A STUNNING beauty spot teeming with wildlife is the last place you'd expect to see a Butlin's-style aqua park with a 12ft inflatable slide.
But thousands of residents are up in arms over plans they believe will ruin the countryside and put children at risk.
Locals say the “appalling” in Penarth, near , South , will make the area feel more like a than a nature reserve.
More than 3,500 people have already signed a petition demanding Vale of Glamorgan Council ban the “ludicrous” scheme, due to be launched next month by private company Aqua Park.
Under the controversial plans, the 25.6-hectare beauty spot – home to swans, mallards, otters and the endangered starry stonewort plant – will house an inflatable assault course with 12ft-high slides and climbing frames between May and September.
But locals are battling to stop the venture, saying it is not in keeping with the natural surroundings and could be harmful to wildlife.
They also claim the lake could be dangerous for children to swim in due to concerns about the water quality, as well as sharp edges and stones on the edge of the water.
Swimming at Cosmeston is currently prohibited and the site was previously used as a quarry before being naturally flooded.
‘DANGEROUS FOR KIDS'
Rachel Davies, 66, who works at a local independent bookshop, Griffin Books, in Penarth, said: “I think it's a terrible idea because it is such a peaceful and tranquil place.
“When you're out by the lake, you are immersed in nature. The last thing you want to see is a 12ft inflatable slide.
“I do the Parkruns around the lake on Saturdays and it is just wonderful to be surrounded by such a beauty.
“I also have concerns about children being in the water because the lake was once the site of an old quarry, and there are some nasty currents in the water.
“It could be dangerous for children to be in that water.”
New mum Harriet Thomas, 36, described the proposals as “bonkers”.
The personal injury lawyer, currently on maternity leave with six-week-old Vivienne, said: “There is no better place to be out walking with your newborn baby in the countryside.
“It's beautiful to see all the and other wildlife.
“The last thing people want to be looking at when they're walking round the lake is a heap of inflatable plastic looking like something out of a Butlins' playpark.
“There's so much objection locally that I cannot see it going ahead. I will be very disappointed if it does.”
‘TOTALLY OUT OF PLACE'
Retired playgroup manager Pauline Heslop, 74, agreed with her wholeheartedly, saying: “I think this is an absolutely appalling idea. I have signed the petition because I feel so strongly about this.
“I've been walking around the lake all my life. It is a beautiful sanctuary for wildlife and this cannot go ahead.
“I hate this idea. It will look more like a Butlin's than a nature reserve.
“Surely they can find somewhere else to put this and if they can't they should drop it.”
Marcy Webbe, 22, who runs a juice bar in Penarth, said she regularly walks her cockapoo dog, Obama, around the beauty spot.
“I'll be so disappointed if they do this. This so-called attraction would be totally out of place for a spot like this.
“I walk there most days and it is such a calming place to go, especially if you have a dog. He loves it there.
“What an earth are they thinking of? No one around here wants to see brightly-coloured plastic inflatable slides or anything else this company has got planned for the area.”
‘GREAT FUN'
But not everybody agreed.
Private carer Maria Curtis, 54, said she is in favour of the theme park and has refused to sign the petition to drop it.
She said: “I know there is a lot of objection locally, but I think it should go ahead because it will give children around here something to do during the .
“There's not much for them to do around here and it looks like great fun.
“I am sure the nature will survive and it's only for a few weeks. What are they going to do all summer otherwise?
“I'd love to go down those slides and splash around in the water but unfortunately I've had two spinal injuries and won't be able to take part.”
‘UNSAFE FOR SWIMMING'
Rachel Morgan, who launched the petition, said: “For years, Cosmeston Lake has been officially deemed unsafe for swimming, raising serious concerns over the safety measures underpinning the Aqua Park's proposal.
“Contained within this park are some of Penarth's most diverse and fragile ecosystems, home to numerous species of wildlife.
“The recent proposal to introduce an Aqua Park this coming summer poses a significant and direct threat to this refuge.”
The Aqua Park is usually set up in but had to be moved for the new season due to poor water quality.
Cosmeston Lake Country Park contains areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest to protect the endangered starry stonewort plant.
Natural Resources Wales also carried out a four-year reintroduction project of protected water voles to the lake.
Kevin Calnan and Max Wallis, who live in Penarth, have been campaigning against the proposal for the Aqua Park.
Mr Calnan said: “They are trying to urbanise the lake and turn it into Barry Butlin's.
“They're sacrificing our beautiful parks and natural habitats on the altar, just to make .
“There are sharp ledges and stones around the edges and underwater currents in a very cold lake, and there are rats.
“I've put bread on the floor feeding the birds and they just came out the bushes. And now they are putting in this plastic metropolis.
“It's being forced upon us. I'm not against the Aqua Park, just where they are putting it.
“All we want is a public consultation. That is all we are asking for.”
A meeting of the Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on March 11 raised concerns about the aqua park.
The council said the site to be used would be marked out away from the most ecologically important areas.
‘RIGOROUS TESTING'
A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesperson said: “Nature conservation and protecting biodiversity is important, which is why any proposed leisure use supports the future of the park, including rewilding and conservation work that is already underway.
“The council's cabinet would require rigorous testing and sampling of water quality takes place to ensure these activities could proceed safely with no implications.
“These points will be taken into account by cabinet before a final decision on the pilot is made and while due diligence surrounding the proposal continues.”
Petitions must be signed by at least 100 people to be considered for presentation to the council, cabinet or scrutiny committee.
Aqua Park Group was approached for comment by Flying Eze.
