Bluebells: Council probe after Llanbradach wood torn up

Contractors have stopped work on the site and council officials are investigating

An investigation is under way after part of a popular bluebell wood was destroyed without planning permission.

More than 100 people attended a meeting with many angry about the work at the site in Llanbradach, Caerphilly county.

Caerphilly council said it was investigating but work had been stopped after discussions with an on-site contractor.

One resident described it as "heart-breaking" and called for protection of the rest of the site.

"Five generations of our family have enjoyed the annual bloom of the bluebells that reach down from the ancient woodland to the bottom of the field," said Llanbradach community councillor Beci Newton.

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Councillor Beci Newton said residents hoped to save what was left of the site

"Families come here to picnic, walk dogs, take photos and remember times gone by.

"Many have scattered the ashes of family here because it's a place that hold so many memories."

Ms Newton said residents hoped to save what was left of the site.

"The matter is now subject to a formal planning enforcement investigation," said the council

"I hope now that CCBC [Caerphilly County Borough Council] will do more from a planning perspective and acknowledge that this is an area worth protecting from a moral and environmental standpoint," she said.

"If nothing else we would like our public right of way granted as this is somewhere we've walked for longer than memory spread."

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Gwyneth Walby: "It must stay there. We feel they are our flowers"

Resident Gwyneth Walby, 96, described the wood as "like another world", which she first visited as a child.

"It was a playground for us and we could go safely and we would have permission from our mothers," she said.

"It must stay there. We feel they are our flowers."

BBC Wales has tried to contact the company behind the work but has had no response.

A Caerphilly council spokesman said: "Once we were alerted to the works, council officers visited the site to assess the works and discussed the matter with the contractor.

"Works have ceased on site and the matter is now subject to a formal planning enforcement investigation."

Natural Resources Wales said bluebells were protected, but no laws appeared to have been broken as they were on private land.

Conservation officer Emma Sharp said: "We understand that the area is greatly valued by local residents and we do of course recognise the nature value of the bluebells and understand the removal is upsetting, (but) under the current legislation, the landowner doesn't appear to have broken any laws.

"Our current understanding is that the contractor has stopped work, having been instructed to do so by CCBC planning department, and they are aware that they will need to submit a planning application before any work can continue."

Ms Sharp said an ecological survey would need to be completed to satisfy planning regulations.

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