A NEW multimillion pound homeless shelter in Tredegar is being met with opposition - with the demolition of the existing building being described as "municipal vandalism."

Arosfa, Blaenau Gwent's only homeless shelter for the past 30 years, is set to be torn down and replaced with a new £2.7 million building with 20 self-contained flats and will be staffed 24 hours-a-day.

But people in the area say the 100-year-old building should be repaired instead to preserve the exterior.

Tredegar central and West councillor Haydn Trollope, who also sits on the Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum, said: "It's wanton destruction and nothing more than municipal vandalism."

Cllr Trollope said he felt the council have ignored residents and their concerns about what is being seen as losing a part of the town's heritage.

The council said parts of the building are in a bad state and the cash needed to bring the building up to minimum standard by 2011 through repairs could not be found and demolishing and replacing the building is more financially viable.

John Morgan, of Blaenau Gwent Heritage Forum, said: "What's happening is vandalism, in a way they're destroying our heritage. I think it should be used in conjunction with Bedwellty House and Park."

Arosfa was built in 1903 after the land was donated by Lord Tredegar to the board of guardians of Tredegar specifically to build a children's home, known locally as the Cottage Homes.

The site was later donated to the old Monmouthshire County Council, before being handed over to the old Gwent County Council, then to Blaenau Gwent Council.

A public consultation was held in October 2008 to gauge reaction before the planning application was submitted. A meeting between the council and Tredegar Town Council was held in February.

Planning permission for the project, which is being run by United Welsh Housing Association, was given in July 2009.

The council said the design will meet heritage requirements set out in the Tredegar Heritage Guide and extra money was made available to ensure the building fits in with its surroundings.

Demolition work is due to start in April and the new building should take around 15 months to finish. It will feature solar panels, wind catchers and underfloor heating.

The council said: “This is an important project which will provide homeless people in Blaenau Gwent with safe and secure temporary accommodation. It will also provide a significant level of inward investment into the local area.”