Plaid Cymru Councillor Steve Skivens has warned Caerphilly is under more pressure than ever from home developers.
The Penyrheol councillor has warned of severe consequences as a result of Caerphilly Council’s latest development plan, leading to traffic gridlock.
Councillor Steve Skivens said that sites in a host of wards including the Aber Valley, Penyrheol, St Martin’s, Llanbradach, Machen, Bedwas & Trethomas could be built on.
Councillor Steve Skivens said: “Caerphilly is under pressure from developers for sites like never before. The indiscriminate building of housing is impacting residents, workers and children’s lives today. Greenfields lost, natural habitats lost, open amenity areas under threat and air quality diminished.”
He said that potential or candidates sites under the Replacement Local Development Plan up to 2035 had already been identified
“Many say Caerphilly is already gridlocked, regularly at peak times, during roadworks or when there has been an accident. I invite residents to ask themselves: Has your commute to work, school run or day to day shopping trips improved since 2020?
“Yet the plans by Labour are to build more and more housing without considering the consequences properly. With many families having two cars, the outcome seems unavoidable.
“The infrastructure of our roads cannot support the current use and intended increases of housing. We must act now or this and future generations will suffer.”
Councillor Steve Skivens added: “Plaid Cymru wants consultation on schemes to identify the needs of communities and listen and base decisions on those views. Development should have broad agreement and not be controlled by a small cohort of corporate bodies.
“Plaid Cymru recognises a need for housing in some locations. However, against a decreasing and ageing population we must build the right type of houses in the places of need. Not widespread urban sprawl.”