Monmouthshire County Council has unveiled plans to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum while Abergavenny hosts the National Eisteddfod from 29th July to 6th August. Around 150,000 people are expected to visit the town during the week, providing the local economy with a welcome boost. It will be the first time that the Welsh language and cultural festival has visited Monmouthshire since 1913.
The council’s traffic arrangements are designed to minimise the impact on the town with a Park & Ride scheme. Those travelling by car will be directed to one of the three Park & Ride sites – in Llanelen, Penpergwm and Cwrt-y-Gollen near Crickhowell – to be transported directly to the Maes.
Dedicated road signs will direct visitors to the most appropriate park and ride site and this information will be replicated on the Eisteddfod website for visitors planning ahead. Buses from Llanelen and Penpergwm will approach the town via the A465 Llanfoist interchange while those from Cwrt-y-Gollen will travel via Brecon Road. Visitors will be dropped off at Byefield Lane car park near Tudor Street and close to the main Eisteddfod entrance.
Eisteddfod goers will be encouraged to use public transport and publicity will highlight the proximity of the rail and bus stations to the Maes which can be accessed via an alternative entrance through Mill Street. Meanwhile, goods traffic will use an access off Merthyr Road, and only during off-peak times. In addition, a temporary clearway order on Merthyr Road will prohibit parking except at designated locations reserved for residents.
Waste and recycling will be collected on the usual days during Eisteddfod week but crews and collections may be subject to short delays. As well as Abergavenny and district, Usk and Monmouth will be affected as the council’s waste lorries servicing these areas operate from the Llanfoist Transfer Station which is very close to the Maes and likely to be impacted by Eisteddfod traffic. Consequently, residents are asked not to report a missed collection if their waste and recycling is not collected at the normal time. Residents are requested to place their waste for collection by 7am.
In the approach to the Eisteddfod, the council has arranged that other services in the town will run normally as far as possible by planning ahead and making allowances for longer journey times and peak congestion as well as having contingency plans in place to respond to unanticipated eventualities. The council has liaised closely with event organisers and will continue to do so until the festival ends.
Monmouthshire’s cabinet member for operations, Councillor Bryan Jones said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming so many visitors to the county to enjoy and participate in one of Europe’s leading cultural festivals. Temporary delays can be expected but we have planned ahead to reduce these to a minimum and we have consulted widely to ensure Eisteddfod week runs as smoothly as possible.”
For more information on the National Eisteddfod itself visit: www.eisteddfod.wales.
MCC
