Barry Island's ex-Butlin’s site to get £692k boost (From Barry And District News)
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Barry Island's ex-Butlin’s site to get £692k boost
4:20pm Friday 1st March 2013 in News
THE former Barry Butlin’s site is set for a £692,000 revamp in an effort to make Barry Island a tourism hotspot.
Welsh Government minister for housing, regeneration and heritage, Huw Lewis visited the former holiday camp site on Nell’s Point, yesterday to announce the start of regeneration works.
The total package includes design work to bring forward a number of schemes that will focus on improving Barry Island for tourists and residents.
Former Barry Island Pleasure Park co-owner and Blackpool Pleasure Beach non-executive director John Collins has submitted proposals for a Sea World and Family Centre on the site.
He was awarded an OBE in 2011 for services to the tourism industry.
The works at Nell’s Point, due to start immediately, will create an events space to allow the Vale Council and local community to host events and act as a focal point.
Temporary car parking for residents and visitors will also be constructed as part of the scheme.
Barry Island café owner and Barry Regeneration Area board member Marco Zeraschi said the money would mean the eastern end of the resort would be brought up to the same standard as the western side.
“You have got to get that infrastructure up,” he said.
“And we are desperate for a car park.
“Phase two will see another major attraction on the Butlin’s site to add to the main one – the beach.
“Gavin and Stacey gave us a flying start in Barry and Barry Island and this will take us to another level. All we need now is that second road linking to Barry Island to complete it. It’s desperately needed.”
Minister Huw Lewis said the aim was to give the public confidence money would be well spent on Barry Island.
“We are in our third year of regeneration projects in Barry,” he said.
“£10m has come from the Welsh Government, the local authority and private business.”
Vale Council cabinet member for regeneration, innovation, planning and transportation, Lis Burnett said the Barry Regeneration Area Board and Vale Council would be seeking to gain further regeneration funding from the Welsh Government.
