UPSET by the Barry Accident Hospital and the lack of response to their urgent appeals from the Welsh Office and the Welsh Hospital Board, the Barry Health Committee on Tuesday instructed the Town Clerk (Mr J. Clements Colley) to send a strong-worded letter to the Secretary of State for Wales (Mr Peter Thomas) and ask for a reply in time for the next meeting of the full council on December 30.

This decision was sparked off by a letter from the Welsh Office to the effect that the fresh review of the Welsh Hospital Board’s proposals was still awaited, but promising that if these showed any radical change from those originally proposed the Barry authority would be consulted.

The minister would also consider meeting a deputation.

Coun. R. D. Williams could only describe this letter as “rather unsatisfactory” that they were having this continued deferment on the issue.

“We are left completely in the dark as to what is in mind,” he said.

“The original proposals have been amended, and I know there is considerable disquiet in the town as to what is going on.

“There is also a measure of secrecy about the whole business which I think is disquieting and gives rise to worry in the minds of a lot of people in the town.

“I feel we ought to ask the Secretary of State if he can give us some idea of what is envisaged.”

Coun. Williams said if there new proposals they might not have time to study them before the minister received a deputation.

At the present time, they knew nothing, but heard of the activities of a certain organisation in the town (the Barry Vigilantes).

This was unfair to them because the impression was given that they, as an authority, were doing nothing.

In fact, they had a great deal and had continually pressed for the hospital board proposals to be published.

Coun. Ken Miles said the public had been given the impression that as an authority they were in the ”doldrums of inertia” – which was complete rubbish.

Every possible move they were capable of making had been made.

Ald. Mrs Joyce Atkins said they had been waiting for over two years for a decision – and that was not in the best interests of the hospital or the public.