Passing Comment

A personal view of local topics with Sue Vincent-Jones

WELL, I’ve seen some daft decisions in my time – many of which I’ve made myself to be honest, but I’m slightly shocked that our fabulous Firework Fiesta is finito for 2021.

Fancy scrapping our big November Barry Island night out just as our liberty-loving nation sees the last of the lockdown restrictions finally lift. And with a massive three whole months to go before the first fuse would even have been lit. But Barry Rotary Club, Barry Round Table, Barry Town Council, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council have made a collective decision to completely cancel the event due to the ‘uncertainties of covid.’

What uncertainties are those then please?

There’s no longer a legal limit on numbers outdoors, social distancing is scrapped, mass events are back in business, and masks are only mandatory in certain settings. Add to that, our fast-paced world-beating valiant vaccination programme that’s seen nearly 90 per cent jabbed, 80 per cent double-dosed, and a booster blitz starting in September.

And the cold, hard evidence that these jabs have broken the hospitalisation link, radically reduced the risk of death, and can cope with new variants. Such a shame too, when, after a miserable 18 months, our tired and tested community are crying out for some sort of celebration to raise our spirits, cement our solidarity. And, oh yeah, have some fun too – remember when we were allowed to that, sometimes even with sparklers. For me, while I’m a huge fan of the Hood Road Tunnel of Love, the Festival of Light that replaces the brilliant big November night out, is a poor substitute.

So, and here’s a thought, could the collective not read the room, see the shift in situation and reverse the taken too soon decision. It would be a bold move but would make our town look at the lockdown lift in a completely new light – pun totally intended.

What do you think?

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