Volume Four - An Era of Change, Uncertainty, Depression & War - Penarth Dock closure in 1936 . . .

This has created considerable apprehension among the various local authorities in South Wales, and we understand that on May 5 an influential deputation from the National Industrial Council of South Wales and Monmouthshire, including the Mayors of Swansea, Newport, and Port Talbot, interviewed Sir Robert Horne at Paddington in connection with the matter.

The deputation urged that the company should re-consider its decision, but, after a very full discussion in which Sir Robert emphasised that the company's decision had been reached only after the most careful consideration, he intimated that, although the necessity for closing the dock was deeply regretted by the company, it was impossible, in the absence of a revival of trade, to reverse the decision.

He indicated, however, that dredging operations would still be continued at the dock so that there would no delay in re-opening it when trade was once more justified such a course.

In addition the company had already stated that complete access would continue to be afforded to vessels desiring to proceed to the premises of the Penarth Pontoon and Shiprepairing Co. Ltd., and the tidal coal shipping berths in the Ely Harbour would continue to be available. - Great Western Railway Magazine [1348] [1349] 6th July 1936.