Huge development proposed for Llangefni school site

Apr 2 2008 by Elgan Hearn, Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

LLANGEFNI residents will be given a say on major plans to revive the ailing market town.

A five-screen multiplex, 60-bed hotel, parking for 500 cars and retail and leisure units are included in proposals of what could by done by Anglesey County Council to develop 10 acres currently occupied by Ysgol y Graig and Ysgol y Bont.

The plans have been drawn up by Glyn Pritchard-Jones of St Malo, the trading name for Bob Parry and Co Ltd, to dovetail with his plans to develop Dafarn Newydd, now called Anglesey Business Park, on the outskirts of the town.

It is understood that the parcel of land could be included in the local development plan.

Local planners are also thought to be interested in an idea for a semi-orbital ring road, which will take drivers around the town rather than through it.

The road would run from the roundabout near Peboc, behind the industrial estate to Penmynydd road and up to Dafarn Newydd, eventually linking with the roads to Talwrn and Benllech.

However the council is yet to receive any plans from Mr Pritchard-Jones about the schools’ site and said any speculation about the future of the site would be “greatly premature”.

The plans are all designed to trump the Ty Mawr development in Llanfairpwll.

In December, Warrington-based Ynys Môn Estates LLP submitted an application to develop the Assembly owned 57-acre site just off the A55.

The Ty Mawr plans consist of a variety of retail outlets, a supermarket, cinema, 10 pin bowling, health and fitness, restaurants and 100,000 square feet of office space.

The decision on Ty Mawr has been postponed until after the local elections in May.

Llangefni town council hopes to hold a public meeting on Wednesday, April 23 with interested parties, but it is yet to be finalised.

Mr Pritchard-Jones explained that his plans for the schools’ site was to show what could be done “if the council chooses to exploit this asset”.

He said: “It’s worth about £10m which is about 10% of its budget.

“I’ve already met with the Anglesey Council managing director Derrick Jones and head of planning Arthur Owen.

“I believe this would reinforce Llangefni as a retail sub centre with Bangor as the regional shopping centre.”

Pupils at Ysgol y Graig should be starting at their new purpose-built school on Talwrn Road in September, however the parents of special needs school Ysgol y Bont have fought hard in the past to keep their school open.

An Anglesey County Council spokesman said they intend to include a number of “prestige employment sites” as options in the pre-deposit local development plan.

“When the pre-deposit LDP is published during the summer, there will be opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed prestige employment sites and their locations.

“The authority has not yet received any plans from Glyn Pritchard-Jones in relation to the redevelopment of the Ysgol y Graig/Ysgol y Bont site in Llangefni.

“Indeed, any speculation regarding the future use of the site would be greatly premature at this stage as no decision has yet been made regarding the possible relocation of Ysgol y Bont.”