Go-ahead given (From Penarth Times)

Go-ahead given

PENARTH residents are concerned about health and safety risks involved in the plans to demolish six garages in Coronation Terrace.

Planning permission was originally rejected by Penarth's Town Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

But the decision has been over turned by the inspectorate in Cardiff, for developer Andton Properties Limited to build three blocks of one bedroom apartments, each three storeys high on the site.

Residents Carol and John Warren have opposed the plans all along. But they recently received a letter from architectural consultants WS Atkins Limited, notifying them of the demolition.

The letter stated that: "Demolition of the existing garage structures on site may start before the end of the month", and was dated 20 August 2002.

Representative for WS Atkins, Brian Miles, supplied the couple with an explanatory booklet on the procedures to do with 'The Party Wall Act 1966'.

Mrs Warren explained that in the booklet, it states at least one month's notice to residents is required before they start work.

Therefore, as she plans to dispute the proposal, work could not yet start. Local residents are worried about the garages being destroyed, because they have asbestos roofing. Mrs Warren said she fears for the safety of children in a nearby school when the demolition work begins, because the process could produce some asbestos dust.

She contacted the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and they assured her that the work should not pose a problem - but she wants definite assurances from the health and safety department, as well as the builders. She was informed that because this type of activity is likely to produce high levels of dust, it should be carried out by a contractor licensed by the local authority.

Mrs Warren added that none of the residents have been told to keep their windows closed, or to stay out of their gardens, in order to avoid the dust.

Director of Andton Properties Limited, Mark Andrews, said that work is expected to begin at the beginning of October.

He added: "We will liaise as much as possible with the neighbours about the building work, and we will comply with all our statutory obligations".