A series of safety measures including a campaign encouraging youngsters to Have Fun, Take Care and Stay Safe will return ahead of this month’s Royal Welsh Show.
The campaign will see a series of posters, banners and other media displayed at licenced premises and throughout Builth Wells during show week, encouraging people to behave responsibly in a creative and humorous way. The campaign is being implemented by the Builth Wells Events Safety Group.
The measures introduced by the safety group, which was formed in 2017 and led by Powys County Council, aim to reduce public risk and improve the safety of those in and around Builth Wells during the period of Royal Welsh Show.
Other safety measures that will also be in place includes:
- Safe walking route known as the Green Route
- Medical and wellbeing centre, known as the Help Point, operated by St John Cymru from the Strand Hall
- ‘Pop up’ Help Point providing guidance and welfare support, operated by Powys County Council’s Youth Service from the Groe
- Welfare support to be provided by Street Pastors and Youth Workers at night.
- Free water, kindly donated by Radnor Hills
- Drug amnesty boxes will be placed on approaches to venues in and around Builth Wells
Cllr Richard Church, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Safer Powys, said: “The Royal Welsh Show is a highlight in many people’s calendars, and draws in tens of thousands of visitors to Builth Wells and the surrounding area every year.
“Following the launch of the Have Fun, Take Care, Stay Safe campaign last year, it’s great to see that it’s returning for this year Show as a humorous way to communicate an important message for those in and around Builth Wells during Royal Welsh Show week.
“Of course, we want our visitors to have a great time. It’s a social occasion and a perfect opportunity to meet up with those you may not have seen for a while, but please drink and behave responsibly and look after yourselves and your friends. As long as people Have Fun, Take Care and Stay Safe then they will have a memorable time during Royal Welsh Show week.
“We understand that some of the measures that will be in place may cause some disruption for residents living in Builth Wells. However, they are necessary to ensure we keep visitors and residents safe throughout Royal Welsh Show week.”
Aled Rhys Jones, Chief Executive of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society, said: “We want every visitor to have a safe and enjoyable time when visiting the Royal Welsh Show and surrounding areas. As event organisers, our priority is to create a safe and welcoming environment and we are pleased to work closely with the Builth Wells Events Safety Group in ensuring that measures are put in place to provide security and reassurance for all. We thank the Group for all their work as we look forward to yet another memorable show. Have Fun, Take Care and Stay Safe.”
William Watkins, Managing Director of Radnor Hills, Wales’ leading soft drinks manufacturer, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Royal Welsh Show again and to be providing this historic agricultural show with our bottles of water.
“The events safety group do a fantastic job every year in keeping everyone safe at the show and we’re proud that our exceptionally pure spring water, which is sourced and bottled just miles from the show, will be keeping them refreshed.”
