I WAS astounded to hear that the refusal of planning permission over the number of homes planned for White Farm at Barry has now been overruled by the Inspectorate of the Welsh Assembly Government.

What possible use to the Vale Council is a planning department when most of the decisions are overruled by the Welsh Assembly Government? Apart from the legal costs awarded in an appeal to the appellants, there is the obvious huge cost of a planning department and its staff. These costs are all paid by the taxpayer and it is now apparent that the taxpayer has nothing to show for this expenditure.

The same thing happened when a planning application by J Sainsbury for a convenience store at Park Crescent was refused by the council after a 3,500-plus signature petition from residents in the area was handed in, but the Inspectorate overruled the Vale Council’s decision and now the store is under construction.

Why not save the taxpayer a fortune and dispose of the planning department, then let the Welsh Assembly Government have full control of planning in the Vale?

This would save all the associated legal costs in fighting appeals which in turn would free up money for more of the essential services needed in the Vale.

Barrie V Evans Independent Barry First Co-ordinator