Don't demolish this historic building (From Barry And District News)

Don't demolish this historic building

A GROUP of determined Barry residents are fighting to save a building they say is an important part of the town's history.

The Lodge on Park Road was built in 1895 and was part of St Baruc's school. But a planning application recently received by the Vale of Glamorgan Council to build 20 two-bedroomed apartments and spaces for 48 cars will mean the demolition of the Lodge and three surrounding cottages.

Many residents worried about the loss of the historic building and concerned about the rise in the traffic levels resulting from the new development.

Pensioner Robert Douglas lives on Park Road and thinks it would be a "crying shame" if the building were demolished.

He said: "Many of us object to the plans. This Lodge has been here a long time and some of the architecture in the building is wonderful.

"There are not many buildings with this sort of brickwork. It is part of the history of Barry and the town should not lose it."

Gerald Gracey-Cox, a member of Barry Preservation and Civic Trust, is working on a guide called Treasures Of The Vale Of Glamorgan. The Park Road resident said: "This building has a lot of historic importance to Barry and is more than 100 years old.

"It was a school and accommodation for the head mistress of the school. It is architecturally important for the area."

Protech Building and Maintenance of Cardiff has put in the plan for the flats.

Managing director Michael Fitzgibbon said: "We have consulted various architects and have not received an objection from the Vale of Glamorgan Council. We also discovered that the building was not of architectural value to the area. It is also in a bad state of repair."