Council votes for new pub to remove carpet
A TOWN Council has taken on the might of pub chain Wetherspoons – by voting unanimously to tell it to remove the carpet it has laid in the local pub.
The Sir Samuel Romilly, on Broad Street, Barry, has recently expanded its premises and the new carpet features the town’s coat of arms.
The pub retrospectively applied for permission to use the coat of arms – but this was rejected.
And Barry Town Council has now asked Wetherspoons to remove it.
Mark Hooper of Plaid Cymru, who proposed the motion, said: “I was really pleased that it [his motion] was unanimously accepted by the rest of the council and there was no dissension.
“We all felt Wetherpoons should not have behaved in the way it did. The crest is not for commercial entities, it is used by community clubs and allowing this would open the floodgates.
“It will be interesting to see how Wetherspoons react.”
Wetherspoon spokesman Eddie Gershon said: “The carpet has been laid in good faith as part of £700,000 refurbishment of our pub in Barry.
“This refurbishment has shown our commitment to the town, its residents and our employees.
“The Twitter debate over the carpet appears to be politically motivated and is at odds with the conversation we have had with the town council’s chief officer who praised the carpet.
“There has been no formal contact from the council on this matter.
“For the time being and until there are further discussions, the carpet will remain in situ.”
The council will be making contact with the pub chain following the meeting of the council.