The owner of Barry Island Pleasure Park, Henry Danter, has expressed his readiness to abandon plans for a new holiday park in south Wales due to significant opposition. Danter purchased nearly 30 acres of unused land in Sully, near the Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice, with the intention of developing it into a Butlins-style holiday park featuring 500 caravans, starting with 150 touring vans in the upcoming holiday season.
According to Danter, the holiday park would complement his existing Barry Island venture and attract thousands of visitors to the area each summer, offering discounted prices for rides. He viewed the plans as a “golden opportunity for the people of Barry and the surrounding area.”
However, over 8,000 people signed a petition initiated by local resident Karen Maidment in March, urging the authorities to halt the development. Maidment, a bereaved grandmother of a former Ty Hafan Hospice user, emphasized the need to preserve the peaceful nature of the hospice’s surroundings. Ty Hafan also expressed concerns about any proposals that might compromise the security, safety, privacy, and tranquility of the hospice and its memorial gardens.
Danter responded by highlighting that there is a small forest between his land and Ty Hafan that will remain untouched. He stated that despite reaching out to objectors, no one has approached him directly to discuss their concerns. He also mentioned a recent meeting with a planning official from the Vale of Glamorgan Council, where he obtained industrial use permission for the land. Preparatory work has already begun, including clearing undergrowth and leveling the land.
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Expressing disappointment, Danter shared his belief that industrial use was the limit of what could be achieved on the site. He stated that if he is unable to obtain permission for the holiday park, he will develop factory units on the land and sell it in smaller portions. However, he had hoped that people in the area would prefer the holiday park over industrial units, considering it a valuable opportunity for Barry reminiscent of its prosperous past.
Danter, who resides near Monmouth, has faced previous conflicts with locals, including the opening of his arcade in Monmouth town center. Despite opposition and protests, he eventually received planning permission for the arcade after a two-year battle. Danter asserted that the arcade is now thriving and disproving the concerns raised by opponents. He believes that the proposed holiday park will similarly benefit the community and attract more visitors to the area.