BARRY has been named as one of seven areas to benefit from a £7million "tackling poverty" fund.

Minister for Housing and Regeneration, Carl Sargeant, recently announced that Barry would be receiving a £1million injection to help with a variety of projects including the conversion of empty properties on Holton Road into affordable homes for young families, as well as improvements to Victoria Gardens including the lighting of paths and enhanced disabled access.

The funding will also go towards improving children’s facilities in the Gibbonsdown area.

New play equipment for younger children, as well as new picnic benches, will be introduced at Dryden Terrace, and improvement works will begin at Meggitt Road, including re-surfacing, installing new football goals, and improving access for pushchairs and disabled users.

Improvements will also be made to convert empty shops into homes on Main Street, create a community and internet cafe at the Barry YMCA, improve children’s play areas in Barry including the George Street play area, and help with the merger of the Vale Centre for Voluntary Services and the Vale Volunteer Bureau.

Councillor Lis Burnett, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Innovation, Planning and Transportation, said: “This is fantastic news for residents, businesses and our Third Sector partners in Barry.

"We made a strong case for encouraging investment to make better use of commercial properties, to support children and young people through learning and play opportunities, to address fuel poverty issues and to provide service hubs that support people into education, training, volunteering or employment.

"I expect the benefits of this investment to be widespread.”

Councillor Neil Moore, Leader and Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, added: “The Council is committed to achieving the best future investment strategy for Barry and will work constructively with the Welsh Government to achieve this. We are delighted to receive this news and I am very much looking forward to seeing the programme of projects come to fruition.”