Clwyd West AM Darren Millar raised local concerns about the protection of a green space in Abergele in the Senedd last week.
Darren referred to the Abergele situation when questioning the Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant AM, over proposals to change the way that village greens are registered in Wales.
The Welsh Labour Government’s draft Planning Bill proposes to prohibit the registration of land as a town or village greens where it has been identified for development.
Abergele residents are concerned about the proposed development on fields at the rear of St George Road and Maes-y-Dre in Abergele and would like to see the area designated as a village green instead.
Speaking in the Senedd Darren said:
“Minister, there is a great deal of concern in Abergele in my constituency regarding proposals for development on what has been traditionally used as recreational space adjacent to some playing fields in the town. Will you tell us what proposals you have for changing the way that village greens are registered in Wales and how that might impact upon this system? There is a lot of concern that the process for village green registration may become more bureaucratic, more cumbersome, and more difficult for locals in constituencies like mine in the future.”
The Minister refused to comment on the specific planning application in Abergele, but said “it is our intention currently within the draft Bill process to give, still, the opportunity for people to register for village green status, provided that that is not complicated by a planning application that is current.”
He added: “A post-planning or pre-planning application for village green space can still be pursued, but not during a planning process when an application is taking place, because it does frustrate the planning system.”
Darren added: “”While we recognise the importance of planning for the future development needs, these should be balanced with protecting recreational spaces and not at the expense of our beautiful countryside. Local representatives know what’s best for their communities not Labour Ministers or civil servants based in Cardiff.”
