Steps to it! (From Barry And District News)

Steps to it!

CAN we congratulate the work of Barry Island residents for their sustained campaign to reopen Clive Road steps?

As the local county councillors, we have been able to ensure that residents concerns have been aired at the heart of the council. We have stressed that residents fully support the need to keep a direct pedestrian access to the town.

At a recent council meeting we again pressed the council to pursue every option to ensure residents' wishes were re-spected. Unfortunately, the council is not at this stage willing to accept responsibility for any pedestrian route.

Millions of pounds of public money is being invested in the town. Yet, due in part to the success of this regeneration project, Islanders could be seriously affected by the permanent closure of steps. This cannot be right.

A key partner of the council is the Welsh Development Agency, which has contributed to many of the developments on the Waterfront. The agency fully supports our view that it would be highly regrettable if residents' lost this pedestrian route.

At least we managed to obtain a commitment that the council will be presented with the implications of the council taking over the steps. Meanwhile, Plaid Cymru continues to work with residents and put the case to the council.

We know that there are many demands on council finances, but believe that it simply is not fair that this long standing pathway should be lost to the public.

Nic Hodges Steffan Wiliam Plaid Cymru Councillors Baruc Ward