Astounded (From Barry And District News)

Astounded

I WAS astonished to read of David Melding's (AM member for South Wales Central) praise for the Vale Council's Conservation Initiative.

Is this the same council that has allowed the old Town Hall to go to rack and ruin, and intends to raze 75 percent of Pencoedtre wood, which is ancient woodland and a habitat for wild orchids? For what: an industrial estate. What is wrong with the obvious site for such an estate such as the brownfield sites at the Docks?

This will be the only industrial estate north of a line from the docks to Cardiff Road. Imagine the furore if this was proposed for Cwm Talwg, which is nowhere near as important as Pencoedtre, but, of course, anything will do for Cadoxton.

The fields of Pencoedtre have been covered by mediocre housing, leading to the destruction of open countryside and an ancient burial mound.

Nell's Point has been similarly desecrated, and the council's neglect of the boating lake is appalling. Here in the Cadoxton Old Village it is a conservation area in name only.

Our friend Mr Melding, although showing his support for conservation, is constantly pushing for a new unnecessary road to the airport, through open countryside, of course.

We are unfortunate in that the Vale Council is Philistine in outlook, and one of the most inefficient in the UK. They can't even issue bus passes.

Graham Hookings Coldbrook Road West Barry