Ponty Big Bang 2021 Fireworks Event – Cancelled

Announcing the news on their Facebook, the Pontypridd and Rhondda Round Table have said:-

“Last year Pontypridd and Rhondda Round Table reluctantly took the decision to cancel the Ponty Big Bang 2020 Fireworks event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have left it as late as possible this year to decide whether to stage the Ponty Big Bang 2021 Fireworks event.

The health and ongoing safety of spectators, supporters and suppliers, as always, must take precedence. Even with restrictions being eased and the risks at an outdoor event being much reduced – we are still required to minimise the risk of infection to everyone involved by implementing COVID-19 management processes. For us to manage the thousands of spectators attending the event to ensure compliance, in the dark, where crowds will inevitably gather is going to be a massive challenge; we have no desire to become a super-spreader event.

The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly still ongoing with continued uncertainty regarding how this virus and in particular its variants will spread and affect the community over the coming weeks and months. Government restrictions are already being reintroduced; the Welsh Government announced last Friday that if we are to stage the event then production of a COVID-19 pass will be mandatory for everyone attending that is aged 18 or over. The real possibility that it will become necessary for further restrictions to be introduced with this event potentially being one of the first to be affected has not been ruled out. Our greatest challenge is not knowing what is going to happen next.

This event is run entirely by volunteers and is self-funding – there is no fall-back or support money available should it not go ahead or make a loss. We have had a couple of poor years and cannot afford another. There are many up-front costs that must be incurred now which we cannot recover or postpone should the event ultimately not go ahead.

Given the above, we have reluctantly taken the decision to cancel the Ponty Big Bang 2021 Fireworks event.

We thank you for your continued support without which Ponty Big Bang and the money it raises for local charities and good causes would not exist.

We intend bringing the event back next year – please put Saturday 5th November 2022 in your diary.

We hope you and your families continue to keep safe and well – we are hopefully finally seeing the light at the end of this pandemic tunnel.

Pontypridd & Rhondda Round Table”