CONCERNS have been raised about a council’s decision to spend several thousands of pounds on ceremonial jewellery despite vital services being slashed.

At Tywyn Town Council’s meeting, newly elected councillor Quentin Deakin questioned the commitment to pay £3,000 for a new mayor’s chain while certain facilities, such as public toilets, were under threat.

The decision to purchase a new 27-link chain, with former mayors’ names engraved on it, was agreed upon at May’s town council meeting. Gwynedd councillor Anne Lloyd Jones proposed the spend and new town councillor Aled Lewis seconded the proposal.

The money for the new chain is to be deducted from the council’s ‘donations budget’.

Cllr Deakin, who was not at the meeting, made it clear he did not agree with the purchase.

He was initially told he could not comment on the decision as the council was only “checking the minutes for accuracy” and Cllr Deakin had not been present. But the determined councillor continued regardless.

“I would have objected,” he said.

“That money could have been used for a whole host of projects - we could have resurfaced a car park or saved a public toilet, for example.

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend it’s okay to spend £3,000 on a chain.”

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