South Wales Central MS Andrew RT Davies has said the arrogance displayed by Labour politicians towards the controversial Cosmeston aqua park shows “contempt for residents”.
Campaigners feel the Vale of Glamorgan Council is pressing ahead with the plans while ignoring legitimate concerns.
The Council’s Labour Leader Lis Burnett caused controversy by claiming campaigns were based on “misinformation” and accused campaigners of spreading “malicious tripe”.
Raising the matter in the Senedd, Mr Davies said it was “not the level of engagement [residents] would expect from a senior local elected politician”, and asked Labour minister Jane Hutt if she would like to set a higher standard.
In response, Ms Hutt said she had “nothing more to say” and that the decision was the “result of a consultation”, something campaigners dispute.
Mr Davies said:
“Local Labour politicians have displayed breathtaking arrogance towards campaigners against these inappropriate plans for an aqua park at Cosmeston.
“Representatives should engage with constituents and their concerns, not dismiss them as misinformation and malicious tripe.
“I had hoped the Senedd minister would agree with me that a higher standard should be expected, but Jane Hutt instead dismissed these concerns.
“With this attitude, it’s little wonder Labour have ploughed ahead with these plans with complete disregard for residents and park users.
“I make no apologies for opposing them and repeating my calls for them to be scrapped.”
ENDS
NOTE: link to the original article can be found here
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/council-leader-dismisses-opposition-cosmeston-31865175
Please find below the Senedd’s Record of Proceedings from 17th June 2025
https://record.senedd.wales/Plenary/15147
Andrew RT Davies
The second statement I would like to see off the Welsh Government is from your good self as Minister for Social Justice on the way that council leaders conduct themselves. Because the Vale of Glamorgan Council leader, in relation to the issue that Joel James raised about Cosmeston Lakes, has engaged with protesters and people who have genuine concerns there by saying that their concerns are ‘malicious’, ‘tripe’, ‘rubbish’, ‘disinformation’—all language that shouldn’t be used when engaging with people who have genuine concerns about the environment that they call home and they live next door to and a park that is held and cherished by many residents. Surely, that is not the level of engagement that you would expect from a senior local elected politician? In your role as social justice Minister, who deals with these matters, surely you would be wanting to set a higher standard for engagement for elected members when they engage with concerned residents?
Jane Hutt
I have nothing more to say on your second point. I mean, we must remember, this is about locally elected people and their roles in local government. Decisions are made, and obviously this was as a result of consultation and engagement.