Housing is essential (From Barry And District News)

Housing is essential

9:32am Thursday 9th July 2009

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I SHOULD like to respond to Dennis Harkus’s recent letter regarding the Waterfront proposals.

I would particularly like to comment about the Vale Cabinet’s ‘off the cuff’ change to the requirement for social housing. The need for social housing is essential, especially in Barry and this has previously been an explicit council policy in relation to the Waterfront. The developers bought the land knowing that any housing development had to contain at least 20 percent social housing, which was the council’s previous minimum requirement. They are also aware that WAG’s current guidance is 30 percent and which the Vale’s planning officers have adopted for some time. There was no reason for cabinet to have changed the development brief to ‘up to 30 percent’ of social housing, which could mean none at all.

The Vale Labour Group has picked up on this unbelievable policy change by the Vale Tory cabinet without any previous warning, reason or logic. Labour members have attempted to change the recommendations because it clearly flouts current policy. Regrettably, the Conservative Scrutiny & Planning Members have chosen not to call their cabinet members to book! Once again the process of scrutiny has been brought into disrepute as Conservative councillors have voted to support their Conservative cabinet without considering the consequences of their actions.

The recommendation that there should be ‘up to 30 percent’ social housing, in essence pulls the rug from under the feet of the Vale’s officers and gives the developer the opportunity to have NO social housing whatsoever. This is totally unacceptable and I have made representations to the cabinet to revert to the current policy when they finally decide on the development brief and I sincerely hope that they will do so.

I would also argue that there have been improvements to the road network and I refer to Gladstone Bridge and Millennium Way, both provided by a Labour led Vale council and pump primed the Waterfront development. Other roads have also been provided by Associated British Ports (ABP) and the Assembly but it is imperative that any waterfront developer has to provide a new access to Barry Island before any further development takes place.

In relation to the other comments, I am not convinced that another supermarket is needed but it is essential that bars, restaurants and leisure facilities are an integral part of any development bringing tourists and facilities that residents can use, but it is premature to know exactly what they will be. In relation to which housing association is involved that would be for the developer to decide and as for the capital receipts received by ABP and WAG that is a matter for them to decide.

Cllr Neil Moore - Labour councillor for Cadoc Ward Cardiff Road Barry

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