Cosmeston Lake campaigners form human chain in protest over aqua park 'tragedy'
Cosmeston Lake campaigners form human chain in protest over aqua park 'tragedy'
'It's just a crazy idea. The thought of it makes me feel really upset'
Peaceful protesters formed a human chain
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Hundreds of people gathered together to make a human chain around a beautiful Welsh lake where there are plans to set up a controversial water park. On Saturday morning people from the Vale of Glamorgan displayed their concerns that the plans could cause parking chaos and harm wildlife at Cosmeston Country Park.
Plans to move the Cardiff Bay Aqua Park to the eastern lake at the park were unveiled in May with an opening date set for July 5. A trial of the inflatable water course is set to last eight weeks over the summer months. Cosmeston Country Park covers 100 acres of land in Penarth, with an abundance of wildlife habitats, including that of the critically endangered water vole.
Part of the park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest ensuring the protection of the rare and diverse plant and animal species that live there.
With this in mind protesters came together in the hope that they can prevent the council going ahead and facilitating the water park - which they say is highly inappropriate for Cosmeston.
Hundreds of people turned up
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Vale of Glamorgan Council has previously said the aqua park would be a "great addition" to the site, and said there is "appetite locally" for the proposals.
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WalesOnline went along to speak to some of the campaigners about why they decided to show their support on Saturday.
Mark Rosomon was there with his wife Amanda. The 64-year-old said: 'We are here today because we are residents of Penarth. We have been for more than 30 years.
Cosmeston is known for its beauty and peace
(Image: Mark Lewis )
'We believe this park is of great importance. It's been about 50 years old in the making and they want to scrap all that for the sake of making a few quid to help the council out.
'By the numbers here today you can see that people are against this water park. They've told us for years that the water is unsafe to swim in.
'It belongs to the people and it should remain belonging to the people for their personal enjoyment.'
People are concerned for the wildlife
(Image: Mark Lewis )
He said the couple's concerns are environmental, particularly the potential impact it may have on animals as well as more cars coming into the area.
They want the decision to be reversed
(Image: Mark Lewis )
'All the [plans] will do is bring more people in from outside the area and we already don't have the infrastructure - it's going to increase the traffic,' he said. 'Already at the moment we can't move around Penarth and there is no parking.
'We came here today on our bicycles purely to come to this protest to show our support. We often walk our dog here. Even though we live in the town we walk to Cosmeston via the railway track that is there for pedestrian use.
'With all the pedestrianisation, why do we want to be bringing more and more vehicles into this area that is already crammed?'
Mark and Amanda hold the fish and duck shaped signs
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Elsie Phillips from Penarth and Kathie Thomas from Barry brought with them a huge poster that read: 'Stop the aqua park."
Elsie, 70, said: 'It's a tragedy for the wildlife at Cosmeston. It's going to ruin the peaceful aspect of the whole park. It's just a crazy idea. The thought of it makes me feel really upset.'
Kathie, 69, added: 'I'm here because I appreciate nature. I've always lived in Barry and I use Cosmeston a lot and I am really fed up with the council because they just do not listen.
'They seem to be deaf to any objection, so I want to do my bit. I don't usually do anything like this but I do think this is a really important cause.
'I think they are looking for money regardless. I don't think they are thinking of improving facilities here. I am pleased with the turn out but I would like it if more people were here.'
Elsie is far left of the sign and Kathie is on the far left
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Barry Action for Nature members Claire Curtis, Robert Curtis and Rebecca Glasson said they are not against aqua parks, but believe it would be inappropriate to bring one to Cosmeston. They said they enjoy watching birds at the park and that it would put them off wanting to visit - as well as possibly discouraging such birds to nest there.
Claire, 61, said: 'We are members of Barry Action for Nature and the aqua park being here at Cosmeston is completely the wrong place.
'We aren't against aquaparks but somewhere else, not here. This is a country park for nature and peace and we are totally against it being located here.
'It makes me feel angry because you come here for the nature and the peace and quiet and for family time and to be able to enjoy this beautiful park. It's totally the wrong place.
'We understand that the council does need to try and make money where it can because things are really tight at the moment but this is not the right place and nature has to come before money on this occasion.'
Claire, Robert and Rebecca
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Robert, 60, said: 'I feel so frustrated, it's such a wonderful place. People come here for the silence, the solitude and peacefulness of it all and they're going to take that away.
'Inevitably nature will then disappear for such a wonderful site. It goes against everything we should be doing to support nature.'
Locals believe it is inappropriate to have the water park at Cosmeston
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Rebecca Glasson added: 'It's classed as a conservation area and I worry about the impact, the disturbance to wildlife and nesting birds aren't going to nest around here with so much noise.'
Anne Turnbull and her husband Steve were also present. Anne, 63, pointed out that part of the country park is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In Wales it is strongly discouraged and often prohibited to build on these. She said she believes they have gotten around this because the water park is considered temporary.
Anne and Steve also disagree with the plans
(Image: Mark Lewis )
She said: 'This is a SSRI. They got around it because you are not allowed to put any permanent development even within the vicinity of, let alone in an SSRI. They got around it by saying it's temporary.
'The council were judge and jury. It's going against every grain that you could put something in temporarily for the next 10 years. There was a letter sent out a few years [ago] saying that you can't build in an SSRI - and they found a way around it.'
Marc Harris is a local nature writer who was invited to the protest to read an extract from his book 'South and West Wales. Its Wildlife, People and Places'.
Marc Harries
(Image: Mark Lewis )
He was invited after he shared a picture on social media of one of Cosmeston's beautiful water voles eating an apple.
He said: 'I put a post on Facebook of a photo I took of a water vole and got a lot of likes because they're cute.
The cute water vole enjoying an apple at Cosmeston
(Image: Marc Harries )
'I write about nature and I've written about Cosmeston and Barry Island, so they invited me to read an extract from my book.
'It's important to me because it's completely the wrong place for an aqua park. I'm not against aqua parks at all, but it is the wrong place because of the detrimental effects it will have on wildlife.
'I do hope it is stopped. I think the council has made a wrong decision and they should retract it.'
Vale of Glamorgan Council and Aqua Park Cardiff has been approached for comment. Cllr Bronwen Brooks, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable places at the council, previously said: "The Aqua Park will be another great addition to the already fantastic offer at Cosmeston Country Park as the council continues to promote sustainable tourism and leisure activities in the area.
"Consultation with residents through the Council's placemaking work has shown there is appetite locally - particularly among young people - for more varied leisure activities, and the re-introduction of water-based activities at Cosmeston will help us to ensure that our Country Parks are for everyone.
"Trying new things is at the heart of what we do as an ambitious Council, and this pilot could also enable further income opportunities for our Country Parks – especially in supporting the re-wilding and conservation work already underway at Cosmeston.
"The Vale of Glamorgan Council has worked with a number of partner agencies to ensure that the lake is safe for Aqua Park visitors to enjoy – including a detailed programme of water testing work."
Connor James, founder of Aqua Park Cardiff, previously said: "We're thrilled to bring Aqua Park Cardiff to Cosmeston Lakes by partnering with The Vale of Glamorgan Council.
"The Country Park is a fantastic venue for our exciting watersport experience, perfect for supervised adventure and family fun. With an exciting new course of obstacles, we can't wait to welcome visitors to our incredible new home.
"We are also really excited to be playing our part in giving people and families much-needed access to active outdoor experience, in a controlled and supervised environment to help boost their physical and mental well-being."
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