Earlier this year, the Boundary Commission proposed that changes should be made to the way in which the residents of the Vale were represented.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council then requested that, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown, the public consultation on the changes should be delayed. The Boundary Commission very reasonably agreed and the public consultation was put on ice until the autumn.

At the end of September, the Vale of Glamorgan Council announced the latest public consultation on their proposed road from the M4 to Sycamore Cross on A48. 

COVID-19 and lockdown was a feature of this consultation too which made it impossible for the public to consult normally and effectively.

Four weeks of the 12 week consultation period expired in lockdown so the public not unreasonably, asked the Vale Council for an extention of four weeks - just like the Council had asked for an extention from the Boundary Commission earlier in the year.

Suprisingly, the Council said no! 

Why? No reason has been given, leading some to suggest that this round of consultation, if delayed, risks the Council missing the January deadline to apply for next year's Welsh Government funds to progress the road proposal to the third and most expensive stage of the process.

However, any Council decision to move their proposal forward and apply to the Welsh Government for funding in advance of the current round of consultation being properly managed, completed, analysed and considered by the Scrutiny Committee suggests the decision to proceed to the third costly stage of the road approval process has already been made and valid objections will not influence the Council.

If this proves to be the case, and the Vale Council continues to refuse to extend public consultation by the four weeks of Covid-19 lockdown in the Vale, asurances will be sought from the Vale Council that they will not be tempted to dismiss public objections in order to meet application deadlines for funds for their road scheme and that concerns about the detrimental effects the new road would have on Cowbridge commuters' journey times, air and river pollution, environmental damage and increased flooding will be properly considered and acted upon.

The consultation ends on December 23rd unless the Council can be persuaded to grant the extra four weeks as requested.

Meanwhile, it seems that in the Vale of Glamorgan public consultation can only be extended during the pandemic if it's to the Council's benefit.