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More than 120 residents marched from Llanbradach to Bluebell Woods on Sunday morning in protest against its destruction.
The field, which has been enjoyed by residents for generations, was dug up by contractors at the end of July to make way for a five-pitch caravan site.
The owner of the land, believed to be businessman Karl O’Dare, did not seek planning permission before digging up the site – with excavation works stopped by Caerphilly County Borough Council on August 1.
Who is Karl O’Dare?
Karl O’Dare is the managing director of a number of companies, including one called Everything Holidays Ltd.
He is also the managing director of a Newport-based firm called Everything Lettings Ltd, as well as being a pastor at the South Wales Gypsy Church.
Caerphilly Observer has tried to contact Mr O’Dare for comment.
Leading the march was Llanbradach community councillor Beci Newton. She told Caerphilly Observer: “It makes me incredibly proud of my community to see the level of support that we’ve got, but I’ll be honest, it doesn’t shock me – I’m just one of an entire community with a history and a connection to this really beautiful place.”
Cllr Newton also expressed her aim to reach out to the landowner and “work together with him as a community”.
“We just want to ensure that this incredibly beautiful place is protected and that the bluebells there are protected.
“Also, we’ve had presumed right of way into that field for generations for as far back as the 1920s. We would like it to be able to become a right of way and that we can compromise as a community together with the owner and the developer and create something that’s going to work for everybody rather than a space that is selfishly only going to work for one person.”
County councillor Colin Mann, who represents the Llanbradach ward for Plaid Cymru, has led calls for a change in the law to protect sites such as Bluebell Woods from being destroyed by developers yet to secure planning permission.
He said: “We’ve had support from all over the place where people couldn’t come and we’ve had a message from as far away as New Zealand. It just shows how this issue has hit home with people.
“What we want is for the area to be restored back to its former beauty but it will take some time.
“Whether or not the owner will put in for planning permission we are still waiting to see, but what we really want is the law to be strengthened so that people who undertake this sort of behaviour in the countryside are able to be brought to put properly under the law.”
Cllr Mann also questioned whether access to the site was suitable for its reported use as a caravan park and said council officers were looking at the issue.
“We’re looking at all sorts of avenues”
Llanbradach resident Christopher Wright was among those who joined the protest on Sunday morning.
He is part of a focus group set up by residents to gather evidence to use in the fight to restore Bluebell Woods.
The group includes people with legal and ecological qualifications whose skills can be called upon.
While the landowner had not applied for planning permission before digging up the field, Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Sean Morgan has said he expects a planning application to be submitted shortly.
Mr Wright said: “A lot of what we’re trying to do is to do with a projected planning application [submitted by the landowner]. When you submit a planning application, you get 21 days to consult.
“The amount of information and work that you’ve got to do behind it, we’d never do in 21 days. I’ll give you an example – Land Registry. There may be a covenant on the land, so for a couple of pounds, you can go to the Land Registry and ask for the covenant – but that takes six weeks. They won’t extend your 21 days for that, so we’re we’re looking at all sorts of avenues.”
He also spoke of their aim to secure the support of Prince Charles, with nature presenter Iolo Williams already on board.
“This is a special scientific interest area and it must be preserved. People come from far around to look at these bluebells in May and we want to keep it that way.”
Meanwhile, Marion Russell, who has lived in Llanbradach for 17 years, said it was important not to lose the “beautiful” countryside and expressed fears that more precious green space could be lost if areas like Bluebell Woods are allowed to be destroyed.
Plaid Cymru community councillor Marc Hubbard, who lives in Trethomas, said the issue extends beyond Llanbradach – saying he has been stopped in Trethomas Tesco by people asking about the bluebells.
He said: “These are sacred sites that have been part of people’s family’s history for generations and they can’t just be ripped apart and destroyed in this way.”
“The planning system does not work properly for the benefit of communities”
South Wales East Senedd Member Delyth Jewell, who also attended the protest, said changes need to be made to the planning system.
“There’s still questions about whether the right processes have been followed but even outside of all those questions, the planning system does not work properly for the benefit of communities.
“It’s just wrong that the voice of the community doesn’t count for more.
“We need to look across Wales at what changes we can make to the planning system because we need to make sure that the bluebells are restored here and no other areas of beauty should be taken away from communities either – we’ve got a nature emergency.
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