Residents oppose airport road for St Athan Academy

No Ely Valley Airport Road

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has twice rejected proposals for a major new road linking junction 34 of the M4 to Sycamore Cross. The Welsh Assembly Government seem to be the driving force behind this, and it could be that airport traffic is a smokescreen for improved access to the Defence Academy at St Athan or other developments in the south of the Vale.

Anyone concerned about the loss of the Vale countryside may like to know that Vale MP John Smith has already given assurance to the Welsh Affairs Committee in the Commons in support of the Metrix Bid for St Athan "We have the total support of the local authority ... many of the of those planning and infrastructure considerations have already been addressed by the body that will be responsible for delivering them, underwritten by the Welsh Assembly Government. We are not going to have problems with green belt issues and planning issues...."
(Hansard 23 May 2006, Q58)
The Assembly wants an industrial trunk road through the Ely Valley.

However there is opposition to the proposed road.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/02/residents-oppose-cardiff-airport-access-road-91466-21946663/

Residents oppose Cardiff airport access road

Oct 2 2008 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

ANGRY residents campaigning against plans to build an access road to Cardiff International Airport mounted a protest in Barry yesterday.

The Welsh Assembly Government has asked for the public’s view on three options for a road to the airport. But many people in the Vale do not want to see a new road at all.

A report on the three options was presented to the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s cabinet yesterday members of an anti-access road action group held a demonstration outside the Civic Offices, in Barry.

Two of the three options centre on the A4232 from Junction 33 of the M4, while the third promotes a new road link south of Junction 34 of the M4 with an eastern or western bypass at Pendoylan before linking with the A48 at Sycamore Cross.

The third option was put forward by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2003 and was opposed by the Vale council. It was later withdrawn.

Coun Jeff James, the council’s cabinet member for planning, said councillors were not being asked to support or oppose any of the three options at this stage.

He said: “The council need to be fully engaged in this issue and will have to take a long hard view of the preferred option or options when it is announced by the Welsh Assembly Government.”

Matthew Rees, a member of the NEVAR (No Ely Valley Airport Road) said with the airport shrinking and airlines pulling out there was no need for an access road.

He said: “They are planning to spend £130m of taxpayers money for no good reason. As far as we are concerned the access to the airport is adequate already.

“The third option would have the most environmental impact and would destroy virgin agricultural land.”

Peterston-Super-Ely resident Roy Williams said there had no consultation on the premise that there should be an access road to the airport.

He said: “We get the feeling that we are being manipulated.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/10/01/boost-for-st-athan-academy-jobseekers-91466-21936704/

BBC NEWS | Wales | Villagers' demo over airport link

- 16:191 Oct 2008 ... Members of No Ely Valley Airport Access Road (Nevar) held a protest outside the Vale of Glamorgan council's headquarters in Barry. ...

£100m transport boost on back of St Athan - WalesOnline

Bus or coach links from Miskin Parkway to the airport and St Athan; ... be some distance west of St Athan village, for easy access to the military academy. ...

No2 Road South from Junction 34 for Military Academy

boost for St Athan academy jobseekers PLANS for a multi-million-pound learning centre on the Barry waterfront to help train young people for jobs at the landmark defence academy in St Athan have been given a major final boost. Read

Can the Vale Cope with Defence Academy project without funds for new roads?

‘Act now on airport road’ – call by the Vale MP

Vale MP, John Smith, is calling for action to ease congestion at Culverhouse Cross and improve roads to Cardiff International Airport and the planned Defence Training Academy at St Athan. Mr Smith said: “While I recognise the need for a long-term solution in the form of a direct link from the M4 to the airport and the Defence Academy, there is need for immediate action. I shall be writing to the Welsh Assembly Government as part of its consultation on improving access to Cardiff International Airport, urging them to examine the possibility of improvements to the present airport access route from junction 33 of the M4 via Culverhouse Cross through north Barry and to the Airport and St Athan. “I believe there is an urgent need for a dedicated route to Barry skirting the western side of Culverhouse Cross. “This would provide vital breathing space while a new long-term solution is built from the M4 to the airport and the Defence Academy,” the MP insisted.

Copyright Tindle Newspapers Ltd 07 December 07