A former holiday village in Vale of Glamorgan which was frequented by miners nearly a hundred years ago looks set to make way for new homes. Vale of Glamorgan Council has ratified plans to build 14 new homes on the site of St Athan Boys Village in West Aberthaw.
Approval of the plans means that many of the old buildings which formed the old holiday village will be demolished. However, the caretaker's bungalow will be retained and the old chapel, opened in 1937, will be converted into a home. Two objections were made to the council over the plans, with one resident calling the proposal to build a house on the former holiday village "unacceptable".
Referencing the road which leads up to the site, another resident said to the council: "This is a single track lane which is regularly in need of repair, I cannot see anyway of widening the lane or indications in the application. Although a lane it is extremely busy and added housing would only make it worse."
Read more: 'The abandoned derelict Welsh holiday village which was once a child's paradise'
The objectors also laid out their concerns over the protection of the site's heritage. St Athan Boys Village was constructed in 1928 and opened in 1930. The holiday camp was frequented by boys and families from the South Wales coal mining communities and included a games hall, swimming pool, tennis court and pavilion.
A war memorial, which is now a Grade II-listed monument, was also erected in the centre of the site. The Vale council said that the proposed layout of the site in relation to the listed memorial, which includes four pedestrian pathways, is reflective of the general arrangement that formerly surrounded the memorial.
A council report which is attached to the planning application states: "The layout would create and preserve a positive setting to the memorial." With the addition of the converted chapel, the site will consist of 15 homes. Six of the properties will be affordable.
The council's report on the development adds: "In summary, the proposed development is considered acceptable in respect of visual impact and whilst it would formalise and urbanise the character and appearance of the site, this is considered to be a positive change when compared to the current degraded and untidy state."
A new pavement has also been proposed as part of the development to allow safe pedestrian access to the site along the road leading up to it. According to the council, the proposed access to the site will allow sufficient viability along the road in both directions and the road along the length of the site will be widened.
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