A town council has defended its decision to pay for a mayor's upcoming visit to Malta.
Bridgend Town Council voted to accept an invitation to send representatives to the HMS Urge commemoration ceremonies in Malta in April 2022.
The council also voted in favour of funding the travel costs for the Mayor, Steven Bletsoe, and Mayoress, Freya Bletsoe, to attend.
However, the council's decision noted that anyone else wishing to attend must fund their own travel arrangements.
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The HMS Urge, a World War Two era submarine, has held a significant place in the history of Bridgend ever since the town paid for and 'adopted' it in 1941.
According to a draft of agenda item 15 of the Bridgend Town Council meeting on January 24, a number of councillors said that representatives should be sent to commemorate the submarine in Malta - where it was last seen before it went missing on its final mission in 1942.
On board that day were 32 crew, 11 Royal Navy passengers and a war correspondent.
Town councillor, Ian Williams, said it was "imperative" that representatives from the council were sent to commemorate the submarine and that it would be an "insult" if they were not, according to the draft of the minutes.
Also according to the draft of the minutes, Councillor Matthew Voisey, who agreed with Cllr Williams that representatives should be sent, proposed that the council "fund the travel arrangements for the Mayor and Mayoress to attend on behalf of the people of Bridgend".
However, he noted in the meeting that they should undertake a solemn promise that no press releases or photographs would be submitted of the event with an election looming.
In 1941 Bridgend residents took part in the Bridgend and District Warship Week, and through raffles, whist drives and dances, raised £300,000 (the equivalent of approximately £15 million today) to officially adopt the U Class submarine HMS Urge.
In October 2019, the wreck of HMS Urge was discovered off the coast of Malta. The Ministry of Defence said it recognised the wreck site "as the last resting place of HMS Urge and those who lost their lives in service of their country".
The wreck will now be treated as an official war grave and protected by Maltese, British and international law.
When asked whether he thought an alternative way of commemorating the HMS Urge could be undertaken without the Mayor and Mayoress having to travel to Malta, Cllr Voisey said: "I just feel that it is of special merit.
"I have served myself and I think there are [certain] things that are appropriate.
"People put their lives in great danger and made the ultimate sacrifice.
"It is also for the families of those who have made the sacrifice. It is important that they are recognised."
The Welsh Government has eased its advice on international travel, with the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, saying this week that they will no longer be advising people to "only travel overseas if the journey is essential".
In a statement, Mayor Cllr Steven Bletsoe said: "I consider it an honour and a privilege to be representing the people of Bridgend, on the solemn understanding that we may pay our final respects to the courageous and heroic people who were lost that day while serving their country.
"We will Remember Them."
Following the discovery of the wreck, plans were made for an official commemoration in Malta in April 2020.
The event was organised by the families who lost their lives on HMS Urge and Heritage Malta with support from The Royal Navy. Representatives from Bridgend were invited to the event and the Bridgend Town Mayor and Consort at the time were due to attend.
The event was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and rescheduled for April 27, 2022 to mark the 80th anniversary of the loss of HMS Urge.
A spokesperson for Bridgend Town Council said: "As the event is due to take place during the pre-election period, advice was sought on this matter.
"Council was subsequently advised that given that this is a significant, date driven occasion, each of the political parties should be given equal, or proportionate, representation in the invitation list or in the opportunity to attend the event.
"In addition to this, an invitation has been received from The Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum for the Mayor or a representative of Bridgend to attend an HMS Urge commemoration event at the Submarine Museum in Gosport on May 10, 2022.
"The invitations were discussed at a meeting of Bridgend Town Council on Monday, January 24 2022 and Council unanimously resolved to accept the invitations.
"The current Mayor and Mayoress of Bridgend Town Council were appointed to attend the event in Malta and the event in Gosport as representatives of Bridgend to pay respects to the crew and passengers who lost their lives on HMS Urge."
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