A developer has been ordered to stop work on a controversial holiday camp near a children's hospice. Vale of Glamorgan Council issued the stop notice to Barry Island Pleasure Park owner Henry Danter after he started preparatory work for a proposed camp in Sully – allegedly without planning permission. The council says it has received evidence the work "may have led to the destruction of birds’ nests", which Mr Danter denies.
Some 7,788 people have signed a petition against Mr Danter's plans for a site with caravans and log cabins on a 20-acre coastline plot near Hayes Road. Many have complained the location is too close to Beechwood College, which supports young adults with autistic spectrum disorders, and to Ty Hafan Children's Hospice. The petition was started by Karen Maidment, whose late grandson spent time at Ty Hafan. "I can tell you that the very last thing we would have wanted to hear at that time would be holidaymakers loudly enjoying themselves, screaming, shouting, laughing, or heavy machinery digging and increased traffic noise when your world is ending or ended," she wrote in the petition.
Now the council has issued a stop notice to Mr Danter until he "gains consent for any intended works". A council spokesman said the developer has yet to submit a "satisfactory" planning application but preparatory work to change ground levels "still appears to have taken place". They added: "Accompanying documentation was not supplied with the invalid application that has been received – paperwork that is necessary as this would be classed as a major development due to the site area."
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Mr Danter, 79, told WalesOnline he was under the impression that the previous owner had permission to clear the "wasteland". He said work had already stopped on Thursday "for the bird season" before the stop notice was issued on Friday. Asked if any bird nests were destroyed he replied: "I'm told not. The tree surgeon was under strict instructions from me."
The tree surgeon then told us "no nests were touched" and that there is only one on the site. He said he only cleared brambles and small trees, adding: "The three big trees on the land are not being touched."
Mr Danter said the forest between the site and the hospice will not be interfered with and he wants to keep as much green as possible on the development area. "I want it to be beautiful. I'm not doing this for myself, I'm doing it for Wales. It's all right for people in ivory towers to make nasty remarks about the type of people who will use this caravan park but it's hearsay. We run a tight ship... This is the greatest asset Wales will ever have so I don't want it to be lost but if it's not going to be appreciated I'll lose patience and find another use for it."
Councillor Lis Burnett, who leads the council, said: “The council is aware of the depth of local feeling regarding this proposed development and very concerned at the lack of engagement with proper planning procedures so far. Officers are closely monitoring this site and will not hesitate to intervene again if further violations are found to have been committed.”
Ty Hafan said in a recent statement that it would be concerned by "any proposals whatsoever which might impact the security, safety, privacy, and tranquillity of our hospice and memorial gardens". And Ms Maidement wrote in her petition: "These children and their families very much need the beauty, peace, and tranquillity that the hospice and its grounds give at the worst times of their journeys."
Mr Danter, who purchased the land in February, previously told WalesOnline he would be happy to meet people with concerns and added: "Whatever it takes we will do it. But if there are valid reasons not to do it we will listen and change it or withdraw the plans. However I believe that there are only good things to come from the holiday park such as tourist attraction, bringing employment and happiness to Wales."
You can read more about Mr Danter's proposals here. And you can get the latest news from the Vale of Glamorgan here.
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