IT was believed a Penarth director had clinched £160,000 by selling a Cardiff hotel.

Mr WH Evans, of Seabank, The Esplanade, sold the New Central Hotel to a London hotel group.

The property developer with several other business interests from British Railways and since then it had been completely re-modernised.

New owners Nuttalls Hotels Ltd were believed to be concentrating their efforts on the hotel side of their interests with plans to improve the standard and amenities of their existing hotels and seek further hotel properties in Wales.

This was their first hotel in Wales, but the company owned 40 in Britain.

Mr Evans was the managing director of ER Investments Ltd which built the Seabank Flats and another luxury block in Tenby.

l THERE was mounting controversy over the planned car park for the Esplanade.

Mr WW Joynes, of Seabank Flats, said he had received considerable support for his plan to form a Ratepayers’ Association in the town.

The previous week he had threatened a ‘fight for every council seat’ by a ratepayer candidate if the £100,000 park got the go-ahead.

He told the Penarth Times that he had already been in touch with the National Association of Ratepayers and already had support from the man-in-the-street.

Mr Joynes, a sales director, said that although he hoped to hold office in such as association, it was doubtful if he could stand as a candidate because of his business commitments.

l POLICE had renewed warnings following a series of vandalism and petty thefts from private homes in Penarth.

Officers stressed the importance of keeping premises security locked.

Earlier in the week a private house was targeted while the owners were out.

They returned to discover “complete chaos” with every room ransacked.

Articles had been stolen and an uncut 21st birthday cake ruined.

Another large privately-owned property received similar treatment on the Tuesday.

lONE of the Friends of Sully Hospital presented the matron, Miss G.A. Davies with a farewell gift. The Friends held a party at Sully House on the Friday to say goodbye to her before she left the hospital