Anger as work starts on flats (From Penarth Times)

Anger as work starts on flats

A PENARTH resident has condemned the development plans for Coronation Terrace, and has spoken out to encourage local people to value their community.

Resident Petra Aydin Barberini has told of how shocked she was at the announcement that planning permission had been applied for, and then subsequently granted for three ultra-modern town houses to be built on a site at Coronation Terrace which until recently housed six lock-up garages.

She explained that local residents, who were concerned about the appropriateness of the planned development, began having discussions over garden walls and writing letters.

She added: "Others like myself stood by, trusting the authorities that these concerns would be respected".

After the Penarth Town Council and the Vale Council planning authorities both rejected planning permission, local residents wrongly assumed that they would be consulted before any building work progressed.

Petra said: "I was shocked to read in the Times that Cardiff planning authorities were overruling these bodies and granting planning permission".

She explained that while walking her son to school on his first day at Albert Road Primary School, they passed many neighbours and relatives who greeted them.

She added that the area still retained a strong sense of community spirit.

"This community has taken over a century to develop, and my family have lived in this house throughout, attending Albert Road School since it was built".

She said that the developers had started ripping down the asbestos roofed garages, which are yards from the school, on the first day of term.

Petra said: "This should not be a debate about planning permission or architectural merit, but about the ability of wealthy developers to override local concerns".