Homes plan for bowling green and allotment site sparks anger
Residents say the loss of a bowling green and relocation of an allotment to make way for new homes will cause traffic congestion, parking problems, and impact on vulnerable people. Colwyn Bay[1] Legion has applied to Conwy[2] Council’s planning department, seeking permission for twelve homes on Coed Pella Road, together with the re-location of the allotments, also sited on the land.
Based at 31 Coed Pella Road, Colwyn Bay Legion also wants to build the new homes on its bowling green, arguing it cannot survive financially without the income generated from the development. According to the application, the allotment has ten users and a temporary site using rented land will be provided during construction.
Once construction is complete, the scheme allows for 20 allotment spaces, albeit in a smaller area. The site consists of two parcels of land comprising the Legion building, bowling green, and allotments, and the 12 homes are subject to two separate planning applications for eight and four homes.
Both applications are due to be discussed at Conwy’s planning committee meeting on June 14 and have been recommended for approval, subject to some highways provisions being deemed satisfactory. But neighbours have written to Conwy County Council, slamming the plans. They say the development will cause traffic congestion, parking problems, a strain on services, and the loss of a valuable community asset.
Residents say the loss of a bowling green and relocation of an allotment to make way for new homes will cause traffic congestion, parking problems, and impact on vulnerable people.
Oliver Blocker, an allotment holder, wrote to the council to object. “I cannot see how the destruction of mature allotments and thriving bowling green benefits the community and would sustain the business model of a club in the long term,” he wrote. Mr Brocker also said the development would damage the environment, argued there was no central playground in central Colwyn Bay, and objected to only two of the new homes being listed as affordable.
Gareth Head also wrote to the council, complaining the new homes would cause a loss of light at his property. “The height and proximity of the development would be such that unreasonable overshadowing would occur,” he wrote.
Margaret Wardle has been an allotment holder since 1985 and raised fears about the impact on biodiversity, waterlogging, and said there would be an impact on parking. Dr A. Wilson and Mr D. Jones also sent a letter objecting, citing the loss of a historic bowling green in the Pwllycrochan conservation area. “This is an exceptional bowling green and a unique space,” the letter read.
Residents say the loss of a bowling green and relocation of an allotment to make way for new homes will cause traffic congestion, parking problems, and impact on vulnerable people.
Ms E. Jayne Edwards said traffic was already congested on Coed Pella Road and Hillside Road. Having lived on the road for 23 years, Ms Edwards said she already struggled to park on her own drive because of traffic. She added: “Doctors’ surgeries in Colwyn Bay are in complete disarray and under overwhelming strain. Adding another 12 homes to this will only make a dire situation worse.”
Hamilton Grantham also objected. “Many of the users are vulnerable groups in our society, and the absence of the bowling green and allotments may have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups of people,” he wrote.
Despite the concerns, Charlotte Wall, the manager of Colwyn Bay Legion, said in a letter to Conwy Council that the future of the club, which benefits hundreds of members, relied on the development going ahead. “Our current financial situation is that we must close the doors at the end of the month, and all six staff will lose their jobs. We have exhausted all avenues with savings and overdraft facilities,” she wrote.
“We are breaking even quite regularly some months after trying to turn the business around. So upon the club having the land sale funds to be able to install a more energy efficient system and have the club rewired, our running costs would be dramatically improved, enabling us to save around £400-£500 per month and be consistent in profit.”
What do you think of the plans? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.[4]
She added: “The salaries and material costs to maintain the bowling (green) costs £10,000 per year. That element being disposed of will also be a huge saving. To conclude, I would like to point out that this development being approved will ultimately save the club from insolvency closure and save six jobs for local people, not to forget a community club serving a few hundred people.”
The planning applications will be debated at next week’s planning committee meeting at Bodlondeb.
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References
- ^ Colwyn Bay (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ Conwy (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ The Snowdonia cafe just off the A5 with breathtaking views and ‘banging’ brunch (www.dailypost.co.uk)
- ^ comments section below. (www.dailypost.co.uk)