Plans for camping pods in Gethin Woods submitted to Merthyr planning committee

By Anthony Lewis

There are plans to build 29 camping pods at Bike Park Wales in Merthyr Tydfil.

An application to due go before Merthyr Tydfil’s planning, regulatory and licensing committee on Wednesday, February 15 proposes 29 camping pods,
a changing village, a vehicle workshop and a children’s play area at the Gethin Woodland Centre off the A470.

It would include sleeping pods, shepherd huts, linen pods, a workshop and toilet pods located within the existing woodland.

A changing block with four shipping containers attached and a vehicle maintenance workshop would also be included and an outdoor play area.

Whilst planning permission was previously granted for 36 camping pods, this application seeks to change the design of the camping pods and their general arrangement within the woodland.

A total of 21 sleeping pods (for four people) would be provided in various parts of the woodland, three shepherd huts (for two people) would be in the western part of the woodland, two linen pods would be in the northern part of the woodland and a workshop pod and two toilet pods would be in the eastern part of the woodland.

Adjoining the changing block would be four shipping containers, to provide bike storage for visitors and the workshop would be used for the maintenance of the existing business vehicles.

A play area is proposed to the east of the changing block and adjacent to the pedestrian link between the main welcome centre and the proposed camping pods.

It would include various play equipment and picnic benches and would largely be enclosed by tree and hedge planting.

A play area was previously approved in the same location but it is now proposed that the play area is reduced in size to accommodate the vehicle maintenance workshop.

The woodland would be kept and there would be additional planting and the pedestrian/cycle routes through the woodland area would serve the revised layout for the camping pods and there would be access serving the changing block, play area and vehicle workshop.

This application site is an irregular shaped area of land measuring approximately 1.12 hectares within Gethin Woods, which forms part of and is adjacent to (east of) Bike Park Wales.

The site is largely made up of an area of woodland, with some areas
of scrub vegetation.

To the north, the land has more recently been cleared of much of the vegetation with a new extended car park having been partly built.

To the south is the main existing car park. The welcome centre, which includes an outdoor seating area, is located to the west of the site.

The main access for vehicles to Bike Park Wales is via an existing track that links to a roundabout (to the south-east), which forms part of the
A470.

The site can also be accessed through cycle/pedestrian routes to the north of the site which link to Abercanaid.

No representations were received by the council from the public consultation on the application and planning officers have recommended it be approved.