Passing Comment – It’s better to talk up our town than run it down
By Sue Vincent Jones
WHOOSH – did you hear that? It’s the sound of some of our sour-faced Barry souls sucking the joy out of anything and everything.
Seriously though, have you noticed how there’s a right rabble of residents who haven’t got anything good to say about our happy little hood?
Truth be told, I’m no fawning fan of our local authority either. And, in my view, their communication and customer service leaves a lot to be desired.
But, when they occasionally actually pull a blinder, I’m the first to clap my hands and say a quick ‘Chwarae Teg.’
Lately, I have FB liked the posh Penarth bus stop, the colourful Cowbridge Pride Bench, and the super Richard Taylor Skate Park and added a congratulatory comment.
Cue a plethora of mean-minded residents prattling on about potholes, ripping into recycling rules, and making outrageous and lethally libellous claims about corruption.
And then we get the old Cinema chestnut and Knap Pool nonsense.
Yes, we had the Theatre Royal but no-one used it – so commercial viability went out the window. Rinse and repeat with the Memo Screenings which are not well-attended either.
Same with the Knap now. Reminiscing about halcyon days won’t bring back those times. It’s gone for good, get over it, and swiftly move along to the super Splash Park instead.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t look at Barry through rose-tinted glasses but there’s something to be said for celebrating success.
Yes, we have a, sometimes, troubled town but with no more or less social issues present in any big urban area.
No, we might not be as posh as Penarth thinks it is but we’re hardly holed up in the Bronx either are we?
So surely, we must support what’s on offer now to kick start the councils into seeing what we want?
I’ll tell you what I want. Why not develop a big Red Dragon style complex in Barry – with bowling, movies, meals, and drinkies? See, armchair critics, it’s good to dream and you could help make this happen.
Talk up the town, and lobby for change. Or why not stand up and counted at the Ballot Box if you think you can do better.
Alternatively, have a moan and move on up the carriageway to Cardiff. I’d rather stay and talk up the town.
What do you think?
- The views expressed by columnists of this newspaper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Glamorgan Star, its employees or its proprietors
Read next:
- Let’s build something better for our communities
- Plaid Cymru is ignoring plight of Heath Hospital
- Vale Show highlights importance of the rural economy
- I’m proud that all parties agreed on children in care plan
- Royal Welsh highlights the role of the rural economy
⭐ All of our social media in one handy place – here
Pencoed tangled up by ‘Seaweeds’
Primary school’s former deputy head is banned from teaching
I make no apologies for calling Plaid Cymru ‘separatists’
‘The importance of participation and continued learning’
Opposition leaders clash with First Minister over independence rally
How Kevin saved a stranger’s life
