WITH the number of dwellings set to increase by up to an incredible 2000 on or near Barry Island and the opening of a large supermarket no more than a few hundred yards from the beach, the idea of rebuilding a Funfair in amongst this amount of development will cause congestion and chaos on a scale not yet seen.

The completion of a second road leading to Barry Island will bring even more traffic. It does seem that the consequences of all this development are not being properly thought through by our national and local government or they are choosing to ignore the situation for their own reasons.

At present Barry Island is already nearly three quarter residential, the inevitable, ‘conflict of interest’ between tourism and residential needs are clear.

When Cardiff Bay for example developed tourism at its heart a large number of residents had to leave and be re-housed.

Bringing a Funfair with suggested opening of 364 days of the year seems totally unworkable. Where will all the extra traffic park for example? The current car park on the Island is supposed to be temporary?

We need a solution that is sustainable. Barry Island’s greatest asset is its beach; it should be shared as a haven of natural beauty amongst the busyness of the urban environment.

It is the coast that brings people to the area, not a nostalgic memory of a Fairground set to profit a few business people. The site would be much more profitable, on every level if it was developed as a high quality natural park with the road adjacent the beach being pedestrianised.

This would improve the environment for both tourists and residents alike.

Glyn Pooley

Artist

Barry