Cerrigydrudion children’s cinema and play centre approved by planners

Sep 9 2010 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

PLANS to build a state-of-the art play centre for children and young people in Cerrigydrudion are a step closer today after Conwy County planners unanimously approved permission.

Planning committee members voted against planning officers recommendations to refuse the application on the grounds of its siting and impact on the environment, after a visit to the Glan-y-Gors site by their sub-committee earlier this week. There recommendations were considered by the full planning committee at their monthly meeting on Wednesday.

Devoted dad Tony Murphy, 37, said his son Dylan’s struggle with liver disease was the motivation behind the centre, which will generate up to six new jobs in Cerrigydrudion.

“My son Dylan, who is only five, had to have a liver transplant four years ago, he was on his deathbed with a very rare liver disease. He’s the inspiration behind the business,” explained Tony who is a serving soldier with the Royal Signals.

“Throughout his treatment Dylan was helped by children’s centres in England and we wanted to create a similar facility here with a sensory room and garden for other children like Dylan to benefit from.”

Tony’s wife Kay 34, from Cerrigydrudion has a background in childcare and will run the centre for children aged from 0-12, which will include a cafe, ‘party room’, children’s play area with climbing frames and slides, sensory room, outdoor sensory garden and play area – in the day and in the evening it will have a modern digital cinema open to older children.

Tony and Kay have been working on plans for the leisure facility for over two years and were bitterly disappointed last month when planning permission was deferred pending the site visit.

The approval will now go to the next planning committee to be reaffirmed.

Discussing the application Cllr Chris Hughes said: “This is exactly the type of facility we should be supporting. The location is fine and the site is already developed with the go-kart's.”

Cllr Jason Wayman added: “This type of business should be supported especially in rural areas.”

The local community council are also strongly backing the development.

Caerwyn Roberts, clerk to the local community council, said: “The village has become so quiet nowadays that we need something to bring a bit of life back.

“We support anything which can help foster a community spirit and we feel this scheme will do that.”

Following the planning approval Tony are Kay are looking to start development on the centre later this year.