HOLTON Road has benefitted from an art project aimed at combating anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

The busy Holton Road area has one of the highest number of reports of anti-social behaviour in the Vale of Glamorgan, including the main shopping street and the adjoining rear lanes. The main issues include fly-tipping, graffiti, youth annoyance and assaults.

To deal with the problem South Wales Police came together with local authorities, the Fire Service, community groups, local schools and businesses.

The initiative targeted both sides of the street with improved security, better management of rear storage areas and clearing away rubbish and debris.

PCSO Rhiannon Harris said: “Since completing the work, incidents of anti-social behaviour have reduced although graffiti remained a problem.

“As a way to tackle this, a community mural art project was established to allow the local community to take ownership of the area and hopefully deter future incidents of graffiti.

"A partnership working group was set up for the project and we were successful in securing sponsorship from local businesses and organisations to commission a mural.

“Local school children from Holton Road and Gladstone Primary Schools were asked to draw or paint images of Barry, to signify what Barry meant to them, the history of Barry and present day to be considered for use in the mural.

"Local organisations and community groups were approached and asked to supply photographs old and new of Barry which were also considered for use in the mural."