1,000 seats unused due to health and safety concern

MORE than 1,000 seats in the main pavilions at the Urdd National Eisteddfod pavilions have had to cordoned off as unusable due to a health and safety problem.

Organisers of the weeklong festival were informed at the end of last week some seats in three pavilions were not safe to use following a problem with a stand at an event set up by the same contractors who provide the Eisteddfod seating.

Urdd officials “apologised for any inconvenience”.

Under a new arrangement this year the festival has three smaller pavilions, rather than a large one part of the objective to offer every competitor a chance to shine on a main stage.

In the pavilions used the seats closest to the stage are level and deemed safe to use.

But the seats behind them, which have been erected on scaffolding, have not been available due to the problem. This has halved the seating available and led to queues outside the pavilions as people tried to get in to see the performances. In one pavilion only competitors and parents were allowed entry.

In a statement the Urdd said: “The Urdd has been working closely with the Health and Safety Executive since Friday, May 2022 to ensure the safety of sloping seats at the Urdd Eisteddfod.

“At present, sloping seats in our three pavilions cannot be used until further notice.

“The safety of our families visiting the Eisteddfod is our priority.

“We will ensure that all supporters enjoy the competition and apologize for any inconvenience that is beyond our control.”

Eisteddfod director Sian Eirian added that they are working “day and night” to try and solve the problem before performances later in the week.

The company that provided the seating for the Eisteddfod pavilions also installed a stand for the Horse Guards Parade in London last week and an incident took place during a rehearsal.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive said it was “working closely” with the Urdd to resolve the problem.