Farm's bid fails (From Barry And District News)

Farm's bid fails

A VITAL Barry service for vulnerable young people could fold, after an appeal to the National Assembly fell on deaf ears.

Amelia Trust Farm, which works closely with disadvantaged youths, failed in its bid to have a Vale of Glamorgan planning decision overturned.

The local authority had refused the trust permission to build a single-storey house for farm manager David John.

The group claims the building is crucial for the farm to continue providing the sterling service members continually strive for.

The Vale decision prompted director Rev John Stacey-Marks to appeal to the Welsh Assembly.

He told the News: "Our farm manager is a dedicated man who has an extremely important role to play in the running of the Amelia Trust.

"At lambing and calving times of the year, he has to travel at least half an hour to get from his Llantrisant home to the farm when he's needed. We consider this application of the utmost necessity to ensure the smooth running of this community service."

The farm is considered by many to have several important functions in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Apart from being a fun and informative day out for families and schoolchildren, the facility is used by Social Services to help young people who have been excluded from mainstream education. They learn vocational skills in a warm environment, giving them a sense of achievement they would not otherwise have.

But despite all the arguments for the dwelling, and intervention by Assembly Member Jane Hutt, the Vale of Glamorgan appeal hearing, chaired by an inspector from the National Assembly for Wales, upheld the decision to refuse permission.

Among the reasons was that the house would be out of character with the area and would have a "harmful effect on the character and appearance of the farm's rural surroundings."

Even though the appeal took into consideration the increased level of security and the effect an extra person would have on decreasing the workload of the one member of staff currently living on the farm, it was decided the points in favour of the bungalow were outweighed by the points against it.