Two branches of my family came to Pontypridd around 150 years ago and I've been here for well over a third of that time.
My great great grandfather cut the foundation stone for St Catherine's Church and my great grandfather, as a volunteer, helped lay out the park and provide plants. So I can claim that Pontypridd, in some small way, belongs to me. But am I happy about it? In many ways the answer must be no.
I've seen its decline from a thriving market town to a shadow of its former self. I've seen the destruction of its heritage in the demolition of some of our most distinctive buildings including The Old Duke, The Queens Hotel, Penuel Chapel and the old Police Station to name a few.
I've seen the arrival of The Precinct and Fraternal Parade which are concrete monstrosities, to replace historical buildings and facades. Who can say that they didn't like the Arcade?
Even our most historic buildings, the Round Houses, are decorated by an unsightly pole and an even worse excavation full of litter nearby.
The monumental blunder of closing slip-roads on the Glyntaf interchange, shows us just how idiotic our town planners have been. And I've noted the increasing discolouration of our streets with yellow lines, even in cul-de-sacs.
So much for the negatives! What about the future? What can be done? Who has vision? - Me.
Let me describe a small French town. I won't name it because there are hundreds of them.
It is smaller than Ponty in terms of the number of shops, and there is no advantage of stores like Woolworths or M&S. It has a population of about a quarter of that of Pontypridd. Its buildings are up to 900 years old and its streets are narrow.
It has no concrete monstrosities, any new buildings have style. It's on a cross-roads to important French towns and it has a market on one or two days a week.
But the market has twice as many stalls and four times as many customers as Ponty. Why? Because they have no yellow lines.
Cars park everywhere, and I mean everywhere. Even on zebra crossings. They don't care about through traffic which provides nothing to their economy. They are concerned about those who want to stop and to spend money, to help make the town thrive.
Safety issues? Through traffic has to be so slow through the throng that there is little danger to pedestrians. People do not have to lug heavy shopping far, so they buy more.
Then there is the river! Adequate terraces along the banks with food and drink stalls, picnic tables and riverside walks make the area a pleasant retreat from the rigours of shopping.
Rapids like those beyond the White Bridge are accessible and canoes frantically try to keep up with the dancing water. On the outskirts of the town there is a large open grassy area not unlike the common, which provides overflow parking on special days.
Several times a year this otherwise wasteland provides a home to the fun of the fair and marts with stalls selling anything from the unwanted contents of people's garages to fruit and vegetables from local's gardens.
Displays of ancient crafts delight the crowds and lines of vintage vehicles attract all. Bands provide music for dance on a large wooden floor, under canvas to keep out the rain. Portable bars provide drink. There is no entrance fee.
Flowers line the streets and the round-a-bouts are immaculate. Litter is virtually absent and chewing gum does not disfigure the sidewalks, apart from that donated by British visitors.
Who is responsible for all this? A virtually apolitical elected mayor who is accessible to all. He is elected on his record and not on his membership of a particular political party.
He has power, he has vision, and knows he cannot count on the eternal votes of those who share his political allegiance.
What will we do to improve our town? Will Dodos ever fly? Do I really need to answer? Sad, isn't it?
Peter Davies - January 2005
your comments
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Tony Ding, Queensland, Australia
It's been 20 years since I last stood in Taff Street thinking "when will I see you again". After reading some of your posts now I'm thinking "save your breath". But the problem is home is where the heart is and I do miss Ponty. I miss my friends and relatives, I miss my Saturday visit to Rainbow Records, I miss Ponty Park under the cover of snow in winter, I miss the people that make and made Ponty a good place to live, I miss having a quiet beer at the The Graig Club, I miss playing football in Hopkinstown and I miss the atmosphere as hundreds of people shuffle past to the next market stall on the weekend. My son still lives in Ponty and we keep in touch as much as possible but I refuse to believe it is now a dump. People are what make Pontypridd so different. It will never be a spectacular place like Monaco and it will never be picture perfect like Venice. So use the best selling point Pontypridd has. You should introduce people to Ponty to meet the people. And good people they are.
Brian, Tel Aviv, Israel
I worked in the market in Ponty for nearly 28 years and am sure that the peoples of the valleys can well recall the huge hustle and bustle the market generated. On a Wednesday and a Saturday you could not move and the town was alive with people. In my last visit about 4 years ago I was stunned by the sense of watching this great town dying - the decay and neglect was frightening. Finally the once great centre of Ponty - its market - was dead. I have seen more life in a cemetery at midnight. What a pity - what a pity.
Gareth Jones (Bunny) from Leeds
I left Pontypridd circa 20 years ago, with the intention not to return, as there was no prospect of the career I wanted in the area then or even today. We cannot turn the clock back and the industry that made Ponty the size it is today no longer exists, namely mining. This means that people no longer have the money to spend in Ponty itself. This has a knock-on effect to the retailers in the town who cannot expect a huge return on for their setup and running costs of their business.
It does make me sad when I visit my parents to read in the Observer of these large and over elaborate schemes proposed by large faceless organisations and backed up by corrupt local officials that are doomed to fail by the very nature of the scheme itself.
In my opinion, Ponty needs to start small by keeping the place clean and tidy and make it a pleasant place to shop and live. Doing this would draw more people into the town centre and encourage more retailers to open a business in the town. This feeds off itself until there is sufficient revenue in the area to create the big extravaganza that is currently being proposed.
I understand that this would not be a one big fix solution and would take time but I think it is a more sustainable solution than the ones being proposed now.
Tryweryn Evans
Went to Ponty last year, 2005, with family down from North Wales. They were staying in Cardiff with myself, and like me hadn't been before. What a great experience - friendly, helpful,meaningful time we had, and not putting Cardiff down was a refreshing change. Back this summer and Ponty is top of the bill. Carry on Pontypridd - you won't die with the great tradition once lost. Good luck.
Jeanne Whitelaw, Australia
I was born in Pontypridd, and loved the place, having been back for holidays last one 5 years ago, I was so sad to see the mess the place was in. The precinct, what a dreadful place. In my day, the market was a wonderful place, but that has even gone to the dogs. The old bridge was neglected, and the park which was my playground has shrunk, the pool where I learned to swim what has happened? I am proud to be Welsh, and still think of Ponty as my home after 30 yrs in Oz. Please fix the problem - it is a dirty neglected place, and you cannot blame it all on the people. Used to love going to Merengies on the old bridge, all that has gone, and it hasn't improved it. I don't like Cardiff, and when on holiday I always go to Ponty, and come away heartbroken.
Roy (Eggo) Evans, Torrevieja, Spain
I have lived in Spain for 27 years. I was born in Hopkinstown. I went back to Ponty about two years ago. SAD. What once was a great town with a strong sense of unity is now an old miners town that has been left in neglect and long lost memories. The 2FT.9, The Clarence, The White Heart and the New Inn to mention but a few. I know we cannot turn back the clock but we are the memories that we have. They, and I do not know who they are, should try to keep some things as they are. Change will come quick enough.
Angie Homes, Scotland.
My Father was born the youngest of 12 Children, in Ponty, 1915, all his brothers went down the mines his mother, who was a Thomas, then Baylis, said he was not going as he was the youngest. I often went to visit in Ponty, and felt the warmth of the people and family, when l was a child. Then I went to visit Ponty, three years ago, what a surprise. The people are still friendly, the place is a mess, so sad too see it. Come on, let us see some revival, perhaps, that is what is needed, The Welsh revival back. Land of my Fathers, how sad they would be to see all that they worked hard for down the mines, falling apart.
Bev Newman from La Feuillée, Brittany
I used to live in Ponty 10 years ago and I was glad to leave. It was dirty with chip papers blowing down the main street and you couldn't walk out at night in the town centre without risking running into trouble. I now live in France and I no longer have to lock my car at night nor my house. I can live with the shops being closed on Sundays and Mondays. Ponty deserves better as the people I met there were really great but there needs to be a change of attitude regarding the planners. Knock down the precinct, open up the centre with a no car zone and create jobs - lots of them, so the youth of the town have a future and goals in life that go beyond weekend binge drinking.
Brian Jones from Gloucester ex Treforest
It is with not a little sadness that I visit these days. Now there are but two reasons - the grave of my parents or another someone's funeral. It is nearly 35 years since I left. I remember a time some eight to ten years ago walking in the precinct. The rotting pig's head on the walkway seemed to sum up a sense of hopelessness and decay. It was so misplaced. They say familiarity breeds contempt. Perhaps it was just that. It was so sad that the people stepping over the pig's head were no longer seeing it. The problem with my town is that when I look at it I do not see it as it is or was. I see and smell things, things that evoke memories. There is great sadness in them for that is all they are and words on a gravestone or indeed the surrealism of a pig's head in Ponty precinct will never take them away. Ponty is the place where I began my journey. It is where I learned to walk, talk, laugh and cry. It is my heritage and the place where I can give a grateful public thanks to those who breathed out their wisdom in order that I could breathe it in. God Bless!!!
Damian Jones, Cardiff (formerly Ponty)
Have lived in Australia and Japan over the past few years and have also travelled to over 15 countries in that time. However, I don't feel I can compare these towns to Ponty but perhaps only borrow ideas. For starters, Pontypridd is an unique Welsh Town and needs to focus on its main points and strengths. (The Park, Old Bridge, etc) A regeneration is a must for this decaying town. For many years it's been promised but never delivered. Why? Furthermore, why was the idea of re-opening the canal called in by the minister? Pontypridd needs new blood (not to mention swimming and other leisure facilities). Taff Street is well overdue a face lift and the potential is enourmous. The rear of the new shopping centre should also have balconies, patios facing the river. This could be a huge focal point. WAKE UP PONTY!! GO GET WHAT YOU DESERVE!
stephen of ynysybwl
peter you can't compare our towns to the french.for starters our shops are now open 24/7.everything is nearly always closed on sunday and mondays in france. the rest of the week they open for 3 to 4 hours in the morning and the same in the afternoon.
thats why their markets and towns seem to be packed.remember when nothing was open on sundays and shops were all closed by 5pm!
try driving through paris or one of their other big citys or towns!
there is always something you can learn from other countrys but it ain't always greener!
Anon from Cardiff
Visited ponty for the first time the other day, what a dump! Has potential though - if they cleaned & brightened up the main shopping street and pedestrianised it then it would be a nicer place to spend time and therefore surely attract a higher standard of retail.
David Phillips, Pontypridd / Cambridge
Whilst the 'official' plans for the town's regeneration are far from perfect, particularly with regards to the aesthetic design of the bulidings, they represent a far better solution to Pontypridd's fundamental problem - not enough money goes through the tills in town anymore. Initiatives like improving the offering of the market with speciality events, e.g. a "French" themed weekend, etc, are brilliant as ancillaries to a plan which also includes a few of the larger stores that most Britons now turn to for their shopping needs. Markets don't actually generate much money for the town - a lot of the traders come from considerably far away. The proposals on www.pontytown.co.uk are good as a start, for instance, but they fail to recognise that to bring in the bucks a few well regarded national chain stores are required. Because our town does have 4x the population of the one described in France, our solution requires stores that offers the kinds of goods locals regularly shop for, as well as some nice 'independent' and 'quaint' oferings to entice passers-by. Shopping habits of Britons are very very different to those of the French, and Pontypridd could fail miserably if it does attempted to import a model from a radically different consumer culture.
Paul Lott
I couldn't agree more with those who say Ponty is a disgrace and has been abandoned by the planners over the years. I was born and bred in Ponty', until I moved away in 1970. The town has been in decline since the 1960's when the precinct was built. The planners demolished fine buildings, made a mess of the traffic system and took away any leisure facilities from the town. It annoys me to see probably the finest open-air swimming pool in South Wales left to go to ruin. Why don't the council allocate money to refurbish it either by builing a new open-air pool or by building a leisure centre on the site (without taking away anymore of the park). I still visit Ponty to socialise, but gone are the days when I go there to shop.
Dafydd from Taffs Well
France is a million miles from Pontypridd! A country with the same population as the UK with twice the landmass. It's modern and forward looking with a different culture and wouldn't put up with the litter, grafitti and dereliction of Ponty.
The main reason Ponty is now the worst shopping centre in South Wales is that people don't know what they want and have come to accept second best. The Council hasn't been able to deliver as a result.
Ponty will be a success when people in places like Taffs Well decide to go there to do their shopping. At present no-one does. They all go to Cardiff or Bridgend or Merthyr.
sharon from pontypridd
i work and live in pontypridd. we have had inprovements, a new bus station for one. these things take time. if we had morrisons on the brown and lenox site, that would help. lets face it thay cant keep taking bits of our park and we dont need a sainsburys in pontypridd. SAVE OUR PARK. we need a pool indoors in the park. i think peter should stay with the french if pontys so bad
Trisha from Germany
An ancestor of mine Daniel Thomas born 1825 died and buried in 1910 in Glyntaff was the owner of a couple of collieries around Ponty. After tracing the family I was brought to Ponty Museum. They have really made an interesting place there. A couple of things of Dan's there too .
Does anyone have any info about the Thomas family? I would like to trace the other descendents probably with the name Mogford.
Bob from Pontypridd.
I have lived in Pontypridd for 30 years.
These suggestions are all well and good,
but after recent road schemes, some of
which have been mentioned already,I have
given up shopping in Pontypridd for ever.
It's almost as though our local
politicians WANT this town to be a
shambles! No, it's out of town shopping
for us from now on, the free parking alone
makes it worthwhile.
Sarah, Pontypridd
I'm 25 and have worked in Pontypridd Town Centre for 6 years. I would love to see Ponty get back on its feet. There has been some great developments lately with decent shops like River Island expanding and Alfred's Bar opening but isn't it time that awful precinct was knocked down and more attention given to the top end of town? I actually went to look at the model for the new development proposed and was impressed by the building and river walkways etc. With all the fuss that is being made about "parking in the park" I was suprised to see how very little parkland is needed for the scheme, it is only building over the portakabins and horrible health centre that is there now. Get rid of them I say!
L. Williams of the US.
About 12 years ago I had the pleasure of visiting where my Grandparents had come from. The ancestry and history gave me the feeling of coming home. When I did get home, I started a Williams family tree. Well, this year after a divorce, I have been wondering about what is missing. It's Pontypridd. I remember walking the streets, visiting the musuem, and walking over the old bridge. A lot of us want to feel our roots. I have been planning to come over in Spring 2006 for a long visit and possibly relocating to the area. Now I hear Peter's troubling news. Why do things have to change? It appears there was a family feeling and specialiness in Pontypridd. This is what I remember, only after a short visit. Well, I will come for the longer visit, and I hope that I can get back that feeling. More than that, I hope I will be welcomed to stay.
Geraint, Pontypridd
Some good points here but not so sure that allowing slow moving, pollution producing cars to block up town even further is the answer. I prefer the suggestions/development plan on the Ponty Town website news page - that is real vision!
www.pontytown.co.uk
Simon and Kathy, Small Business Owners
We have taken the very brave step of opening a new business in the town centre (in April 2005). It is very encouraging to see others following this trend - River Island, Dr China and two new clothes shops have opened recently.
Instead of looking backwards we have to look forwards and ignore the political agenda. Peter's suggestion is very innovative and for a moment I thought it would work - then I thought about congestion. Traffic circulation is very poor at the moment so parking in Taff Street will not help this situation.
Pedestrianisation of Taff Street can be the only solution - creating a french cafe type environment. Of course this doesn't solve the parking or congestion problems. Deliveries should be restricted to certain times. This must also lead to the development of the river quarter.
We also have a business in the market (5 years) - the people of Pontypridd are brilliant, kind and full of character. Let's be proud of the heritage we have and move forward using this heritage. The market company and council also have to be praised for the Italian and French markets that come to the town. It is surprising how contintental the town is with the student population and visitors from abroad who come to visit family. As a last thought, I had a conversation with a stall holder who comes from Birmingham every Wed and Sat leaving at 3.00am. He said that the people of Pontypridd are so friendly and respectful unlike the children they encounter in the markets at home. Praise indeed....
Malcolm Davies from Pontypridd
I have lived in the Pontypridd area most of my life and like many others have seen it thriving with business and local community spirit. It is with sadness that I personally think that this once thriving market town is dying from the lack of investment over many years by its local authority. It will take many years for Pontypridd to recover from this slump, probably more than some of us have left. If a decision is not taken soon to rebuild and regenerate this town, it will soon fall of the face of the map. We have already lost our rugby team and there are still plans to take part of the memorial park away to make room for a car park for a superstore that noone wants!! But, our taxes and transport charges keep raising every year with no problem at all. What foresight this authority has!
Richard Williams from Beddau
I agree with peters views and those of many that have commented. As a child I experienced a thriving and busy commercial town that was Ponty which I now rarely visit.
The planners have fragmented the commercial base of the town. Taff St used to be; and still should be the focal point of the area, not just for the residants of Ponty, but for those of us that live in the surounding area.
The two existing locations for so called superstores are not exactly within walking distance of each other, or the town centre. Do we need a third. The only "local"bowling and cinema complex was built on the site of an old mine reclaiming land for the community, but if you live in certain areas there are no direct or interconnecting bus routes.
With regards to Peters comments on Cowbridge I agree and implore the residants of that town to resist any introduction of large commercial ventures.
Yours is the only town in the area I actually enjoy visiting.
Pontypridd residents, resist redevelopment and encourage restoration and rejuvination. Maybe then the Dutch and Belgie's will start coming back to our market at Christmas, as we visit theirs?
Ann from Bridgwater
Having lived in or near Pontypridd for 50 of my 60 years, I returned for a trip today and was saddened to see how jaded and down at heel dear old Pontypridd looked. I agree with Peter that something drastic needs to be done and a stop to bland and uninspiring shops.
John from Hartlepool ex ponty lad
I have lived in the north east of england for the past 28yrs.And when ever I travel to ponty it seems like it is a time warp, not a lot has been done there and the hassle of parking is still a problem and the rubbish that is around the place is a problem. The only thing that comes out off ponty now is the Groogs which I have come across all over the world. The famous shopping precinct is just a mess just like it was when it was built,(which I was around the town when this happened)
lynfa
Businesses need to be encouraged to become part of Pontypridd. It's the way forward for Pontypridd Town. Cowbridge should be an inspiration a small town that is a joy to visit. Some aread of Pontypridd need to be demolished. Much of it is run down and lacks any inspiration. With Cardiff a 20 minute journey away and so much to offer I rarely visit the area. it was so different many years ago. It was the place to go socially and shop. We need the Town Council's help to restore Pontypridd to its former glory.
wayne rhydyfelin
too many years have gone by and nothing has been done to ponty. where is the money going ...
morgan of Varteg
Stephen Jones has the right idea, and Maldwyn sums it all up nicely, however, there is the ever present problem of staff numbers that populate our town halls and civic centres.
What do we do with 'em if the day ever comes that we are able to take these 'bureaucratic empires' in hand. Personally I would set them all on a route to the labour exchange along with the bulk of those in the higher echelon of bureaucracy, the civil service.
James, Pontypridd
I have lived here most of my life and waste of space sums it up. We don't use or look after what we have at all. The council has been giving us the same old regeneration (STORY) for over ten years now.
Anon from Pontypridd
I echo your sentiments Peter.........As a realtively recent 'import' to Pontypridd (My Grandparents having spent many happy years here), I find it very frustrating to read the wholly negative press and prospects for the future levelled at Ponty, all too often by residents of the town itself (by way of example, refer to the awful 'tales from the riverbank' website which proports to be Ponty's official website, yet seems to contain nothing but derision and negativity!
I genuinly believe that in Ponty, there is a wonderful opprtunity to build on the fantastic building stock and natural resources available (as well as the people, who, on the most part, I find to be some of the friendliest I have encountered) to build a town in which we can all be proud.
My message is this.........it would be far better to channel the energies it takes to criticise and scathe, towards supporting the town in it's development and re-generation. Regardless of your opinion on the proposed Ynys Angharad walk scheme, the first and most important step toward a bright future for Ponty, is an attitudinal change. Positive thinking enables positive outcomes!
Maldwyn from Pontypridd
Replace the traffic lights by the old bridge with a mini (yes very flat mini) roundabout so that traffic can turn from Gelliwastad Road into Taff Street without going up to the Llanover rounabout & back in over the bridge. Thats what angers and frustrate people which causes visitors & locals to go elsewhere. Why do the planners hide in their offices & not get out into the real world! Why wasn't Sardis Road car park made into a multi-storey when it was built?
Stephen Jones from Pontypridd
Well said Peter! This town needs a little vision and not the monstrosity that's been planned!
