Dig left locals worried for site (From Barry And District News)

Dig left locals worried for site

FEARS were fuelled that Barry's controversial White Farm site was set for development, after the bulldozers moved in last week.

Campaigners watched in horror on Wednesday as a number of 100-metre strips of turf were removed. An action taken, they claim, with no explanation or prior warning.

The dig was part of an archaeological exploration, but its secrecy has angered those fighting to save the site.

Councillor Rob Curtis, who has campaigned against houses at White Farm, says he is furious.

He told the News: "The first I knew about this was when I received phone calls from local residents demanding to know what was going on."

According to the Labour representative, the area was earmarked for 'mixed development' use in the new Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Authority Plan, but no new information has been made public since.

Cllr Curtis added: "There is a conspiracy of silence at the Civic Offices to deliberately exclude local councillors and residents from any decisions about the future of this beautiful valley and green lung.

"I'm calling on the leader Jeff James to urgently inform residents and local councillors about what the future holds for the green fields at White Farm."

Resident Valerie Bird, 60, from The Pastures added: "Barry is becoming vastly over-populated for the amount of green space we have left. We should be looking after green areas, not giving them over to yet more houses."

Keith Lewis, 49, from Merthyr Dyfan said: "It's hypocritical of the Vale council to ask children to choose creatures and plants as logos when they are giving out planning permission all over Barry to destroy our flora and fauna."

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: "We can confirm that there is an archaeological excavation taking place on White Farm.

"There is currently no planning application before the local authority for developments in this area."