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| Castle shut after vandal attacks | Castle shut after vandal attacks |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A 700-year-old castle has been closed to the public after it was targeted by vandals who threw bottles at staff. | A 700-year-old castle has been closed to the public after it was targeted by vandals who threw bottles at staff. |
| Cadw, the assembly government's historic monuments agency, said workers at Flint Castle had also been spat on. | Cadw, the assembly government's historic monuments agency, said workers at Flint Castle had also been spat on. |
| It said it could not guarantee visitors' safety and was seeking a meeting with police. | It said it could not guarantee visitors' safety and was seeking a meeting with police. |
| A councillor described Cadw's actions as "out of proportion" and claimed a major event took place at the castle while it was supposed to be closed. | A councillor described Cadw's actions as "out of proportion" and claimed a major event took place at the castle while it was supposed to be closed. |
| John Wallis, Cadw's site operations manager, said: "Even though Cadw has invested considerable resources at this monument, we cannot at present guarantee the safety of visitors. | John Wallis, Cadw's site operations manager, said: "Even though Cadw has invested considerable resources at this monument, we cannot at present guarantee the safety of visitors. |
| A few hundred people attended the Big Dee Festival there on Saturday. It begs the obvious question, is it safe or isn't it? Cllr Ian Roberts | A few hundred people attended the Big Dee Festival there on Saturday. It begs the obvious question, is it safe or isn't it? Cllr Ian Roberts |
| "Therefore we have found it necessary to close this site until further notice. | "Therefore we have found it necessary to close this site until further notice. |
| "We are extremely frustrated with the ongoing spate of vandalism. | "We are extremely frustrated with the ongoing spate of vandalism. |
| "Youths are behaving inappropriately, continuing to drink on site even though it's an alcohol-free zone, smashing bottles and threatening staff. | "Youths are behaving inappropriately, continuing to drink on site even though it's an alcohol-free zone, smashing bottles and threatening staff. |
| "Despite Cadw having a cleaning regime in place and despite the best efforts of our staff, we are being severely tested. Even the cleaners are spat upon and having bottles thrown at them. | "Despite Cadw having a cleaning regime in place and despite the best efforts of our staff, we are being severely tested. Even the cleaners are spat upon and having bottles thrown at them. |
| "We are seeking an urgent meeting with the police and the town and county councils to address the problems and try to tackle these issues together. | "We are seeking an urgent meeting with the police and the town and county councils to address the problems and try to tackle these issues together. |
| "All parties need to make a concerted effort to put an end to this harassment." | "All parties need to make a concerted effort to put an end to this harassment." |
| 'Furore' | 'Furore' |
| Flint Castle was the first in a ring of fortresses built in Wales by Edward I in the late 13th Century and came under siege by Welsh princes. | Flint Castle was the first in a ring of fortresses built in Wales by Edward I in the late 13th Century and came under siege by Welsh princes. |
| It also faced a three month siege by parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1647. | It also faced a three month siege by parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War in 1647. |
| It has been looked after as a public monument for the last 90 years. | It has been looked after as a public monument for the last 90 years. |
| Cllr Ian Roberts said he agreed there was "no way staff should have to put up with abuse," but questioned the reasons behind the closure. | Cllr Ian Roberts said he agreed there was "no way staff should have to put up with abuse," but questioned the reasons behind the closure. |
| He said: "This amounts to a six-day closure, and the furore it's caused is way out of proportion to the incident that occurred. | He said: "This amounts to a six-day closure, and the furore it's caused is way out of proportion to the incident that occurred. |
| "I have been told that Cadw closed the castle last Thursday, and plan to re-open it this Thursday, a week later. | "I have been told that Cadw closed the castle last Thursday, and plan to re-open it this Thursday, a week later. |
| "During that time, a few hundred people attended the Big Dee Festival there on Saturday. | "During that time, a few hundred people attended the Big Dee Festival there on Saturday. |
| "It begs the obvious question, is it safe or isn't it?" | "It begs the obvious question, is it safe or isn't it?" |
| Cllr Roberts called into question Cadw's stewardship of the castle, saying it was low down the body's list of priorities. | Cllr Roberts called into question Cadw's stewardship of the castle, saying it was low down the body's list of priorities. |
| He said Cadw's handling of the situation might be seen as an "attack" on the local community, adding: "We're talking about a very small minority of people who abuse the castle. The vast majority are proud of it and appreciate the history there." | He said Cadw's handling of the situation might be seen as an "attack" on the local community, adding: "We're talking about a very small minority of people who abuse the castle. The vast majority are proud of it and appreciate the history there." |
| Alex Aldridge, of Flint Town Council, said it would have been better if Cadw had contacted the council, county council and police to try and find a solution. | |
| Cadw has been asked to respond to the claims. | |
| North Wales Police said: "We were disappointed that we weren't notified of the closure. | |
| "However, we have now got a meeting with Cadw and we are looking forward to working with them." | |
| Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour at the site is asked to call 0845 6071001 (Welsh language) or 0845 6071002 (English). |