Green light for 100 homes on hotel site

PLANS for more than 100 new homes have been given the go-ahead on the site of a derelict hotel in Burry Port, but there are concerns over the lack of a play area for children.

The development will see 103 homes of low-cost and affordable housing built on the site of the derelict Goodig Hotel which was ravaged by fire in the 1980s. The site was first built as a family farm in the early 1700s.

There have been a series of planning refusals stretching back more than 30 years at the site.

Now, with the new plans approved, the 4.42 hectare site will have eight different styles of homes built there. Councillors at a meeting of Carmarthenshire Council planning committee were told Swansea-based developers Pobl Group have earmarked a parcel of land as recreational space on the edge of the development along the A484 Pwll Road.

However, no play equipment will be placed there and the nearest equipped park is a short walk away across the road.

Councillors said while they were not against the development, they felt more should be done in terms of highway safety if children were to cross the busy road to get to the nearest play area.

Councillor Kevin Madge said: “With 103 homes, that’s a lot of potential children and I think a play area for them needs to be looked at on the site.”

A new access road will also be created onto Pwll Road and a pedestrian crossing.

However, some councillors on the planning committee felt more was needed to ensure the safety of children leaving the estate to visit a playground nearby.

Council planning officer John Thomas confirmed an area of green land separated by the boundary wall of the development next to the road would be for recreational use but would have no play equipment.

Councillor Carys Jones said: “I don’t think that is suitable as recreational space and you can’t kick a ball around there or play cricket.”

Councillor Gareth Thomas asked if there was any provision for a safe crossing, to which highways officers Kevin James replied there was but that anything further was not deemed necessary when asked by councillor Kevin Madge about lowering the speed limit to 20mph along Pwll Road next to the development.

Concern was also raised over how the affordable housing within the site would be located.

Councillor Ken Howells said: “It seems the affordable housing will all be grouped together, creating a sort of ghetto, can’t they be spread out among the other homes?”

Chair of the committee, councillor Alun Lenny pointed out that the whole development was made up of cheaper housing to enable people onto the property ladder.

He added: “The other homes are all low-cost housing and I think this is a fantastic development for Burry Port, there’s the road to serve it and the railway station is within walking distance, along with buses.”

Seventeen councillors voted in favour with one abstention.