In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Hendredenny
At the Cabinet last week Labour councillors deferred a decision on selling land at Hendredenny to house-builders, Redrow, subject to them getting planning permission for housing development.
However, I fear it is only an attempt to deflect criticism and avoid upsetting residents ahead of the UK General Election in May.
Rather than defer, I call on the Cabinet to refuse to sell this land, whatever happens to Redrow’s planning application for housing development. They can do this now but I forecast the sale will be back on the Cabinet agenda after May. So don’t be taken in.
A land sale would be extremely short-sighted because it could lead to a massive overdevelopment of Hendredenny with another 250 homes being built.
I am worried about the impact of another up to 500 extra cars on the network and areas like the Dip in Trecenydd. The sewerage system won’t be able to cope and there will be an impact on services such as doctors’ surgeries. Caerphilly will grind to a halt soon, I fear.
And there are more greenfield developments in the Caerphilly area on the horizon at Penrhos, Penyrheol and Rudry. Developers should have been directed to the north of the Rhymney Valley, where there is both space and demand for new housing.
Mary Britton
I called into the Energlyn home of former Cwm Ifor teacher Mary Britton last week.
Mary, who gave many years of service to the school, is leaving Caerphilly to live close to her daughter in Surrey.
As a pupil at Cwm Ifor, where I’m now chair of the governors, Mary was my first ever teacher and she was enormously popular with pupils, parents and fellow teachers alike.
I presented her with a silver brooch and a copy of the photograph of the first class I was in as a five-year-old. I wish Mary all the best in new life in Surrey. She will be missed.
Rhymney Integrated Centre
I visited the Rhymney Integrated Health and Social Care Centre, which opened last year, to take a look at facilities.
When I was leader of Caerphilly council I took an interest in the project and the development is impressive.
There are GP practices, a dentist, optician, in-patient beds, a pharmacy, a day centre, social care and minor surgery is carried out. Excellent facilities for the community.
Regarding the deferral of the sale of council land at Hendredenny I came to the same conclusion as Lindsay, the controversial sale is being kicked into the long grass until after the general election. Why not just refuse to sell the land and set in place covenants for future use?
There is problem with restrictive covenants, some authorities and organisations respect them others think they can ignore them, in reality of course nobody can legally curcumvent them, if they do, it is at their peril they do so.