FOLLOWING a year which saw big changes breathing new life into Barry and Barry Island, the Vale of Glamorgan council's cabinet member for regeneration, Lis Burnett, has talked about the town's transformation, the challenges that lie ahead and defended the Vale council's "hard negotiating stance" with potential developers.

Councillor Burnett praised the hard work of those behind the scenes at the Vale council, and also took a shot at Vale MP Alun Cairns for comments he made recently in a column in the Barry and District News which encouraged "local council bureaucrats" to "get behind Barry instead of standing in the way of growth".

Councillor Burnett said: “I would wholeheartedly agree with Mr Cairns that, in spite of the huge budget cuts we face this year, there are many good reasons to be positive in the coming year. Unfortunately it is at that point my view and his differ.

“Taking a cheap shot at ‘council bureaucrats’ knowing they are not in a position to respond is unforgivable. Alun Cairns would know that delivering the types of outcomes we now see in Barry takes months if not years to achieve."

Speaking about the changes that Barry has seen over the last few years, including the regeneration of Barry Island, the arrival of Henry Danter's fairground, the redevelopment of the Pumphouse and more Councillor Burnett said: "What a difference just three years can make. People tell me that Barry doesn’t just look different, it feels different. Such dramatic progress doesn’t happen by accident.

“The successful return of the funfair to Barry Island involved the council in many months of negotiations long before Mr Cairns’ over-excited selfies as rides arrived on the site. We recognise that it takes time to get large scale projects up and running and that is why the council continue to provide advice, guidance and support to the Danter family to help them achieve their vision for the funfair.

“Similarly the renegotiation of the second road to the Island involved unpicking a complex S106 legal agreement and renegotiating new timescales with the developers which will see them deliver the road years ahead of the original plan.

“In the meantime, changes the Council has made to the traffic management system have stopped the congestion that had become part of life for Island residents. "More recently extensive negotiations have begun to deliver an exciting hotel development on Nell’s Point as part of the next stages of the Island’s ambition to be Wales’ premiere resort."

Responding to comments made by Mr Cairns in his Barry & District column, Councillor Burnett defended the council's "hard negotiating stance" when it comes to securing S106 agreements from developers.

"Mr Cairns appears to suggest that the Council should not negotiate S106 agreements for the benefit of the town," she said.

"I make no apology for the hard negotiating stance taken by officers in my team. The Vale of Glamorgan is one of the most sought after areas for development in the UK and we will fight to ensure the people of the Vale gain maximum benefit from any development approved.

"Successful outcomes take time and we need to be clear, first and foremost, where our loyalties lie. Ours lie with delivering results for the people of the Vale of Glamorgan. In fact the recent establishment of the new Watersports Centre in the docks was only made possible by the £106,000 of funding negotiated by the Council as part of the S106 for the waterfront development to support it.

“To date there is no evidence of any input by Mr Cairns or the UK government into the successful regeneration of the town."