A Cheeky Request For Help

[AndrewRoberts]

Hi all, the following request may be considered a little cheeky as I'm using my first post on the forum to make it, although I have been a follower for quite some time.

I live in Holyhead, on the island of Anglesey in North Wales, there are currently proposals to build a 500 berth marina and 380 apartments/houses in the harbour area - the developer's website is here:http://www.holyheadwaterfront.co.uk/. The company formed to promote the scheme is a joint venture between property developers Conygar and the ferry company Stena Line.

The outer harbour at Holyhead is currently a lovely unspoilt area that is also a designated conservation area and is enclosed by the longest breakwater in the UK which is also a grade II listed structure, although badly in need of repair. The photo on the home page of the existing marina gives a good indication of the area that is proposed for development in that it is the majority of the promenade/coastline that can be seen in the bottom edge of the picture, excluding the existing marina: http://www.holyheadmarina.co.uk/.

There are points for and against the proposals, it will save two grade two listed buildngs that are near to collapse, it would bring some employment to what is one of the most deprived areas of the country with soaring unemployment rates, however it would also deprive the town of an area that is currently free for all to enjoy with magnificent, unspoilt views of the harbour and Irish Sea and repalce it with what are likely to be, in the majority one and two bed holiday apartments that will leave the area a ghost town for the majority of the year.

My request is for people to consider the facts, they may think the scheme is justified, however, if not, they may wish to write a letter of objection to Anglesey Council planning department. The more letters that are written the better. The application details can be found here: http://www.anglesey.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=5333.

This is just a request for forum members to consider the facts and act if they thing appropriate. All help will be gratefully recieved.

Thanks

Andrew

 

[robgil]

Hi Andrew, in fairness and without looking too hard at it , i would say if it benefits a community then it cannot be a bad thing , perhaps rather than trying to deny it being built perhaps compromises should be met that might help to bring both ends of the spectrum together to make a unified decision as to how things should progress.
It would seem there is a lot of unspoilt coastline around the area and one wouldnt have to travel far to see it.

 

[Pford75]

I'm also slightly uncomfortable with the idea of 'activists' canvassing for support against a proposal from people that are likely to be unaffected by the impacts. It's very easy to register an 'objection', but how does one register 'support'?

On a period property forum, I would imagine that the rescue of 2 listed buildings (which might otherwise be lost) is a fairly significant factor in encouraging support of the application.

 

[Penners]

I'm afraid I agree, Andrew. Even if forum members are broadly supportive of your stance, I can't see that the planners are going to pay much attention to remote objections from people who will be completely unaffected by the development.

I don't know the area at all, so I'm unaware of the full pros and cons of this particular proposal, but I wonder whether there might be a compromise plan that you and the local community might support. One which allows the development and the saving of two listed buildings, but still permits the public access to enjoy the views of the harbour and sea.

 

[AndrewRoberts]

Thank you all for your comments, I think that the best that can be hoped for is some form of compromise. The development is, in effect in two parts, one being the proposed new marina and apartments, the other including a hotel and houses in the area near the start of the breakwater, the two being seperated by the existing marina.If it was possible to have a @part@ objection to a proposal, then I would do so and object to the building of the marina which is what is distressing the majority of people. The other half of the development, which includes the listed buildings (one of which will form part of the hotel), is far less obtrusive and will tidy up what is currently an area of derelict land. I shall be stating this as part of my letter of objection.

 

[biffvernon]

The setting of a listed building should be of interest to folk on this forum, as well as the building itself.

 

[AndrewRoberts]

Thanks Biff, I think that was what I was trying to get over but somehow lost in trying to summarise things and keep my post relatively short.

As I have said I have followed the forum for about three years now and have found it helpful in renovating my own property, and in doing so I have become very familiar with the regular contributors. What I forgot, however, is that you all haven't a clue who I am and I suppose I should not, as a complete stranger ask people to get involved in an issue that does not directly affect them.

The reason that I posted on here was that the proposed development will dramatically alter a conservation area and the setting of a number of listed structures, CADW's comment on the request for scoping opinion was:"CADW is rather dismayed at what is being proposed since it introduces new forms which are wholly at odds with the existing character of the harbour and shoreline area". There is also talk of attempting to get world heritage site status for the breakwater, however, I am unsure as to how the proximity of such a development would affect the chances of that happening.