PLANS for 57 flats to be built across two town centre sites have been approved by the Vale council despite objections from more than 250 people.

The controversial plans will see 30 flats built on the site of the former Adult Training Centre on Woodlands Road and 27 flats built a short distance away on the junction of Tynewydd Road and Gladstone Road.

Prior to the Vale Council Planning Meeting last week a 252 signature petition was handed in by councillor Ian Johnson who also spoke at the meeting to relay local concerns about the plans.

The committee also heard from Woodlands Road resident Mike Bendell who told the room that chief among the concerns of people who live in the area was not only the three-storey design of the new flats - but also who exactly would be moving into the one and two bedroom units.

"As a community we made it quite clear at the beginning that we're not against social housing occupying this street," he said. "We recognise there is a need for it in Barry.

"We just want something that's in-keeping with the area that doesn't have a detrimental impact on the community."

Regarding the plans for the former park near Gladstone Road, local campaigner Patricia Rafique spoke to the committee to explain concerns regarding how the new development will impact traffic congestion at the busy junction.

A spokeswoman, speaking on behalf of developers Pegasus, told the meeting that they had listened to feedback from the local community regarding the look of the building on Woodlands Road - and even amended it accordingly. She also reassured concerned residents that when Newydd Housing take over the flats they did not expect them to have a high turnover of people living there and that every person living there would have to disclose criminal convictions and sign a "good neighbour agreement".

The Woodlands Road flats were passed via a 16 to two vote and the Gladstone Road development by 15 to three.

Speaking after the decision Councillor Ian Johnson said: “Local residents submitted a petition from more than 250 people, but their concerns were ignored by Labour and Conservative councillors on the planning committee who passed them with almost no debate or discussion.

“I will now be working with the council to ensure that there is as little disturbance as possible during the construction phase on both sites and that there are no long-term negative impacts upon the close-knit community on Woodlands Road, Court Road and Tynewydd Road as a result of these new developments.”