Ysgol Dyffryn Aman loses greenspace in favour of School Bus Park

The majority of a large lawn at a secondary school in Carmarthenshire will make way for a bus park although five mature trees there will be retained.

The new bus park and turning area at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman, Ammanford, will have space for up to 13 coaches and replace a smaller area they use on adjacent Margaret Street.

Planning officer John Thomas told the council’s planning committee that the Margaret Street arrangements were “far from satisfactory”, and it is expected that congestion will ease as a result.

It also emerged at the meeting on August 14 that some unauthorised work in preparation of the development has taken place as well as some permitted work, and that the applicant is the council.

Mr Thomas said an enforcement case has opened as a result but that it was on hold, as per the authority’s planning policy, until the application was determined.

Just before the vote was taken Cllr John James said it would be remiss of the committee not to mention the partially retrospective nature of the application given that it has previously spoken out against retrospective proposals.

“It isn’t illegal, it does go against planning protocol and what’s embarrassing here is that we have done it as a local authority,” said Cllr James, although he said he backed the application.

The council received objections to the application about the loss of green space, a perception about lack of consultation, and why some work had taken place without permission despite the case officer apparently reminding the applicant of this.

Mr Thomas said the lawn, which is outside the original school building, had been removed ahead of the proposed development. He didn’t specify though which work that’s been done wasn’t permitted and which was.

He described the loss of green space as “unfortunate” but said on balance the safety of pupils overrode it. He added that the application had been advertised in accordance with the relevant guidance.

The planning report before the committee said a green infrastructure statement submitted as part of the application showed there would be a net biodiversity gain, thanks to various bits of new planting and a new wildlife-friendly pond.

Access to the bus park will be via Margaret Street and there’ll be recessed gates, perimeter fencing and new soakaway system. Separate drainage approval has been given and work to renew a culvert running through across the site has taken place.

Cllr Terry Davies proposed a vote in favour of the planning officers’ approval recommendation, although he felt there had been a lack of communication locally, and it was passed unanimously.

Cllr Dorian Phillips said: “This type of work has taken place in Whitland two years ago. It has made a heck of a difference.” Cllr Steve Williams said he felt it was “paramount”.

Ysgol Dyffryn Aman had more than 1,500 pupils on its roll in January 2024, according to council data.