Homes or units? Row splits street (From Barry And District News)

Homes or units? Row splits street

RESIDENTS of Arthur Street in Barry are split over plans to develop the derelict land opposite their homes.

Plans to build a housing estate on the derelict land have divided the street into a debate about the future use of the site.

Resident Peter Duncan, who started a petition against any plans to build houses, said: "I'm against housing development only because I think the junction at the end of Arthur Street and Palmerston Road won't be able to cope.

It's also a blind junction and it's just putting too much on one road and the poor residents can't take it.

It's an accident waiting to happen. Let's have industrial units there, let's have jobs for people."

David and Lynne Prince, whose house is right next to the disused site, started a petition backing housing development rather than more factory units.

He said: "I don't want factories by the house. We went campaigning round the houses and there were only five who wanted factories.

If they don't build houses there will be factories and I don't want them by the house.

The houses will have loading bays so it won't add to the parking.

We welcome it." Another resident, Clare Norris said: "I don't think the area will be able to cope with all the traffic.

It's bad enough now without the development.

"The traffic is the main concern, and parking.

It's hard to get a parking space now.

They use this street to bypass the traffic lights.

Most people I think are against it.

It would be nice to put a bench over there.

You've got big lorries over there, it's just bedlam.

The area won't cope."

The Vale Council has backed the development but concern has come from Barry Town Council, which fears the streets in the area will be too narrow for the demand of the re-development.

Concern was also raised about the close proximity to the Palmersvale Trading estate and the level of noise that might be generated by the estate.