A SCHEME for a new CCTV system at the beach car parking area of a now-closed visitor centre in Ceredigion has been lodged with county planners.
In an application to Ceredigion County Council, Natural Resources Wales is seeking permission for the pole and associated cameras at the Natural Resources Wales Ynyslas Offices, Ynyslas, near Borth.
In its application, NRW states: “This is a project to install a new CCTV system on land owned and managed by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) near the Ynyslas office building located on the coastline between Borth and the Dyfi Estuary.
“It is to provide CCTV coverage of the beach front and parking area. It includes all ancillary works, such as mast with foundations and cabling running from the existing office building to the proposed mast on the beach.”
It adds: “The proposed scheme will provide security for the beach car park and adjacent areas at Ynyslas, particularly when the area is unmanned by NRW staff, permitting the facility to remain in use and continue to allow public access to an important natural area.
“The scheme has been designed taking a step-wise approach to impacts on habitats and species, and takes a low impact approach using existing infrastructure to minimise any impacts on the existing habitats and species of the site, which are of high ecological value.
“There will be no habitat loss as a result of the scheme, and so there will be no loss of ecological value as a result of the scheme as proposed. Ecological enhancement will be provided through the creation of new habitat features, mostly to the building, but these will be light touch reflecting the already well-established high value habitats.
NRW was recently granted permission to site ANPR car parking cameras at the now-closed Bwlch Nant yr Arian visitor centre despite a plea from campaigners battling the closure of centres in the county.
The Bwlch Nant Yr Arian Visitor Centre, near Ponterwyd, Aberystwyth, closed at the end of March, along with other Natural Resources Wales-run centres at Ynyslas and Coed y Brenin.
Concerns were raised in a letter of objection by Helen Heron, of Save Our Centre Campaign Group, Ynyslas, comparing the situation there with Bwlch Nant yr Arian, urging the council to refuse the scheme.
That application was conditionally approved, and the new scheme for Ynyslas will be considered at a later date.
