Barry marina plans in doubt after backer pulls out
Plans to build a marina as part of a multi-million pound overhaul of Barry waterfront are in doubt after a major backer announced it would no longer be financing it.Associated British Ports (ABP) said it could no longer provide the "significant investment" required to build a marina on the waterfront in Barry, Vale of Glamorgan.The marina formed part of redevelopment plans which also include a new watersports centre, park, housing and offices.Vale of Glamorgan Council said it was "extremely disappointed" by the decision but that it remained confident the rest of the project could go ahead.
The project to develop the waterfront, known as Barry Making Waves, formed the basis of an application for £20m of levelling-up funding under the previous Conservative UK government.Following a spending review, in October 2024 Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed Barry would receive its funding.A spokesperson for ABP said following its own review, it had come to the "regretful conclusion" that it can no longer "proceed with the significant investment required in a marina"."We are looking at the right, viable ways we can contribute to the project and council's goals," they said, adding the company wanted to contribute to "more growth and prosperity for Barry".Council leader Lis Burnett described the decision as a "clear setback" but said she was confident the project would still go ahead."We believe the project can be delivered without the marina component, subject to UK government agreement," the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.Andrew RT Davies, Conservative Member of the Senedd (MS) for South Wales Central, described the decision as "extremely concerning"."The marina is a key part of plans to level up Barry and losing this investment is a huge blow," he said, adding that action was required to attract new partners.Mark Hooper, a Plaid Cymru councillor for the Barry waterfront area, said he was "surprised" by the announcement, and that the market testing "should have been completed long ago"."We in Barry need answers. Why was so much time and energy sunk into these plans if business partners hadn't already carried out their due diligence?"
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Rail inspired landscaping plan revealed for MoD hub in Blackpool
Blackpool's railway heritage has inspired new "public art" landscaping designs to be provided as part of a new £45m office block, close to the town's railway was announced on 19 May that construction had begun on the new office building for more than 1,000 Ministry of Defence (MoD) civil move will be at the heart of the Talbot Gateway regeneration scheme in the have now emerged in planning documents that show the designs include a green landscaped area, referred to as a "rain garden", with benches designed with the town's railway heritage in mind. 'Boost sustainability' These proposals will now be considered by the council. Designers Re-form Landsape stated: "The planting will function as a rain garden and will work in harmony with the recolonised railway character."It could include "a reclaimed railway track" where "surface water will be able to run into the planting areas through breaks in the edge" with "simple, robust" seating."Alongside providing positive visual interest to the scheme, the public art will also boost sustainability by providing a sustainable urban drainage system and reusing existing materials," the plans site has lain empty since the Apollo building was demolished in 2014 but is now to get a new lease of new office development represents the fifth phase of the £350m Talbot Gateway development, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.A £100m civil service hub has already been built on Cookson Street for the Department for Work and Pensions. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Anti-social driving a big concern in Bradford
Anti-social car use, including drivers revving their engines or catcalling from their vehicles, is a significant concern for residents in Bradford, police have council is considering plans to extend a public space protection order (PSPO) to clamp down on driver behaviour that causes a nuisance, but is not necessarily order was first introduced by Bradford Council in 2019 and more than 400 motorists have been fined since Supt Richard Padwell from West Yorkshire Police said the anti-social use of vehicles "continues to be one of the most significant concerns for our communities, as is frequently evidenced in community safety meetings and surveys". He said the existing PSPO, which also targets car meets, "significantly contributes to maintaining public safety, reducing anti-social behaviour and ensuring that the communities of Bradford are safe from this type of activity."Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, said officers found that "anti-social behaviour related to driving disproportionately impacted women and girls".Lowe said she believed the PSPO would "support our targeted work" to tackle issues around women's Council asked the public for its views on the proposed extension earlier this year, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.A total of 942 people responded, of which 97% said anti-social vehicle use was "a big problem" or "a fairly big problem".Most people supported the will discuss the proposed extension at a meeting on Thursday. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
14 minutes ago
- BBC News
Newbury MP calls for better road safety for horses
An MP moved by the death of a two-year-old racehorse has called for improved equestrian road Dem Lee Dillon, who represents Newbury in Berkshire, has raised his concerns in an early day motion tabled in comes after he took part in a road safety awareness ride in Lambourn in memory of Knockalla, which was killed after being hit by a car in Dillon said he "was inspired by the passion and determination of those who took part" and wanted to "turn awareness into action". "It was a powerful display of community action and shared purpose," he Dillon's early day motion highlighted the importance of national guidance, better signage and greater awareness among Monday 30 September, two-year-old Knockalla was being ridden in Lambourn when the horse was frightened by a animal moved out into the middle of the road as a result and was hit, suffering a leg fracture so severe it needed to be euthanised. Figures by the British Horse Society found 3,118 road incidents involving horses were logged in 2024. Of those, 58 horses died and 97 were found riders were victims of road rage and abuse and in some instances drivers drove past either too close to the horses or too fast. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
