Sully and Lavernock Community Council (SLCC) have written to First Minister Mark Drakeford proposing that the contentious land at Upper Cosmeston Farm be chosen as the location for a COVID-19 commemorative woodland.

The Welsh Government last month committed to plant two woodlands - one in South Wales and one in North Wales - to serve "as permanent living memorials to all those who have died".

Land at Upper Cosmeston Farm, opposite Cosmeston Lakes, is the subject of a highly controversial planning application submitted by the Welsh Government that aims to build 576 housing units and an extension of the special needs school Ysgol Y Deri (which is 1.6 miles away) on the site.

It is being reviewed by the Welsh Government Petitions Committee after a campaign to "Save the farmland and green fields at Cosmeston" garnered 5,272 signatures.

The letter, penned by SLCC Chairman Lino Scaglioni, urges the First Minister to scrap plans to build the residential area and to instead plant the woodland alongside the Ysgol Y Deri extension.

It makes a continued criticism of the existing proposal, citing "the environment and ambience of Cosmeston itself, the traffic issues it will create, the damage to sites of historical architectural interest (which could be preserved in a woodland setting) and health and safety issues due to part of the site's previous use for disposal of toxic industrial waste" among its drawbacks.

"Ysgol Y Deri is a highly valued resource located in Penarth but lacks the room to accommodate the growth in demand for its service," the letter continues.

"The location of such an extension in a tranquil woodland setting would we feel surely add value to the experience of both pupils and staff.

"The world we inhabit seems increasingly impermanent. Covid-19 has created a dislocation of the senses, leaving us with the need for something solid to connect with. An oak wood around Ysgol Y Deri would be a start."

However, Michael Garland, Chair of Keep Cosmeston Green and author of the Senedd petition, has criticised the letter.

While he supports the woodland bid, Mr Garland takes issue with the SLCC's support of the Ysgol Y Deri extension plans.

"Unfortunately any support for the Ysgol Y Deri Annex is support for the 576 unit Cosmeston Housing Development, as the Vale Council will only be provided with land and £8.25 million funding necessary for Ysgol Y Deri Annex from the Welsh Government if they approve planning permission for the Welsh Government," he wrote in a social media post.

"Those 5,272 signatories who signed the Petition and those Residents who have submitted objections to the Vale Council in regard to the Housing Development will be bitterly disappointed by this."

Mr Garland has authored a separate letter for residents to send to the First Minister which calls for the woodland to be replace the proposed Ysgol Y Deri expansion.

Plans to expand Ysgol Y Deri to accomodate an additional 150 pupils at the Upper Cosmeston Farm site were put to a public consultation late last year. Of 102 respondents, 90 voiced their support for the proposal.

It is, however, important to note that of these 90 positive responses, 82 came from "members of staff". Of those who claimed to be "local residents", 67% (10 people) said they do not support the proposal.

Chair Scaglioni replied to Mr Garland's comment, saying:

"We fully support Michael Garland's letter campaign to secure a Commemorative Woodland at Upper Cosmeston Farm but remain persuaded that such a woodland could accommodate the proposed extension to Ysgol Y Deri without compromising its essence."