CONSERVATIVE politicians have waded in on the dispute over whether a £40,000 carpet should leave or remain in a Barry pub.

The Barry & District News was the first to report that J.D. Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin boss had refused Barry Town Council’s (BTC) instruction to remove the mat, installed as part of the £715,000 refurbishment of the Sir Samuel Romilly, in Broad Street, Barry.

Barry Town councillors had unanimously voted to request the mat - featuring the town’s coat of arms – be “removed as soon as practically possible” at its full council meeting on Monday, July 22.

BTC said it would take legal advice on whether it would approach the Court of Chivalry which was established in the 14th century to settle coat of arms disputes.

It last sat in 1954.

South Wales Central AM, Andrew RT Davies said: “I hope BTC will reflect and judge that they have far better things to get on with and worry about than taking on a popular local Wetherspoon boozer over a piece of carpet!

“I was delighted to see that the pub has received significant investment, with the firm even going to the trouble of detailing the history of the crest with a plaque on the wall in a very respectful manner.

“Wasting taxpayer cash on this exercise is daft and I hope BTC will reconsider this decision.”

BTC Tory group leader, Cllr Vincent Bailey added: “Taking Wetherspoon to court would be an absolute waste of money, and the public backlash would be deserved.

“Frankly, Barry residents expect us to be concentrating on more serious things - and whilst some Plaid councillors seem to be gunning for legal action, it makes much more sense to come to a compromise.

“We’re talking about a significant local employer and a popular pub.

“This could be resolved easily, and that’s why I have called for a special meeting of town council so that we can put a stop to this nonsense, get on with our lives and start working on things that matter to our residents.”

In response, BTC Plaid opposition leader, Cllr Shirley Hodges said: "It was a unanimous decision by the town council not to give permission to use the Barry town crest to Wetherspoon.

“I'm surprised Cllr Bailey has now changed his mind, this decision was only made a few weeks ago.

“Plaid have asked for proper processes to be followed I think this the most sensible way forward.

“The town council has not made a decision to take the pub chain to court, so the request by senior Tory politicians for the council to "reconsider" is very bizarre.

“Perhaps if Cllr Bailey attended town council meetings a bit more than the 15 per cent he managed last year, he would be better placed to inform people of facts and not fiction?"

BTC chief officer, Emily Forbes said full council had resolved to refuse the request to use the BTC Armorial Bearings (Coat of Arms) on the carpet and that it be removed.

She said the committee had also resolved that she, the chief officer, seek legal advice on what recourse can be taken should J.D. Wetherspoon refuse to remove the carpet.

Ms Forbes said: “Since receiving the letter, Wetherspoon solicitors have requested a meeting which has been accepted by the chief officer.

“Any information from this meeting will be brought back to a meeting of full council for further discussion and resolution.”

Wetherspoon spokesman, Eddie Gershon said: “Our legal team meets with the company’s senior managers every Thursday and we will review any further information from the council at the next meeting.”