Campaign to save park from development is lost.

A FIFTEEN-YEAR battle to save the 'jewel in the crown' of a Valleys town has been lost.

The multi-million-pound Angharad Walk development, which has been described as key to the regeneration of ailing Pontypridd, was last night approved by Rhondda Cynon Taf council's development control committee.

In an impassioned meeting, which packed the Muni Arts Centre and lasted more than four hours, councillors voted 18 to 11 in favour of the plan.

The scheme will see a development of shops and offices, anchored by a Sainsbury's store and a multi-storey car park built in Ynysangharad War Memorial Park on the site of a day care centre.

Councillor Colin Gregory, a Friend of the War Memorial Park, said: 'I'm extremely disappointed. I'm still hoping that this can be stopped and maybe the assembly government can call this in.'

Steven McBride, director of the Scarborough Development Group (SDG), said that in order to attract a large company such as Sainsbury's to the town, nearby parking was a must.

He said: 'What we are asking here is that everybody compromises.'

Byron Jones, mayor of Pontypridd, said: 'People are implacably against it.'