Hopes for site as dilapidated former club to be torn down
A BURRY Port building, known to most as the Windsor Club, is being demolished.
The site will be put back into use, it is hoped.
After several meetings with Carmarthenshire Council officials, as well as constant lobbying from councillors John James, Amanda Fox and residents, the building is now in the process of being knocked down.
It is unclear what will replace the building, which was later known as the Sea View pub, but there was planning pemission for 14 residential flats there granted in 2008 – however the timeframe for those plans has lapsed.
These plans were then replaced in 2013 by Cardiff-based M Properties under the name of Mark Vizard for the demolition of the Sea View (Windsor Club) and for 10 terraced houses ranging from two to three bedrooms to be built.
That application was granted on July 14, 2015, and it seems the demolition has started just before the five year deadline expired for any development work to begin.
The original building was built by a local businessman who wanted to set his house in a location where he could see his merchant ships arrive and leave Burry Port Harbour.
In 1936 he changed the house into a men only drinking club and eventually it became a social club that catered for male and female members and was very popular with top-class performers such as Jim Bowen from the ITV television programme Bullseye, Owen Money and pop chart topper Emile Ford.
Unfortunately, the club closed in the early 2000s and became a shell of its former glory of fine architecture and traditional craftsmanship.
Councillor John James said: “When I became a county councillor for Burry Port the problem with the site had been ongoing for over four years with planning permission being sought in 2008.
“Together with then councillor Pat Jones and now councillor Amanda Fox we’ve worked tirelessly to get an end result that will suit everyone.
“The three of us have appreciated the patience and assistance of the neighbours of this site who have had to put up with a lot over the years, but their persistence has matched ours and together we’ve eventually seeing the fruits of our efforts by this dilapidated building being demolished and the site being made safe.”
Cllr Amanda Fox explained: “When I first got involved with this issue, I quickly became aware of all the effort councillors Pat Jones and John James had put in to getting it sorted out for the benefit of the residents and for the town of Burry Port.
“So I was determined to carry on the good work that had already taken place
“Councillor James and I appreciate that it has taken time to get to where we are now, but we are here now because we didn’t give in when things seemed to be going against us and now, we can look to the future and carry on promoting Burry Port as an ideal place to live, visit and invest in.”
Both councillors added that they “wished to publicly thank neighbours Terry and Pat Clarke who know the site very well and have been tremendous, tenacious and inspirational in the way they have conducted themselves and assisted us.”