Demolishing 16thC Graveyard

[SS from The Rhondda]

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/religion/digging+up+new+grievances/1993952

Plans to build houses on the site of a graveyard in the Rhondda valley provoke local anger.

Relatives of people buried in a graveyard in the Rhondda valley in Wales are furious at plans to build housing on the land.

The Church In Wales has applied for planning permission for the graveyard of St John's church in Tonyrefail.

If the plans go ahead it will be the first time that exhumations have taken place to facilitate a housing development in the UK.

The Welsh Anglican body says the closed graveyard is an eyesore and a drain on resources.

[willow154]

Yes, it is sad that this is happening - I do wonder if the compensation culture we now live in has a bearing on this. In many areas churchyards attract (not sure what word to use) loiterers, especially after dark and I'm sure many worry that, with damaged and unsafe stones, accidents will happen. In days gone by the person would be told off for messing around in the churchyard, but today they may well turn round and sue the church.
Also I suppose now that congregations are smaller, and people have less spare time to offer to help upkeep the churchyard it makes it more difficult and costly to maintain them.
Now, I'm not saying that I agree with what's happening, as I would love to see this churchyard saved, but I can see that it must be difficult for the church to know what to do - if it spends all its' money on appearance and upkeep of the grounds, etc  and not on things like helping those in need, etc it will get criticised, too.  It's a no win situation, I think. Pity some group can't step in to either contribute, or help maintain the churchyard.
Let's hope that the church and community can come together on this.
Kind regards,
 Paulene
Just trying to see it from both sides.

[Comosus]

http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/society/religion/digging+up+new+grievances/1993952

Plans to build houses on the site of a graveyard in the Rhondda valley provoke local anger.

Relatives of people buried in a graveyard in the Rhondda valley in Wales are furious at plans to build housing on the land.

The Church In Wales has applied for planning permission for the graveyard of St John's church in Tonyrefail.

If the plans go ahead it will be the first time that exhumations have taken place to facilitate a housing development in the UK.

The Welsh Anglican body says the closed graveyard is an eyesore and a drain on resources.

This should be stopped - it's going to open the floodgates for other property developers to buy graveyards and destroy them.

Does anyone know what they plan to do with the gravestones?

[Notinpastyet]

Thank you for the up date I did wonder how things were going on this subject.It is such a problem & makes you wonder if this is going to be just a starter for what may happen else where (I hope not). Regards Nipy

[willow154]

So do I - I live opposite one!
Paulene

[SS from The Rhondda]

The Development Committee have been advised to REFUSE planning permission until further information on an Archaeological Restraint is forthcoming...

http://www.rhondda-cynon-taf.gov.uk/stellent/groups/Public/documents/Reports/020281.pdf

CONSULTATION
Transportation Section - no objection subject to conditions.
Land Reclamation and Engineering - no objection subject to conditions.
Public Health and Protection - comments on demolition, hours of construction operations, noise, dust and waste.
Education and Children Services - as this development is relatively small and there is some spare capacity in the nearest school (Trefyrhyg Primary) to the development, no adverse comment offered.
Environment Agency Wales - no objection.
Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water - no reply so assumed no objection.
Economic Development and Regeneration - no objection.
Parks and Countryside - requests a baseline ecological survey and, if necessary, mitigation proposals to inform the planning process.
Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust - the site has an archaeological restraint, and a desk-based archaeological assessment of the site, with appropriate mitigation measures is required in accordance with advice given in Welsh Office Circular 60/96, Section 12.

POLICY CONTEXT
Rhondda Cynon Taf (Taff Ely) Local Plan:
The Proposals Map identifies the site as lying within the settlement limits of Tonyrefail and allocated for residential development (policy ref: h1.48).
Policy en12 states that before an application for development likely to affect a site suspected but unknown nature conservation value is determined, a detailed evaluation of that value is required.
Policy en55 requires an evaluation to be undertaken where an application for development is likely to affect known or suspected sites of archaeological interest prior to determination.
Mid Glamorgan (Rhondda Cynon Taf) Replacement Structure Plan:
Policy H3 permits residential development of land within settlement limits defined in local plans subject to criteria being met.
Planning Policy Wales (March 2002):
Paragraphs 9.3.3 and 9.3.4 state that development should not be allowed to damage an area’s character and amenity.
Paragraph 2.7.1 expresses a preference for development of previously used land over Greenfield sites as a means of promoting sustainability objectives.
Paragraph 6.5.2 states that if important remains are thought to exist at a development site, the planning authority should request the developer to arrange for an archaeological field evaluation to be carried out before any decision on the planning application is taken. The results of any assessment and/or field evaluation should be provided as part of a planning application. If this information is not provided, authorities should consider whether it is appropriate to direct the applicant to supply further information, or whether to refuse permission for inadequately documented proposals.

PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
A chief consideration is that the application site is allocated for residential development in the Taff Ely Local Plan in order to assist in meeting the projected housing needs of the County Borough. Moreover, the site benefited from outline planning permission for residential development until as recently as May 2005. On this basis there is a clear presumption in favour of the application proposal unless material considerations indicate to the contrary.

Although not identified as an issue at the time of the last application, on this occasion the Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust has advised that the application site has an archaeological restraint that requires further investigation and reporting upon, again with mitigation proposals if appropriate, prior to the determination of the application. Local Plan policy en55 requires an evaluation to be undertaken where a planning application for development is likely to affect known or suspected sites of archaeological interest prior to determination of the application. In accordance with this policy additional information has been requested from the applicant but none has been forthcoming to date.

In conclusion, therefore, it is considered there is insufficient information to allow the archaeological interests of the site to be properly evaluated as part of the consideration of the application as required by Local Plan policy en55. In the absence of this information it is recommended the application be refused for the reason specified below.

RECOMMENDATION:
Refuse
1.
The proposal conflicts with Rhondda Cynon Taf (Taff Ely) Local Plan policy en55 as insufficient information has been submitted in respect of an archaeological restraint on the site to enable the consequences of the development to be properly considered.

[MarieC]

Great stuff, SS!  Keep up the pressure, Rootschatters!  I'd join in if I was in the country!

MarieC

[pjbuk007]

Good news, but it is only a desk assessment.  Is it worth contacting the Archaeological unit about this?

[SS from The Rhondda]

Planning application expired, but it has been re-submitted.


http://documents.rctcbc.gov.uk/AniteIM.WebSearch/ExternalEntrypoint.aspx?SEARCH_TYPE=1&DOC_CLASS_CODE=DC&folder1_ref=14/0349/13


http://www.tonyrefail.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=1109