South Wales Echo

Campaign calls for opposition to Eisteddfod camp

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A HUGE campsite for up to 700 caravans will be set up in Cardiff for the National Eisteddfod – and a campaign group wants local residents to oppose it.

Up to 50 acres of Pontcanna Fields will be used as a campsite for visitors to the annual celebratio­n of Welsh culture, which is returning to the Welsh capital for the first time in a decade.

The area will be closed off to the public for 10 days from when the first caravans arrive on August 2 – when the festivitie­s in Cardiff Bay are set to begin.

Preparator­y work will begin two weeks before the caravans arrive, and there will be a week-long clean-up operation after the campsite closes.

But some people are not happy with the idea and fear the campsite will leave the area in a flood-prone, muddy state – as it was left after the last National Eisteddfod in Cardiff in 2008 when the whole event was held at the site.

Campaign group Bute Parks Alliance is calling on people to voice their opposition to the plans with their councillor­s.

A message on the group’s Facebook page said: “Everybody knows that running heavy caravans and cars on soft grass or turf causes damage, especially if the grass is rain sodden.

“We’ve all seen the TV images of the aftermath of Eisteddfod­au where it rained – heavy tractors dragging skidding caravans and cars out of deep mud – the end result is a quagmire and is not pretty.

“How is it possible for responsibl­e public representa­tives on Cardiff City Council to concoct such a destructiv­e and mindless proposal without proper consultati­on and discussion with the people who use and adore Cardiff ’s wonderful listed inner city parks?”

The event will affect the area south of the River Taff between the SSE Swalec National Cricket Centre and Cardiff Riding School.

A campsite will be set up on the cricket and rugby pitches, which will be fenced off.

The caravan park will be set up north of the Willow Tree Path covering the area up to the riding school.

The final campsite layout is being worked on, but currently includes 650 to 700 caravans, 200 family camping pitches and 400 youth camping pitches.

Elfed Roberts, chief executive of National Eisteddfod , reassured residents the ground will be left in a good condition after the event closes.

He said: “There have been a small number of people in Pontcanna who have objected.

“We’re still having discussion­s with the council on the objections that have raised.

“We’re hopeful and confident that all matters will be resolved and that we will be able to reassure residents of Pontcanna.

“We will do everything within our power to ensure that the land is looked after and returned to public use in a good condition.”

Cardiff council has reassured residents they will not see a repeat of what happened in 2008.

Visitors will only be allowed to park one car next to their caravan during the festival.

Once visitors have parked their car on site, they will be prohibited from moving their vehicle unless they are leaving the site for good and they will not be permitted back on site.

The Eisteddfod is charging visitors who wish to bring a second car to Cardiff, and they will have to park the second vehicle in an allocated car park, which is away from the caravan site itself.

When the site is there, the path to Blackweir will be closed, with a temporary path created to the right of the car park.

The council says this will keep pedestrian­s and vehicles away from each other for safety reasons.

A camping site event company will be employed by the Eisteddfod and a cleaning company will collect waste and rubbish on a daily basis.

The site will be assessed before the start and at the end of the festival.

A council spokesman said: “While the campsite facilities will be in Pontcanna Fields the Maes itself is relocating to Cardiff Bay which fundamenta­lly changes the propositio­n from what people remember about 2008 and the Eisteddfod are working with the council to address all concerns raised.

“The Eisteddfod acknowledg­es the importance of parks and green spaces to local residents in Cardiff, and the aim of the recent drop-in session in Pontcanna was to share the first draft of the plan with local people, so that the their views could be taken into considerat­ion when working on the final plan for the area.

“Eisteddfod officials are now considerin­g all the comments raised during the drop-in session including those raised online, before working on the final plan for the area.

“As promised, we will be returning to residents with a full consolidat­ed response shortly.”

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