‘Town’s heart is being destroyed by neglect and overdevelopment’

Feb 21 2008 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

THE historic heart of a South Wales town is being destroyed by neglect, overdevelopment and traffic, it has been claimed.

The Penarth Conservation Area was set up in 1971 to protect the Victorian town’s cherished buildings and architecture.

But residents and conservationists say much of the town’s heritage is being ruined by insensitive modern developments, while buildings in important parts of the conservation area are being allowed to deteriorate.

They have now called for tight planning controls on conservation area developments to be strictly enforced, while Conservative councillor Maureen Kelly-Owen has called for a public debate on the future of the area.

Coun Kelly-Owen said: “We are sleepwalking towards the total loss of the town’s heritage and character. The town is being ruined through neglect and commercialism. The whole quality of the environment is disappearing.”

She highlighted the “sheer bulk” of a new luxury flats complex which is being built at the former Penarth Baths, on the Penarth seafront, and the neglect of a nearby Victorian house which had been boarded up and derelict for more than a decade.

She said: “Developers get their hands on a site, then a problem arises and it is left and there is a sense of dereliction.

“Then they say nothing can be done other than to demolish the buildings.

“It’s disgraceful. It would be nice if the Vale council had funds to compulsorily purchase these properties to stop this kind of thing happening.”

The Vale planning committee was tonight due to discuss two controversial developments in the town’s conservation area.

One involves an extension to a residential home in Park Road, Penarth, and the other involves allowing more public use of the bars, restaurants and other facilities at a hotel in Marine Parade.

Resident Michael Griffin, who is opposing the residential home expansion, said: “It is clear overdevelopment in the conservation area.”

Resident Liz Robinson, who is opposing plans to demolish the Church in Wales School in Plassey Street, Penarth, as part of a redevelopment scheme, said: “The town as a whole is being degraded.

“It has to stop before it is too late.”

peter.collins@mediawales.co.uk