ANGER AFTER ‘WAR HEROES TURNED AWAY’
REMEMBRANCE DAY ROW AS VETERANS TRIED TO PAY RESPECTS
WAR veterans queuing outside a park to pay their respects on Remembrance Sunday say they were turned away by police because the council and police officials were holding a private vigil instead.
Local residents say they were left angry after police told them they were unable to enter Ynysangharad War Memorial Park in Pontypridd while representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf council remembered the fallen.
One man, who didn’t want to be identified, said he had attended yesterday morning along with around 20 others, only to be met with a police officer guarding the gate. There was also an official with a clipboard checking off the names of those who were permitted to enter.
“I can’t believe what they are doing, it’s an utter disgrace,” he said. “There are veterans outside the gates, people who have served, and they aren’t allowed in. They’re here, with their berets and poppies so they can go and lay their own wreaths.
“But they can’t go in because they’ve shut the park so the council and police can have their own private event.”
Following Welsh Government guidance, RCT council confirmed there would be no public parades this year as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and firebreak rules.
The council said a “limited number” of representatives would take part in an event in the war memorial park yesterday.
They said: “Under the guidelines, a limited number of local events will be taking place across the county, but please note that these are not public events and are permitted under the Remembrance guidelines issued by the Welsh Government. A maximum of 30 invitees from the key relevant organisations will attend each event and must adhere to social distancing at all times.
“A limited number of representatives from Rhondda Cynon Taf council, in association with the Royal British Legion, will also take part in a small private service at Ynysangharad War Memorial Park, Pontypridd, on Sunday, November 8, to remember the fallen.
“To facilitate this, Ynysangharad War Memorial Park will be closed to the public on the day until midday, and the council is asking residents to pay their respects in the safety of their own home.”
But for those left standing in the cold, it wasn’t good enough. “We were told we couldn’t come in because our names aren’t on the list,” the man said, talking from outside the park gates. “It’s disgraceful. It’s a war memorial park, it shouldn’t be shut.”
Speaking to the Echo, he said some councillors started to come out to offer up their place around the war memorial and allow some of those outside to take their place.
South Wales Police were contacted and pointed to the council guidance which was published online on Friday, just two days before.
Councillor Heledd Fychan, who represents Pontypridd ward, said she was not invited to the event and was planning on laying a wreath when the park reopened at midday.
The Plaid Cymru councillor said: “If people have been turning up, then it hasn’t been communicated well enough. The last thing people want to feel is anger when they go to pay their respects.”
The council has been contacted for comment.