PLAID Cymru councillors have called on the Vale of Glamorgan Council to commit to investing in a regeneration project for old office blocks in Barry town centre.

Former office blocks at Haydock House, Provincial House and the former Crown Post Office on Holton Road and Kendrick Road have been left largely empty since the Vale Council moved out and the Post Office closed earlier this year.

Now Plaid Cymru councillors Ian Johnson and Mark Hooper want to see plans to bring the buildings back into use.

Cllr Ian Johnson, said: “It is important that more funding is available for town centre regeneration in Barry, and I’m pleased that the Barry Town Centre Gateway area, which includes the area around Gladstone Bridge and Dock View Road, will be included in the plans to be sent to the Welsh Government.

“However, Plaid don’t want to see parts of the centre of town fall into disrepair through lack of interest or investment.

“These offices are either previously used by the Vale Council or directly opposite the Council offices, so they are hardly out of sight. It would be great to have innovative uses investigated so these buildings can add something to the town centre.”

Plaid Cymru councillor Mark Hooper, who chairs the Barry Town Council shop local group, added: “As the recent Christmas lights switch-on and Small Business Saturday showed, Holton Road can be a successful commercial area.

“The council need to think out of the box about what they want to see in the centre of Barry, and not just go with the tired old formula of sticking housing on every postage stamp space in the town centre.”

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: “The council is firmly behind the regeneration of Barry town centre, a fact demonstrated by our commitment to the Barry Regeneration Area, Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Visible Places Programme and the Castleland Renewal Scheme.

“Haydock House and Provincial House are owned by third parties, but the council recognises the need to ensure that sustainable future uses are developed for these important sites and will be working with owners to ensure that suitable development takes place that will support the further regeneration of Barry as a whole.”