Plans to demolish miners’ baths to make way for eight houses
PART of a former miners’ bath building in Carmarthenshire could be demolished to make way for eight new homes.
The old pit head baths building by the junction of Pentwyn Road and Maescware Road, Betws, Ammanford, was said to have been built by 1960 and served workers employed at the nearby Ammanford colliery.
Welfare activities for miners also took place there.
Carmarthenshire Council planning officers are assessing an outline application for eight detached houses at the site and the partial demolition of the old National Coal Board pit baths.
A planning statement submitted on behalf of applicant Robert Tout said the eastern half of the pit bath building was in separate ownership and used by an electrical contracting business for storage. This use, it said, would remain in place.
The statement said the planned redevelopment would improve a site which had “become an eyesore” for the local community.
It added: “By retaining a section of the old NCB (National Coal Board) buildings the site will also provide a lasting reminder of the local heritage and history of the area.”
A separate assessment of the land said a review of coal mining activities had determined the site was unlikely to have had coal extracted beneath it at a depth that may influence the proposed development.
But it identified a mine drift access roadway which passed beneath the southern half of the site.
The assessment said the depth and precise location of this roadway could not be determined without intrusive investigation works.
The council’s planning department has suggested that a condition should be attached to any planning consent stipulating that a detailed site investigation report must be submitted to the council.
Details of how the applicant plans to remediate the land would also be required.