THE company that brought Barry Asda to the Waterfront development has begun the marketing of two new schemes with proposals for cafes, restaurants, bars and leisure.

The Quays and West Haven sites, near the store, are being prepared with construction expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2019.

Asda opened in 2015, but there has been no further retail or leisure located on the site since the £250m development - downgraded to £230m - was first proposed in 2007.

The outline plans from the Barry Waterfront Consortium - Persimmon Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes - went before Vale planners in 2009 with the land earmarked for residential, mixed leisure and retail use.

Fletcher Morgan is marketing the sites.

Company director, Richard Ryan said: “We did the sale of the Asda site and we’ve got a bit of interest already.”

Residential apartments would be above the cafes, bars and restaurants.

But some residents have disputed whether the plans will materialise.

Barry Island Historical Group chairman, Mike Heffernan said: “The people of Barry have heard all this before. I will believe it when I see it with my own two eyes.

“The developers are not in the business of buildings restaurants and cafes just in case someone wants to run one.

"They are in the business of building houses and apartments. That’s how they make their money.

"Where are all the restaurants, bars and cafes promised in previous phases of the Waterfront development?”

Daz Davis, 52, of Treharne, Barry, added: “This will kill Barry town centre.

“Does Barry need any more shops?

“This development will only be at the expense of losing other traders.

“They should have used their heads 20 years ago and developed a shopping centre down the docks and made everyone move down there from town.

“Look at the empty shops in Barry Dock. We need visiting trade."

He added: “I remember when the Docks development got tabled 30 years ago and it was promised that a marina would be built. I think a marina would be the best thing that happened to Barry since the docks were built in the 19th century. “What happened to the marina project?”

A Vale council spokesman confirmed the authority had recently approved two planning applications that together comprise The Waterfront District Centre.

He said: “The council is optimistic that these developments, which will be sited alongside the recently approved park, will create a vibrant and exciting public space and will complement the uses within the converted Pumphouse.

"This development will represent a significant addition to the existing commercial uses in the area and will be the focal point for a high quality mixed use Waterfront.”