Demolition plans are rejected by council (From Penarth Times)

Demolition plans are rejected by council

CONCERNED residents protesting at plans to demolish two Church Road houses have welcomed Penarth Town Council's rejection of proposals.

But the road's residents, who are against nine new dwellings being built on the 11-12 Church Road plot, say there is still a long way to go.

At a meeting of the council's Planning Committee last Thursday, members recommended to the Vale Council the proposals be refused.

Town clerk Edward Vick said: "These are two semi-detached houses in Penarth Conservation Area, which the developer wants to demolish to build two buildings."

The front three-storey building would have three maisonettes and four one-bedroomed apartments. The rear two-storey building would have two three-bedroomed units.

He added: "Proposals indicate the existing houses are beyond practical repair. This view is supported by the Vale Council Property Services department. But the design is detrimental to the location."

Cllr Lynette El-Khatib said of the properties, which have been empty for three years: "It really annoys me that people allow properties in Penarth to get in such a state and then say the only alternative is to demolish it."

Cllr Maureen Kelly Owen said: "This road is a historical Pilgrims Route to St Augustine's Church so care should be taken with design. What's proposed is over development and too big for the site."

Cllr Ruby Osborne said: "It's a Victorian road and should be kept that way." And Cllr David Clapham said: "These properties should be saved at whatever cost."

Dion Browne, who lives next door, wrote in a letter to the council: "This will have a severe adverse effect on our own house and garden.

"Additionally, a dense development in Church Road will make worse an already awkward and potentially dangerous traffic bottleneck and parking problem."