AFTER planning permission was granted for six apartments on the site of the former Elim Church on Pyke Street, a call has been made for more parking places nearby.

Town centre councillor Ian Johnson has said that in light of the new plans, developers should work with the council to provide additional parking spaces.

The Plaid Cymru councillor highlighted concerns that with Crossways Methodist Church across the road from the site, weddings and funerals could be affected by an increased lack of parking spaces.

“We all know that Barry has a substantial need for small apartments and housing, but also for parking spaces,” he said.

“Our streets simply weren’t built for the number of cars that people now have.

“The former Elim Church site is being developed for six small apartments. While not everybody moving in will have a car, any extra traffic will make it more difficult for local residents or the users of Crossways Methodist Church across the road to find spaces.

“I asked that the planning committee consider asking the developers to fund local parking improvements to create additional spaces in the town centre, such as removing the unnecessary double yellow lines outside the old Fire Station on Court Road.

“I hope that the Vale Council will look to do this and also work to open up additional parking spaces in other parts of the town centre, such as outside the former YMCA on Woodlands Road, so that residents can park closer to home.”