FAR-right nationalist party the BNP is planning to set up a new branch in North Wales next week. Party leader Nick Griffin is to address the meeting of activists in Colwyn Bay. The decisions means the party has met the legal formalities needed to stand a candidate for Wales in this year's European elections. Mainstream politicians have warned of the shame of Wales sending a BNP member to Brussels as one of its representatives. The meeting is being held at a secret location in the town. Those attending will only be told the venue half-an-hour in advance in a bid to stop protesters disrupt-ing the event. The new branch of the party will cover Anglesey, Caernarfon, Conwy, Llandudno, Colwyn Bay and Rhyl. A Deeside branch already exists. The far-right party claims asylum seekers and immigrant s is becoming an issue in the region. John Walker, the party's North Wales organiser, said: "The reason why Colwyn Bay has come about is we've been getting a lot of inquiries around that region from people wanting to join. "We haven't done a lot of leafleting in the region. But the demand warrants a group. "People often say the BNP only gets support in areas with an ethnic minority, but people are looking at our website and our policies for themselves rather than hearing them second or third hand, and they like them." The BNP's presence in North Wales has provoked anger from mainstream politicians. Clwyd West MP Gareth Thomas said he found the move worrying. He said "They may pretend to be interested in bread-and-butter issues but they aren't." West Clwyd AM Alan Pugh said: "We certainly don't want that sort of thing here in North Wales." The meeting takes place on Tuesday evening at 7pm. BNP activist Mike Bellringer has already been appointed organiser for the group but declined to comment. | 
