On July 14th the Vale of Glamorgan council planning committee voted by 9 votes to 8 to approve the building of a Business Park on a hundred acre tenanted farm. The potential developer for this site remains anonymous. This mixed farm has been cared for by four generations of the same family.
There was considerable local opposition to this planning application with over 1000 objections covering a wide range of issues including:

The wealth of natural wildlife on this mixed farm including bees, butterflies and other pollinators attracted by acres of wildflowers grown here for seed. 
The threat to ancient woodland. 
The presence of a number of endangered species on the farmland.
The problems caused by traffic congestion and resulting pollution on a road system already struggling.

The impact on drainage of the concreting over of a substantial acerage of grassland and woodland in an area already subject to regular flooding.

The importance of the need to produce food locally to reduce food miles.

The availability of brown field sites in the locality that could be redeveloped without endangering the environment and contributing to climate.

Planning regulations must be changed in light of new understanding of environmental issues.