IN 2010 Jocelyn Davies, then Plaid Cymru Minister for housing and regeneration, made Barry a Special Regeneration Area in Wales and gave £9m of funding to make improvements to the town.

However, there was much criticism of how the previous Conservative-run council showed a lack of ambition for Barry and a lack of transparency in the way that the schemes were being run – with no public discussion.

Everyone agrees that more needs to be done to attract people to Barry. The new hotel on the Waterfront will hopefully be the catalyst for more tourism facilities and jobs throughout the town. The question is whether this new Labour-Llantwit coalition council share that vision for Barry and, if so, what are they doing to ensure Barry continues to benefit from regeneration area status? Given Labour placed a Penarth councillor in charge of Barry’s Regeneration Board, rather than one of their Barry councillors, is it a sign they also think Barry regeneration a lost cause?

Ian Johnson Plaid Cymru Barry