MORE than 200 people have signed a petition against proposals to build 57 flats in Barry town centre.

Residents of Woodlands Road and surrounding streets have signed the petition which opposes plans to build 30 flats on the site of the former maternity hospital and a further 27 flats on the junction of Tynewydd Road, Gladstone Road and Woodlands Road.

The petition was presented to Plaid Cymru councillor for Barry town centre Ian Johnson, who will formally present it at the next Vale of Glamorgan council meeting.

The petition was organised by local woman Patricia Rafique.

“Woodlands Road is a town centre street with a well-knit and close local community," she said. "Like all town centre streets we already struggle with traffic congestion and parking in the area and an extra 57 flats and houses will only make matters worse, especially if the council also introduce car park charges that will force shoppers further onto surrounding streets.

“The response that I have had to my petition shows how strongly people in the area feel about forcing extra housing into an already over-developed part of town.”

Councillor Ian Johnson said: “Ever since they were first made public, the plans for two separate developments on Woodlands Road have seen local residents engage strongly in the planning process.

“Nearly 30 residents attended a public meeting that I held to discuss the former maternity hospital site and 40 residents came to the Barry Town Council planning meeting to discuss these plans.

“When the plans go before the Vale Council, I will be representing those residents’ views on how they will affect their quality of life.

“Unfortunately the bedroom tax has pushed hundreds of families in Barry onto housing waiting lists. If we could scrap the bedroom tax then that would substantially reduce the housing need in our town.”