Jamie Wallis MP and I have united to formally challenge Bridgend Council's proposals to concentrate 80% of all new house building south of the M4 and within the constituency of Bridgend. We are both concerned about the plans.
I firmly feel that if all the new housing is concentrated in Bridgend, then the valley areas of Maesteg, Ogmore and Garw will be starved of much needed investment. We are hearing on a regular basis that young people living in these area may be denied the opportunity to remain within their home communities if there is not a suitable range of homes available to them. When people move away, they stop spending in the local shops, pubs and businesses in their communities and they lose out also. We may also see new businesses becoming reluctant to invest if footfall is low.
Jamie and I are both calling on the Council to have a re-think of the allocation of sites for new housing. They need to look again at candidate sites in Ogmore to help relieve pressure on land in Bridgend. We are both vehemently opposed to the decision to scrap green wedges of land in the plan. If the buffer zones are eradicated between communities it will stop them coalescing into each other. If they disappear, it will be much easier for developers to make cases that they should be allowed to build on open land adjoining and linking separate communities. I remain concerned that building of homes without any regard for the community, will create developments where people have no facilities or amenities and where there are huge pressures on already busy services.