Have your say on town plans (From Barry And District News)

Have your say on town plans

THIS is another view of the future for Barry town centre as redevelopment plans reach an important new stage.

And local people are being urged to make their own minds up on the plans to reshape the whole area around the old town hall.

Last week the News published an artist's impression of the front of the new-look town hall at King Square.

This latest picture (right) shows an artist's impression of the new state-of-the-art library facing onto Tynewydd Road.

These impressions and much more detail about the multi-million redevelopment of the area can be found in a public exhibition in a mobile unit at the town hall which started yesterday and carries on today and tomorrow (Oct 23 and 24) between 10am and 4pm.

Council project manager John Dent said it was important for local people to have an opportunity to view the plans and discuss the project.

"The redevelopment of the Town Hall has been an emotive subject and I think everyone is pleased to have seen the initial, preparatory work start on the project.

"The planning and listed building applications that have now been lodged for consideration by the Council's planning committee later in the year will show people exactly what is proposed for the building and the artist's impressions will give a better idea of how the final scheme will look."

The Council is spending £6 million over the next two years on the scheme, with another £1 million-plus coming from the Welsh Development Agency.

Apart from a new town hall and library, Central Park will be upgraded.

Better car parking facilities are designed to attract more shoppers to the town centre.

Included in the new building will be a biomass boiler, which relies on sustainable energy sources like wood pellets, produced by recycling waste wood.

A grant for £49,900 from the Clear Skies Organisation has provided half the cost of the boiler, guaranteeing it will be fitted to serve the new central library.