Town Council vote of no confidence in Kidwelly Labour County Councillor passed unanimously

Kidwelly Town Council have passed a vote of no confidence in the Labour County Councillor for the town, Crishal Davies. The motion was proposed at a meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday (Sep 5) and was unanimously carried.

It follows close on the complete failure of the 2023 Gwen Gwen Festival of which, Crishal Davies was involved with as one of the organisers and director of the company behind the event.

Social media is still full of disgruntled people commenting on the disastrous attempt to bring a large music festival to the small town. The event was cancelled last minute with bands and stall holders complaining that they had not been given sufficient notice and so had incurred losses. Crishal Davies resigned from the company shortly afterwards.

Posts are still being made on social media on a Public Page for the festival with people bitterly complaining about the organisers and some alleging they have not had their refunds.

Concerns were raised before and during the 2022 festival, for which, financial details have not yet emerged. It is claimed that there has been a spend in excess of £300,000 to date, with very little to show remaining in the town. It left some residents asking why the money could not have been used elsewhere.

Some questioned why people with no experience of organising such a large and costly event were given the go-ahead. Kidwelly Town Council distanced themselves from this year’s festival but it was the council who were prominent in applying for the funding at the beginning. A number of people have since parted company with the Black Cat Strategy and subsequent companies associated with the festival leaving one organiser to pick up the pieces.

Kidwelly Town Council were asked for a comment and said: “The motion was passed in response to the County Councillor’s involvement in the organisation of the Gwen Gwen Festival 2023 and the subsequent cancellation of the event at very short notice. Whatever the reasons for cancelling the event the shortness of notice had a detrimental effect on local businesses that had preordered supplies and on visitors who had travelled long distances. The implications for the reputation of the town of Kidwelly as a tourist destination are immense.

“The Black Cat Tourism Strategy Project is not yet complete and as soon as it is audited the accounts will be published.

“To answer your last question it is not the purpose of Kidwelly Town Council to allow or prevent the business decisions of individual businesses or organisations.”

We have contacted Cllr Davies for a comment but at the time of publishing we have not received a response. We will update this item if Cllr Davies responds.