‘We put the heart back into Barry. We have made Barry what it is. It was down the pan’
THE Henry Danter era at Barry Island was meant to herald a new dawn for the dilapidated pleasure park.
In early 2015 the fairground supremo arrived with promises of a £22m redevelopment of the site and plans to see it become “the best tourist attraction in Wales” within five years.
Mr Danter said he and the family had many ideas, including a museum with classic cars, old fruit machines and World War II aeroplanes on the roof. It would be open all year round, apart from Christmas Day, he said.
It was expected that would help revive the once-revered tourist destination. Yet the two and a half years since his arrival has been overshadowed by spats between Mr Danter and the council.
Mr Danter says he has spent between £3m and £5m so far but might not spend any more following the latest disputes.
In the summer the fairground was accused of building an extension at the park without the correct planning permission. This was taken down.
This month, the 100ft Big Wheel became embroiled in a planning permission argument. This too was taken down.
While Mr Danter insists he was instructed to take down the wheel, the council says it did not ask for its removal.
It says Mr Danter accepted that planning permission was required and he was advised a planning application should be submitted as soon as possible.
This was so that the acceptability of the structure could be assessed as part of the planning process, which would have included consultation with other agencies such as the Civil Aviation Authority and Natural Resources Wales.
But Mr Danter is at a loss to explain this latest argument with the council.
“We want to work with the council, not against them,” he said.
“We have put all our family wealth here to make it a better place, so why they are doing this to us I don’t know. I thought our relationship was very good – we made Barry great again.
“We put the heart back into Barry. We have made Barry what it is. It was down the pan, it was a terrible site, it was just a lost cause.”
The fairground owner said they have spent millions and made great gains, but cannot understand the dispute.
“Jealously? Hatred? Madness? I don’t know,” he said.
Jonathan Bird, cabinet member for regeneration and planning at Vale of Glamorgan council, said: “The council has been attempting to work with Mr Danter for a number of years.
“Advice and guidance has been offered at numerous meetings, including advising on all relevant legislative requirements before proposals are undertaken.
“Unfortunately, it has been very rare for Mr Danter to heed that advice, instead progressing work without reference back to the relevant council departments.”
Mr Bird says the current situation with the Ferris wheel is a case in point.
“At no time has Mr Danter