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Council defends mayor’s taxpayer-funded trip to Malta

27 Jan 2022 4 minute read
Bridgend Town Council Deputy Mayor Steven Bletsoe and his consort Freya Bletsoe. Credit: Bridgend Town Council

Ted Peskett, local democracy reporter

A town council has defended its decision to pay for a mayor’s visit to Malta.

Bridgend Town Council voted to accept an invitation to send representatives to the HMS URGE commemoration ceremonies in Malta in April 2022.

The council also voted in favour of funding the travel costs for the Mayor, Steven Bletsoe, and Mayoress, Freya Bletsoe, to attend.

The HMS Urge – a World War II era submarine that was paid for and ‘adopted’ by Bridgend in 1941 – and it holds a significant place in the town’s memory according to the council.

According to a draft of Agenda Item 15 of the Bridgend Town Council meeting on January 24, a number of councillors said that representatives should be sent to commemorate the submarine in Malta – where it was last seen before it went missing on its final mission in 1942.

Town councillor, Ian Williams, said it was “imperative” that representatives from the council were sent to commemorate the submarine and that it would be an “insult” if they were not.

Cllr Matthew Voisey, who agreed with Cllr Williams that representatives should be sent, proposed that the council “fund the travel arrangements for the Mayor and Mayoress to attend on behalf of the people of Bridgend”, according to the draft of the minutes.

However, he noted that they should undertake a solemn promise that no press releases or photographs would be submitted of the event with an election looming.

In a statement, Mayor Cllr Steven Bletsoe said: “I consider it an honour and a privilege to be representing the people of Bridgend, on the solemn understanding that we may pay our final respects to the courageous and heroic people who were lost that day while serving their country.

“We will Remember Them.”

Officially adopt’ 

In 1941 Bridgend residents took part in the Bridgend and District Warship Week, and through raffles, whist drives and dances, raised £300,000 (the equivalent of approximately £15 Million today) to officially adopt the U Class submarine HMS Urge.

In October 2019, the wreck of HMS Urge was discovered off the coast of Malta. The Ministry of Defence said it recognised the wreck site “as the last resting place of HMS Urge and those who lost their lives in service of their country”.

The wreck will now be treated as an official war grave and protected by Maltese, British and international law.

Following the discovery of the wreck, plans were made for an official commemoration in Malta in April 2020.

The event was organised by the families who lost their lives on HMS Urge and Heritage Malta with support from The Royal Navy. Representatives from Bridgend were invited to the event and the Bridgend Town Mayor & Consort at the time were due to attend.

The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rescheduled for April 27, 2022 to mark the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMS Urge.

An invitation has once again been extended to the Bridgend Town Mayor and/or representatives from Bridgend.

A spokesperson for Bridgend Town Council said: “As the event is due to take place during the pre-election period, advice was sought on this matter.

“Council was subsequently advised that given that this is a significant, date driven occasion, each of the political parties should be given equal, or proportionate, representation in the invitation list or in the opportunity to attend the event.

“In addition to this, an invitation has been received from The Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum for the Mayor or a representative of Bridgend to attend an HMS Urge commemoration event at the Submarine Museum in Gosport on 10th May 2022.

“The invitations were discussed at a meeting of Bridgend Town Council on Monday 24th January 2022 and Council unanimously resolved to accept the invitations.

“The current Mayor and Mayoress of Bridgend Town Council were appointed to attend the event in Malta and the event in Gosport as representatives of Bridgend to pay respects to the crew and passengers who lost their lives on HMS Urge.”


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Grayham Jones
2 years ago

No English Mayor in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 stop being little Englanders and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales that’s the Tories Labour and all Brexit party’s it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
Llywelyn ein Llyw Nesaf
2 years ago
Reply to  Grayham Jones

???

Le Charbonnier
Le Charbonnier
2 years ago

Don’t worry. It’s only Nation’s most prolific commenter.

Timothy Bindy
Timothy Bindy
2 years ago

I think that it is disgusting that Bridgend Town Council are funding such a trip when its residents are struggling to heat their homes and put food on the table! Public money must not be used for gallivanting off to other countries, especially when Wales has a limit on gatherings and other restrictions in place! These two should be ashamed of themselves. They are independents though so its not a surprise they are total lying scrounging S.O.B’s. All I see from the independents in Bridgend is LIES LIES LIES! They constantly put others down that don’t fit their agenda and… Read more »

Erisian
Erisian
2 years ago

Probably beter to restrict visits to places where the rule of law operates.

Peter Cuthbert
Peter Cuthbert
2 years ago

Given the links of the Town to the vessel and its loss it would seem to me that some representative from the town should be present. Let us not forget that the relatives of those who lost their lives would expect the occasion to be treated with some respect. Going to such an event is clearly an official duty so there is logic that public funds should be applied. The rub is in how much and just what counts as allowable. I would have thought that the people going should most certainly be responsible for their own food and possibly… Read more »

Timothy Bindy
Timothy Bindy
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Yes, but that should be the mayor ONLY and given the current situation of things, it should NOT be subsidized. If they wish to attend, do so by video conference!

Timothy Bindy
Timothy Bindy
2 years ago
Reply to  Peter Cuthbert

Also, public funds that are made from forced precepts MUST only be used in the town they are paid from! You say £260 is not much but to some that is a massive amount! They are then forced to pay the local town/community council on top of the county council rates! Its disgusting!

Deryn
Deryn
2 years ago

I’ve heard this pair are a nasty pair who used to work for Neil McEvoy, says it all really, pair of grifters

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