OAPs’ anger at ‘Legoland’ makeover ...
COVERED in brightly coloured blocks, this unashamedly cheerful building wouldn’t look out of place at Legoland.
But it is in fact just part of an ordinary retirement village, which has recently undergone a £750,000 taxpayer-funded makeover.
And while it is certainly eye-catching, the new design isn’t to everyone’s taste.
Some disgruntled residents of the seaside town of Penarth, near Cardiff, have described the refurbished Redlands House complex as an ‘eyesore’. Graham White, 76, who lives in one of the 36 flats, said: ‘They should put up a sign saying “Welcome to Legoland”.
‘It looks more like a children’s playscheme than sheltered accommodation. Everyone is talking about it ... it is a total waste of public money. The colours are totally unsuitable for the older people that live here.’
A neighbour, who lives opposite Redlands House, added: ‘It looked much better the way it was before.’
Vale of Glamorgan Council, however, has claimed that the bright colours will help pensioners with dementia or poor eyesight to find their way home.
It confirmed it spent £243,000 on painting the walls, while the Labour- run Welsh government also contributed £ 500,000 towards the refurbishment. Hayley Selway, the council’s head of housing, said the aim was to ‘change the look and feel of the property and bring it into the 21st century’.
She added: ‘It is quite loud and vibrant. The design won’t suit everyone’s tastes and not everybody is going to like it.
‘This was about making a statement, saying this is somewhere a little bit different.’