VALE Council officers say use of land adjacent to Barry Cemetery is under consideration - after a cabinet member announced it would be converted to a park.

Barry Town councillor Robert Bertin said Vale Council cabinet member for visible services Cllr Rob Curtis had announced, at the amenities committee meeting on Monday (December 2), that Cemetery Approach would be turned into a park and given to the town council.

But Vale officers say a decision will be made based on the outcome of a public consultation held in 2012.

The land was at the centre of the application for a controversial Newydd housing association development, to build 61 affordable dwellings adjacent to Cemetery Approach, in 2008.

But the Save Cemetery Approach Action group, collected almost 6,000 signatures on a petition opposing the plans.

Newydd’s application was thrown out by the Vale's planning committee in March 2008, after councillors rejected the plans as out-of-character with other buildings in the area.

Residents took part in a consultation, in 2012, which was reported to cabinet in the autumn of that year and the council was looking at how it could deliver an open community garden and allotments – the most popular options chosen by local people.

Vale Council operational manager for parks and grounds maintenance Phil Beaman said: “Officers are still considering the use of the land at Cemetery Road based on the outcome of the consultation. A report on the open space use of the site will be presented to the council’s cabinet for their consideration.”