Its all aMAYzing here

May is here and personally; we are all on countdown for some consistent sunshine.

Despite the weather, we have lots going on in the town over the next few months. Our caretakers will be installing new benches at various locations; Riverside, The Hollies, opposite the War Memorial, Ynysddu and Cefn Yr Hendy. Five of these benches have been very kindly part funded or donated by various individuals and companies. Hopefully they will be put to good use in the summer months by visitors and the community enjoying our beautiful town.

The summer flowers will be planted in late May, to bring their usual cheeriness.  We know they always bring a smile to so many people.

During the week of the 13^th – 19^th May it is Dementia Action Week. Llantrisant Over 50’s Forum and Llanharan Drop In have teamed up with various other support agencies and local councils to turn our area blue to help raise awareness. It is projected that by 2025, over 1 million people will be living with dementia and for every person diagnosed, there are family and friends to be considered. It causes a huge impact on families, and we need to raise more awareness on the help and support available, along with the emotional and well being support out there for everyone affected. Turning our towns blue can help with this awareness. There will be lots going on in the areas and we are asking you to help turn your space blue. Blue lights, blue bunting, blue ballons or any blue items to decorate your business, home or work space. To find out more information, please contact jolene@lcdp.org.uk or ypeters@btinternet.com

We also have our Picnic in the Park coming up in less than a month – Saturday 8^th June. Hopefully, we will have lots of you will come along and take part in the fun and games. We have more stalls and groups taking part this year and an entertainment company that will be running games and activities for children throughout the day, along with fairground rides, face painting and of course our food and drink regulars will be with us, to ensure everyone has a good time. We may even have a ‘Tug-O-War’ game if we have enough teams. Watch out for more details on our social media pages and our website.

We have a couple of spaces still available for our Food Festival in August so if you know anyone that may be interested, please ask them to give us a call or drop us an email.

On a more serious note, many residents and businesses have been approaching us regarding issues relating to traffic in and around Pontyclun. These have included concerns about the volume of traffic, speed of traffic and parking issues.

 

Over the next few months, the Council is planning to look at options to try and help improve the position and would welcome comments from residents identifying those areas where there are significant problems and making positive suggestions for ways that these could be improved.

 

This will allow us to try and develop some strategies which we can work with RCT CBC and South Wales Police to try and deliver to improve things.  Please email any suggestions to clerk@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales

 

As always if there is anything you would like us to share with the community, please contact community@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales we would love to hear about any events, good news or concerns you may have.

“Spring is April’s way of Saying “Lets, Bloom”” and it is finally in the air or is that just the smell of Chocolate Easter Eggs.

 

We have our annual Easter Egg hunt from Tuesday 2^nd April until Friday 5^th April. Call in to the council offices and pick up a free entry form, use the clues around the village and claim your chocolatey prize. Anyone under the age of 11 can take part, accompanied by an adult.

Plans are coming along for this year’s Picnic in the Park on Saturday 8^th June; we will have lots of our local community groups on hand to chat, along with games and fun on the stalls. We will have fairground rides, the fantastic team at Pipeworks will be ensuring the grownups don’t go thirsty; TCG Entertainment will be organising kids’ games and providing musical entertainment and the Police and Fire services are also hoping to make an appearance, which we are sure will be a huge hit with the children. The event opens at 12pm and we hope to see you all there.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Men’s Sheds for their continuous support to keep Pontyclun Tidy. Once a month the team tackle some of the areas more prone to rubbish and last month they amassed a total of 12 large bags full of rubbish. It’s a fantastic show of community spirit and I am sure we are not alone in appreciating their efforts. Thank you, gents.

If anyone else would like to part in a litter pick, alone or with your group please contact us to organise the equipment.

I am sure all businesses, public sector organisation and charities in the area are well aware of the new recycling scheme coming into effect in April. From this date all rubbish will need to be sorted and different colour bags will be used to collect recycling. For further information on this please go to https://www.gov.wales/workplace-recycling

With the spring and summer months approaching we have several volunteering positions available on an ad hoc basis, to help with gardening jobs in the town. If you are interested, please get in contact with clerk@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales for further details.

Residents and visitors will soon see some new benches popping up across the area replacing some of those which are in a poor state and there will also be some additional floral displays round about. A special mention to Transport for Wales who have generously given a donation to the Town Council to make improvements at the Hollies in Brynsadler where Dewis Cymru will be creating some new seating areas and floral beds – these will be on show very soon and a thank you to them all.

Brrr its cold

 

Brrr, it’s been a very cold January and with the cost of energy rising I hope everyone is managing to stay warm. Don’t forget there are warm hubs at various locations around Pontyclun and they welcome anyone who needs the space. For more information on these, please get in touch and our staff can direct you on where they are.

January for us has been all about preparing for the year ahead and looking at all the wonderful events we held last year and how we can improve them. Thanks to everyone that offered constructive feedback, it helps enormously.

We kick off 2024 with an Urban Market Easter market on the 23^{rd of} March, this will be held in Heol Yr Orsaf Car Park. Our usual Picnic in the Park will be on Saturday the 8^{th of} June in Pontyclun Park, offering wholesome fun for all the family.

Urban Markets will be back on the 21^{st of} July with their funday and market in the park. Pontyclun Food Festival will again be the Saturday of August bank holiday, offering a wide selection of food, drink, and music.

We also hope that Pontyclun RFC will be running a Community Bonfire night event again this year and of course there will also be Remembrance Day parades in Groesfaen, Miskin and Pontyclun.

The year end is marked with a variety of events in our Christmas festival. These will include the annual Panto; Light switch on, Christmas fayre, Bethel nativity walk and a Santa fun run. Christmas make Pontyclun such a fun place to be.

As always, we are always interested to hear what you would like to see across our Community. If you have any events, you think we should be looking at doing, whether big or small please drop us an email with your suggestions.

Moving on from the fun, we are aware of the concerns regarding litter in the town and obviously this wasn’t helped during the Christmas period with high winds blowing it all over the place. We are working to try and combat this, but if there are any groups out there that would like to help with a litter picking session please do get in touch. We are a Keep Wales Tidy Hub and can lend all the equipment required to do this safely and the area’s most in need, while benefitting the community and wildlife around the area.

If 2024, sees you at a lose end and looking for things to keep you busy, please bear in mind that there are always volunteering roles that would welcome you. There are several within the council, working in and around the town along with several community groups who would be grateful of any help that people can offer. So, if you are interested, please drop us an email and we can direct you to the right group for you.

That’s it from us this month, lets hope February brings slightly warmer temperatures and Spring isn’t too far on the horizon.

Happy New Year!

 

What a way to end 2023.

The festive celebrations in Pontyclun kicked off with our light switch on, and what a lovely evening it was. The atmosphere was wonderful and the 200 + attendees all joined in with the carols, while the younger ones had a great time playing in the “snow”.

Friday the 1^st, saw the Twmpath in the marquee in Heol Yr Orsaf. The evening was to raise money for the Eisteddfod and was organised by Groesfaen Gwyrdd, they raised a fantastic £500. Well done to all the organisers and volunteers.

Saturday the 2nd was the annual Christmas Fayre and wow was it a cold one. The event opened with Pontyclun being officially recognised as a town. Our thanks to Alex Davies-Jones MP, Joel James MS and RCT Council Mayor Cllr Wendy Lewis for attending and presenting Pontyclun Town Chairman Wayne Owen with the confirmation plaque. It was wonderful to share this momentous occasion with so many people.

The 80 stalls had a vast array of gifts and treats for everyone and the 2000+ visitors appreciated the mulled wine, hot food, and drink to keep them sustained as they shopped to their hearts content. There were so many smiling faces, and it really was fantastic to see so many people enjoying the carols, the bands, and the fabulous singers. Santa saw lots of smaller visitors in his grotto, and they were all given a festive treat to take away and enjoy. Thank you to all the stall holders, visitors, volunteers, and performers that made it a wonderful day. See you all again next year.

The Oompah Boyz brought a bit of fun and frivolity to Pontyclun on Sunday. If you were lucky enough to attend, I am sure you can confirm they were almost as fantastic as the Councillors in the traditional Bavarian costumes. Thank you to them all for putting on a great night.

The festive events continued with the beautiful Nativity trail at Bethel, the Santa Fun Run, Carolling at the Rugby club; in Groesfaen and of course the Knightmare before Christmas Quiz. Whatever you took part in, we hope your December was full of fun, love, and a perfect ending to what seems to have been a very busy year for everyone.

As we creep into the New Year, may we take a moment to wish you all plenty of happiness and good health for the New Year and may it be filled with adventure and growth.

January sees a much slower pace although it doesn’t completely stop for Llantrisant Folk Club who have the following events on at Pontyclun Athletic Club:

Wednesday January 3rd - Song & Music Night.

Wednesday January 10th - Song & Music Night.

Wednesday January 17th - National Eisteddfod Fundraiser with Calennig Arbennig, and Bethan Nia.

Wednesday January 24th - Song & Music Night.

Wednesday January 31st - Nick Hart

 

Thank you again to all who keep on supporting your local Town Council and making our events so fantastic, Pontyclun really is the best place to live.

Christmas is coming!

 Its almost Christmas! It doesn’t feel like that long ago we were talking about our wonderful Picnic in the Park and the sunshine and here we are talking about the fantastic festivities we have lined up this December.

Pontyclun Town Council’s Christmas Events start this year on Saturday 25^th November with the Tree Lighting. This year we are lighting one of the trees by the Cenotaph. Recently this event has become increasingly popular and the crowds of people by the pedestrian crossing have become too big! There will be carols, refreshments and our very own Pontyclun Players. Event starts at 5pm.

There will still be a community Christmas tree at Giles Gallery continuing a tradition which has now gone on many, many, years.

St Pauls Players will again bring the laughs and tradition to Pontyclun with their annual Christmas Pantomime – this year they are performing Snow White. Shows take place on the 27^th, 29^th  November & 1^st. December. Tickets available from Giles Gallery.

Groesfaen Gwyrdd, will be fundraising for the Eisteddfod at their Twmpath on Friday 1^st December in the Marquee in Heol Yr Orsaf car park. Tickets are on sale from Carole Willis – 07837007076.

We then have our much-anticipated Christmas Fayre on Saturday 2^nd December. Surely a highlight in everyone’s calendar. This year we have over 80 stalls, from craft makers, gin sellers, delicious food trucks and of course our very own Pipework’s keeping everyone hydrated as they shop to their hearts content and soak up the wonderful atmosphere. We have a selection of local bands and choirs to add to the fun and this year for the first time ever we will have stalls on Cowbridge Road. Santa will hopefully be popping in to see our younger members of the community and there will be games and treats provided by local community groups. It is looking like being our best one ever.

Once you have packed your Christmas Fayre purchases away, Sunday 3^rd December will be a traditional Frankfurt Christmas Show in the Marquee in Heol Yr Orsaf. This rip-roaring fun event will be hosted by Town Council and if nothing else the costumes will be worth a visit. Come and join us for an evening of guaranteed laughter and enjoyment.

The wonderful Bethel Church will be hosting the Christmas Nativity in the woods behind Bethel again this year. A wonderful way to show children and adults the story of Christmas, ending with a delicious hot chocolate. The nativity will run over the 9^th & 10^th December from 4:30pm. Book directly with Bethel.

The Pipeworks will be running a Christmas Quiz this year in the Community Centre. Hosted by Tally and Nora with a working title of the “Knightmare” Quiz, this promises to be a quiz unlike any you have attend before. Tickets available from the Pipeworks.

The annual Santa Fun Run will be on Sunday 17^th December this year. Registration from 9am at Pontyclun Rugby Club for the start line.

If you want something a little more relaxing why not join Cor Tadau Trisant at the Rugby club on the evening of the 19^{th of} December for some community singing or join Groesfaen Gwyrdd around the tree in Groesfaen on the same evening.

If you need something a little different, why not attend some of the Llantrisant Folk club’s events on

·         December 6: Song & Music Night.

·         December 13: Vri. Welsh folk at its very best. Supported by Noson Allan/Night Out.

·         December 17: Llantrisant Mari Lwyd Tour.

A sparkling set of Autumn events

That Autumn chill is in the air, and the smell of pumpkins everywhere and this year is ending on a high with so much going on in the town.

Pontyclun Rugby Club are back with a literal bang and their annual Fireworks display, sponsored by Pontyclun Town Council.

This highlight of the year event will take place on Friday 3^rd November and tickets are available from the bar, adults £6.00, child £3.00 (under 3’s free of charge) or a family of four £15.00. Entry will be ticket only. Local favourites, Reds Sugar rush, Eleri’s Welsh Cakes and Cruz coffee will be on site, along with GTFM Radio. It’s a glass free event and for everyone’s safety no sparklers allowed. Starts at 6:30pm.

The annual Remembrance Parades will take place in Pontyclun, Miskin and Groesfaen on Sunday 12^th November. Pontyclun will start at St Pauls at 10:30am with a parade down to the Cenotaph, service will start at 11am. Miskin service will start at 11am and Groesfaen starts at 1pm. Please be aware if travelling through these areas as there may be more pedestrians than usual.

Pontyclun Town Council’s Christmas Events start this year on Saturday 25^th November with the Tree Lighting. In recent years it has become increasingly popular and the crowds of people by the pedestrian crossing has caused issues so this year the event will be by the War Memorial in Pontyclun. There will still be a Christmas Tree at Giles Gallery with something a little different at the memorial garden. There will be carols, refreshments and our very own St Paul’s Players doing an extract from their 2023 pants, Snow White. Event starts at 5pm.

Saturday 2^nd December will see the annual Christmas Fayre in Heol Yr Orsaf Car Park and Community Centre. Stalls open at 1:30pm. This year sees over 75 small businesses joining us along with an array of hot and cold food and everything you could need to get you in the Christmas mood. Santa will hopefully be stopping by to say hello to all the local children, and we will have games and fun for all the family. An event not to be missed.

Bethel Baptist will be running their wonderful, illuminated Nativity in the woods behind Bethel on the 9^th and 10^th December. The Santa Fun run will also take place on the 17^th December.

With so much going on this Autumn/Winter looks like a busy time for everyone. We will be back next month with updates on all the Christmas events going on. Happy Halloween to all.

What a Summer, let's look forward to the rest of 2023!

 Wow, that went by quickly, and here we are in September! Although the temperatures are soaring, and people have had to dig out the flip flops, the smell of autumn won't be far away, and pumpkin lattes will soon be back on menus.

This summer saw the first•ever Pontyclun Food and Drink Festival and what a day it was. The torrential short lived downpours didn't dampen the spirit and the cheer the visitors and stallholders brought. The scent of delicious food, the sound of talented singers, and laughter filled the car park in Heol Yr Orsaf on the August bank holiday weekend. Over 1,500 visitors to the event ensured it was a fantastic success, with many of the stalls selling out by the end of the day. We warned them that Pontyclun's people are very supportive and enthusiastic.

The array of food and drink options ensured no one went home hungry or thirsty. There may even have been a couple of bad heads in the morning.

Next year, the community council hopes to make it even bigger and better, so if you have any ideas or are a food and drink vendor, please get in touch.

In July, Urban Markets held a Family Fun Day in Pontyclun Park, and despite a quick date change, it was a fabulous event thanks to the unpredictable British weather. Lots of stalls and fun for the whole family.

Keep an eye on Urban Market's social media page for some of their forthcoming events they look fantastic.

There are lots of events coming up in Pontyclun and surrounding villages over the next few months, so make sure to keep an eye on them being advertised online and in and around the area.

Pontyclun RFC is back with their wonderful Bonfire Night celebrations. It’s taking part on Friday 3^rd November and ticket information will be released soon.

Remembrance Sunday parades will take place in Miskin, Pontyclun and Groesfaen this year, information will be posted on the council’s website and social media pages in due course. If you have a group that would like to take part in this event, please get in contact with the council.

Our Christmas Fayre will return on Saturday 2^nd December. Stalls open at 1:30pm and as usual Santa will be on hand to spread festive cheer. There are currently over 70 stalls confirmed, selling great food, and gifts. Whatever the weather, with indoor and outdoor spaces this is a wonderful event for all the family.

As usual the next few months will fly past and with lots going on its looking like a busy time. If you have any news about the area, events coming up or any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with the Community Engagement Officer at community@pontyclun-cc.gov.wales or 01443 238500.