Mega-development on Kilvey Hill, Swansea, would cut a hole in a Persian carpet

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We have objected strongly to the amended planning application from Swansea Skyline to convert Kilvey Hill, east of Swansea, into a commercial tourist-site.  The society considers the hill to be a much-loved local gem, which should not be sacrificed for mega-tourism.

The proposed development would comprise, among other structures, gondola stations and chairlift infrastructure for 22 cable cars, a restaurant and bar, a vast area of high-speed luge tracks, a 50-metre-high skyswing, zipline, and ancillary buildings.

Kilvey Hill is a special, tranquil place, a designated quiet area, loved by local people and visitors because it offers informal public access to nature on foot, horseback, bike, and horse-drawn carriage.  It is surrounded by urban communities which otherwise have scant access to open space for residents to enjoy.

The society, in its objection to Swansea Council, expresses its dismay that the applicant continues to ignore the many unrecorded rights of way over the hill which would be lost to the development.  While the applicant now claims that it will create a bridleway to compensate for the loss of traditional horse-access that would result from its development, there is no assurance that the council would create this as a permanent legal route if the application were to be approved.  Much of Kilvey Hill is public-access land where the public has the right to roam freely, yet the developer does not acknowledge that its large-scale development will result in the loss of open access to peaceful countryside.

One of the many unrecorded paths over Kilvey Hill; it would be destroyed by a luge track with high-speed go-carting. Photo: Amanda Leighton.

The society argues that the development conflicts with Welsh planning policy, for example Swansea’s local development plan, and Technical Advice Note 16.  The latter requires that particular regard should be given to the needs of communities which have poor provision of open space and recreation facilities and to the needs of socially and economically disadvantaged communities, such as those around Kilvey Hill.

Says Kate Ashbrook, our general secretary: ‘At present the communities of east Swansea are well served by the open space land on Kilvey Hill, but the council proposes to dispose of this valuable public amenity.  Skyline’s estimate of taking up nine per cent of Kilvey Hill is misleading.  The developer would take 37 per cent of the publicly-accessible land and the most treasured hilltop area with its beautiful sea views.

‘These proposals will destroy the heart of the rare and much-loved asset of Kilvey Hill.  The development is like cutting a hole in a Persian carpet and claiming that the owner still has a Persian carpet.  Noise from the development would affect other areas of the hill.  It will lose its value as a tranquil and wild open space where people can enjoy the freedom to relax and enjoy nature.

‘The society will continue to support local people in fighting this outrageous scheme,’ says Kate.

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