RESIDENTS of Rhydcymerau have expressed their disappointment after demolition work started on a former public house in the village before the application was considered.
Several residents also pointed out that there were various inaccuracies in the demolition application documents, and it was suggested that the building had been deliberately allowed to deteriorate by the applicant.
The Red Dragon was originally two houses, with the oldest part dating back to the 1800s. The property was converted from a shop and petrol station to a public house in 1980, and continued to be a popular focal point for the village over the next 25 years.
Following its closure in 2006 the pub was occupied until 2011, before standing unoccupied until 2015, according to one resident.
However, in March 2015 it is understood that workmen removed tiles from the roof and demolished part of an extension, which led to enforcement officers putting a stop on the work. Around two weeks ago, further demolition work was carried out to the main building.
Since March 2015 , the building has rapidly deteriorated as a result of being exposed to the elements. A bat scoping survey carried out as part of the application said: “The building is structurally unsound and hazardous… The three chimneys are balancing precariously on top of rotting wooden rafters to the roof, and there are some loose slates to the front roof, all of which could fall onto the B4337 road directly below.”
The application for demolition has been valid since April, but is still under consideration.
Residents also expressed reservations about the future use of the site, with one pointing out that there was no mention of future development, but the bat scoping survey makes reference to a housing development on the site.
The partial demolition which has left the building in a derelict and unsafe condition pre-dated the application by more than a year. The Herald asked whether any enforcement action had been taken by the Environmental and Public Protection department regarding this, but had received no response at the time of going to press.
However CCC’s Head of Planning, Llinos Quelch, said: “There is a valid planning application in with regard to the demolition of the pub; the application is yet to be determined. Officers have been out on site and advised the owner not to undertake any further works and to do so would be unauthorised. We are monitoring the matter.
“We are not aware of any additional demolition having taken place. The relevant applications are also being sought for demolition under Section 80 of the Building Act 1984 (the Act), this is in addition to the planning application which is already under consideration.”
Given that, if residents are correct, this is the second time where demolition work has had to be halted on the site in a year, it appears that the initial enforcement was ignored.
Moreover, the extent to which the building has deteriorated could well mean that demolition is now the only option.
The Chair of the Planning Committee, Councillor Alun Lenny told The Herald that incidents like this were ‘frustrating ‘.
“Not only does it demean the planning process and cause local residents concern but, if enforcement action is taken, it can also cause the developer extra problems,” he added.
However, in this instance it appears that the Nottingham-based developer, Michael Singh, has allowed the elements to finish the job he started.
The bat-scoping survey also pointed out that the removal of the roof meant that it was no longer a likely habitat for the species. It is of course impossible to tell whether bats were present before the roof was removed.
Given that it is unlikely that CCC will order the building to be restored to its previous condition, and in light of the fact that the vast majority of retrospective planning applications are granted it is difficult to see what the active disincentive is for future developers who follow this route.
Add Comment