YET another welcome initiative to improve footfall on Barry Island and attract more visitors by lighting up the gloomier evenings of the winter months.

I refer to a recent Barry & District News article (Proposal aims to restore illuminations on Barry Island, March 5).

Vale and Barry Town Cllr Nic Hodges; Mike Heffernan – Barry Island Historical Group chairman; and trader Marco Zeraschi, are all in favour, so am I.

The all dissenting voice is Paul Haley of Pride in Barry but he advances no alternative plan, just negative comment like it is “a bit old fashioned”.

There’s nothing wrong with that, even if it’s true. Every castle and museum in Wales could be called “a bit old fashioned”.

Just because something, or someone, is old does not mean it has to be condemned, Mr Haley.

You need to put a bit more “pride” into your comments and make your own suggestions. I wish the proposal to restore Barry Island illuminations is a success but it is somewhat exaggerated to believe we will rival Blackpool.

Christopher Short

Barry