More than 500 people signed a petition, which was initially rejected on a technicality, to bring the issue to an open forum
THE proposal for a sewage pumping station in Hailey Park will now be discussed in an open forum by Cardiff Council on Wednesday, March 2.
More than 500 people signed a petition to discuss the proposal in public at a planning committee meeting.
The news comes after the proposal was initially rejected by Cardiff Council on a technicality, as addresses for the signatories were not provided.
Keith Jones, chair of the council’s planning committee, said: “The petition demonstrates that significant local concerns have been expressed such that, in the view of the Head of Planning and Chair of Committee, it would be inappropriate for the matter to be determined under delegated powers.” Delegated powers refers to the planning committee approving it on their own.
The proposed development in the park will include structures ranging from 1.5m to 4m in height, and a total development area of 550 square metres, about the size of two tennis courts.
Welsh Water said they need to build the pumping station to accommodate the additional sewage flows generated by the Plasdwr housing development in Radyr, and the most suitable location for this was in Hailey Park.
The decision to override the rejected petition was unexpected for Steph Wilkins, who organised the Change.org appeal, but she is grateful it will not deter them.
She said: “We welcome this decision, and that Cardiff Council acknowledge the strength of feeling of local residents and park users.
“There’s more information that we’re seeking to be able to make a decision about whether or not we’re happy for it to go ahead, so we can have a view on how it’s going to affect us.
“I just hope we get a fair hearing at the planning committee.”
The initial appeal was submitted by Ms Wilkins on December 5 to the Llandaff North councillors, who are required to put forward petitions from residents on their behalf.
However, emails from Cardiff Council reveal that they did not receive the petition from Llandaff North Councillor Dilwar Ali until January 13, nearly six weeks later.
In response, Coun Ali insisted he did submit the petition on December 5 and rather he received acknowledgement of the submission on January 13.
He added: “Councillors received a petition from Stephanie Wilkins against the Hailey Park pumping station, and we have forwarded the petition to the planning committee. However, the petition was not valid. The petitioner is submitting a new petition again to the planning committee.”
At the hearing on March 2, Ms Wilkins hopes to get more answers from Welsh Water on their proposal and what it will mean for Llandaff North residents and park users.
She said: “At the meeting we held with Welsh Water, there were other options, and we’re asking for those options to be explored.
“Personally, I think the aim of the hearing is to make sure we’ve had a fair hearing and that all the information residents are asking for is on the table, and it’s open and transparent.”
Ms Wilkins still plans to submit the revised petition as a formality.
