More from this month’s full council meeting.
Cllr. Ian Williams (Ind, Oldcastle) asked for an update on what measures were being taken by Bridgend Council to deal with derelict buildings in Bridgend town centre.
In the written answer, it was said that over the last 20 years around £7.3million has been invested through various heritage and townscape programmes.
This has brought several buildings back into use – such as Elder Yard (Poco Poco), Porthcawl’s Jennings Building, 11 Nolton Street (former McDonald’s Bridgend) and the recently-opened Marble Steak House restaurant at The Rhiw/Nolton Street.
Cllr. Williams wasn’t happy with this answer – which he described as “generic” – and brought attention to one of the worst eyesores in Bridgend town centre. The former Ranch chip shop on Nolton Street (pictured) was destroyed by a fire in 2020 and has (somehow) remained standing in its dilapidated state ever since.
Nearby residents have had problems selling properties due to the current state of the building.
Cllr. Williams also raised 2 Ewenny Road – on the corner of the Cowbridge Road/Ewenny Road/Nolton Street junction and empty for 35 years. It’s one of the first buildings many people see when entering the town centre (Owen: my understanding is it was recently sold at auction and has planning permission to be turned into flats). Cllr. Williams asked whether Bridgend Council would use its compulsory purchase powers to deal with derelict buildings?
CPO is “expensive and lengthy”
There were hints from officers and Cabinet members that there were actions taking place behind the scenes on certain derelict buildings but this couldn’t be shared in public.
Cllr. Freya Bletsoe (Ind, Oldcastle) thought it was good that there were ongoing legal processes for some buildings but there was a wider issue of town centres looking degraded for years.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Cllr. Neelo Farr (Lab, Porthcawl East Central), said there were various grant schemes to bring buildings into use but if owners didn’t want to engage with the council then it makes things more difficult.
Deputy Council Leader, Cllr. Jane Gebbie (Lab, Pyle, Kenfig Hill & Cefn Cribwr), added that compulsory purchase can be an expensive and lengthy process so its use had to be carefully considered. The electorate wouldn’t be happy to see their money as taxpayers used to chase negligent property owners.
