THE OWNER of Barry Island Pleasure Park says he is considering scrapping plans for a controversial holiday camp on Hayes Road, Sully, and may build light industrial units on the site instead.
Henry Danter, 78, purchased the land In February and submitted a planning application to the Vale Council seeking permission to convert the area into a holiday park with different types of accommodation, including log cabins, camping facilities and towed caravans.
The land was formerly owned by BP but has been derelict for many years and in recent months, work has taken place to improve the appearance of the site.
The site is close to both Tŷ Hafan children’s hospice and Beechwood College, which offers educational facilities for young people with Autistic Spectrum Condition and Asperger’s Syndrome.
People associated with the hospice and college have raised serious concerns about noise from the 600-capacity site spoiling the peace and tranquillity of their facilities.
Residents at the luxury Hayes Point apartments have also expressed worries about noise from the holiday park, and one owner added that as the site was once used to store petrol and other chemicals, it may be unsuitable land for log cabins and caravans.
But Mr Danter says their fears are unfounded and that his attempts to build bridges with affected parties have been rebuffed: “Several months ago, I made an offer to have a question-and-answer session with the people who are concerned about the holiday park where they could ask me anything they liked.
“I sent an email out to all of these organisations and I didn’t receive a single reply – not one,” he said.
Mr Danter also claimed that the Vale councillors and officials have failed to engage with him over his proposals. He said: “I’ve tried to keep communications open because I want to turn Barry Island Pleasure Park into the jewel in the crown of Wales, but for it to fulfil its potential we need proper accommodation so working people have somewhere decent and affordable to stay nearby.
“Barry lost something very important when Butlin’s closed more than 25 years ago, and my plans are a very rare opportunity to recreate something on that scale.”
Mr Danter added that he is considering turning the land into light industrial units if the proposals for a holiday park do not go ahead: “I don’t do dead ducks – I bought this site, which has been an eyesore for a long time, and it’s costing me a considerable amount of money to tidy it up.
“I’ve put in planning applications for both a holiday park and light industrial units. I’d much rather build a holiday facility that Barry and Wales can be proud of, and that will generate wealth for the whole area, so for that reason, I’m calling on the council and all those people who’ve got concerns to meet with me to discuss them,” he said.
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