Aberystwyth town councillors have stuck with plans to reopen playgrounds on Friday for the Christmas holidays despite rising coronavirus cases in the county.

Councillors met last night to review the decision, and have decided that the castle and Plascrug play areas would reopen for the Christmas holiday.

The three town council-owned playgrounds – Plascrug, at the castle and Penparcau - were closed in March when the coronavirus lockdown began.

Despite playgrounds in Wales being given the go-ahead, from the Welsh Government, to reopen in July, the council decided to keep Aberystwyth parks closed, despite pleas from local parents and councillors.

Penparcau playground will also be opened Friday after the council confirmed that maintenance work at the site had been completed.

In October, it was decided a “cross party” group of councillors would complete a children’s impact assessment and the results would be reviewed in the 23 November meeting which saw councillors decide to open the playgrounds for the holidays.

A review held last night, backed that decision, and Cllr Mangold, who has been a vocal advocate for the reopening of the playgrounds, said he was “happy” that the council had “stuck with their decision”.

“It took some political manoeuvring and convincing,” he said, “but we got there in the end.”

While the playgrounds will be reopened for the festive period, “risky” areas such as tunnels and covered slides will be cordoned off.