected woodland.

‘’Our lives are a misery,’’ said Helen Stewart, of Radyr Court Road, who has been involved in fighting these developments since the first application.

Ms Stewart said the first developer, a London based company called Nabatean Ltd, was told after it lost its application in 2004 that “building there would be detrimental to the area’’.

Yet, since then Nabatean made another failed application in 2012, and took the first steps to a third in 2017. Now another developer, Taff Housing, which builds affordable accommodation, wants to build on the land.

Taff Housing are a not-for-profit company based in Cardiff who would look to build social and affordable housing on the land by Radyr Court Road and De Braose Close.

Four years ago, work started on Plasdwr, a development of thousands of homes a short drive from De Braose Close.

However, developers are looking for further opportunities in the area.

‘’They keep coming back,’’ said local resident, Tim Player, 47.

Another member of the Save Our Woods Facebook group, Kate Lewis, of De Braose Close, said of the planned developments near her road: ‘’It is driving me mad, all the trucks cause mayhem.’’

However, Ms Stewart is thankful to have the support of many local councillors.

‘’I can recognise that developments like this are required but I am concerned about the impact, like the risk of flooding,’’ said Llandaff councillor Philippa Hill-John.

Coun Hill-John has worked closely with people in the campaign for many years. ‘’As a council member I can object to the planning application,’’ she said.

Ms Stewart has been calling the planning committee every month since the application was lodged in February to check whether it is back on the agenda, so the campaigners can renew their objections.