A school playing field could be cut in two by a road if a proposed extension of a park and ride scheme goes ahead, councillors and residents have warned.
Caerphilly Observer has seen plans for a permanent road to replace the temporary works access that currently runs through Ystrad Mynach Primary School’s field to the town’s railway station.
The road could permanently divide the field, raising concerns about increased traffic and the removal of leisure facilities.
Ystrad Mynach councillor Martyn James said this is despite a “legally binding” agreement from Network Rail to return the field to its original use after the current work is finished.
Plaid Cymru’s Cllr James, who is also a governor at Ystrad Mynach Primary School, said: “I’m disgusted at the way the authority has gone about this. There’s been no consultation.
“I can see the need to put people on trains, but not at the detriment of the children of the community.
“They want to develop sport, they want to develop healthy children, but they are taking outdoor spaces away.”
The field is used by Ystrad Mynach Primary School and Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Allta pupils for team sports and sports days as well as by the local scout group.
A meeting of parents, residents and governors, pledged to form an action committee to save the field.
Cllr James said: “Ystrad Mynach Primary School just had an outstanding inspection and this is how they are being treated.
“Being part of a team is part of learning and developing. If this is taken away, these skills will be lost and you can’t replace them.”
Catherine Lee, 35, lives next door to the road, off Cedar Way, with her husband and three-year-old daughter,
She said the field is used by children after school and also has a bog area for schoolchildren to learn about wildlife.
Ms Lee said: “The field’s supposed to be about outdoor learning, nature and wildlife.
“It’s a nice area of land because dogs aren’t allowed so we used to take my daughter there when she was just starting to crawl.
“We’ve lost so many fields in Ystrad. We’ve got the new centre of sporting excellence which is great but children don’t want to pay to play football every night. The kids in this village can’t. I just don’t think the village can cope with any more traffic. The traffic on Nelson Road is terrible already.
“This road is a walkway for children from two estates, it goes to the centre of our village, but the park and ride will be for those travelling from outside, it won’t be for the village it’s not fair.”
A Caerphilly County Borough Council spokesperson said: “Council officers have been in contact with the local schools, but any scheme will be subject to the required formal consultations and approvals, including from the respective schools, and then subject to planning permission, which will afford members of the public an opportunity to review the proposals and comment.”
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “To create access so that this improvement work can be carried out, Network Rail has leased land from a local school. Once this project is completed, Network Rail will return this land to its former state.
“In the long-term, we are working with the Welsh Government and Caerphilly County Borough Council to explore options to extend parking provisions at the station to help cater for increasing passenger demands.
“Any proposals would be subject to public consultation and local authority planning processes where required.”
If Councillors of Caerphilly CBC really are opposed to these potential proposals from Network Rail, they will have to find the backbone to reject and refuse any application to do so. They may have to ignore Planning Officers `advice`, and do the right thing for once in preserving what is good and rejecting wonton destruction of a perfectly good and necessery community facility. But, the question, is Will they?????
If Councillors of Caerphilly CBC really are opposed to these potential proposals from Network Rail, they will have to find the backbone to reject and refuse any application to do so. They may have to ignore Planning Officers `advice`, and do the right thing for once in preserving what is good and rejecting wonton destruction of a perfectly good and necessery community facility. But, the question, is Will they?????
The councillor should reject the plans and force Network Rail to return the fields to their original condition as originally required.
On a wider note, who uses park and ride anyway? It’s a terrible idea which results in an expensive parking fee, waiting ages in the cold for a bus, and when the bus does come it’s from the 80’s with no ride comfort. Take a car to where you need to go, it is easier!
Whilst the main message in this comment is right, the second paragraph is not, for instance Hengoed Station, one stop away, is clogged up with cars, car park full and overflowing, cars parked on approach roads around the station to such an extent that they are causing an obstruction to other road users, but, there is plently of space here to extend the car park by Network Rail without interfering with the communitiy facilities which have been established over many years like in Ystrad Mynach.
yes why save the environment!!! bigger car with one person in would be better…debater by day….it rhymes with it but that’s about all
The councillor should reject the plans and force Network Rail to return the fields to their original condition as originally required.
On a wider note, who uses park and ride anyway? It’s a terrible idea which results in an expensive parking fee, waiting ages in the cold for a bus, and when the bus does come it’s from the 80’s with no ride comfort. Take a car to where you need to go, it is easier!
Whilst the main message in this comment is right, the second paragraph is not, for instance Hengoed Station, one stop away, is clogged up with cars, car park full and overflowing, cars parked on approach roads around the station to such an extent that they are causing an obstruction to other road users, but, there is plently of space here to extend the car park by Network Rail without interfering with the communitiy facilities which have been established over many years like in Ystrad Mynach.
yes why save the environment!!! bigger car with one person in would be better…debater by day….it rhymes with it but that’s about all