A TOWN Council meeting cancelled due to lack of attendance has led Plaid Cymru councillors to accuse Labour members and fellow councillors of "not taking their roles seriously".

A Special Planning Committee scheduled for Thursday, January 15, had to be called off when only two of the committee's eight councillors turned up.

The committee is made up of an additional five Labour members and one independent councillor.

The two councillors, Plaid Cymru leader Shirley Hodges and Ian Johnson said that this is the third time in six months that a meeting has been cancelled due to not enough councillors attending.

Councillor Shirley Hodges said: "Barry Town councillors are all volunteers. We have other calls upon our time - work commitments, family, social and, often, other meetings as well.

“But this is fast going from a joke to a serious attack upon democracy in our town.

“In this case, the council cannot submit any recommendations on the Vale’s local transport plan and how it affects Barry over the next 15 years.

“That’s a long time for Barry’s voice not to be heard.

“There are councillors who have been elected by the public and are not taking their roles seriously. I hope that electors in Barry take a look at these attendance records when they next cast their vote.”

Town Council leader and Labour councillor Stuart Egan responded to the complaints, he said: "The Special Planning Meeting was not a scheduled meeting and called at very short notice.

"There were four apologies given for the meeting and it is regretted that the meeting was not able to proceed.

"In relation to the meeting of the Review Working Party (the second meeting referenced) meeting this was not quorate due to sickness. I would point out that this is not a decision making meeting."