Madam,

I write with regards the petition and the concerns of objectors to Tree.

One of the roles of art is to create debate and discussion and the proposal for Tree is certainly doing that. There was a lot of opposition to Antony Gormley’s sculpture Another Place near Liverpool when it was proposed, but it’s now valued by the community.

I’d say to all of those who have signed the petition that most of their concerns and questions are addressed in the planning application that I made for Tree on 23 March. It is 134 pages long and it addresses the requirements set out by the planning process. It was validated on 6 April and was followed by the 21-day public consultation process. This process is designed to protect residents, the council, the statutory consultees and the applicant. The entire planning application is available on the Ceredigion planning portal.

Furthermore, I’d like to draw attention to the case officer’s report and summary, which was presented to the Development Control Committee on 8 November, which is also available online. In the report the case officer supports the application (with conditions) and says the application accords with Planning Policy Wales, the Technical Advice Notes and with the Ceredigion Local Development Plan. Other than the community council, all the other statutory bodies supported the application, including Natural Resources Wales, Trinity House, the harbourmaster, Dyfed Archaeological Trust and the eight other statutory consultees.

Art is subjective and the fact Tree is creating such a debate is encouraging. The planning committee is in the process of determining the application and due process will take its course. I would ask any person who has signed a petition to visit the planning website and view the information, which includes the architects’ drawings, photomontages, maps, surveys and statements that relate to the idea. And they can visit www.cargocollective.com/CeredigionTree to see all the photographs, sketches and information that exists about the project.’

Yours etc,

Robert Davies, Taliesin.

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