Cafe quarter plan on hold (From Penarth Times)

Cafe quarter plan on hold

THE chairman of the Decourcey group has said he may abandon the 6 million Penarth cafe quarter scheme following protests held on the seafront.

Vale planning officers recommended refusal of the plans to replace the Beachcliff buildings with a cafe quarter, and as a result Decourcey have withdrawn their application.

Stephen Fear, Decourcey chairman, said: "If I don't get the support of the Vale planning officers and the people of Penarth I will walk away from the cafe quarter. If they don't want this scheme then I will pull out.

"I would then have to sell the building in parts, possibly at auction. I have already received offers for two parts of the building.

"I attended the demonstration and was very disappointed with the behaviour of some hotheads and the level of aggression shown towards me."

The protest was organised by the Penarth Society as part of the Save Our Seafront (SOS) campaign.

Graham Robertson, chairman of the Penarth Society, said: "In the last few days we have learnt that the Vale Conservation Officer has pronounced the building capable of restoration.

"We can only guess at the outcome.

"At present the planning application is held in abeyance, but we would urge the Vale Council at all costs to avoid the impending stalemate that has bedevilled so many other buildings in Penarth.

"And we would ask them vigorously to seek a solution acceptable to all parties, preferably one that will preserve the present facade of Beachcliff.

"I am a realist and am not opposed to the Decourcey proposals per se. If they came up with a stunning design then I would be happy with it.

"Beachcliff has been derelict for five years and I think it really is about time a decision was made on what to do with it."