Anger in Penrhynside and Penrhyn Bay over new houses plan

Jun 18 2009 North Wales Weekly News

New houses would place children at risk, say mums

FURIOUS villagers are campaigning against a proposal to designate green fields for housing.

People living in Penrhynside and Penrhyn Bay say development of the ten acre site off Derwen Lane with up to 100 houses would cause traffic chaos and place unbearable strain on services.

They have formed an action group to try to stop the land being designated as suitable for housing in the new Local Development Plan for Conwy county which is currently out to consultation.

“To put 100 houses there is crazy. The fields are right opposite Ysgol Glanwydden and Ysgol y Creuddyn.

“Traffic in the morning is chaos with kids getting dropped off by cars and buses and any more traffic would be a real safety risk.

“We’re also worried that once development is allowed on the opposite side of Derwen Lane it will allow the spread of housing all the way to the A470 roundabout,” said Penrhyn Against Development member Deiniol Jones.

Mums of pupils at Ysgol Glanwydden are also worried that increased traffic would put children at risk and put too much strain on local services.

“Derwen Lane is very busy now and more houses would just make it worse. We’re also worried about the strain on Ysgol Glanwydden which is already over subscribed with a waiting list, and on the doctor’s surgery in Penrhyn Bay,” said mum Sasha Townend.

County councillors Linda Groom and Chris Cater called a public meeting last week and invited Conwy County Council planning and highways officers along.

“It was packed out and it was obvious that people are very worried. It would be fair to say the council officers received a good grilling,” said Cllr Cater.

On Monday evening the action group held its first meeting at Penrhyn Old Hall which Deiniol Jones says was also packed.

“There were so many people that some couldn’t hear what was being said, but it shows how strongly people in Penrhynside and Penrhyn Bay feel about this.

“It’s not just the strain on roads and services we’re worried about, we’re worried that Penrhynside will lose its identity as a village,” said Deiniol Jones.

Residents have until the end of the month to make their views known but many are unsure how to fill in the forms distributed by the council.

“There is a lot of jargon in the form, so we’re holding a session at Penrhyn Old Hall at 7pm on Tuesday where people can be helped to fill it in,” he said.