Anger as dragon sculpture moved for car park

RESIDENTS of a Rhondda town have been left angry after a sculpture built by a community art project was uprooted to extend a car park.

People in Ferndale have voiced their shock after a stone dragon in Greenwood Park was dismantled by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to make room for further car park spaces.

Built in 1997, the sculpture was created by Welsh artist Rubin Eynon as well as local residents as part of a project by community asset the Arts Factory.

It will now be put in storage until a decision is taken to move the sculpture to a different location.

Ferndale resident Anna Jones, 31, said: “I took my little boy to the park to play rugby and it had been wrenched out of the ground and there was just a pile of mud there.

“The amount of spaces they have freed up is irrelevant, it’s created room for about four more cars and it doesn’t improve access at all.”

The mother-of-two said the sculpture has since been moved to the site of the former junior school in Ferndale before it is put into storage.

She said: “No-one knew it was going to happen, it was just dropped on us.

“The sculpture is something people in Ferndale are very proud of and it’s been there since 1997.

“It’s quite sad, it’s just sitting there in a pile with scratches from the digger.”

Former Ferndale resident Nigel Fry took part in the original project organised to teach skills to those looking for work.

The 38-year-old bus driver said: “I was disappointed to hear they had decided to rip up the dragon.

“I have lots of memories growing up there and undertaking the dragon build while in Labour’s new deal scheme back in the ‘90s.

“It’s been there a while and it has grown into part of the earthworks.”

Councillor for Ferndale Philip Howe said the decision followed a request by Ferndale Rugby Club to increase the number of car park spaces.

He said: “The mini rugby have at least 50 children there, which means a minimum of 50 cars.”

“The car park was too small and people were parking on the hill and main road.”

The independent councillor has apologised after stating council members were unaware of the “significance” of the stones following a meeting with members of the club.

He said: “The stones will be taken away from the yard to be cleaned and it will be put in a new position in a park area.”

A spokesman for RCT Council said: “Arrangements are being made for the stones to be stored – which will take place this week. This will allow further discussions over the best place to restore the sculpture locally .”