THE COASTAL Communities Fund has provided no monetary assistance to any organisations or projects in the Vale of Glamorgan in its latest round of funding.

The funding was introduced by the Welsh and UK Governments – but is administered by the Welsh Government and the Big Lottery Fund, who this week announced £4million worth of grants for coastal communities across Wales. However none of these were in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The chairman and secretary of Barry Community Water Activity Centre, Chris Basten and Philip Walters, raised concerns that they had not had an opportunity to secure funding from the scheme, in a meeting with South Wales Central AM Andrew RT Davies last week.

Mr Davies has since submitted two written questions to cabinet secretary for communities and children Carl Sargeant, to enquire as to when the next round of funding would become available and how organisations could apply.

He also asked how many groups in the Vale of Glamorgan had benefitted from the scheme.

Mr Davies said: "It was great to visit Barry Community Water Activity Centre and I am very grateful to Phil and Chris for giving up their time.

"They raised concerns regarding Coastal Communities Funding and so I asked some questions to the Cabinet Secretary. I’m still waiting on a response, but was disappointed to hear the announcement that no organisations from the Vale were included.

"I hope in the next round of funding more information will be made available so that Vale projects like Barry Community Water Activity Centre can benefit from the scheme."

Information contained on the Big Lottery Fund website confirmed that two such awards have been made to groups in the Vale of Glamorgan during the first three rounds of funding. These included one worth over £220,000, made to Vale of Glamorgan Council last year.