Affordable homes plan in Benllech passed by single vote
OLD SCHOOL RULES AND GAMEPLAY MAKE THIS HOMAGE TO DONKEY KONG A REAL
Contentious plans to build affordable homes in a coastal village have been approved only thanks to the casting vote of Anglesey Council’s Planning Committee chair.
Clwyd Alyn housing had applied to build the 17 homes near Craig y Don and Cherry Tree Close in Benllech, where the average property price is nearly £250,000.
But despite the housing association citing the need for such housing, claims that it represented “overdevelopment” saw planning committee members refuse the application when first asked to make a decision in February.
When voting against the advice of planning officers, however, the scenario sees committee members forced to reconsider their initial decision after a month’s “cooling off” period.
Wednesday’s subsequent U-turn saw the plans approved by the narrowest of margins after promises were made it would help protect the majority of the site going forward.
One of the local councillors, Ieuan Williams, noted there were as many as 11 “more suitable” candidate sites in Benllech, urging members to consider the environmental impact and pointing to its location within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and local wildlife zone.
Noting that she was principally in favour of affordable housing, fellow Lligwy councillor Margaret Murley Roberts described the site as “wetland outside of Benllech’s development boundary”, and the plans as “simply not a good idea”.
Speaking earlier this year, she said: “Over development and traffic issues are already problems in the village and the feeling is that this is simply one development too many.
“With other housing developments already approved, there are only 11 spaces left in the village primary school. It will be full even before this would be built.
“At present it seems that discussions are taking place in silos. If you know the school is full, why build more houses?!
“Moelfre is only four miles away and there’s a desperate lack of affordable housing there.
“Local people can’t afford to buy as they’re all snapped up as holiday homes. People born and raised here have no chance. Yes, we we need affordable houses, but in the right places.
“I’m scared that a lack of joined up thinking will just store up problems for the future.”
According to the applicants, the development would include a mix of two, three and four bedrooms, “100% affordable, owned and operated by Clwyd Alyn Housing under a tenure neutral arrangement.”
They also argued that due to house prices being what they are – with the cheapest two bedroom flat in Benllech said to be listed at £189,000 – new builds are the only financially viable option, with a “proven need” for up to 69 affordable homes in the village.
CASTLE KONG
(PEGI 3) Switch ★★★★★
THERE was a time in the dim and distant past when gaming was about one thing – the high score.
There were no trophies to collect, no achievements to unlock, and no loot you had to spend half your life grinding through meaningless tasks for.
It was purely about the quest for points – and getting your name in glowing lights at the top of that leaderboard.
Cue Castle Kong, developer Drowning Monkeys’ homage to one of the greatest platformers ever made – Donkey Kong.
But this is not for the faint of heart, for not only are the graphics and the gameplay kicking it old school, so are the rules.
One ‘coin’ gets you three lives, after which you’re dead and you have to start all over again – something the gaming masochist in me just loves.
There are 22 levels to tackle over four stages – each more fiendish than the last – with the ultimate goal of reaching the kill screen, and freeing PrincessGirl from the clutches of BaronMan.
The opening made my heart chiptune soar, less music so the three goes it took for me to get PauperBoy through the first level, as the dastardly archer kept picking me off.
While Castle Kong has been lovingly made to capture the essence of all that made Donkey Kong great, Drowning Monkeys has also been sure to include some 21st century improvements. You get a choice of visual modes – arcade or widescreen (which I kept kidding myself would make the game easier), and PauperBoy can scale the ladders with his trusty picthfork.
For a ‘simple’ platformer, each stage has been richly designed.
From beautiful roses climbing the
Castle walls, to stained glass windows and tapestries in the Throne Room, to the terrifying looking accessories hanging in the Kitchen – attention to detail has been paid.
The deceptively basic gameplay sees PauperBoy climbing ladders, leaping over gaps and wielding his pitchfork – which acts much like Mario’s hammer – to defend against oncoming obstacles. But beware, every time you strike an object you lose your weapon, so choose your battles wisely.
He’s pretty responsive too, with none of the frustrating lag you’d expect in older games – the many, many times I found myself getting killed was through user error.
PauperBoy faces off with some adorable villains, from the arrow and cannonball firing archers, to trusty knights, a pie-throwing chef, and cute-but-deadly ‘flame ghosts’ which are spewed from a magical chandelier in the Baron’s Throne Room.
For those who like a serious challenge, there’s a contest running until May 25, which sees cash prizes for the 10 players with the highest scores (for more details, visit drowningmonkeys.com/tournament).
Castle Kong feels comfortingly familiar, like buying the supermarket brand of your favourite chocolate bar. And while its challenging gameplay and retro feel will appeal to a certain type of gamer, frustration can quickly set in causing others to walk away.
■ Buy it: £5.99 from nintendo.co.uk/