Don't leave us in the dark - traders (From Barry And District News)

Don't leave us in the dark - traders

TRADERS and residents remain firmly in the dark over the opening of three shops on Winston Square.

And the local ward member has branded the Vale council"s treatment of the shop owners as "abysmal".

Norman Byrne, aged 49, who is due to occupy one of the units on the Colcot site with a Londis store, says that he has been ready to open since December.

However, his plans were thwarted because of the Vale of Glamorgan Council"s decision to make traders pay for the maintenance of the lay-by in front of the premises.

Initially, the traders were asked to foot a bill of almost £50,000 to ensure the lay-by is up to an "adoptable standard" before the occupation of the units.

The council conceded in July by allocating £34,000 towards the works, meaning that traders had to contribute £15,000 collectively.

But Mr Byrne, who says he has now paid his share of the £15,000, said: "I"m getting desperate now. I"m just sitting around and waiting for the council to give us the go-ahead to open.

"I"m not trading, and not making any money."

And resident Margaret Parsons, aged 79, who lives with her husband in Dorothy Close, is also anxiously awaiting the opening of the Winston Square shops.

"I was very happy when I heard the shops on Winston Road were going to be built.

"So now they have been built, why haven"t they been opened? I walk with a stick, and the shops at the other end of Winston Road are too far for me.

"I just want to know why it is taking so long to be occupied - hopefully they will be open by Christmas."

Dyfan ward councillor Anthony Powell said he believes the traders have been treated "abysmally" by the Vale council.

And he believes maintaining the lay-by outside the retail units should be the council"s responsibility. He too, is unsure of when the shops will open.

"I have lived in the area for most of my life and the council has always neglected the lay-by," he said.

"It isn"t fair that the traders should have to pay for it. They have already spent thousands of their own pounds building the units - they do not need another bill."