A petition against potential plans to build a holiday camp near a children's hospice and a college for young adults with Autistic Spectrum Disorder has received thousands of signatures. The campaign comes after Barry Island Pleasure Park owner, Henry Danter, announced in February that he hopes to build a new holiday camp on his recently purchased plot of land on Hayes Road, Sully. Read more about his plans here.
The bereaved grandmother of a former Ty Hafan user, Karen Maidment, has created the petition in the hopes of stopping any new holiday camp being built adjacent to the Ty Hafan Children's Hospice and near the Beechwood College in Sully. Karen set up the petition calling on the Vale of Glamorgan council to refuse any future planning application made by Mr Danter to build a holiday camp on land he has purchased, she wrote. No plans for the site yet been sumbitted.
Read more on the opposition to the plan here: Children's hospice voices concerns about Henry Danter's plans to build a holiday park next door
Within the petition, Ms Maidment wrote: "These children and their families very much need the beauty, peace and tranquillity that the hospice and its grounds give at the worst times of their journeys. They do not need the noise that will come from people in a camp (shouting, screaming, laughing, possibly also music playing loudly), when their child is dying."
In response, Mr Danter said he would be happy to meet those who have concerns over the proposals, adding: "if there are valid reasons not to do it, we will listen and change it or withdraw the plans". Previously, Mr Danter said he had no plans to remove the forest area that is in between the hospice and his site.
Ms Maidment has had first-hand experience with the hospice as her "darling grandson" was a resident there. In the petition, she said: "I can tell you that the very last thing we would have wanted to hear at that time would be holiday makers loudly enjoying themselves, screaming, shouting, laughing, or heavy machinery digging and increased traffic noise when your world is ending or ended."
The petition currently has generated more than 7,000 signatures, with users leaving comments and their opposition to the idea. One person wrote: "Opening a holiday camp on the doorstep of a palliative care facility is in extremely poor taste." Another said: "There are plenty of other, more appropriate, sites available. Somewhere nearer Barry Island would be much more appealing."
Ty Hafan have also opposed the idea of a potential holiday park. In a statement regarding the petition on their website, they said: "We are incredibly heartened by the overwhelming support for Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice as demonstrated by the petition, started by bereaved Tŷ Hafan grandmother Karen Maidment.
"Firstly, it clearly demonstrates the deep level of understanding the Welsh public has for our work and the impact it has on families who find themselves facing such unimaginable loss. Secondly, it demonstrates the depth of feeling that both the local community in Sully, and communities right across south, mid, east and west Wales, have for what we do for children with life-shortening conditions and their families who we support.
"With regards to any proposals to develop the site adjacent to our hospice, we are continuing to monitor the situation. As yet we understand that no plans have been submitted to the Vale of Glamorgan Council. Notwithstanding our concerns remain the same toward any proposals whatsoever which might impact the security, safety, privacy and tranquility of our hospice and memorial gardens. From the bottom of our hearts we thank each and every one of our wonderful supporters for all they have done, and continue to do, for us."
In response, Mr Danter told WalesOnline: "It hurts me that people have been unnecessarily unkind towards me due my plans. I would gladly meet and speak to those who have concerns about it. Whatever it takes, we will do it but if there are valid reasons not to do it, we will listen and change it or withdraw the plans. However I believe that there are only good things to come from the holiday park such as tourist attraction, bringing employment and happiness to Wales."
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