Flagship regeneration project in heart of Barry - 02/10/06
The Vale of Glamorgan Council is unveiling major elements of
its multi-million pound Barry Town Hall redevelopment scheme.
The refurbished and enhanced King Square is now available for
public use, and Central Park, with its children's play areas and
landscaped terraces, will be open from Monday (October 9), while
the building will be the new "home" of offices for the Vale Mayor
(currently Cllr Nic Hodges) and Town Centres Manager Emma
Smith.
The flagship regeneration project – the building has been unused
since the late Seventies – also comprises, of course, a new County
Library, as part of the new extension stretching in the direction
of Wyndham Street, which is expected to open in the New Year, a
public exhibition area and public toilets. The development is
covered by CCTV cameras.
The newly refurbished shoppers' car park in Wyndham Street is
also due to open as part of the development. The car park, which
will hold 78 cars, will have a height restriction to prevent the
parking of commercial vehicles and is designed to accept pay and
display in the future.
The entire development is covered by CCTV cameras and there is
an intention that the car park will ultimately become a ‘Secure Car
Park,' a nationally recognised safety standard similar to the
existing multi-storey car park in Court Road.
The external refurbishment of the Grade 11 listed building was
completed in 2004, and the major part of the current contract
started towards the end of that year.
The £10m scheme has been mainly funded by the Council through
its capital programme, with grant aid support from the Welsh
European Funding Office, Welsh Assembly, former Welsh Development
Agency and a Clear Skies grant towards a biomass boiler for the new
library.
The heart of the town will again become a focus for a programme
of public events, including the weekly market, which is currently
the subject of a planning application, and civic activities
involving a mixture of commercial and leisure users.
A celebration event is planned for November and an official
opening of the whole complex next year, with details of both to be
announced.
Only about a third of the original design of the building was
constructed in 1905, and Council Leader Cllr Jeffrey James said:
"It could be said that, to some extent, our project is completing
what was originally proposed and comprises an interesting mix of
Victorian and contemporary architecture.
"I am sure that all residents, commercial interests and members
of the Council will welcome the new scheme which is a lynchpin of
the regeneration programme initiated by this Council in the central
retail area of the town."
The Town Hall development is viewed as the first phase of public
investment across the town centre, and the second phase, following
the introduction of one-way traffic along Holton Road, will involve
a further package of street works and highway improvements,
including car parking, thanks to a £1.2m Assembly grant.
These works are expected to start early next year.
Cllr James added: "All these developments will breathe new life
into the heart of Barry and, hopefully, be just the starting point
for further new investment.
"The completion of all these developments over the next 18
months will provide a focus for civic pride and mark a new
confidence in the community."