End of Week Message from Marcus

05 June 2026

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone enjoyed the great weather last week – and managed to get out and enjoy the wonderful beaches and parks in the Vale.

One of the things I enjoy most about working in the Place Directorate is seeing the potential of our wonderful open spaces, our town and villages.

How these places improve people's everyday lives, strengthen our communities and make the Vale a great place to live, work and visit.

That's something I've been reflecting on recently as we've reached a number of important milestones across projects in Barry and the wider Vale.

This week, I wanted to share some of that progress.

One of the most significant examples is the Making Waves regeneration project on Barry Waterfront.

Backed by millions of pounds worth of funding from the UK Government's Levelling Up Fund, this project represents a major investment across the Waterfront and Barry Docks and it is exciting to see progress continuing at pace, particularly at the historic Dock Office.

Many of us will know the Dock Office as one of Barry's most iconic buildings. It has stood at the heart of Barry for generations and played an important role in the town's history. Soon, restoration work will begin to bring the building back to life, creating a modern business support hub whilst honoring its heritage.

A building that was originally created to support economic activity in the docks will once again become a place where businesses can develop, grow and thrive. In many ways, it's a reminder that good placemaking isn't always about building something new, sometimes it's about recognising the value of what we already have and giving it a new purpose.

Progress is also being made at The Mole where plans are in action to develop vibrant new facilities that will accommodate watersports activities, educational opportunities, fresh public open spaces and a new park – alongside a future housing development site. 

It's another example of how we can maximise the potential of our surroundings while creating spaces that can be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike.

As Rob mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we are also investing £1 million in improvements at Pencoedtre Park through the UK Government's Pride in Place Impact Fund.

Parks are often some of the most important community spaces we have. They are where children make memories, where families spend time together, where people exercise, relax and connect with others.

What's particularly important is that local people will have an opportunity to help shape the facilities at Pencoedtre Park before the plans are finalised – as the best community spaces are those that reflect the needs and ideas of the people who use them.

Of course, placemaking is about much more than buildings and infrastructure. It's also about the events, activities and experiences that bring people together and help people connect with the places where they live.

A great example of this was this year's Barry Island 10K as the event once again generated a fantastic atmosphere and showcased Barry and the wider Vale to runners, supporters and visitors alike!

Following the event, the organisers, Run 4 Wales, took the time to recognise the support they received from the Council, particularly highlighting the contribution of our Events Officer Sarah Jones. They described her as "a joy to work with" and praised her willingness to solve problems, respond to last-minute requests and work collaboratively to ensure the event's success.

It's a great example of the way we work with partners to get things done and support our communities. 

Delivering successful events and creating vibrant places requires partnership, flexibility and a shared focus on the best possible outcomes.

The positive feedback from Run 4 Wales reflects not only Sarah's professionalism and willingness to help, but the contribution made by many of our colleagues who work alongside our partners every day to deliver services and experiences that benefit residents, support local businesses and enhance the reputation of the Vale as a place to visit.

June also marks Pride Month, offering another opportunity to celebrate community, inclusivity and belonging across the Vale. A range of events are taking place over the coming weeks, including Barry Pride, Cowbridge Pride and Pride Cymru in Cardiff. 

These events provide an opportunity to come together, celebrate diversity and demonstrate our commitment to creating communities where everyone feels welcome, safe and valued. Colleagues interested in getting involved can also connect with GLAM, our network for LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies, which plays an important role in promoting inclusion across the organisation, supporting colleagues and helping to ensure everyone can bring their whole selves to work.

To learn more about how to get involved in GLAM, click here.

Meanwhile, another important project is beginning to take shape in Barry town centre, at the former Wilko building on Holton Road. Since purchasing the site last year, we've been working closely with the community to understand what people would like to see happen there.

We received feedback from hundreds of residents, businesses and stakeholders, and I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to contribute.

That engagement has helped inform plans to transform the building into an indoor market and create a vibrant destination that can attract people into the town centre and support local businesses.

An important part of this project has been ensuring that existing resources continue to benefit the local community wherever possible. Rather than seeing the fixtures and fittings go to waste, shelving, fridges and other equipment have been offered to schools, businesses and partner organisations across the Vale. This not only reduced waste but also helped support the Council’s commitment to sustainability by keeping resources in use as much as possible.

Alongside Wilko, we've also recently completed the purchase of another building in Barry -  the former Filco building on Thompson Street.
The building will be used by Social Services and health colleagues as a wellbeing hub, with work now underway on designs for the interior of the building and a funding application for an internal refit will soon be submitted to Welsh Government.

Meanwhile, the Food Bank that is currently on site will continue to operate from the ground floor of the building while we assist them in finding a new base.

Looking across these projects, there is a clear theme. While they vary in scale and purpose, they are all about improving the places people use every day - whether that's a town centre building, a local park, a new community facility or one of our own work spaces.

Projects like these take time and they depend on long-term planning, strong partnership working and a great deal of time and effort from colleagues across the Council. 

As we head into another busy summer, I'd like to thank everyone who has contributed to these projects, as well as the many others currently underway across the Vale. 

The work we do helps maintain and improve the places where people live, work and spend their time. It's important work, and I'm grateful for the care and expertise colleagues continue to bring to it.

For those not in work over the weekend, have a relaxing and enjoyable few days off.

Marcus