Pontsticill’s New ‘Privy’ Unveiled

Visitors to Pontsticill in Merthyr Tydfil are now able to spend a penny in comfort following the unveiling of the village’s refurbished public toilets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Brecon Beacons National Park community attracts walkers, cyclists, sailors, anglers and picnickers to its reservoirs and beautiful scenery. It has a population of more than 500, a Memorial Hall and three public houses,but its public conveniences were closed around four years ago due to council cutbacks ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Today (Thursday, 30 June, 2016), the toilets were officially opened by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Vaynor ward member Howard Barrett following a fundraising campaign by Pontsticill Community Group to redecorate and run them. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Along with £1,500 worth of donations, a £5,000 grant from the County Borough Council-managed Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund helped the community group reach its refurbishment costs target. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Formed just a year ago by30local residents, the Pontsticill Community Group has set up a parent and toddler group, purchased play equipment and improved the local environment by tackling litter and overgrown trees and hedges and planting bulbs, new trees and summer flowers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The village is a very busy place, with tourists from all over the world,” said community group Secretary Ann Williams. “But the area has been badly neglected, with fly-tipping, littering, overhanging trees, unkempt verges, no flowers and poor seating and signage – there was just a general air of neglect. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our mission has become to get the work done, not only to improve the environment for everyone, but also to restore the pride in the village. We decided to bring them back into use to meet the needs of the many tourists who visit us, as well as the local community,” Ann Williams added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Leader Cllr Brendan Toomey said: “I would like to congratulate the Pontsticill Community Group for taking the initiative to improve and take responsibility for some of the facilities in their area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the Westminster Government’s continued austerity programme in slashing funding to public services, the only way to maintain facilities like these will be through the involvement of groups such as the Ponsticill Community Group.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The toilets are situated in the centre of the village and the community group is hoping donations from relieved users will help with the running costs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Ffos-y-fran Community Benefit Fund was established by local mining company Miller Argent, which donates £1 for every ton of coal sold from the Ffos-y-fran land reclamation scheme. More than £5m has been awarded to a wide range of groups and causes since the site opened in 2007. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Pontsticill is in the parish of Vaynor in the Taf Fechan Valley. The village has a growing population of more than 500, with properties ranging from cottages over150 years old to new executive houses. It also has the former 15th century Dolygaer Church, which is now a private dwelling, as are Capel Taf Fechan and a Congregational chapel. And there are three well-used pubs,the Red Cow, the Butcher’s Arms and the Aberglais Inn.
• Pontsticill Reservoir – or Taf Fechan Reservoir – lies partly within the county of Powys and partly within Merthyr Tydfil. Since its completion in 1927, the two-mile long, 110ft high embankment has been holding back 3,400 million gallons of water for supply to industry and people living to the south. Part of the 2011 film Submarine was filmed on the reservoir walkway.
• Merthyr Tydfil Sailing Club is based on the eastern bank of the reservoir and the Brecon Mountain Railway runs up its eastern side from Pant Station to Dolygaer and on to Torpantau, the line’s summit. The Taff Trail, used by walkers and cyclists, runs through the woods on the western side. Nearby Dolygaer is the base for the Morlais Mountain Rescue Team.