Heartbreak for residents as flats scheduled for demolition

4.27.00pm GMT Tue 9th Mar 2010

Gabalfa Lib Dems, Ed Bridges and John Dixon, are angry that the Labour/Plaid Assembly has granted permission for the flats at New Zealand Road to be demolished and replaced with 40 'ugly and boxy' apartments.

Residents and local councillors in Gabalfa have expressed anger and disappointment after the Labour/Plaid Assembly granted permission for the demolition of the flats at New Zealand Road.

The 1950s flats on the corner of Whitchurch Road and New Zealand Road will be knocked down and replaced by 40 new apartments, following the decision.

The original planning application for the site had been unanimously rejected by Cardiff Council's Planning Committee last year, following a campaign from local residents, led by local Lib Dem councillor, Ed Bridges.

Cllr. Bridges, who presented a petition against the planning application, said: "Like many local residents, I am distraught that this scheme is being allowed to go through. The existing pretty block of large flats provides much-needed family accommodation in our area. To rip it down and replace with an ugly, boxy set of tiny apartments with inadequate amenity and parking is a disgrace."

Under the plans, only 35 car parking spaces will be provided at the site, and some of the trees on the land may also be removed.

Liberal Democrat candidate for Cardiff North, John Dixon, added: "I really hope the developer will engage with the local community when the time comes for work on the site to begin. This will clearly be a major construction, and it is important that disruption is kept to a minimum."