VAGRANT Gary Cooper, well-known as a regular visitor to Penarth, has divided opinion in the town after ‘moving in’ to a local bus stop and turning it into a 'Santa’s grotto'.

Many local people were left up in arms after the 49-year-old ‘took up residence’ at the bus stop outside Cosmeston and decorated it for the festive period – complete with a Christmas Tree – with one resident branding it ‘disgusting’, and another saying it had 'got out of hand'.

But others were sympathetic to his plight, and were incensed after Vale Council workers, assisted by the police, removed the decorations on Tuesday.

One woman, who lives across the road from the bus stop, said: “The decorations weren’t hurting anyone. I gave him the Christmas tree and the council just came and took it. But lots of us support him.”

Another woman who gave Cooper a chocolate bar after getting off the bus on Wednesday, added: “I can’t believe that the council has taken it all away. It’s Christmas for goodness sake.”

However others said they felt the situation, and his continued presence at the bus stop, had become a problem.

"It’s time they moved him,” said one regular bus user.

"In the beginning I felt sorry for him but now he’s doing it all the time.

"It’s heart-breaking that he’s in there, but it’s upsetting for us too. I catch the bus and I’m dreading coming down here now."

Another resident said: "He’s been back and forth here for the last four weeks, but this was the first time he’s decorated it.

"He needs help, but whatever help he gets it doesn’t seem to alter what he does. If he hasn’t had a drink he is ok, but when he’s drunk he’s obnoxious.

"It’s a shame but people keep encouraging him."

Another called for the council to remove Cooper altogether.

“Will those in authority please take responsibility and do something to support the law-abiding tax-paying locals by returning the shelter to its proper use,” they said.

“Many of us are fed up.”

The decorations were removed on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning, Cooper claimed: “More than £30 worth of decorations were taken from me, and some of my personal belongings.

"I asked for the decorations to be donated to Llandough hosiptal or a charity shop but the Vale council just put them in refuse bags. I’ve thrown my Santa costume in the bin myself.”

However, the Vale Council says the goods were in fact taken to a charity shop.

Operational manager for visible services, Clifford Parish, said officers went to the bus stop after receiving complaints from residents and a request from South Wales Police.

He added: “Following discussions with our officers, Mr Cooper agreed that we would remove the Christmas decorations.

“All the items removed were taken by cleansing staff to the Salvation Army Shop in Stanwell Road, Penarth as agreed with Mr Cooper.

“Unfortunately they were deemed to be unsuitable for resale by the charity and the shop declined to accept them. It was therefore necessary for us to arrange their disposal.

“Bus stops form part of the public highway and the council has a statutory duty to keep them clear of litter and refuse," he added.

“The council’s waste management and cleansing staff will continue to monitor it and ensure that it is maintained to an acceptable standard of cleanliness."

The local authority has confirmed it will not be re-housing Cooper.

Operational Manager for public housing services, Mike Ingram said: "The council previously helped Mr Cooper, providing accommodation in the Penarth area in line with its homelessness statutory duties.

"Unfortunately he was evicted from that accommodation and as a consequence the council has now discharged its housing responsibilities in line with that legislation."

Cooper has repeatedly been banned from Penarth town centre through the use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders (Asbo), following persistant drunkenness and public order offences, but returned to the area after the expiry of the most recent Asbo.

He is due in front of magistrates in Barry on December 2 charged with a public order offence relating to an incident on Windsor Road on November 17.

Police and the council confirmed an application will be made for a new Asbo at the same time.

Anti-Social Behaviour Co-ordinator for Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan, PC Mike Hawkes said the terms of the application are under consultation.

“We are all very well aware of Gary’s behaviour and it is my responsibility to endeavour to protect the public from that behaviour,” he said.

“I will be applying for as comprehensive an order as possible.”

If a custodial sentence is not imposed on December 2, this year's will be the first Christmas in six that Cooper has not spent in prison.