The owner of Barry Island pleasure beach says those opposing his plans to bring a gaming and betting arcade to Monmouth town centre are misguided. Henry Danter applied for permission to turn his vacant property at the junction of Monnow Street and Agincourt Square into an arcade in spring 2021, but he says he’s faced roadblocks throughout the application process, and now he wants to meet with those opposing his plans.
Mr Danter, who lives in a nearby former hotel at Symonds Yat, believes the arcade will “inject some life” into a town which he says is “on the way down”. The store has sat empty for years, with signs now informing locals that they hope to be able to open soon.
But Mr Danter refused to be drawn on how confident he actually is that his plans will happen. Despite his assurances, Monmouthshire council’s planning committee rejected the proposal earlier this year following more than 200 objections and a 529-strong petition against the plans.
