Walkway (From Penarth Times)

Walkway

WHAT a bitter, disingenuous letter from Cllr Ernest regarding Alun Michael"s involvement with the Headland walkway (Penarth Times, July 14).

As someone who worked for Alun from 1987 to 1999, I would like to respond.

When the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay started, there was concern about Penarth"s future and Alun called all stakeholders around the table.

The Strategy document - Penarth: Revival - came out of those high level meetings.

There was also a public exhibition at the Paget Rooms setting out various options for the town.

One of the recommendations of the document states: "The Esplanade could be extended around Penarth Head to provide a footpath link with the Barrage and the Haven. This extension could also provide vital sea defence capabilities in this exposed area."

Another suggestion was part pedestrianisation of the town centre, but we all know what a debacle that was under Cllr Ernest"s Tory council control.

CBDC did eventually develop plans for the walkway, but they dropped them, until Alun intervened and the board reinstated the plans.

CBDC was not "abruptly wound-up" as suggested by Cllr Ernest. The then Secretary of State announced in July 1997 that the corporation would be wound up by the end of March 2000 - hardly an abrupt decision, and in fact CBDC was only supposed to run for ten years.

Cllr Ernest does himself no favours by using silly remarks such as "London based MP" - all MPs are based in London, that is where Parliament is.

By the same token he is a Barry-based Borough Councillor representing Sully!

Alun and I have always approached the Walkway project with a partnership approach, working with the Assembly and the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and whilst things have sometimes been a bit fraught, at the end of the day we have all been working for it to succeed.

It"s a shame Cllr Ernest has to be so nasty and small minded at this stage.

Lorraine Barrett

Assembly Member representing Cardiff South and Penarth

Cardiff Bay