Vale Council is taking legal action against an amusement park boss for digging up ground near a children’s hospice after being told not to.
The business owner behind Barry Island Pleasure Park, Henry Danter, was served with an enforcement notice in January which ordered him to stop excavation works on his land off Hayes Road in Sully.
Mr Danter has said a number of times that it is his dream to turn the land into a holiday park.
However, the idea was met with deep concern from families who use the nearby Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice and a petition opposed to it has received more than 15,000 signatures so far.
Mr Danter said the work on the site is only intended to improve its appearance and that they believe they are working within the boundaries of what they are permitted to do.
Council leader Lis Burnett, said: “Our planning team has visited to the site and has spoken to the landowner several times and have exchanged countless letters and emails in an attempt to get him to understand what is and isn’t permitted at the site."
“Despite this, there have been repeated examples of unauthorised work being carried out and the only conclusion we can draw is that he has a flagrant disregard for his obligations as a landowner and for the impact these works have on the surrounding area.”
When the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) spoke to Mr Danter earlier this year, he said the land off Hayes Road was derelict and an eyesore and that work on the site in 2023 was intended to make it more presentable.
Vale Council said there have been repeated incidents of the use of heavy machinery on site to excavate the ground.
The local authority also said that on a recent inspection, it appeared that the site was being used to store HGV trailers, storage containers and commercial waste – a use of the land they said is not permitted.
No planning application has been made for a holiday park on the land off Hayes Road.
The only planning applications that have been put in so far relating to Mr Danter’s land are one for fencing, one to house storage containers and another for caravan storage.
Two of the applications were withdrawn, but the application for fencing was approved by the council.
Mr Danter said the ground that was dug up on site and the presence of the stones is part of their work to install a new boundary fence and control weeds.
Vale of Glamorgan Council served a temporary stop notice on Mr Danter in December 2023, after it said groundworks had been taking place on site without planning permission.
The notice was effective 18th January 2024, but an enforcement notice was also served on Mr Danter last December, which took effect from January 19th and required works to cease permanently.
Cllr Burnett added: “This site is particularly sensitive due to it being so close to the Ty Hafan children’s hospice."
“There was rightly a public outcry when breaches of the planning conditions first occurred in late 2023."
“We believe legal action is now the only way to bring all work at the site to a stop. We will prosecute the landowner to the full extent of our powers."
“In recent days the landowner has sought to bypass the planning process and meet directly with me and other local politicians to discuss the matter."
“I have been clear in my reply that I will not do so while he continues to impose such a blight on the area.”
Mr Danter said: “We are trying to tidy the site up. We think we are acting within the permitted grant which we got to do it."
“We believe that we are only just taking the scrub land off it to see what land we have got. To me, they are making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
“We have replied to that letter [from the council]. They said they want to take action. Well, action about what? We are only just cleaning the scrub land up.”
On the council’s storage comments about the land, Mr Danter said: “I don’t know anything about commercial waste. It is a garage. It is a commercial premises. It is licensed as B3 and B7 use."
“They are overreacting. I don’t know what they want to see on the site.”
Post Office Seeks New Operator in Dinas Powys as Village Faces Loss of Its Last Branch
Gardening team praised after helping police clear fallen tree near St Brides Major
Specsavers calls on children in Barry to design Wales Deaf Rugby World Cup shirts
Whitmore High Named One of UK’s Best Workplaces for Development
Steel Signing Marks Major Milestone in St Richard Gwyn School Redevelopment
Two Rescues in Record Heat as Volunteer Teams Respond to Afternoon Emergencies
Police find evidence of a large-scale cannabis cultivation at Riverside Place property fire
Network Rail confirm closure of Brookside level crossing in Dinas Powys
Police given powers to ask people to leave Comeston Lakes Country Park
Planned children’s role play centre could be given the go-ahead by Vale Council
Marie Curie Garden Fayre deemed huge success
Council seeks views on Future of Colcot Sports Centre and Buttrills Playing Fields
First Minister quizzed on further devolution, budget decisions, and misinformation in FMQs
Extreme heat leads to changes to services and closures
Severe Heat Warning Set to Disrupt Rail Travel Across South Wales This Week
Communities asked to support older people across Wales during severe heat warning
Caribbean Community Wales Brings Wales‑Wide Launch to Barry This Weekend
Community Award winner calls for sanitary bins in men’s toilets after living with prostate‑cancer‑related incontinence
Cardiff Airport Backs Holiday Safety Campaign Honouring Rhoose Teenager Tom Channon
