Rally against Bath-house (From Tivyside Advertiser)

Rally against Bath-house

11:51am Monday 5th May 2008

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A NEW campaign is being launched this week to stop the development of the £50million Bath-house superstore and hospital site in Cardigan.

A traffic management expert is being called in to give an independent assessment of the plans and local residents and business owners have held meetings and are planning to make formal objections to the scheme, which they say will ruin the town.

"Now there is a new planning application everyone in the town has another chance to get their views across and this time we will make sure that the people who should be listening really do listen to us," said local businessman Robert Davies, who has called for a meeting with new local councillors following last week's elections.

Developers Liberty-Mercian have put in a fresh planning application to Ceredigion County Council for the controversial site - with a single access road from Pendre down Bath-house Road. There would be a new road into the site from a point near Theatr Mwldan.

Mr Davies said: "How can they take all the HGVs through the town? They will have to knock down half of Feidr Fair to do it. They will ruin the place. We have to protect the town from this."

He is suggesting the developers look at other sites. "There is more than one alternative and they should consider all that area across the river at Pentood and the old station, that is ready for development," he said.

Terry Britten-Jones, a resident of Gwbert Road, said: "Work is starting now on the new Local Development Plan and we must make sure that alternative sites are earmarked in that. The UDP cut some areas out, we must look at all that again."

Cardigan Chamber of Commerce has already canvassed all its members for their opinions on the new plans - and is now appealing for local people to send in their views.

"At the moment all the responses I have had agreed with my initial comments that this scheme is unacceptable," said chairman Paul Oakley, who has arranged for an independent traffic consultant to start work this week.

"We have to check out the detailed Traffic Impact Assessment properly and we need someone who is qualified to do that," he added.

"As well as that, I am very concerned that people who are worried about this development have not been heard in the past and now we have another chance to make all the views known. Councillors and planners have to start listening to the local people."

Mr Oakley is asking all traders and local residents to send in their comments on the new plans to his office.

"This matter is about much more than how small local businesses will be affected, important though that is. It's about the whole future of our town. Anyone who wants to send in comments will be very welcome to do so. We will show the politicians and the planners that they have to rethink," he said.

Anyone who wants to send comments to the Chamber can do so by email: paul_oakleyuk@yahoo.co.uk or by mail: c/o Cardigan Outboards, Gwbert Road, Cardigan.

The plans and Traffic Impact Assessment are available to view at Cardigan Library and at the council offices at Penmorfa, Aberaeron.

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