A RALLYING call has been made for all stakeholders to unite in ensuring progress is made on developing the iconic Barry Island Pleasure park site.

The Barry & District News reported last month that independent showman Vernon Studt had decided to end the association he had with the fairground, since 2010.

The Vale Council withdrew the outline planning permission it had granted the owners Ian Rogers and his partners Hilco in March this year – meaning the scheme was at a standstill and the site’s future uncertain.

Vale MP Alun Cairns met with Mr Rogers on Saturday, October 18, to establish whether a scheme could get back on track and he called for all Barry Island stakeholders to come together for the common good.

They met to identify issues holding up development on the site and also met with investors Hilco in Westminster this week to discuss investment – after Mr Rogers had said in the Barry & District News he would welcome assistance in making progress.

Mr Cairn pressed the need for a permanent development to take place and how it could benefit the town.

Mr Cairns said: “I am grateful to Ian Rogers and partners Hilco for agreeing to meet with me to discuss the future of Barry Island Pleasure Park. The issues of the past must not now be a reason for inaction and I am committed to bringing parties together. It is in the interest of every interested party to get a plan in place to develop a year-round resort on the site. The time for investment is now. We cannot let a site with such potential drag on year after year.

“Politics is about delivering things. The economy is improving in Barry. The new link road can help play a role in a plan to develop a destination that visitors can visit all year round. I want to bring all stakeholders together in an effort to get a landmark project off the ground that can support traders and create jobs.”

Vale Council cabinet member for regeneration, innovation, planning and transportation, Cllr Lis Burnett said: “We continue to try and work with the owners of the site to come to a positive outcome and we would welcome any contribution anyone can make. If anyone has a constructive contribution to make then we are here to listen and to work with them.”

Chairman of Pride in Barry, Paul Haley, who campaigned for the £9m Welsh Government regeneration area funding awarded to Barry, said he firmly believed the LDP Collins study showed the way ahead.

He said: “The Barry Regeneration Board was looking to set in motion a legacy from the regeneration monies to create three regionally significant undercover attractions. The Vale of Glamorgan Council said that Collins was too high risk and failed to produce the risk assessment at the Regeneration Board. If that path had been pursued properly, I believe the fairground would be more strategically important.

“The Vale Council and Welsh Government tourism have had since 1997 to sort out tourism and have failed dismally. Local initiatives to bring in world leading tourism experts should have been fully embraced. If Collins had been given the same time and funds as the Eastern Promenade appears to have had, one wonders what the Vale's non-existent risk register would read. We need to re-examine everyone's role and let the councillors facilitate and encourage, and let the entrepreneurs grow businesses. We cannot keep failing the town due to short term local politics and lack of inertia.”