Ponty park to stay closed for bank holiday amid Covid fears

PONTYPRIDD’S Ynysangharad Park won’t be reopening before the bank holiday.

That was the message from Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s leader Andrew Morgan in his latest update on the coronavirus.

He said the park won’t open this week or next week and it won’t be open again before Tuesday, May 26.

The park, which was closed after the damage caused by Storm Dennis, was due to open at the start of April but this did not happen because works still needed to be carried out.

And with the continuing coronavirus crisis, the council will not be opening the park before the bank holiday.

Repair works are still ongoing at the park this week and deliveries are being made to finish the new bridge linking the park with the Llys Cadwyn town-centre development, with a crane on site next Monday or Tuesday.

Councillor Morgan said: “While Government guidance is to open parks wherever possible, given the current coronavirus situation in the county borough, with data displaying that RCT has the highest number of confirmed cases per 100,000 of the population in Wales, I am of the view that the park should not reopen before the Bank Holiday weekend in order to minimise the risk of transmission.

“I am aware that there are calls from those who want to see the park reopened and also from those who want it to remain shut, but in the interests of public safety I do not want to see a scenario where a large volume of people travel to the park over the Bank Holiday, and for that reason the park will not open before Tuesday, May 26, when a final decision will then be taken.”

When the park does open, it is likely to have restricted opening hours and the council’s enforcement staff will be patrolling along with officers from South Wales police to ensure that social distancing is maintained.