A former nursing home that has been dubbed an "eyesore" could be transformed into shops and a café. An application has been made to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) to change the former Min Yr Afon nursing home in Cwmavon into a café, five shops and 10 industrial units.
Prominent figures in the area said they would like to see the site, which is currently used as a car park, brought back to life. Bryn and Cwmavon councillor at NPTCBC before the election period, Rhidian Mizen, said: "To be honest, it is a bit of an eyesore at the moment.
"If there are shops there and they are full it will be all well and good. [However], in my opinion I don't think it would take off because it is off the beaten track. Until you open a shop, nobody knows."
If approved, the shops that would occupy the site could include a grocers, beauty salon and a barbers, said applicant Andrew Rees. The former 33-bed nursing home would also include a manager's office. Charlotte Galsworthy, who also represented Bryn and Cwmavon alongside Mr Mizen before the election period, said the proposed development would bring a much-needed boost to the area.
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She said: "I totally support it. I have been working with the [applicant], Andrew Rees, in ensuring that what is put there can add to the village. It is totally welcomed and it is about local businesses. It is about growing options and enhancing the area. Doing anything like this is always a positive."
The current building lies next to the River Afan and is considered a high-risk flooding area by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). A flood consequences assessment attached to the planning application says a number of recommendations have been made to mitigate against the risk of flooding.
One of these recommendations is that notices should be put up inside the building advising people on what steps to take in the event of a flood. It has also been advised that any skirting boards fitted should be water resistant and sockets and fuse boxes should be raised to 1.5 metres above ground level.
On the risk of flooding, applicant Andrew Rees of South Wales Supplies, said he was not concerned. "Everything [that would] go in there is commercial. There is no one living there or sleeping there," said Mr Rees. "I am not worried about flooding."
On the proposed development, Mr Rees added: "We are keeping our fingers crossed and [will] go from there. [We want to] bring it back into [use] because it is an old dilapidated building. It took a while to put things together and get where we are now."
Mr Rees, who bought the site over four years ago, said he hopes the proposal will bring "a bit of work [back] into Cwmavon" if it is approved. He added: "A lot of people are used to working from home and have had enough of it because their space is too small.
"[It would provide] workshops to people who need it in Cwmavon. People will save and not be travelling the distances. What I agreed [with Ms Galsworthy] is that once the planning is all done, I would give the people of Cwmavon the first option of moving in." To keep up to date with news from across Neath Port Talbot, subscribe to our dedicated newsletter here.
