Extra event space for Pontypridd War Memorial Park under consideration

By Anthony Lewis

AN idea to create extra event space at Pontypridd’s Ynysangharad War Memorial Park is being considered.

A report going before the Ynysangharad War Memorial Park cabinet sub committee on Thursday, May 11, mentions a potential redevelopment opportunity for an event space within the park which will support the delivery of major events.

A feasibility report on the potential to introduce an events space at the large green area adjacent to the bridge access from the Llys Cadwyn development has been produced.

The area of the park under consideration, was previously the site of a pitch and putt golf course and was later used for footgolf.

It has not been formally used for some time and currently offers little
amenity value due to the undulating topography designed for golf, the report said.

It added that the space has the potential to facilitate an events
area and community gatherings that can be enjoyed by all whilst retaining as much useable green space as possible.

The report said: “Establishing this space is essential to expand the existing facilities to host large events within the park and provide an additional option to avoid disrupting the regular users of the park when events take place.”

The proposal is for the upper plateau of the former pitch and putt course to be
flattened to make a more useable green space which can be used for events.

It is also proposed that new footways and seating areas be introduced.

The report said that every effort has been made to maintain the maximum amount of green space and that further work will be done as part of
the detailed design stage to ensure that the loss of any trees is also minimised.

The current design thinking is that any trees lost, if any, would be those smaller
trees that form part of the golf course and not any of the mature trees that are around the main footways.

It said a thorough assessment of any tree affected will form part of the detailed design process and proposals for additional tree planting will also be developed as part of the design.

The proposed concept design has the potential to be completed by the summer season of 2024 but the design and tendering process must be started by late summer 2023 to ensure a timely start on site in the
autumn of 2023, the report said.

As it is proposed that the upper plateau will be levelled and re-seeded to allow it to be used as a temporary event space, this will need a settling-in period before it can be used.

Once the detailed design is complete an assessment can be done around what planning and related consents, if any, are needed.

It is also proposed to consult with the public once detailed design proposals become available.

Visit Wales have invited the council to submit a formal application for financial support for the project to their Brilliant Basics Fund.

The purpose of Brilliant Basics is to deliver basic small-scale tourism infrastructure improvements across all of Wales to ensure that visitors have a positive and memorable experience throughout all aspects of their stay, the report said.

It is currently estimated that proposed works will cost around £249,000.

The Brilliant Basics Fund is capital-only, and grants are available up to a maximum of £300,000 with a maximum intervention rate of 80%.

The remaining 20% would be met from existing regeneration investment budgets.

The 2023/2024 round of funding is currently open with a deadline for the submission of formal applications being June 1 this year.