Flats plan is approved for derelict hotel

COUNCILLORS have approved plans for nine flats on the site of a former hotel in Aberfan, left empty for a decade, because they want to see it brought back into use.

Members of Merthyr Tydfil council’s planning, development and licensing committee approved the plans for the former Mackintosh Hotel, in Aberfan Road, at their latest meeting on Wednesday.

But concerns were raised over what is seen as insufficient parking, with only five spaces provided to serve the nine flats.

Councillor Scott Thomas, who represents the Merthyr Vale ward, said residents did not feel the issue of parking had been taken seriously.

Councillor Clive Tovey said: “These things are difficult to decide.

“If we don’t give the go-ahead the building just gets worse and worse.

“It seems much better to get the building back into use.”

Councillor Malcolm Colbran said he could understand why residents had concerns over the parking issue and said the issue was causing too much of a burden for residents, adding that five spaces for nine flats was “far from ideal”.

Councillor Clive Jones said there were issues about parking everywhere and that he understood the frustration of trying to find a parking place.

He said: “But this building has been empty for more than 10 years. It is a bit of an eyesore down there at the moment.”

Councillor Julian Amos said there were far too many of these buildings in Merthyr Tydfil County Borough and Councillor Gareth Lewis said they needed to do all they could to bring buildings such as this back into reasonable use.

The committee approved the application, with only Cllr Thomas voting against the officers’ recommendation.