A ROW broke out at last week’s Chepstow Town Council meeting over their annual Christmas card competition and who was entitled to enter.

Discussions for the annual competition, where schools across the town take part in designing a festive card to win a chance to switch on the Christmas lights, soon went off topic as councillor Armand Watts spoke of his dismay that the competition was “unfair”.

Cllr Watts expressed his concern that children from places such as Beachley and Sedbury and other schools across the River Wye (whose schools are not included in the competition) would feel “left out”.

But he was met with confusion from several other councillors, who said that the competition was solely for Chepstow schools.

After the meeting, Mr Watts spoke to the Free Press about the competition, saying he feels that it isn’t right for children who live in Chepstow but go to other schools.

He said: “They say the limitations are the border but that just isn’t the case.

“I just thought not letting them take part in the Christmas card thing was wrong. It seems fundamentally wrong.

“The fact of the matter is that they are not allowed to participate in the Christmas card competition to turn on the Christmas lights is discrimination.”

But town councillor Yvonne Havard, who chaired the town amenities’ meeting, said although she understood where cllr Watts was coming from, it would mean a lot of last minute work for the town council.

Mrs Havard said: “This year we have left it too late to change anything.

“I don’t know if the schools would agree, and we have to make sure the council is wanting to do it.

“This is what we have always done and we have never had anyone query it before."

Cllr Havard also said Mr Watts’ suggestions would be discussed further for next year’s competition.