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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Castle shut after vandal attacks | Castle shut after vandal attacks |
| (9 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. | 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. |
| Vicky Perfect, a fellow town councillor and the key-holder for the castle, said as far as she was concerned, the castle was closed due to works to take foliage and vegetation off the stonework and not because of vandalism. | Vicky Perfect, a fellow town councillor and the key-holder for the castle, said as far as she was concerned, the castle was closed due to works to take foliage and vegetation off the stonework and not because of vandalism. |
| She says she has opened up for Cadw since 1983 and had never been spat at or abused, while young people drinking near the castle was a minor problem. | She says she has opened up for Cadw since 1983 and had never been spat at or abused, while young people drinking near the castle was a minor problem. |
| Ms Perfect said she was asked by Cadw to put up a notice saying "closed due to vandalism" when it shut a week and a half ago, which coincided with work starting at the castle too. | Ms Perfect said she was asked by Cadw to put up a notice saying "closed due to vandalism" when it shut a week and a half ago, which coincided with work starting at the castle too. |
| Cadw has been asked to respond to the claims. | Cadw has been asked to respond to the claims. |
| Sandy Mewies, assembly member for Delyn, said it was "regrettable" Cadw felt they had no option but to close the castle, but added that she had attended the "wonderful" Big Dee Festival there at the weekend. | |
| She said she would raise the matter with Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones. | She said she would raise the matter with Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones. |
| North Wales Police said: "We were disappointed that we weren't notified of the closure. | 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." | "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). | Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour at the site is asked to call 0845 6071001 (Welsh language) or 0845 6071002 (English). |