The short reel, posted by the Penarth Times on March 17, has been viewed more than 16,000 times and attracted dozens of comments from people concerned about habitat loss, visual impact and the stability of the slope above Penarth Marina.
What was previously a thick belt of scrub and self‑seeded trees now presents an almost uninterrupted view across the water.
Many of those commenting say they would rather look onto greenery than boats. “Personally, I prefer to see trees and bushes than millionaires’ boats,” wrote one resident, while others said the removal of vegetation had silenced birds and stripped “a lot of the character” from the park.
Several questioned why the work went beyond trimming, arguing that roots help bind the escarpment and asking whether council “actually know what they are doing”.
The clearance also sits uneasily, some say, with the Vale of Glamorgan council’s wider environmental messaging. Commenters pointed out that “red” wildlife‑friendly lighting has been installed on the Penarth–Llandough path to protect bats and other species, while at Dock Park “all these trees and bushes” have been cut “for the view”.
Another described weeks of chainsaw and chipper noise as “unbearable” and claimed it had “ruined the area”.
Not everyone is opposed. A smaller number of residents welcomed the opened‑up prospect across Cardiff Bay, describing it as a “beautiful view” and suggesting works “had to be done”, particularly in light of recent concerns about land movement and minor slips on parts of the cliff.
The controversy comes as the council promotes its draft Tree Strategy, which commits to planting at least 1,500 trees a year including 500 standards and to replacing every felled tree in urban areas with a minimum of two new ones.
The strategy values the annual benefits of the Vale’s “urban forest”, including carbon capture and air‑pollution removal, at around £2 million a year.
Campaigners are now asking how many trees and large shrubs were removed at Paget Road, whether ecological or nesting‑bird surveys were carried out beforehand, and how any loss will be mitigated.
