THE decision to turn down a planning appeal to allow 100 houses to be built in a quarry in Old Colwyn has been welcomed by two local councillors.

Cllrs Cheryl Carlisle and Brian Cossey jointly said they are pleased the appeal against Conwy Council's Planning Committee decision to refuse permission to build houses in the old Plas Gwilym Quarry has been dismissed.

This application by Renew Land Developments Ltd, and Cartrefi Conwy, would have seen the company seek to remove a large section of Craig Road, an historic road that bridges the quarry.

Cllr Carlisle said: “Residents from all over the area objected to this application, citing the traffic problems that would be caused by building possibly as many as 100 houses in the quarry, and on the green fields above.

“There were also many objections on the grounds that local doctors’ surgeries and schools are already oversubscribed and couldn't take any more strain.

She added: “The refusal on the grounds of loss of open space has been welcomed by residents and councillors alike.

“We are all aware of the need for more houses for our young families, but this development would have resulted in the loss of precious open space for local amenity, and the severance of a historic drovers’ road, which is part of the history of Colwyn and its oldest quarry."

Lee Dawkin, of Renew Land Developments Ltd said: “We are still looking at reasons for the refusal by the Planning Inspectorate.

“We will amend the application and be resubmitting.”

He added: “It is government policy to bring forward brown field, rather than green field sites. Our application was in line with government policy. The current use of the site, a recycling plant, is a noisy neighbour which should be relocated.”