Plan for new park on former civic amenity site

* A site plan of the proposed pocket park off the A539 approach road to Llangollen.

The river is at the bottom of the picture.

Plans have been unveiled to create a ‘pocket park’ on the former civic amenity site on the A539 road into Llangollen.

The scheme for the council-owned land, which was last used for waste disposal in the late 1990s, has been submitted by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team on behalf of the Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership.

According to a development brief, the proposal includes landscaping, tree planting, wildflower meadows and hedgerow planting with the aim of increasing the biodiversity and ecological value of the site.

Work would also be done to eradicate the small stand of Japanese knotweed said to be present on site.

Paths, tracks and parking for 36 cars would be landscaped and screened to minimise any visual impact on the surrounding landscape and immediate site neighbours.

Improved site access/egress is a key part of the proposals. Adjacent landowners and the county’s C highways department have been consulted.

Access to the site would be available for pedestrians and cyclists along pavement from Llangollen to the west and the canal to the east, a bus stop is also located adjacent to the site, providing easy access to the site to users by an alternative means to the car.

The planning brief says: “The proposed new park would be developed along with community groups and other interested parties over a number of years and as this will take time, the ethos for this initial phase was to create a welcoming site for people to enjoy both in its own right but also as a gateway to the wider area.

“The plan has been developed as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund – Landscape Partnership Scheme bid and as part of this process consultation with stakeholders and communities has been ongoing.

“The site is seen as a key gateway into Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley, it will provide a new access point for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, promoting wider exploration of the area and a longer stay.”

* The full application can be seen on the Denbighshire planning portal. Its reference number is 03/2017/0467. https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx