Fonmon Castle plans to reintroduce water vole to the Vale

Fonmon Castle wants to build nine ‘offline’ ponds on their estate to reintroduce the currently, county extinct water vole.

Despite concerns raised from some 50 residents about flooding issues, the plans were approved by Vale Council’s planning committee in a meeting on April 25.

In the plans, the ponds would fill naturally and not be connected to the River Kenson, which runs beside them.

Pond sizes would vary to a max of 1.5metres in depth and cover an area of around 1,500 square metres.

The water vole has not been seen in the county for over two decades (Image: Peter G Trimming)

In the planning meeting on April 25, Vale planning officer Rob Lankshear was pressed by committee member councillor Charles Champion on why support was recommended despite 50 residents said to be in objection to the plans.

Mr Lankshear explained the objections were in relation to upstream works on the River Kenson and that objections were not against the ponds themselves.

Fonmon Castle plan to build nine ponds on their estate - red box (Image: Google Maps)

Mr Lankshear reiterated that works for the ponds will not cause flood risks according to the council and Natural Resources Wales determinations.

The ponds would help reintroduce the water vole (Image: Fonmon Castle plans)

There were concerns about the impact of flooding due to the plans (Image: Google Maps)

On the plans, Fonmon Castle say in their application: “A series of nine ‘off-line’ ponds will be excavated to create healthy multifunctional habitats, and to restore the river channel.

“The main aim behind this is to try and reestablish and re-introduce the water vole into the area, which became extinct from the Vale 20-25 years ago.

“These ponds will also hopefully become healthy multifunctional habitats for amphibians (e.g. toads), reptiles, insects (e.g. dragon and butterflies) and grazing cattle.

“(They) will vary in size and will either be fenced and un-fenced depending on their animal designation.”

The proposal added: “To re-introduce an animal (the water vole), along with the creation of multifunctional habitats for a variety of species, will generate substantial positive biodiversity enhancements and gains for the River Kenson, the estate and area as a whole, and could become of significant local interest.”

You can view the plans on the Vale Councils planning portal. Search application 2023/00577/FUL.

What do you think of the plans? Let us know, emailing harry.jamshidian@newsquest.co.uk.