A SUMMER fete will be held in Pontarddulais to replace the cancelled Pontarddulais and Hendy Carnival parade.

The festival committee met at Pontarddulais Rugby Club last week to discuss the planning of the summer fete.

Costs of the annual carnival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, meant they had to look at alternative arrangements.

Following the meeting, a spokesman for the committee said: “Unfortunately, due to many reasons including the difficulties we now encounter each year with legal costs for road closures, the ever increasing insurance costs, the difficulty in having volunteers to steward the parade and the cost of hiring the soccer pitches from Swansea City Council, it has been decided that we need to change with the times and seek an alternative event.

“As a result, the parade will no longer take place.

“As a committee and following two public meetings we have decided to hold a summer family fete for the whole community. This will be held on Saturday 29th June 2019 on the Pontarddulais rugby fields.

“The fete will commence at around midday and end prior to 10pm. A full afternoon programme of events has already been booked.

“This is a very different approach and one which we hope will be successful as a community event for all ages for years to come.

“On behalf of the whole committee past and present I thank you for your support over the years. I trust you will understand our decision to change with the times.”

Nine bands have shown an interest in the battle of the band competition, which will run throughout May, with the winner being invited to perform at the summer Party on the Pitch at the rugby club on June 29.

The Rockwood dog Stunt team will be returning to put on another dog display at the summer fete and will once again entertain the families, Radio Tir Coed will also be at the summer event.

The schools which include Ysgol Yr Hendy, Llanedi, Bryniago and Pontarddulais Junior will be invited to continue to take part in the various other activities such as the writing of short stories where the winning school receives a shield for the best short story based on the theme of the summer event.