Everyone who cares about their town has opinions about the direction that town should be going in. Penarth Nub News serves as a platform upon which you can voice those opinions.

Today, Albert Crescent resident Ken Gray continues his campaign to stop the seemingly sprawling redevelopment of Belle Vue Pavilion.

At the end of Planet of The Apes, Charlton Heston cries "You finally really did it! You maniacs!"

A similar thought went through my mind yesterday morning when I saw Vale of Glamorgan Council planning officials pegging out the footprint of the new £1.2million building they are planning to replace the historic pavilion in Belle Vue Park.

They agreed to my request to mark out the area in yellow paint and I would highly recommend paying a visit before the next rainfall washes it away.

It's big. Bigger than it appears on the plans on the VOG website but the marked out area only tells half the story.

The footprint, as shown, doesn't include the area needed around the structure to prevent subsidence. Rather than build a path and retaining wall, a Council official on site today confirmed there would, instead, be a gap or around 1m left before a steeply raked (45 degree) bank would be prepared.

Given the fall of the ground this would, effectively, render a further 3m of space all around the building itself unusable.

The grassed area of Belle Vue Park is the only piece of open green space available to children (of all ages) living near the park or attending Albert Road Primary. It plays a vital role in promoting outdoor activity at a time when there is so much concern about obesity and the lack of time children spend outside or mixing with their friends playing games compared to that which is spent online or at screens.

So, why the need for such a large development in an area of great local importance – and why the proposal for these facilities here, where there is already good provision, rather than, for example, near Penarth Heights or Plassey Square which are crying out for community provision?

Why, indeed!

It is claimed that "interested parties" were consulted on, and gave their input to, the planned development. But when asked if a list of these parties could be produced, it couldn't. Neither I nor my neighbours were consulted despite us living next to the park.

Why were we not asked for our input?

It is also claimed there is a "local desire for more indoor public space", But what is needed is more outdoor space for fresh air and exercise.

St Augustine's Parish Hall is underutilised and is right next to the park. If the Parish Hall isn't turning groups away because they have no availability, then there is no clamour.

Further, there is a "desperate need for new facilities". But no concrete ideas of what new facilities are needed, nor indeed the nature of the facilities to be provided in these plans, is forthcoming.

The plans describe a "flexible internal space" destined to be a Jack of all trades and master of none. A space that is "flexible" rarely proves fit for purpose for anything specific.

There is no plan for managing the property – it is a major undertaking yet the Council have few available resources and certainly none spare for managing the ongoing running of the building and its administration.

There is no plan for maintenance. The Council maintenance budget is already stretched (as can be seen by the state of many properties the Council is responsible for – including the current pavilion) so who would take responsibility for the upkeep of this huge building?

The reduction in available grass space would also sound the death knell for the annual Music in the Park event. While I am personally no great fan of this event, it is attended by 1,000's of people. The planned position of the building and the steeply sloping bank around it would make it almost impossible for this to be staged or for the stage to be seen from most of the park.

If the bowling green is to remain, and it seems it is, then what is needed here is a rebuilding of the pavilion, in a style befitting a conservation area and able to meet the needs of the bowling club. Nothing more.

This can be achieved for a fraction of the proposed budget and, if done properly, could actually reduce the footprint of the buildings already there – increasing the open space available for free play. More green, less grey.

When Charlton Heston saw the Statue of Liberty lying in the sand he lost hope, but we don't need to because, unlike the end of the world in Planet of The Apes, this is not, yet, a done deal.

Representations can still be made via the Vale of Glamorgan website HERE and you can register your opposition to the plan as it stands here.

COUNCIL RESPONSE:

"In light of the building's deteriorating condition, a series of consultations have been held since 2019 to explore opportunities for the future of the Belle Vue Pavilion and to gauge the views of residents and user groups.

"The consultation and engagement sessions have indicated that the existing building is an extremely valued facility by user groups, residents, pupils and parents at Albert Primary School as well as the wider Penarth community and visitors to Penarth.

"Proposals have been developed to reflect the needs of the multiple existing and potential future users of the community building. Plans will be submitted to the Council's Planning Department in the forthcoming weeks.

"Residents will have the opportunity to raise any further comments, as part of the statutory planning process."