I’ve contacted Anna McMorrin MP, Julie Morgan AM and the four Whitchurch and Tongwynlais County Councillors for their views on the Velindre Cancer Centre planning application.

Anna McMorrin has sent me these comments:

“I support the Velindre NHS Trust planning application for the development of the new Velindre Cancer Centre on land to the North of Whitchurch Hospital playing fields, Whitchurch, Cardiff.

“I have had many discussions with Velindre Hospital, local residents and organisations over the past few months to discuss the development and have considered all of the issues very carefully, weighing the very real environmental concerns with the health needs of our communities and that of South East Wales.

“Planning permission has already been granted for 86 houses to be built on the Whitchurch Meadows site. I would prefer the space to be used for a world class centre of excellence that leads the UK, and is desperately needed in South East Wales, where cancer is the second highest cause of death.

“However, I am concerned that there will be a significant environmental impact on a part of Whitchurch meadows and am keen that the developers seek to mitigate as much of this as possible in their design and delivery of the project. I am also aware that there are crucial concerns about traffic, transport and parking.

“I have spoken a number of times to the developers and with Cardiff Council to discuss all of these concerns and in particular to ask whether the site could be developed on a brownfield site elsewhere. The current Whitchurch hospital site is a Grade two listed building and therefore cannot be built on or adapted and I have been assured that there is no other NHS owned or brownfield public land available in the vicinity to accommodate the development. The other consideration is that the Cancer Centre must be close to the Heath Hospital in order for patients to receive surgery.

“Following discussions with Cardiff Council, I have been informed that their own consultation responses on public rights of way and ecology are yet to be submitted. I will be following these responses and the proposals with interest and am also meeting with the developers again in early September.

“Although the pre-planning consultation period has come to an end, I am continuing my discussions with environmental groups, Friends of Forest Farm, local residents, the developers and Cardiff Council. I have also sought a meeting to discuss the proposal with Natural Resources Wales. I am committed to ensuring that Cardiff North residents voices are heard and that the upmost is done to reduce the impact on the local community, as well as on Whitchurch meadows.”

Anna Mcmorrin MP (contact Anna at anna.mcmorrin.mp@parliament.uk)

(Received by email on 14 August 2017)

• planning