A public consultation is open to gauge opinion on the proposed “wellness village” development at BCBC’s former Sunnyside offices and the former Bridgend Magistrates Court off Glan-y-Parc in Bridgend.
The consultation website is available here and any comments and observations have to be submitted by November 22nd 2018. The development is being jointly-led by Linc housing association and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg health board.
The site lists detailed transport assessments, a tree survey, ground condition survey as well as full plans for the proposed development, which will include:
- A new 2,500sqm Primary Healthcare Centre which will replace Ashfield & Newcastle GP surgeries, as well as Bryntirion and Quarella Road clinics. The healthcare centre will include a dental practice, on-site pharmacy, phlebotomist, as well as clinics for out-of-hospital services such as paediatrics, group therapy, speech & language therapy, audiology, sexual health, ophthalmology and podiatry.
- A 66-space car park for the healthcare centre, with a zebra crossing across Glan-y-Parc.
- A central three-story block of 19 one-bed and 9 two-bed apartments built next to a resident’s courtyard.
- 26 two-to-five bedroom homes in several terraces, plus 5 one-and-two bed bungalows.
- A communal “growing garden”/allotment site.
While there’s probably broad agreement that a new primary care centre and affordable housing are both desperately needed in Bridgend, the proposal isn’t without controversy.
There’s heavy opposition from local residents, some of whom were said (around the time of the last public exhibition) to have been antagonised by the what they described as a “dismissive, rude and condescending” attitude by Linc officials.
One flashpoint centred around the removal of trees despite assurances this wouldn’t happen. By my count, the tree survey (pdf) recommends at least 25 trees are removed.
Needless to say, there’ve also been concerns over who will live there, not helped by a summer which has seen a number of high profile incidents in Bridgend involving drugs and violence.
There are a number of other questions, namely what Bridgend’s move to Cwm Taf health board next year will mean in terms of the project leaders. You will assume this has already been sorted. Also, the only bus route directly serving Glan-y-Parc is set to have its subsidy withdrawn.
