Pledge to battle appeal against homes refusal

Mar 19 2008 by Peter Collins, South Wales Echo

A ROW over plans to build houses on the approach road to Barry Cemetery has taken another twist.

Earlier this week, campaigners were celebrating victory in their fight to stop affordable houses being built on the land.

The celebrations came after Vale of Glamorgan councillors reversed a previous decision to allow Newydd Housing Association to build 61 houses and flats on land at the side of the approach road to the cemetery. Vale council planners had recommended approval of the scheme.

But now Newydd has lodged an appeal with the National Assembly against the decision to refuse planning permission.

The association originally planned 66 houses and flats on the land, but reduced it to 61, which includes 39 houses and 22 flats.

Bryn Morgan, spokesman for the residents’ action group set up to oppose the scheme, said: “We are disappointed that Newydd has chosen to appeal because, as a responsible and sensitive provider of local social housing, they should recognise the massive public reaction against this proposal and that the majority of Barry people value the cemetery approach as an open space.”

He added: “The group intends to resist the Newydd appeal with the same vigour and determination it applied during the Vale planning process.”