Farm 'ruined' by housing proposal (From Penarth Times)

Farm 'ruined' by housing proposal

A DEVASTATED Penarth farmer says his business has been ruined by plans for a new housing development.

Trevor Bailey, 49, a Vale of Glamorgan Council tenant at Old Cogan Hall Farm, says planning applications for 400 homes have left people thinking he is out of business.

Father-of-two Mr Bailey, a tenant for 24 years, is also under threat of being made homeless - the council has applied to incorporate his home and 48 acres in its plans.

The application could see his 16th century farm buildings converted to four houses, with some land used as public open space and 48 acres of land used for an extension to Cosmeston Lakes Country Park.

If the council gets permission, it can issue two months' notice to Mr Bailey. He said: "I'm absolutely astounded. The land is occupied, the farm buildings in constant use, the fields grazed and cropped annually. The granting of these planning permissions will put us out of business with little or no hope."

He said the council needs the extension of Cosmeston to satisfy planning permis-sion for 400 houses.

He added: "When I first came here the buildings were derelict. We've had to put in an awful lot of work to get it back."

Mr Bailey's land agent, Robin Marshall, said: "The council is going to pay him £18,000 but they will make millions on this. This is morally reprehensible."

The council was unavailable for comment.