Very few at meeting (From Penarth Times)

Very few at meeting

9:20am Thursday 19th November 2009 in Letters

CLLR Paul Church and chief housing officer Mike Ingrams were ready at the Vale-on-the-Road morning in Penarth (October 31) to explain their intentions over the Billybanks.

However, very few turned up to speak to them.

They intend, they said, to go ahead with Crest Nicholson with the same plan, the same S-106 package of £5 million, and the same 20% affordable housing.

The £5 million is the package of "benefits for the whole of Penarth"

(Penarth Times, Kate Davies, November 5). Yet Cllr Liz Burnett criticised the package strongly at the time (December 2007) and secured deferral for full consideration at a later Planning Committee meeting.

The package earmarked £800,000 for renovation of St Paul's for community facilities, though inadequate, instead of the purpose-built 'Hub' which had been agreed to replace the previous community building.

It allocated £700,000 for 'public art,' £190,000 for a skateboard facility and multi-games area on Paget Road, £110,000 for a playground facility on Plassey Square, £700,000 on renewing the bridge at Dingle Road station, £550,000 for future maintenance of public open space, £783,000 to "provide and enhance education facilities."

This £5 million spending on "benefits" was not decided openly and democratically, indeed Plassey Square residents didn't want the play facility - play spaces should be among the new houses - and were told that renovating St Paul's was the only community facility on offer.

The Paget Road site is too small and close to housing for teenager sports.

Cyclists were told they could not have a proper route to Pont y Werin - 'too late to include in plans' - so would have to make do with the unsafe and uncyclable zig-zag path down the cliff side.

When Section106 funds were small and directly linked to a development, the officers had to have the major say. But not on current far-ranging S-106 packages.

How amazing that the Vale's councillors tolerate the carve-up of millions spun off major housing schemes.

A major benefit that objectors wanted in the Crest scheme was public open space, for walking/exercising and viewing over the Bay and wider area.

Over two hectares is needed for the number of homes planned. Yet the Council intended to waive that rule for Crest Nicholson.

Cllr Church said also that the Vale Council wouldn't enforce the 30% affordable housing rule, as Crest might walk away.

Evidently, we'll only get redevelopment with proper benefits for Penarth once the Council finishes with Crest.

Max Wallis Barry & Vale Friends of the Earth Westboune Rd Penarth