Field near Swansea school could become site of 31 affordable homes

A FIELD near a school in Swansea could make way for 31 affordable homes.
Housing provider Pobl Group has submitted a planning application for the development off Clordir Road, Pontlliw, around 150m from the village’s primary school.
Many residents are against the plans, according to Pontlliw and Tircoed Community Council chairwoman, Barbara Mitchell.
The proposals are for a mix of two, three and four-bed properties including three bungalows – all energy-efficient and with back gardens – plus a play area, cycle and pedestrian path, and new landscaping. Boundary hedgerows and a line of trees would be retained, and access to the development would be via a junction with Clordir Road. All the properties would be for social rent.
A transport assessment on behalf of Pobl Group said the traffic generated by the scheme could be accommodated onto the surrounding road network without any “material change” in its performance. It added that there were bus stops past the school on the main A48.
Mrs Mitchell said “99%” of those who attended a public meeting about the plans objected to them – a second meeting takes place at 7pm on October 25 at Pontlliw Village Hall. She said the community council was keen to know if residents’ views were the same as before.
Mrs Mitchell said the primary school was over-subscribed and that the extra traffic generated by the development would lead to a bottleneck on Clordir Road – a road she described as a lane and used mainly by lorries and agricultural vehicles. She added that bus services to Swansea were due to be cut from two an hour to one.
Asked if anyone supported the plans because affordable homes were needed, she said: “I totally agree that we need affordable homes – homes for local people – but not at the risk of encroaching onto green land. It’s not a good site to put it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​