A BEHIND-THE-SCENES decision will determine the fate of Barry Island Pleasure Park’s giant Ferris wheel.

Vale council planning officers will use their delegated powers - meaning the application will not be considered by committee - to arrive at their decision on January 26, unless an elected member calls for councillors decide at a Vale planning meeting.

Barry Town Council and the Civil Aviation Authority have raised no objection to the Danter family’s proposal to install its 100ft attraction on the site.

The planning application received a boost after the Vale council also received letters from Cardiff Airport and the Ministry of Defence confirming they had ‘no objection’ to the Wheel being re-introduced.

The Barry High was dismantled and taken away in October last year.

The Vale council said it had not received planning permission as it exceeded the height for permitted development on a fairground.

The wheel was operating at a London Christmas Market until early this month and Pleasure Park owner Henry Danter said other places had since expressed an interest in hosting the wheel.

Mr Danter said: “It cost us £1m to build. We can’t afford to keep it in storage.”

In its letter, Cardiff Airport said: “The proposed development has been examined from an aerodrome safeguarding aspect and does not conflict with safeguarding criteria” while the Ministry of Defence confirmed that they had “no safeguarding objections to this proposal.”

The Welsh Government’s historic environment service, Cadw, also told the Vale council it had no objections.

Baruc ward councillor, Steffan Wiliam said: “The Barry Island Ferris wheel is an iconic landmark that has been missed from the Barry skyline over the winter months since it was taken down.

“Barry Town Council has already said that they have no objection to the planning permission for the Ferris wheel to be put back up as long as the fairground is safe, and it is good to know that.”