ORGANISERS of the charity fireworks display at Abergavenny’s Belgrave Park on Monday, November 5th could find themselves hit with a large bill for restoring a rutted area of grass, causing a potential drain on hard-won funds earmarked for local good causes.

Matt Lane, of Abergavenny Round Table, whose 50th anniversary Fireworks to Music event thrilled an estimated 2,500 crowd, was informed that because some ruts were left in the grass it would have to be rolled flat by the organisers - or they could face a huge bill from Monmouthshire County Council.

Matt took to social media in a plea for help and responders were quick to condemn what they saw as a mean and greedy act by the local authority with one stating, ‘Are they having a laugh? What is the world coming to? This was a charity event!’ While another simply commented, ‘Money grabbers!’

Many local residents came forward with suggestions about where a roller could be borrowed with several hinting that it would not be beyond the council to simply do it themselves. One poster pointing out that when the authority stage such events the clearing up is done without any fuss.

Matt told the Chronicle, ‘We need someone with a roller for just a short time. A few of the trucks that we needed in the Park left some superficial ruts in the grass, we just need to flatten them out or face this bill.’

‘We really don’t want to have to pay out at this stage, this would be money that doesn’t go back into our community. To put it in perspective, it could be the cost of a defibrillator that could save someone’s life!

‘The Council waived the cost of hiring the park for which we are grateful, but the cost to us now could be much higher.

‘Volunteers worked so hard to put on this event, giving up their time and dipping into their own pockets. It’s disappointing that such a successful evening should attract this gesture from the local authority.’

Organisers state that the whole community pulled together to put on the event, marking a half-century of displays in Abergavenny by the Round Table. Matt said, ‘We were particularly grateful to Nevill Hall Hospital who loaned us 100 parking spaces for the duration of the display. We monitored parking throughout the evening to ensure there were issues with congestion and were please to see that everyone was able to get around with no problems. It was a logistical success.

A spokesperson for Monmouthshire County Council told the Chronicle, ‘We’re aware that the Abergavenny Round Table firework event is long established and well supported. The field is provided free of charge on the understanding that any damage is put right.

‘Given the weather conditions it is not surprising that the larger vehicles have damaged the field but the Round Table is being offered every opportunity to get the repairs done.

‘We know that they are trying to organise this but if this doesn’t happen it would seem reasonable that the council recovers any costs associated with doing the work. A figure of £1,000 has been quoted but this has not come from the council and it is highly unlikely that the repairs would cost that much.’

Asked if council organised events were subject to the same rules the Local authority responded, ‘A contingency budget is set aside for problems like reinstatement of damage to property arising after events like Caldicot Castle’s recent fireworks display.

‘To minimise the impact on grass we use temporary road matting at our events, we also minimise the number of vehicles driving on grass and vehicles with grass-friendly tyres are used to manoeuvre equipment.’

County Councillor, Tudor Thomas stated, ‘Inevitably there is going to be a bit of wear, I understands there is a problem with the ground cutting up around the entrance. I just hope this can be solved amicably; the Round Table do a great deal of good for the town.’

Matt Lane was equally conciliatory but emphasised the need to direct the money raised to the causes it was intended to support. He said ‘We do, of course, take full responsibility for the condition of the Park following our use and we are grateful for the Council’s ongoing help with Round Table activities throughout the town, but we would truly appreciate a bit of flexibility here - these funds are desperately needed by local charities.’