Fireworks cancelled as Pontypridd park 'unusable' after National Eisteddfod and torrential rain
Ynysangharad War Memorial Park is looking a bit worse for wear after hosting the National Eisteddfod in August and thanks to the recent wet weather. Photos from Monday, September 30, show that some areas of the park are completely waterlogged and ducks have even been spotted enjoying the water that has flooded the fields. It has also recently been announced that the annual fireworks display held in the park has been cancelled.
The park was home to the Eisteddfod Maes from August 3-10, but in order to prepare to host Wales' biggest cultural festival, it was closed in stages before being fully shut to the public from July 31. It then did not re-open until August 14. For the latest Pontypridd news, sign up to our newsletter here
While the Eisteddfod was celebrated by a number of local businesses for boosting trade, others complained that they were quieter than usual due to their regular customers staying away to avoid any disruption. Some locals also shared frustrations about the park and its lido being closed for an extended period during the school holidays.
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After the Eisteddfod, RCT Council said footfall in Pontypridd town centre during the festival was 186,012, an increase of 115,554 compared to the same week in the previous year. However, the pictures highlighting the muddy and flooded fields show that Ynysangharad Park is clearly still feeling the effects of holding such a large event.
This weekend, Pontypridd and Rhondda Roundtable, who organise the annual Ponty Big Bang fireworks display in the park, attracting hundreds of families from all over Pontypridd and the Rhondda Valleys, announced on their Facebook page that this year's display would be cancelled. They said: "Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, Ponty Big Bang will not be going ahead this year but we very much look forward to it returning in 2025!"
Replying to one of the comments on their post, they agreed that the field was "unusable". As well as the fireworks display, there is usually a small fairground for the event, and the money raised by the organisers goes towards supporting good causes in the local area.
A spokesperson for Rhondda Cynon Taf Council said: “The Eisteddfod was a huge success for Pontypridd. Over 186,000 people visited the Maes at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park and the wider town, with many saying it was the 'best Eisteddfod ever.' Ongoing work is in place until April, 2025, to ensure the cricket grounds are brought back to the high standard that regular users and teams expect."
Regarding the fireworks, they added: "We put forward alternative options to still accommodate the event at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park. However, organisers felt that it was not viable for them and they made the decision to cancel. We have a good working relationship with the organisers and look forward to working with them on future events."
They added: "These pictures were taken on Monday 30 September, after a Met Office Yellow Weather Warning for rain. As such, you would expect to see surface water for a period of time after this."