PLAID Cymru councillors have welcomed an agreement to build a new community centre at Cemetery Approach.

The move, which has been jointly agreed between Barry Town Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, comes a decade after a controversial planning decision to build new housing on the site was approved in December 2007.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council planning committee had rubber-stamped plans to build more than 60 apartments on the site, but councillors later performed a U-turn on the decision, deciding instead to develop the area as a park.

That was opened earlier this year, and agreement has now been reached on establishing a new community building near the cemetery gates.

Plaid Cymru councillor Ian Johnson welcomed the agreement between the two councils and said that the new Cemetery Approach community facility would be a positive addition for the people of the town.

Cllr Johnson, who is a member of Barry Town Council’s halls, cemeteries and community facilities committee, said: “Maintaining Cemetery Approach for the community as a green lung in the heart of Barry is very important, and having a small community building there, run by Barry Town Council, is part of keeping that space for the people of the town.

“It is ten years since planning permission was disgracefully given by the Vale council to turn Cemetery Approach into housing, despite thousands of people signing a petition against the plans.

“Thankfully that never happened and the space was left vacant until, following public consultation, it was agreed to turn Cemetery Approach into a set of gardens with a new community centre opposite the cemetery gates.

“It was great to see Barry town councillor Nic Hodges open the park earlier this year and I am pleased that, with the park now completed, Barry Town Council and the Vale of Glamorgan Council are continuing to work together to deliver this project.”

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: “The Vale Council is pleased to be working in partnership with Barry Town Council to deliver this important community facility. It will be financed using £124,000 of Section 106 funding obtained from a nearby residential development, alongside previous significant investment from the Vale Council in respect of the open space and road.

“This development follows on from considerable earlier work to enhance the nearby gardens and we hope it will be of major benefit to those living in the locality.”