The Pier has Christmas cheer! - 19/12/06

 

Thanks to some creativity, a load of rubbish and the involvement of local people, Penarth Pier has again been decorated with a difference, much to the delight of project organisers at The Vale of Glamorgan Council.

 

With the involvement of Penarth Youth Project for the first time, this is the third 'Christmas Cheer for the Pier' where local groups have used artistic flair and creativity to make eye-catching baubles and garlands from items destined for the bin.

 

Previous years have seen decorations made by local primary school pupils at Albert, St Joseph's and Ysgol Gymraeg Pen y Garth schools, and clients from the charity Scope. These have all been used again this Christmas, together with new ones made at Penarth Youth Project, based in Stanwell Road.

 

The initiative was the idea of arts development and waste awareness officers at the Council, and aims to encourage creativity in all sections of the local community, and to raise awareness of how everyday materials can be reused.

 

Council's Arts Development Officer Tracey Harding said: "The response to this project has been fantastic. We have had super feedback from the public who have enjoyed seeing the artwork. All the groups involved have had a lot of fun, and have also learned about the opportunities that can be created with imaginative artistic ideas."

 

Pop bottles, plastic containers and cardboard tubes have been transformed into fabulous Christmas garlands, baubles and bells, and, because plastic is the main material used they are more tolerant of the weather.

 

Council Waste Awareness Officer Sam Harrison said: "Here we’re using a fun project in an eye catching location to promote a serious message – we throw too much away. This is one of the more unusual ways we promote our 'What's in your bin?' project, that aims to get us all thinking about reducing, or, as with this project, reusing, and recycling. "

 

And, lastly, surely the unsung hero of the project must be Piermaster Peter Andrews, who braves the elements every year to put the decorations up – and tries to make sure they stay up!