UTTER CHAOS (From Barry And District News)

UTTER CHAOS

BARRY'S struggling shopping centre could be plunged into chaos due to a mix-up over council regeneration plans.

Traders fear plans to upgrade the area will have the reverse effect and choke the life out of businesses - just as the new Waterfront retail park expands further.

Starting in September, the two Wyndham Street car parks will be given to contractors' vehicles, with the loss of 183 spaces for the next 12 months.

In October work starts on the new Wilkinson store being built on land from 59 - 71 Holton Road, which will mean a permanent loss of a further 50 spaces.

There will also be massive disruption for 16 weeks in 2005 after Welsh Water confirmed they are to carry out construction of new pipe work down the middle of Holton Road.

The British Shops and Traders Association (BSSA) talks of trade displacement between 20 percent and 25 percent if disruption lasts for three months or more.

Chairman of the Holton Road Traders Association and local businessman Nick Frangoulis said: "This loss of facilities could potentially have a devastating effect for the next 12 months and beyond. The impact on jobs and trade will be severe.

"Although all these proposals relating to pipe works and the loss of car parks have been known for a considerable time, it's only during the last couple of weeks that council officers have woken up to the potential consequences."

But the Vale of Glamorgan Council insist they have the situation under control, saying retailers are represented on a special team looking at car parking in the town centre.

Vale cabinet member for regeneration, tourism and leisure Cllr Michael Harvey said: "The council recognises the need for the town centre to be regenerated alongside the Waterfront, and these multi-million pound schemes are fantastic news for Barry.

"However, any major developments of this scale and complexity within the town centre are bound to lead to some temporary difficulties with respect to car parking and traffic management. A strategy will be put in place in order to deal with these temporary car parking issues so that existing traders can continue to operate while these changes take place. The council will inform all traders in the town centre, as well as the public, on the options proposed."