RAT-INFESTED, covered in graffiti and with weeds the size of trees growing out of it, the Gaiety Cinema has been left to decay for nearly 18 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once the home of a theatre, cinema, bowling, alley and bingo hall, it’s now half hidden behind hoardings as people who live and work in the area wait for the next chapter in the saga.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are awaiting its demolition to make way for a new development of flats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osman Zaman, owner of next-door Chaiiology, has been in business there for four months and says he can’t wait to see the back of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cI\u2019m happy to see it go because hopefully when they build flats there, there\u2019ll be no more rats. Huge, huge rats too \u2013 I see them all the time on CCTV.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work on tearing it down was due to start last month, according to a planning application submitted to Cardiff council, but Mr Zaman said he\u2019s seen no-one at the site since January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cardiff Council stated that the timeline was down to Draycott Group, the developer, but The Cardiffian<\/em> has been unable to get in touch with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bats have even been found nesting in the building, as stated in the same application, and these must be safely removed, which may delay demolition work further as a licence is needed to do this.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting a bat licence could take up to 40 days and no application has been made at the time of publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means the decaying building could be left standing for more than a month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A company called Bonnes Mares bought the building after it shut down and it has been left empty ever since, falling beyond the point of repair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n