WHAT really angered Johnston Councillor Aled Thomas regarding offensive graffiti in the village was the type of message it sends to visitors and young people in the community, particularly as there are so many hardworking people behind the scenes just trying to make Johnston a better place for everyone.

“I’ll never apologise for standing up for the hardworking people of Johnston who want their council tax spent wisely, good housing and services delivered well, said Cllr Thomas.

“The Community Council which I chair has worked damn hard to improve our village’s green spaces, making significant enhancements in the Glebelands Field, The Woodland Walk and the Vine Field, and making sure our play parks are safe to use. Someone throwing all that hard work by local residents down the drain by detracting from it with petty graffiti makes me angry.

“And what sort of precedent does this set to children in our community? Teachers, support staff and the School’s Governing Body I lead at Johnston School work tirelessly to foster a culture decency and respect, as well as making our local school one of, if not the most financially sustainable schools in the whole county, and mindless disgusting language like this isn’t something they should be subject to on their daily walk to school.”

Councillor Thomas suggested the slogan writer reach out to him to discuss their problems “without ruining the village for everyone else.”

“I’ll continue doing my very best to help Johnston and its residents thrive, and no graffiti will ever stop me,” the councillor added.

Paul Davies MS commented: “To vandalise, use this language and spoil our environment in this way is just shameful. This is not how politics should be done and I’m sure that most residents and indeed supporters of other Parties will agree with me.”