Barry's Christmas tree and lights switch on will go ahead as planned, despite concerns about recent anti-social behaviour and criminal damage in the town centre.
However, Barry Town Council says a “significant amount of additional security” will now be required for both the Christmas tree and the event, adding further costs to the public purse.
The decision follows an extraordinary meeting of Barry Town Council, where councillors and representatives from South Wales Police discussed ongoing incidents around King Square and the Town Hall.
Speaking to Bro Radio following the meeting, the Council's Chief Officer, Rachel Honey-Jones, said serious consideration had been given to whether the Christmas tree and lights switch-on should continue.
“We did have a very long discussion in part two of the meeting in relation to the Christmas tree and the Christmas light switch on. It's one of our favourite events of the year,” she said.
“We have had very serious thoughts about whether or not that should continue to happen as a result, because if that is vandalised, that's a significant, number one, amount of public money, but also what have we come to if people are destroying Christmas?”
She confirmed the festivities would continue, but with increased security.
“So we are continuing with the Christmas tree and the Christmas light switch-on, but unfortunately we are having to get a significant amount of additional security for the tree and for the event itself, which obviously is coming out of the public purse.”
Five break-ins and 12 smashed windows
The additional security comes as the Town Council continues to deal with the impact of incidents affecting its offices, staff and ability to provide services.
Rachel Honey-Jones said the Town Hall had experienced five break-ins over recent weeks, with wheelchairs stolen and a flagpole destroyed.
She said replacing the flagpole had resulted in additional costs ahead of Remembrance Day, while 12 downstairs windows had also been smashed.
“It's been really difficult. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It has been a very difficult time for my members, for my staff, and also for my senior leadership team,” she said.
“Your place of work is meant to be a place of safety, and no one should ever be able to be made to feel unsafe in their workplace.”
The incidents have resulted in the Town Hall being closed to in-person visits, affecting services including the Council's work with bereaved families.
Rachel Honey-Jones said conversations around bereavement were ones people may understandably prefer to have face-to-face rather than by phone or video call.
“We're not able to offer that at the moment, and that is just not okay in my opinion.”
Meetings moved online
The impact is also being felt by councillors and staff.
The majority of committee and council meetings have been moved online because councillors have not felt safe attending the Town Hall, according to Rachel Honey-Jones.
Staff and those attending evening meetings are also leaving the building in groups to return to their vehicles.
“We have to, we leave in a group to ensure that safety,” she said.
“That's not okay, and that's not appropriate for us to have to do that, that we have to worry about our own safety as full-grown adults and staff members.”
Despite the disruption, Rachel Honey-Jones said the Council should not have to permanently change how it operates because of the problems.
She called for agencies to work together and said the visibility of South Wales Police in King Square was of “paramount importance”.
She said she was hopeful that multi-agency discussions involving youth services and community safety partners would help bring organisations together.
A key issue emerging from the extraordinary meeting was resources, she added.
Rachel Honey-Jones said she had been given authority to contact senior figures in local government, the Welsh Government and South Wales Police over the level of resources available to Barry.
She said she hoped reported incidents, crime statistics and emerging trends could be considered when determining what resources are made available to the area.
For now, the Council says Barry's Christmas tree and lights switch-on will proceed, albeit with additional measures in place.
Rachel Honey-Jones ended her comments on the festivities with an appeal to those involved in the recent behaviour.
“So please just sit back and think, do you really want to destroy Christmas?"
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