Passing Comment – Marina could be a springboard for Barry regeneration
By Sue Vincent Jonesa
WELL (stands back in amazement) the much-maligned Vale Council has actually pulled off the ‘Marina Dream’ for our bold new Barry.
A not to be sniffed at £19.8m from UK Government has made its way into the coffers of the ‘Barry Making Waves’ project. Or ‘Y Barri Creu Tonnau’ if you are more bilingually minded.
Luckily for the local authority, the Levelling Up Fund, which invests in infrastructure that improves everyday life, found our Barry Blueprint worthy of a wad of cash.
Now we are promised, within five years, a Watersports Centre, a marina, an extra park plus a bold new business centre.
And it gets better. The Vale Council will splash some cash on our active travel network in the area too, although it’s the lack of bus services that’s an issue in Barry.
All in consultation with us resilient residents who have seen the many highs and lows of our terrific, sometimes troubled town.
Almost sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?
But, ever the optimist, I hope the Marina Dream becomes a reality – it means something other than housing being built in the area.
You never know, we may also finally have a Heritage Centre that could be built under the ‘cultural assets’ part of the deal.
Let’s be honest, the Waterfront has seen a rapid rise in regeneration in recent times. From the early days of the lone Hang Fire and the new supermarkets, right through to Goodsheds – the first ever Urban High in the UK.
And as I have said before, links through the Tunnel of Love to our bustling bespoke High Street, and the road to ‘The Rock’ only further help bring Barry together.
In my view, it also makes sense for us to harness the huge amount of water we have available – including the coastal area and the vast Docks. It might not exactly be ‘surf’s up’ but there plenty of potential there. Blimey, you can’t move for wild sea swimmers and body boarders on our beaches sometimes.
So, with everything crossed, I wish the Vale Council and their Associated British Ports partners the best of luck.
And wait with bated breath to see this Marina Dream in all its glory.
Perhaps then we could tackle the town centre too.
What do you think?
By Sue Vincent Jones
- The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors
- Pause for Thought – The First Christianity
- Join a litter picking walk to improve your neighbourhood
- Sunny days mean honey production is in full swing
- It’s time to take action and protect Swifts
- Carnage in Welsh bee colonies as experts search for answer
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Former Barry office building transformed into vital new homes
Prolific thief banned from entering shops in Barry
I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
WHEN you elected me in May, I said I had come to listen and to…
Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
Parent may have to lose job for school run
Double victory for Pencoed cricketers
