I FELT I had to write in response to your article in the Barry and District News, (page 7, Thursday, April 4) in connection with the development of two houses in Windmill Lane, Llantwit Major.

I am very disappointed to find that, finally, Emma Homes have now been awarded outline planning permission to demolish the original house in favour of building two.

Emma Homes originally purchased the property nearly three years ago, and at that time received planning permission to extend and modernise the existing property.

However, Emma Homes subsequently did nothing and allowed the property to fall into a sad state of repair - an open invitation for vandals to make the matter even worse - a fact that was borne out by the house being gutted by fire in October (three weeks after the second planning application to demolish the house and build two was refused).

The "derelict state" of the property is due entirely to the existing owners and their obvious need to make money.

You only have to look at the number of houses they have squeezed on to a small plot of land on Frampton Lane to see that.

To say that the redevelopment would enhance the windmill next door is absolute rubbish - to redevelop the existing property would be the best way to enhance the windmill.

Surely, enough of the original Llantwit Major has been obliterated in favour of redevelopment.

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