50 years ago

Extracts from the Barry & District News of December 12, 1963:

• A far-reaching plan aimed at improving the traffic flow in the town centre was carried in principle at a meeting of the Public Works and Planning Committee, and it is proposed to introduce the scheme for an experimental period after consultation with the bus companies and the police. The committee also indicated that they would appreciate the reaction of the general public – whether favourable or otherwise.

• The smooth progress of negotiations for Butlin’s holiday camp at Barry Island depends to a large extent upon next Monday’s public meeting at the Memorial Hall when a resolution will be put to the meeting approving the promotion of a Parliamentary Bill which will permit the leasing of the miniature golf course and the former tennis courts.

• Barry is to lose another cinema. Owing to what the management terms “lack of support” the Regal Cinema, the one remaining picture house in Cadoxton is to close down on December 21 – and already the Public Works Committee of the Barry Corporation has been asked to consider two separate schemes for the site.

25 years ago

Extracts from the Barry & District News of December 15, 1988:

• The £40 million transformation of Barry Old Harbour into a marina village of 400 homes, shops, hotel, restaurants, sailing and rowing clubs, has taken two giant steps toward becoming a reality. After more than 30 years of discussion, controversy and disappointment, a tripartite agreement to proceed with the work was signed on Friday by the Vale council, the Nationwide Housing Trust and development firm Lovell Partnerships.

• Lining up with a host of British internationals for the annual road race at Barry Island on Sunday will be this year’s New York marathon winner Steve Jones. Jones joins a number of athletes from all over Wales, Midlands and South England at what is among the Principality’s most successful events.

• Assurances that Barry Boys’ Comprehensive (Middle) School which houses 490 second and third year pupils was not ‘falling apart and unsafe’, as reported earlier this week, have been given to parents by the chairman and vice-chairman of the of the school’s Board of Governors.