Tree planting plan to help prevent town flooding

PLANS to prevent flooding in Barry by planting more trees and reducing the amount of concrete pavement has been given a £192,500 boost.

The Court Road roundabout area is one of the main access points for Barry town centre.

Replacing concrete pavement in the area with more grass and trees should soak up rainwater, and reduce the water running downhill towards Weston Square - one of the worst hit areas of the Barry floods in 2007.

The Welsh Government has given the Vale of Glamorgan Council £192,500 as a green infrastructure grant. The money will also go towards planting trees along Barry’s main roads.

Councillor Peter King, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and transport, said: “The council is pleased to have been awarded this funding that will see areas around Court Road and Gladstone Road improved by the introduction of trees and other greenery.

“This could prove to be a blueprint for future highways improvements. The choice of trees will be specific to the location, and where space is limited we propose to plant smaller and less vigorous trees to ensure they establish successfully.”

The grant funding was announced last week in the Vale council’s regular fortnightly update during the coronavirus outbreak.

Cllr Ian Johnson, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the Vale council, welcomed the investment too, for improving one of Barry town centre’s busiest roundabouts.

Cllr Johnson said: “Increasing the amount of green space will improve the area, reducing the amount of concrete, as well as reducing the impact of heavy rains on Cadoxton, further down the hill.

“I look forward to the Vale council being able to carry out these works in a way which doesn’t affect the traffic flows through the roundabout, and delivering an environmentally friendly and pleasant entrance to Barry town centre.”