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| Aberystwyth planning row student flats face demolition | Aberystwyth planning row student flats face demolition |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Flats housing up to 50 students in Aberystwyth faces demolition because a council says they were built without correct planning permission. | Flats housing up to 50 students in Aberystwyth faces demolition because a council says they were built without correct planning permission. |
| Ceredigion council wants the flats pulled down by June 2014. | Ceredigion council wants the flats pulled down by June 2014. |
| But there is confusion about how many of the Queen's Road buildings face demolition, with the council saying one and students claiming it is three. | But there is confusion about how many of the Queen's Road buildings face demolition, with the council saying one and students claiming it is three. |
| The owner has been given an enforcement notice and it is thought he will appeal. He has been asked to comment. | The owner has been given an enforcement notice and it is thought he will appeal. He has been asked to comment. |
| Students are believed to have moved into the flats last year. | |
| Aberystwyth Students' Union said students living in three separate blocks had been issued with enforcement notices but the council said only one block, Ty Newydd, was facing demolition. BBC Wales has asked the council for clarification. | Aberystwyth Students' Union said students living in three separate blocks had been issued with enforcement notices but the council said only one block, Ty Newydd, was facing demolition. BBC Wales has asked the council for clarification. |
| Ceredigion council said the enforcement notice was issued because the flats "had not been built in accordance with the approved plans". | Ceredigion council said the enforcement notice was issued because the flats "had not been built in accordance with the approved plans". |
| "The authority contend that the only resolution for the lack of planning permission for the unauthorised buildings is the total demolition of the building and that lesser steps would not overcome the planning objections to the building as built," said a council spokeswoman. | "The authority contend that the only resolution for the lack of planning permission for the unauthorised buildings is the total demolition of the building and that lesser steps would not overcome the planning objections to the building as built," said a council spokeswoman. |
| The council said the flats' owner, local businessman Geraint Dafis, originally had to demolish the them within six months from the notice taking effect on 19 June. | The council said the flats' owner, local businessman Geraint Dafis, originally had to demolish the them within six months from the notice taking effect on 19 June. |
| But after receiving a number of calls from tenants it said it would postpone any demolition until the end of the summer term in 2014. | But after receiving a number of calls from tenants it said it would postpone any demolition until the end of the summer term in 2014. |
| "The council has received a number calls from concerned students/tenants and their parents due to the ongoing planning enforcement action that the council is taking against the landowner, Mr Geraint Dafis," added the council. | "The council has received a number calls from concerned students/tenants and their parents due to the ongoing planning enforcement action that the council is taking against the landowner, Mr Geraint Dafis," added the council. |
| "The council is committed to pursuing the enforcement action, however, it is very sympathetic to the difficult position in which the tenants now find themselves. | "The council is committed to pursuing the enforcement action, however, it is very sympathetic to the difficult position in which the tenants now find themselves. |
| "Therefore, the council will take a common sense approach to the enforcement action and not seek to impose a timescale for demolition. | "Therefore, the council will take a common sense approach to the enforcement action and not seek to impose a timescale for demolition. |
| 'Stressful period' | 'Stressful period' |
| "If Mr Dafis appeals the planning refusal and the enforcement notice, the council won't receive a decision on those appeals until the end of 2013." | "If Mr Dafis appeals the planning refusal and the enforcement notice, the council won't receive a decision on those appeals until the end of 2013." |
| Laura Dickens, welfare officer at Aberystwyth Students' Union, said the union and the flats' tenants had a meeting with Mr Dafis on Tuesday night. | Laura Dickens, welfare officer at Aberystwyth Students' Union, said the union and the flats' tenants had a meeting with Mr Dafis on Tuesday night. |
| "Mr Dafis said at the meeting that he intends to appeal against the enforcement notice," said Ms Dickens. | "Mr Dafis said at the meeting that he intends to appeal against the enforcement notice," said Ms Dickens. |
| "We're pleased the council has agreed to delay the demolition until June 2014. | "We're pleased the council has agreed to delay the demolition until June 2014. |
| "Everything has happened so quickly and it's quite difficult time for the students as they are in the middle of their exams. They say it's good quality accommodation but it's a stressful period for them." | "Everything has happened so quickly and it's quite difficult time for the students as they are in the middle of their exams. They say it's good quality accommodation but it's a stressful period for them." |
| Ms Dickens said students living in the three blocks of flats, thought to house between 35 and 50 students, had received enforcement notices. | Ms Dickens said students living in the three blocks of flats, thought to house between 35 and 50 students, had received enforcement notices. |
| A lack of student accommodation has been an issue for Aberystwyth University in recent years. | A lack of student accommodation has been an issue for Aberystwyth University in recent years. |