The Open Spaces Society, Britain’s oldest national conservation body, has condemned Swansea planners’ recommendation to approve the Skyline’s development on Kilvey Hill. On Tuesday (4 March) the planning committee will decide the fate of this unique area.
The development would comprise, among other structures, gondola stations and chairlift infrastructure for 22 cable cars, a restaurant and bar, a vast area of high-speed luge tracks, a 50-metre-high skyswing, zipline, and ancillary buildings. The ‘Activity Zone’ would cover the hilltop and beyond, by the developers’ own admission urbanising and commercialising an area of countryside.
In the 136-page report to the committee the planning officer recognises the ‘significant harm arising from landscape and visual impacts’ of the scheme, due to ‘the high sensitivity of the landscape and the changes as a result of the introduction of man-made structures on Kilvey Hill’, but the officer concludes that these are outweighed by the alleged ‘cumulative benefits’.
There were 545 objections to the planning application and only 40 letters of support. Some of the objections were from organisations representing thousands of people.
Kate Ashbrook, general secretary of the Open Spaces Society, one of the objectors, says:
‘We are dismayed that Swansea Council is forging ahead in the face of so many objections. It knows that the development will destroy the unique countryside of Kilvey Hill, so loved by the community, yet it proposes to trash it with an ugly megadevelopment.
‘To achieve this, it must dispose of an area of open space under section 123 of the Local Government Act 1972 and this requires a special procedure. The council made an in-principle decision to dispose of the open space in April last year, despite receiving 265 objections and only two in favour, but agrees that this was flawed. To avoid legal proceedings, it must now re-advertise the proposed disposal with all the details, and consider afresh the consultees’ responses before taking a final decision. That is essential to the development, and could provide a significant hurdle to it.
‘Moreover, the officer’s report severely underplays the negative impact the development would have on public rights of way and other paths which people use to enjoy free informal recreation in the hill’s natural landscape. The report acknowledges that the hillside is well used, and that it is criss-crossed with paths and open access land where people roam freely, enjoying the restorative benefit of quiet open country and the fine views, all of which would be severely impaired by the development. It falls short in not acknowledging that some of the existing informal paths cross the proposed development site. The applicants are wrong in claiming that current public access would not be affected.
‘This hillside is a unique asset for Swansea as relatively unspoilt countryside on the doorstep of the city centre. It serves a wide variety of people, both Swansea residents and visitors to the city. It is a vital resource for the surrounding communities which would otherwise be deprived of open spaces and free-recreation opportunities, and much loved by residents of both East and West Swansea who are attracted to the peaceful wild landscape to walk dogs, ride bikes and horses, enjoy nature, picnic, and play with their children. Many people comment that they love to watch the array of birds, especially birds of prey such as buzzards, sparrowhawks, and red kites, and listen to the bird songs and sounds, such as that of the nightjar.
‘Swansea Council will lose an invaluable asset for its residents and visitors alike if it destroys this truly wonderful historic Welsh landscape by approving this vast development. All Skyline developments look similar and seek to impose Skyline’s own commercial identity on the cultural landscapes it invades for its own profit.
‘We dispute the officer’s assertion that Skyline will take up only 9% of Kilvey Hill. It will engulf closer to 37% of the publicly accessible land, and with its visual impact and level of noise it will affect all the land around the proposed site.
‘Swansea Council seems to have little idea of the needs of the citizens it purports to serve. This proposal flies in the face of policies aimed to protect open space for the health and well-being of communities.
‘The council doesn’t seem to realise that Kilvey Hill already attracts visitors who are drawn to its open space, sea views, woodland, and peaceful natural charm. Arguably, Wales’s best tourist feature is its natural beauty. The attractiveness of Kilvey Hill to Swansea’s residents and visitors will be lost by building this noisy, ugly monstrosity.
‘Kilvey Hill was regenerated from an industrial wasteland by Swansea people in the 1970s for future generations to enjoy the natural countryside it now offers. It has been jointly maintained ever since by Kilvey Community Woodland Volunteers who oppose this development. It should not now be leased to a private company for a development against the wishes of the people who have regenerated and helped to maintain it.
‘We strongly urge the planning committee to reject this outrageous application,’ Kate concludes.
