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Bridgend Island Farm ex-PoW camp sports plans backed | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Multimillion-pound plans for a major sports village at the site of a former prisoner of war camp in Bridgend have cleared a planning hurdle. | |
Various schemes have been tabled previously at Island Farm, including a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) sports academy. | Various schemes have been tabled previously at Island Farm, including a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) sports academy. |
A new application, including stadia for rugby league, rugby union and football, has now been backed by the council's planning committee. | |
There is residents' opposition, and the plan will now go to the full council. | |
Eleven members of the planning committee were in favour, with seven against. | |
A tennis centre with 10 outdoor courts and swimming pool are among the detailed plans. | A tennis centre with 10 outdoor courts and swimming pool are among the detailed plans. |
The development control committee was recommended to approve the outline proposals, but its report went on to say the decision should be referred to the full council for a final say. | |
Proposed developments for the 52-hectare site, off Merthyr Mawr Road, date back to 2002. | Proposed developments for the 52-hectare site, off Merthyr Mawr Road, date back to 2002. |
They have previously proved controversial with local residents, who have opposed schemes including a sports academy, hotel and restaurant and a residential development. | They have previously proved controversial with local residents, who have opposed schemes including a sports academy, hotel and restaurant and a residential development. |
Many still have concerns about the new proposals on the site, which is a mix of mainly arable farmland with tree and scrub land to one side and grazing land to the other. | Many still have concerns about the new proposals on the site, which is a mix of mainly arable farmland with tree and scrub land to one side and grazing land to the other. |
Part of the site was a prison of war camp which hit the headlines in 1945 when more than 70 German detainees escaped after digging a tunnel, leading to massive manhunt. | Part of the site was a prison of war camp which hit the headlines in 1945 when more than 70 German detainees escaped after digging a tunnel, leading to massive manhunt. |
They escaped from Hut Nine, which is the only building which remains. It is a listed building. | |
Before becoming a POW camp, Island Farm was used to house workers from Bridgend ordnance factory. | Before becoming a POW camp, Island Farm was used to house workers from Bridgend ordnance factory. |
Today, the site borders Bridgend Science Park and Ogmore Down and has several owners including the council and the applicant, Bridgend firm HD Limited, which has set up a dedicated website to outline plans in full. | Today, the site borders Bridgend Science Park and Ogmore Down and has several owners including the council and the applicant, Bridgend firm HD Limited, which has set up a dedicated website to outline plans in full. |
They have been asked to comment on the outline plans which propose a mixed sport, leisure, commercial and office development. | They have been asked to comment on the outline plans which propose a mixed sport, leisure, commercial and office development. |
The 100-page council report included 26-pages of correspondence - mainly from individual objectors and groups, including residents who call themselves Island Farm Campaign For Action. | |
They listed worries over volume of traffic and question the need for three stadia. | |
The campaigners are worried the A48 will not be able to cope, and are concerned at the loss of countryside. | |
A protest was held before the meeting. | A protest was held before the meeting. |
One supporter of the plans is former Wales and British Lions rugby star JJ Williams, a Bridgend businessman, who once led a consortium behind a £170m bid for the Millennium Stadium. | One supporter of the plans is former Wales and British Lions rugby star JJ Williams, a Bridgend businessman, who once led a consortium behind a £170m bid for the Millennium Stadium. |
He said before the meeting that Bridgend "must not miss this opportunity because it is not going to happen again". | |
Mr Williams said all sport groups across the county would benefit from the plans. | Mr Williams said all sport groups across the county would benefit from the plans. |
"We want this in Bridgend - it needs it," he said. | "We want this in Bridgend - it needs it," he said. |
The council report said the benefits would outweigh conflicts over land use, and it would offer job opportunities and increase Bridgend's attractiveness to visitors. | |
Any plans would have to go to the Welsh Government for further consideration. | Any plans would have to go to the Welsh Government for further consideration. |