An open letter has been issued by Cowbridge (Ancient Borough) with Llanblethian Town Council in response to the proposed plans for new dwellings on the former girls' school site.

Town Council discussed the plans during the last council meeting on February 15, 2022 and has written an open letter to express their views of the situation.

The letter reads: "In December 2018, following the required pre-application consultation, a planning application was submitted by Hafod to demolish the former Cowbridge High School for Girls on Aberthin Road and replace it with social housing.

"Hafod, which started in 1968 as Hafod Housing Association, describe themselves as "a socially conscious, not-for profit organisation providing housing, care and support services across south Wales for the benefit of our customers and communities.

"Since that time a campaign group has done a lot of work to research and highlight the historical and architectural importance of the building and have sought to have it listed.

"Cadw rejected the listing application but the campaign group are appealing against that decision via the Petitions Committee of the Welsh Government and succeeded in securing a debate in the Senedd which took place on February 16, 2022.

"In that debate it was noted that planning application will be considered by the Vale of Glamorgan Council Planning Committee on March 2 and those who wish to preserve the building were urged to write to the Vale of Glamorgan Council.

"The owner of the building is the Cowbridge Comprehensive School Trust, a registered charity. Their position is that the Hafod proposal is the only viable option and that if it does not go ahead they will be left with a dangerous and decaying building.

"The campaign group, on the other hand, say they have developed a viable alternative scheme that will provide good quality social housing whilst retaining the existing building and that there is a buyer for the site. However, they say that the buyer's efforts to work with both Hafod and the Cowbridge Comprehensive School Trust have been rejected.

"The Town Council believes that if there is a viable scheme on the table which will retain the existing building then that must be fully explored before any decision is taken on the Hafod proposal.

"It would be terrible if a building with local and national historical and architectural importance were to be demolished when realistic options appear to exist to retain and restore it. The Town Council are willing to take part in any discussions which can help to resolve matters."