BARRY Island traders are furious after a 550 space car park was left closed over a sunny weekend, creating a traffic nightmare for visitors.

Business owners spoke out after people visiting the resort complained they had been unable to find a space at Nell’s Point on the former Butlins site, on Sunday, October 19.

The car park and events space received £692,000 Welsh Government Barry Regeneration Area funding and is intended for “meanwhile use” until marketing the site proves successful.

Car parking has been free at Barry Island since the beginning of this month.

The Vale Council said that particular car park was mainly used as an overflow car park during the summer season.

Carl Windels, co-owner of John’s Cafe, Friars Road, said: “It was sunny and warm, though windy, and the car park on Barry Butlins site remained closed all day, but has been open throughout the week in dismal weather.

“There were huge backlogs of traffic whilst people continually drove around the island trying to find a parking space. I had only recently commented that a sign had been erected declaring Free Parking at the site, yet it’s a matter of ‘no parking’.

“I question whether our council are really trying to encourage visitors to Barry Island or are purposely deterring them from returning. Surely it’s crucial to provide adequate car parking spaces at both car parks especially given the current road infrastructure.

“We despair.”

Barry Island Quasar owner, Mark Vockins,said: “My customers were complaining it was hard to park so I told them there was a car park where Butlins used to be. They told me it was locked. I left my premises because I could not believe it - I wanted to see it for myself.

“I got to the entrance of Nell’s Point car park. The exit gate was open but the entrance gate was locked and chained. I took photo of it and rang the council on the emergency number on weekends at 1.50pm. I went up again at 2.35pm and they were still locked. What the hell is the council thinking? We get a very sunny day on the Island and people come from all over the place and they can't park."

Vale Council operational manager for highways, Michael Clogg, said: "The Nell’s Point car park is generally used as an overflow car park for Barry Island and only opened through the summer period, over Bank Holiday periods or for other special events when it is anticipated that the will be additional need for car parking. The main car park at Barry Island is the Harbour Road car park which offers generous parking opportunities and is available for use all year round.”

Vale MP Alun Cairns said he supported traders’ concerns.

Mr Cairns said: “I received a large number of calls from Barry Island traders about the car park being left closed on Sunday. It is all the more unfortunate as the weather was set fair, and visitors would have been left very frustrated at the difficulty they would have had upon arrival. We must support the resort maintenance staff, but it is very important that we create the right impression for visitors and don’t interrupt business for traders unnecessarily.”