SESSION 10 SENNYBRIDGE 12TH FEBRUARY 2013

STATEMENT OF MAESCAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL PRESENTED BY COUNCILLOR BERNARD WATKINS CUSTOMER REF 0825 SITE REFERENCE NUMBER SALT 092, 002, 010, 016/058, 017, CS138,

Maescar Community Council January 2013 STATEMENT OF MAESCAR COMMUNITY COUNCIL Level 2 Settlement Maescar CC strongly supports the designation as a Level 2 settlement. We take this position because it is the only major settlement in the Western area of the National Park and Level 2 designation in our opinion reflects the socio - economic contribution the community makes to the surrounding locality and parishes by providing amenities and services that no longer exist in the surrounding villages that make up the hinterland of Sennybridge and Defynnog. The outlying areas that have come to rely on Sennybridge and Defynnog include Trecastle, Trallong, Llandeilor Fan, Cray and Heol Senni.

The types of facilities and services provided include: 1. Two petrol stations, both with associated general food provision stores. One of which also has a cafe / tea room. 2. A village shop 3. A Post Office with general food / retail provision 4. A branch of Hay and Brecon Farmers Coop serving both agricultural and non agricultural customers 5. A Livestock market serving the needs of the agricultural community 6. Army Camp and 2 saw mills providing local employment opportunities 7. 5 Public houses providing entertainment and tourism opportunities 8. Health Centre providing regular locally based health care for a rural population 9. A vehicle repair and MOT Centre 10. A thriving community school - With the closure of small village schools in Cray, Trallong and Trecastle, Sennybridge Primary School has become the Community School for the area. The school premises are used by various clubs including a Gym and YFC and the Welsh and English pre-school groups. 11. A tea room with craft centre and restaurant

We consider that many of the essential elements for a sustainable community are in place and that Level 2 designation will allow for further growth and viability of the community. Our position on the need for small scale growth has been driven by the following: 1. In 2005, a Rural Housing Needs Survey was conducted by the Rural Housing Enabler and that study identified that 22 people needed affordable housing. To date no significant progress has been made on addressing that need within the local community. 2. In 2011, as part of the consultation on the LDP, a public consultation exercise, organised by the Community Council which attracted a large number of participants, clearly demonstrated that local people wanted further small scale housing developments at a number of sites, together with some provision for small scale light industry.

The recent Community Council elections where 5 of our existing Community Councillors were unanimously re-elected with one new member also elected only serve to validate the past work of the Community Council and its current position on future development and unequivocally provides us with the mandate to speak on behalf of the Community on these issues. This result was mirrored in the County Council elections with the sitting councillor strongly supported Level 2 status for the village again was re-elected with a large majority.

We have made our position quite clear on a number of times and will continue to support small scale development on a number of sites in the area. We are particularly aware of the guidance issued by the Welsh Government on expectations for development density today and whilst it may be appropriate and more easily achieved in a more urban setting; we feel it is totally inappropriate to attempt to cram so many properties onto small sites in a small rural villages like Sennybridge and Defynnog.

The Community Council considers that whatever the Welsh Government thoughts are on density, the development density for any planning application in Sennybridge and Defynnog has to be judged on the basis of its individual merits, and also its compliance with any Plan in place. It is only through this judgement i.e. the context specific to the particular site and proposal that a balanced consideration of what is an appropriate density is for the site can be identified. We do not think it is appropriate to calculate a ratio of housing density based on guidance issued by the Welsh Government which we feel is wholly inappropriate for such a rural setting.

Comments on Specific Sites 4 CS138 Glannau Senni We consider that this site can be considered infill development and is a site which will help contribute towards the small scale development we are supporting for the village. The existing estate of Glannau Senni comprises 14 properties and we consider that any development should be seen as a extension to Glannau Senni and not a new estate of similar size / density. We have submitted previous comments expressing concerns over density at Glannau Senni. All services are in close proximity to the site.

5 SALTS 002&092 Land at Castle Farm We consider that this site can be considered infill development and is a site which will help contribute towards the small scale development we are supporting for the village however, we have already objected to a planning application on this site given the proposed scale and density being proposed. We will not support development on this site which is out of context in terms of density, scale, design and appearance.

6 SALT 010 Penpentre Fields North and South We consider small scale infill housing development appropriate fir this site which will help contribute towards the small scale development we are supporting for the village.

7 SALT016/058 Land Adjoining Defynnog Road This site was identified in the Public Consultation exercise as appropriate for small scale light industrial and housing. We consider that this site can be considered infill development and is a site which will help contribute towards the small scale development we are supporting for the village.

8 SALT 017 Land Adjacent to Mount Villa We consider that this site can be considered infill development and is a site which will help contribute towards the small scale development we are supporting for the village. The gas pipeline runs close by but should not present any problems to development.

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