IT seems unbelievable that the site of the former holiday camp on Nell's Point has not yet been given the green light for any of the projects put forward for the site in a little over 17 years.

This issue has undoubtedly cost the taxpayer many hundreds of thousands if not millions of pounds in specialist reports and fees to consultants during this period. What exactly is the council's eventual goal for this site?

It isn't that they are indolent or dodging duty by intent, they may work as hard as anyone yet they seem to get so little done. That is certainly the case when one looks at the history of the last 17 years on Nell's point.

Every year since 1997 time left 12 fresh months in their care, so just how many of those months have they spent on opportunity and dare? The answer to that is quite simple - none.

Pride in Barry and regeneration board member Paul Haley and local businessman Jonathon Osborne are both absolutely spot on with their comments that the council should target tourism trade industry publications to get a wider interest in the site and generate what is really needed for Nell's Point. The opportunities missed or even frowned upon over the last seventeen years are both colossal and above all scandalous. Tourist accommodation and leisure attractions are what is really needed for Barry Island and to date many such opportunities to make good have been shunned or ignored.

One such instance was the offer by The Caravan Club of Great Britain to provide a fully landscaped and professionally managed touring caravan park for the site which would have provided a vibrant source of stimulation to the local economy but sadly blinkered by the way they think it is becoming ever apparent that this land will eventually end up in the hands of housing developers in order to satisfy the LDP. It is a shame but that is what we have had to put up with for years at the hands of our council. Their only solution is "houses, houses everywhere." Yes that will generate more council tax revenue but will not serve any useful purpose for the local economy.

Barrie V Evans

Coordinator

Barry First Group/Barry Voice