Residents are dismayed after their petition against a planning application for their village hall did not win over councillors.
The application to allow a neighbouring school to use the hall caused a rift in the local community in Gwaelod-y-Garth, Pentyrch – with some residents petitioning against the application, and others lodging a petition in support.
Members of Cardiff Council's planning committee granted the application yesterday, despite a heart-felt plea from local residents.
An application which divided the local community
The application to build extensions to the village hall was submitted to enable it to be used by the adjacent Gwaelod-y-Garth Primary School. Two extra car parking places will be included in the extension.
Those in support of the application highlighted the benefits improvements to the village hall will have for the overall community and that student numbers would not increase as a result.
But local residents said the change in use of the village hall would be taking it away as an amenity for the community. Residents also worried about the fumes from the new kitchen, the extensions not being in keeping with current character of the village, and an increase in parking causing traffic problems.
Stella Thomas spoke to committee members at the meeting on behalf of local residents from Gwaelod-y-Garth, 50 of whom signed the petition. She said:
"This planning application appears to be a straight forward application for relatively small extensions to a large hall, but it is the tip of a highly complex and controversial planning issue which will adversely affect the quality of life for many residents."
Thomas said granting the application would in effect result in the suburbanisation of a rural area, and would be a visual intrusion detrimental to its character. But planning operational manager Martin Morris said officers were satisfied with the application. He said:
"It's a relatively small proposal on the north and south side of the existing community hall. The traffic generation won't go up and we believe it fits comfortably into the character of the area."
Members of the planning committee voted to grant the application
Speaking after the decision was made Thomas said:
"We are disappointed by the decision but it's not unexpected. All the objections which were raised were down played by the planning officers.
"We have lived in the village all our lives. This is an intrusion into green space – it's the only field the village has. They have taken the hall from the villagers and it's ripping the heart out of the village. It has divided the village and will spoil it."
Local resident Pat Stone said she resigned from being chair of the village hall committee, a post she occupied for 30 years, over this issue. She said:
"I knew it would become a school hall and not a village hall. I remember the older people collecting funds to get the hall together, and now we're losing it."
