THE organiser of Barry's traditional New Year's Day swim will not be organising the event this year - but it may still go ahead unofficially.
In a heartfelt message posted on Facebook, Rob Salter said he had thought long and hard before confirming he would not organise the event this year.
Traditionally hundreds of people from Barry congregate at Barry beach and start the year off by jumping into the sea, whether to cleanse away the year just past, or as a cracking way to shake off New Year’s hangovers.
However, Mr Salter said the cost of running event meant it would not be ‘officially organised’ this year.
Mr Salter lamented insurance costs on events such as a New Year’s swim, explaining that insurance can cost up to four times more than any money raised for good causes.
He went on to say if risk assessments were not done right, organisers could be liable in the event of anything going wrong.
However, as the beach is an open public space, there may well be those who choose to go for a dip anyway.
(Usually hundreds congregate at Barry Island beach for the New Year's Day swim)
In a Facebook message, Mr Salter said: “Here's the latest on the Barry New Year's Day Swim.
“I took back control of the event in 2020. Covid put the dampers on it for a couple years. Now we are out the other side it has become clear that the cost of running the event has become prohibitive.
“Insurance alone costs about four times more than we would usually raise for good causes.
“It would be irresponsible to run the event without all the relevant measures in place. For this reason I will no longer be organising the event.
“The beach of course is still there and I expect a number of people will still partake, but I would advise caution for anyone considering running an event.
“As an event organiser you will have many responsibilities and if not properly risk assessed with the relevant safety measures in place you are massively exposed if anything goes wrong.
“Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to all those eagerly awaiting the dip, I have thought long and hard about it and just can't see a way of making it viable.”
Will you be going down to Barry Island and jumping into the sea on New Year’s Day. Let us know in comments or send your pictures in either to Barry and District News Facebook, or email barryanddistrict@barryanddistrictnews.co.uk.
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