A controversial idea to build a bypass to the south east of Caerphilly could be reconsidered following an overwhelming negative public response.
Caerphilly County Borough councillors have discussed the results of a public consultation on the draft Caerphilly Basin Masterplan – including the controversial idea for a bypass on Caerphilly mountain.
Elected members were asked to recommend the approval of the plan – a strategy for the development of the Caerphilly basin area – with amendments relating to the responses, at a meeting of full council on Tuesday, July 17.
Responses to the controversial masterplan drew 422 responses, 337 of which offered direct objections to the bypass, with only four in favour.
Caerphilly Council said it believed a bypass on Caerphilly Mountain could alleviate traffic congestion and improve air quality in the area.
However calls have been made for the blanket protection of all green land within the Caerphilly basin, and for new developments to be built in the north of the borough instead.
Cllr Sean Morgan, deputy leader of the council said: “The recommendation, in recognition of the many replies to our consultation, is that the need for the eastern bypass be reconsidered under the review of the local development plan.”
The move was welcomed across the political divide, with Plaid Cymru councillor Linsday Whittle saying the bypass would “decimate” Caerphilly Mountain.
Plaid Cymru councillor Stephen Kent said that there had been “mass opposition” to the bypass when the council’s LDP was last looked at three years ago.
Cllr Steve Kent said: “It would be a lot easier to remove the thing. The reconsideration could go either way.”
The meeting also heard that environmental analysis completed in the last six months had shown that air quality was improving in the area.
Labour councillor James Pritchard said: “You have 337 people opposed, and only four in favour. That tells you everything you need to know. As far as we are concerned, the bypass is completely dead in the water.
“Should this come back to the LDP in 2021 there’s no way I’ll be supporting it. There’s only so many times you can annoy the public.”
Other masterplan proposals for Caerphilly town include the expansion of Caerphilly Business Park to include a Metro station, a new multi-storey car park at Morrison’s and improved offerings at tourist sites.
The meeting heard that the Caerphilly Basin masterplan was the first of several planned by the local authority to regenerate specific areas across the county borough.
I have never seen the logic of this by-pass. You could built a six lane highway here and it would not alleviate traffic one jot. This is because all the traffic carried would end up on Caerphilly Road, Cardiff. This is a road for single lane traffic each way and Cardiff council is making it more and more difficult, low speed limits, humps, pedestrian crossings and traffic light phasing, for traffic to move. They are doing this because they wish to discourage traffic from entering North Cardiff.
If Caerffili were in a Glamorgan council, as we once were, this plan would not even be considered.
For once Caerphilly Council needs to wake up and listen – this is a resounding NO.
Time to stop these half baked proposals.