A YEAR of prosperity . This is my first column of 2015 and I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous New Year.

Prosperity is key to the success of Barry. After all, we are Wales’ largest town – and things are looking good.

Central to our aspirations is a Barry Island that hustles and bustles with visitors and locals, enjoying the waterfront and spending money in the shops and attractions – all year round.

We all know that the national economy has been turned around and now we are seeing the fruits of that labour through a new fun fair on Barry Island.

Businesses are confident to invest in this economic climate and £20m is the commitment from a key fairground owner. The fairground that once attracted more than quarter of a million people is to be redeveloped by an operator that has a proven track record.

This is great news and an excellent start to 2015.

With cooperation from the Vale Planners, we could have the first attractions of a new fun fair up and running by Easter. The fairground operator is Henry Danter. He already runs fairgrounds at Stourport in Worcestershire and Symonds Yat near Ross on Wye. They are excellent examples of traditional fairgrounds that are maintained to the highest standards. He has built an excellent reputation.

It will underline Barry Island as a year round resort.

This investment comes on the back of an unemployment rate in the Vale that has fallen by 19 per cent over the last year. This amounts to 348 more people in work with a more secure financial future for their families. The new jobs on the Island and from expanding local businesses will help further.

I am determined to see further investment in Barry, and am pleased to see so much renewed optimism for the Island’s future.

We need to take advantage of the economic climate and act now to secure a better future for Barry Island. If we don’t gain investment now, there may be a long wait before we have the opportunity again.