Colwyn Bay British Legion Club saved

Residents opposed plans for 12 homes at 31 Coed Pella Road, arguing the development of the club’s bowling green and relocation of allotments would cause traffic congestion, parking problems, and impact vulnerable people.

But at a planning committee meeting at Bodlondeb, councillors approved the application after a plea from the British Legion Club’s president who said the club would end without the money raised from the development.

Bowling green. 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 British Legion president Merfyn Thomas addressed the council chamber and explained the club had 400 members, adding the club’s plans were the ‘lesser of two evils’.

“Regretfully, if we don’t get planning permission at this meeting, then the club will go into liquidation at the end of this month because we don’t have the funds to progress anything further and we need about £50,000 spending on the club,” he said.

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“Now the downside of that is that there will be six members of staff facing redundancy, plus the manager losing their accommodation.

“If we go into liquidation – and I don’t think people have thought this through – it (the club) will be bought by developers. They’ve got more money than we’ve got because we haven’t got any.

“They will then, I believe, apply to demolish the clubhouse and do away with the allotments, which is not our plan. I believe this is the better of two evils.”

Allotments. 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.

Resident Oliver Blocker also spoke at the meeting but was against the development.

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Mr Blocker worried about the loss of mature trees and a community asset.

“The loss of the bowling green constitutes a significant social and environmental impact,” he said.

Another speaker, introduced as a community councillor, was also opposed to the proposal, hinting of the disruption that construction could cause.

“I’m very concerned about the impact this construction would have on the local neighbourhood,” he said.

“It is quite a big application in terms of the amount of work that is going to be needed to be done.”

He added: “It would be a significant loss of parking spaces on Woodland Park and Hillside Road.”

But while committee members sympathised with residents, most councillors backed the application.

Cllr Nigel Smith proposed councillors granted the applications, and this was seconded by Cllr Chris Cater before the plans were voted through.

Cllr Smith commented, “It tugs on your heartstrings because I feel ever so sorry for the residents of the area who fear losing their outlook.

“And then we’ve got Mr Thomas who is the chairman of the British Legion who are struggling and so many of our communities have lost their British Legion clubs.”

He added: “It (granting the application) is the right decision because it preserves the club and protects the allotments.”

Currently the allotment has ten users but 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 12 new houses will be three storeys in height with a garden area towards the rear. The development involves the removal of low-slung walls along Woodland Park and Hillside Road to allow access to the site.

Car parking will be provided in front of the dwellings with additional parking along Coed Pella Road.