The demolition of an historic Victorian pavilion in Penarth is being opposed by local residents.
The building in Belle Vue Park, currently used by several community groups, is earmarked for a £680,000 redevelopment project.
The demolition is opposed however, by Penarth Matters, a local action group.
“We could end up with a modern eyesore that is totally unsuitable for a park in a conservation area,” said the group.
Funding for the project comes from the Penarth Heights development.
Penarth Matters would rather the current building was renovated, to keep the original period design and any remaining money be spent improving other local facilities.
Resident, Anna Howell, 57 said: “I don’t mind it being knocked down, but (the development) must be sympathetically built to reflect Penarth’s heritage and the surrounding area.
“There are quite a few new ‘modern’ builds in Penarth which to be honest are totally hideous and we Penarthians are at a total loss as to how they got planning permission – we love our town and its heritage.”
Vale of Glamorgan council says that the building is “reaching the end of its physical life” and has problems such as asbestos and general dilapidation.
In order to make the site sustainable in the future, councillors need to consider ways to use the space better.
The council wants to replace the current structure with a “modern, yet sympathetically designed building appropriate to the surrounding historic environment and conservation area, and potentially for multiple users”.
The site is currently used by the bowls club and Friends of Belle Vue community group for activities such as lantern making and bird watching, but their rents are subsidised.
The council would like the new building to be run by volunteers.
Mrs Howell did not think this would be a problem: “I would love to help out and I’m sure there’d be no trouble finding volunteers – it could be great experience for students from Stanwell, Westbourne and St Cyres to gain work experience skills.”
Possible uses for the new building include:
- A café
- A bowls club room
- A large community hall
- Storage facilities for local groups, and
- Tourist information.
The council have also created an online survey where residents can have their say.
Belle Vue Park Pavilion
