Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is calling on Conwy County Borough Council to offer bridging finance to Colwyn Bay British Legion until a Section 106 Agreement is completed and the sale of the property completes.
The Colwyn Bay Legion, which has 400 members, was given permission in June to replace a bowling green and allotments with 12 homes at its site on Coed Pella Road.
It had hoped selling the land could pay off its debts and assure its future.
The application was passed subject to a Section 106 Agreement (a legal agreement between the Council and the Club linked to the planning permission) however the Club now faces voluntary liquidation due to the delays in securing the Section 106 Agreement with Conwy County Borough Council’s Planning Department.
Darren is therefore urging the Council to help safeguard the future of the club by providing them with a bridging loan.
He said:
“In recent months I have been engaging with Colwyn Bay British Legion which has been patiently waiting to agree a Section 106 Agreement with the local authority in order to complete the sale of its property in Colwyn
Bay.
“The Club now faces voluntary liquidation due to the delays in securing a Section 106 Agreement with the Planning Department. The Agreement is necessary in order to complete the disposal of the property to a housing developer. This is an absolute tragedy for the town, the many members of this 100 year old Club and for the commemorative activity and veterans they support. It is also a tragedy for those who are desperate for housing in the locality.
“I have chased the local authority on numerous occasions in recent months to seek progress on the Section 106 Agreement but there appears to have been no or little progress. The Club, via its agents, have also been chasing to no avail. There has been no explanation as to the reason for these delays.
“Given the financial position of the Club and the reasons for its imminent collapse, I would urge the local authority to step in to rescue the situation by offering bridging finance to the Club until the Section 106 Agreement is completed and the sale of the property completes.”
