Opposition to Cosmeston aqua park dismissed as 'malicious tripe'
Opposition to Cosmeston aqua park dismissed as 'malicious tripe'
Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Liz Burnett has hit back at opposition to the controversial water park which has seen protestors gather to voice their concerns
Hundreds of people joined a protest against the proposal to use the eastern lake at Cosmeston for a water park
(Image: Mark Lewis )
A Welsh council leader has hit back at campaigners opposing controversial plans for a water park at Cosmeston Lakes. Vale of Glamorgan Council lead Liz Burnett said criticisms of the scheme are "malicious tripe" and "rubbish" spread by 'disinformation."
Her comments come in a long response posted on Facebook following a protest at the lake on June 14 and heated debate and comment on social media. On June 14 hundreds of people formed a human chain around the lake where the water park is planned this summer, Opponents say the plans will cause harm to wildlife at the 100-acre Cosmeston Country Park as well as traffic chaos. There are also concerns about the park encouraging swimming, which is usually banned.
The plan to move the popular Cardiff Bay Aqua Park to the eastern lake at Cosmeston was announced 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. The park is home to wildlife including water fowl and the endangered water vole. Opponents of the water park fear it will disrupt and potentially harm their habitats. Part of the park, although not where the aqua park would be, is a Site of Special Scientific Interest protecting rare plant and animal species.
Posting her response to "naysayers" on her Facebook page the Vale of Glamorgan Council leader said she wanted to set the record straight. She wrote: "There is a fair amount of rubbish being spread at present, sadly much appears to be deliberate, so I thought I'd provide some clarification."
Vale of Glamorgan Council leader Lis Burnett
(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne )
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The council leader said she has been "personally attacked by a Vale 'expert' who doesn't even appear to know what wildlife is in Cosmeston" and posted a video of a baby water vole which she said shows it is not bothered by the noise of the aqua park being set up, nor of barking dogs at the lake.
"I would not consider anything that might have a negative impact on the park," Cllr Burnett added. She explained the Vale of Glamorgan Council was approached to allow the trial of the aqua park and how it will prove "much needed income for the park", although she did not say how much cash it will bring in. The plan has also had positive feedback from young people, she claimed.
On concerns about water quality safety the council leader's statement insisted the council agreed the scheme subject to water quality monitoring by the company running the aqua park as well as the Vale's owns environmental health department and an independent ecological review and agreement by Natural Resources Wales.
"The Aqua Park operator also carried out under water surveys. Only once they were all in place was agreement given. It has been alleged that it was not discussed by cabinet nor scrutiny and rushed through by emergency powers. That is malicious tripe and is being dealt with separately," Cllr Burnett's statement added.
The aqua park has previously been located at Cardiff Bay
(Image: South Wales Echo )
She said the suggestion for the water park trial was discussed by senior councillors at cabinet on March 6 and by the scrutiny committee five days later before being discussed again by cabinet on March 20. She said recordings of all these meetings are available online.
To further allay concerns she added that the aqua park will be based on a tiny section of the park's eastern lake where wildlife is already used to noise from visitors. On concerns over swimming safety she added that "it's only unsupervised swimming that is not allowed" currently.
The eastern lake at Cosmeston Counrty Park
(Image: Mark Lewis )
Cllr Burnett's remarks were described as "tone deaf" by South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies, who said Cllr Burnett's comments "highlighted a lack of understanding of residents' genuine concerns" and that the council had not listened to park users.
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He said the scheme was "completely unsuitable for a quiet location like Cosmeston Lakes", adding: 'It's perfectly reasonable to raise concerns about nature and impacts on the environment and local community. There was no need for Cllr Burnett to lash out.
'She could have made her points constructively, but instead chose to make a series of allegations against those campaigning against the aqua park, and question their motives."
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