Seafront plea (From Penarth Times)

Seafront plea

PENARTH Town Council is urging the Vale of Glamorgan Council to breathe fresh life into Penarth"s dilapidated seafront - by possibly using special powers to make a compulsory purchase of the Beachcliff building.

Penarth Town Council will make a strong representation to the Vale after meeting last week to look at a report on special powers available to local authorities.

David Clapham, chairman of the Penarth Town Council planning committee, said: "We are very concerned about the state of the building and would like to see the Vale set a deadline for a scheme for the building to be brought to fruition.

"We feel that this has gone on for long enough and that something now has to be done."

The report said that, under the Planning Act, the Vale of Glamorgan Council could enforce external repair and decoration of Beachcliff.

The report also says: "In cases of continuing neglect, the Vale of Glamorgan Council could seek to compulsorily acquire land and buildings in a dilapidated state in a conservation area."

Cllr Anthony Ernest said: "I am in favour of intervention from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

"Penarth is a prime example of a Victorian/Edwardian resort and deserves proper conservation.

"If things don"t start to move then I think it would be an option for the Vale Council to acquire the building, refurbish it and sell it on to cover its costs.

"There was a case of a building in Cowbridge where a similar approach was used."

Graham Robertson, Chairman of the Penarth Society, a conservation group, said: "I would be in favour of the local authority exerting some pressure to ensure that the building is restored and to bring this situation to an end.

"The problems with schemes for this building is that they seem to be left hanging in the balance forever and are never completed.

"It is vital for the town of Penarth that something is done as a matter of urgency."