Fate of eyesore station (From Barry And District News)

Fate of eyesore station

THE fate of one of the most prominent buildings on Barry's horizon is hanging in the balance.

The Vale council's cabinet discussed auctioning the dilapidated fire station on Court Road at a meeting last week.

But they decided to transfer the responsibility of the monumental structure to the Barry Regeneration Partnership for further consideration.

The fire station was declared a Grade II listed building in 1995. But having been disused for 30 years, it is infested with pigeons and other pests.

Situated next to the Court Road multistorey car park, the 105-year-old building has become an eyesore, with all of its doors and windows boarded up.

Buttrills ward member Cllr Margaret Alexander said: "I hope whoever does purchase the building will restore the outside and brings it back to its former glory.

"The red and yellow brick is so unusual.

"The fire station is a definitive line on the Barry horizon, and I hope the developer is sensitive to this."

Cllr Alexander also said she hoped the developer would do something profitable with the inside of the structure.

The building could cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to purchase, make safe and to renovate.

The property has been marketed on two separate occasions, but the council has failed to secure a buyer.

Council planning committee member Cllr Andrew Dobbins said a possible use for the building could be residential apartments.

"I hope someone purchases it," he said.