Yesterday afternoon Conwy County Borough Council’s Planning Committee granted conditional approval for 49 homes to be built behind Ysgol Y Gogarth. This was after a councillor being required to abstain from voting due to ICT related difficulties.
Having been a leading voice against the development, submitting four separate objection letters citing numerous issues with the proposal, including the disruption caused to Ysgol Y Gogarth and Llys Gogarth, road traffic concerns and failure of the development to meet housing mix targets, the Member of the Welsh Parliament, Janet Finch-Saunders, has expressed her disappointment at the committee’s decision and timing.
Commenting on the matter Janet said:
“It is deeply disappointing to see the committee grant conditional planning approval to this development despite the numerous concerns that remain, especially in relation to the impact on Ysgol Y Gogarth and Llys Gogarth.
“Furthermore, I am shocked to see such a controversial application being approved by councillors who do not represent this ward, only two weeks out from Local Government elections that could see many of the committee members replaced.
“With only 14 days left till election day I believe the correct thing to have done would have been to allow the newly elected or re-elected councillors and committee members, after May 5th, to make the decision on this important development.
“In addition to this I am frustrated to see that this crucial committee was not held in person in the council offices to allow members of the public to attend to review the proceedings and to avoid ICT related issues that resulted in a councillor being required to abstain from voting. It is my view that future planning committee meetings should be held in person and open to the public.
“In my opinion this approval is a serious miscarriage of planning justice.
“Given that the Committee has made its decision, I would implore Conwy County Borough Council and all the new elected and re-elected councillors to ensure that every possible step is taken to mitigate the disruption that will be caused by this development to Ysgol Y Gogarth and the hundreds of children and young people that continue to rely on this important facility.”
