Dear Resident,

The Barry Town Council Labour group plays an integral role in our communities in Barry, giving real power to local citizens at a grassroots level. Town Councillors are volunteers and give up their time for free to up for residents and their families and work hard to improve Barry for us all.

Our plans for the next five years are ambitious, and this manifesto sets out some of our plans if we’re elected for another term.

All of this can only be done with your support. On Thursday 5th May, we are asking for your vote, so we can continue to build a stronger, fairer, greener Vale.

Local Democracy & Community Mapping

We will continue to build on our strong local community. We are a proactive, resilient and cohesive group who are a proud of our town. The Labour group commits to ‘Community Mapping’, and to being in touch with the needs and wishes of local people. We will work with local people to understand the vision and needs of our town to guide us in setting out the strategic plan for the Town Council.

We will work with the public sector, traders, schools, community groups and the third sector and look to increase our partners and encourage new community connections.

Environment and Sustainability

We continue our commitment to the well-being agenda set out by the Labour led Welsh Government by being custodians of our environment and landscape.

We will continue our work to oppose the Incinerator at every opportunity and become champions of bio-diversity at Merthyr Dyfan cemetery. We will also promote the use of green open spaces in our communities.

Heritage Centre

We have long believed that Barry deserves a heritage centre, where our rich history can be housed for both visitors and locals to enjoy. Barry deserves to have the origin of our town celebrated everyone should be able to learn about how it became the place we know and love. The Labour group will aim to find suitable premises for a heritage centre

Supporting the Economy – Shop Local

With the likelihood of a change in retail over the next 5 years with a move to online shopping we must prioritise local businesses. This need not lead to empty high streets. We will work to promote a vibrant community space, with local independent shops and cafes.

In Barry under a Labour led town council we have built up the Shop Local brand and will continue to promote local businesses and shop locally.

We want to support the economic regeneration of our beautiful town. Barry like other towns in the UK, has suffered from the impact of Covid-19, Barry Town Council repurposed £150,000 of its budget to support local businesses during the pandemic

Community Investment

We want to continue to support our community engagement programme, financial support has been given to community groups in the wake of the pandemic and we will promote this programme to a diverse range of groups.

We will promote community wellbeing via our events programme to give the people of our town a sense of togetherness and community.

We will continue to promote the Council’s assets such as the Pioneer Hall and Cemetery Approach community centre which offer affordable and good quality facilities for the benefit of a thriving and inclusive community