BARRY and Vale Friends of the Earth reject the proposal for a new ‘strategic road’ instead of improving Five Mile Lane for all users.

The 60-mph design includes ‘ghost’ islands at the side road junction, known as less safe for local users including farm-lorries, pedestrians and cyclists. They make no provision for buses and bus-stops, though future services from Barry to Bonvilston and Dyffryn/St Nicholas need planning now.

The Welsh Government plans (promoted by the Vale of Glamorgan Council) ignore the problem of traffic congestion at Waycock Cross roundabout. This delays vehicles much more than can be saved by 60mph motoring and would worsen badly on their 25 per cent projected increase in traffic.

Forcing an airport-heading strategic road through Waycock Cross is nonsense – why suppress the alternative of cutting the corner to the Airport turn?

The plans ignore walking, particularly to the Hawking Centre and Amelia Trust Farm. The much needed walk/cycle path from Waycock Cross to the College Annex and Hawking Centre should be on the east of Five Mile Lane, set away from the roadway.

The planned new road would substantially damage (“large adverse impact”) the three known archaeology sites: Whitton Lodge Roman villa, ring ditch and part of an extensive Iron Age/Romano-British settlement, as well as unknown remains “indicated by significant evidence for prehistoric and Romano-British activity in the immediate vicinity. There is also potential for an extensive burial ground with national significance” says the consultant’s report.

The plan also damages nature conservation sites – takes one acre from the Barry SSSI Woodlands and further land from two SINCs (near Whitton Rosser and Blacklands farms). This is quite wrong – the law requires minimising the damage to our nature and archaeological heritage.

Online improvements agreed to deal with the bends and limited visibility, not this new strategic road. The huge number of CPOs (Compulsory Purchase Orders) are unwanted. Return to the drawing board and work up the online improvement plans, with full consideration to buses, cycling and walking as per required by the Active Travel Act.

Keith Stockdale and Max Wallis

Barry and Vale Friends of the Earth