Battle goes on (From Penarth Times)

Battle goes on

A LEADING Vale councillor has slammed the local Labour group for failing to fight for the doomed Sully Hospital.

Cllr Anthony Ernest has condemned his political opponents for allowing Home Office officials to inspect the now closed site.

The furious Sully representative hit out after the Vale of Glamorgan Council approved a Development Brief put forward by the Health Authority. This document paves the way forward for a number of options for the future use of the 1936 building.

Cllr Ernest told the News: "It is more than regrettable that a number of very senior Labour Party people who have chosen to live in the Vale have quietly eased the gates open for London-based officials to gain access to this well-loved building.

"This, I believe, is so they can continue with their unpopular plans to use the building for housing asylum seekers in the village of Sully."

He also claims that although Labour councillors publicly claim to be supportive of the residents of his ward in opposing the proposals, it is a different story from some of them 'behind the scenes.'

"They are not opposing those of their colleagues who seek to drag the hospital into this unfortunate and unhappy project," he said.

"Those MPs and AMs know perfectly well who I am referring to, and yet they prefer to keep their heads down following this decision by the Home Office, which belies their so-called opposition to Ministers intentions, whatever they may utter publicly."

But the fight goes on. Cllr Ernest concluded: "There is and will continue to be stiff and resolute opposition from the people of Sully, as well as those living nearby in Dinas Powys, Penarth and the Barry Waterfront.

"Many of them could be affected by an influx of 750 additional people into the district, and they have my total backing and support against this misguided and costly dispersal plan from south east England into the regions."

Despite repeated attempts, the local Labour spokesman could not be contacted before the News went to press.