EXCLUSIVE: "We knew him". #Riverside councillors explain why they didn't object at key committee to #Pontcanna property owner’s plans to fell ten mature trees
Mature sycamore trees at 97 Llandaff Road, which the property wants to fell to park his car
Riverside councillors, Leonora Thomson and Caro Wild have told the Civic Society that the reason they didn’t object to plans to fell ten mature trees at the Cedars, Pontcanna was because they knew the developer and his wife. Cllr Kanaya Singh did not object at the committee because he had other work commitments.
Earlier this autumn, speaking at a public meeting convened by Cardiff Civic Society, the new owner of The Cedars, a property on the junction of Llandaff Road and Romilly Crescent said he wanted to remove ten mature trees from the garden in order to park his car.
Cardiff councillors decided to grant him his wish at a planning committee at 1.30pm, 6 October 2022. Residents can watch the proceedings on a webcast on the committee’s webpage.
None of Riverside’s three councillors, Kanaya Singh, Leonora Thomson or Caro Wild spoke against the development at planning committee. As local representatives, they could have been expected to support their voters, but Cllrs Thomson and Wild were advised not to speak at the committee and Cllr Singh could not attend the meeting as he had a work commitment, leaving the field clear for Cardiff council officers to sing the virtues of the plans. As a result, strongly held views within the ward could not be given voice at the committee meeting by those elected to represent them.
Cllr Thomson said: “I'm afraid that both Cllr Wild and I have discovered that we have a conflict of interest as we found out - after registering our objections - that we both know the applicants (Caro knows Charles Williams and I know his wife, but under a different surname). We are therefore not able to be part of the discussion or speak to the item. I'm sorry about this but we have had formal advice to this effect and need to heed it.”
According to a Wales Online report, there were also 20 letters of objection in relation to the application, including representations from local councillors, Kevin Brennan MP and Mark Drakeford MS. A letter from Mark Drakeford said: "While the planting of additional trees is welcome, this cannot be considered sufficient to replace the loss of mature trees at the site.
Responding to the proposals for the site, local resident Terry Howe said:
“The application proposes that 10 mature sycamore trees should be felled. These trees will be storing several tons of Carbon, much of which will be in the root system and soil with the aid of a fungal network. New planting will not replace this benefit until many years have passed.
“Mature trees are vital for wildlife and biodiversity. Sycamores are attractive to aphids and therefore a variety of their predators such as a ladybirds, hoverflies and moths. The leaves are eaten by the caterpillars of a number of moths. The flowers provide a good source of pollen and nectar for bees and other insects and the seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.
“Cardiff Civic Society has received advice from an independent arboriculturist that casts doubt on the arboricultural report which accompanies the application. He points out that the report does not identify any specific defects which might justify allocating the sycamores to category C, (‘low quality). He finds the estimate of the trees’ life expectancy, 10-20 years, to be ‘distinctly pessimistic’. He points out that sycamores are an ‘extremely important part of our tree-scape’ and likely to be of even greater importance given the losses due to ash die-back. He suggests that a second opinion be obtained from another independent arboriculturist.
“The value of mature trees cannot be replaced, and they contribute significantly to the improvement of air quality and biodiversity that new trees cannot sufficiently replicate for a very long time. We’re in a climate emergency and it’s clear the planning system must protect trees in all decisions made. The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 provides that local authorities must have due regard to future generations and well being principles when making any decision. Permitting felling of mature trees breaches those principles.
“The sycamores are a key part of the amenity of the area and contribute to the well-being of its residents. Planning Policy Wales makes it clear that:
‘Local planning authorities should seek to protect trees, groups of trees and areas of woodland where they have natural heritage value or contribute to the character or amenity of a particular locality.’
“Lastly, by keeping at least some of the sycamores, the Council can send a message to other landowners: ‘Mature trees are of special value, and worth protecting’.”