Airport road opposed by villagers

Around 150 people attended the public meeting in Pendoylan

Villagers opposed to a possible route for a new link road to Cardiff airport have met to discuss the plans.

About 150 people attended the second public meeting at Pendoylan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

They are opposed to any plans to build a three-lane road through the area from the M4 to the airport near Rhoose.

Tony Williams, a former councillor for the area said: "As far as local people are concerned this trunk road is unwanted and unnecessary."

People from the neighbouring village of Peterston-super-Ely also attended the meeting on Thursday evening.

A delegation of villagers is to meet the local AM and assembly minister Jane Hutt on Saturday.

This is an area of special scientific interest, it's an area of special natural beauty Michael Jones

A public consultation for the three possible routes opened in July.

Option C runs from junction 34 of the M4 to Sycamore Cross on the A48 near Bonvilston, with three options for a bypass at Pendoylan.

If built, it would be a single-carriageway road with climbing lanes to allow safe overtaking.

Mr Williams said: "We're opposing this scheme to put a trunk road right through the ancient and historic parish of Pendoylan which will sever the Ely valley, which is scheduled as an area of special countryside and also contains Sites of Special Scientific Interest."

Michael Jones, the chair of the action committee, said he expected Ms Hutt to "do her duty" and represent the interests of her constituents.

"This is an area of special scientific interest, it's an area of special natural beauty registered as such and we all know anyone of us who want to make the slightest change to our houses that that is enforced very strictly.

"We want to know why the rules are enforced very strictly against local inhabitants and yet the assembly government are proposing to ignore their own regulations and drive a road through this beautiful valley which will scar it forever," he said.

Options A and B would both direct airport traffic from junction 33 of the M4 along improved existing roads.

The Vale of Glamorgan council will consider their response to the three schemes in September before the consultation period closes on 3 October.

Responses to the plans from individuals, councils and other parties will then be considered before any further decisions are taken by the assembly government.

A spokesperson for the assembly government said: "The airport has experienced considerable growth which, in turn, is generating more traffic to and from airport.

"The Welsh Assembly Government has therefore commissioned consultants to undertake a detailed study of possible options to improve access by both public and private transport.

"Details of the options under consideration - including train and bus service improvements as well as three potential road improvement schemes - are now on public display at a series of exhibitions around the area designed to canvass public opinion.

"We expect the study to be completed by the end of this year."