A PLAN which would ensure the biggest Welsh cultural festival of 2016 takes place in Abergavenny is likely to be approved next Tuesday. 

Monmouthshire council hopes to host the National Eisteddfod on Castle Meadows between July 29 and August 6 – the first time the county has hosted the festival since it was held in the town in 1913. 

The authority’s officers have recommended councillors on its planning committee approve a change of use at the site, which measures about 16 hectares, for a maximum of five months. 

Although the festival will only be hosted for eight days officers said changing the way the area is used is required to set up the site.

Over 150,000 people could attend the festival and in a report the council’s officer Kate Bingham said the site was chosen because it was the right size and is close to Abergavenny town centre and other essential links and services. 

Castle Meadows is a floodplain meadow between Abergavenny and the River Usk. 

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) warned in correspondence with the council that an eastern part of the site which it had hoped to use as a storage area could cause blockages further down the Usk if the land was to flood. NRW recommended this part of the site is excluded from plans. 

Castle Meadows is currently owned and managed by the county council – and councillors will be asked on Tuesday to temporarily block its grazing licence for the festival to take place. 

But cycling group Sustrans said they were “very disappointed” that a report appeared to show “no consideration” that a bike route runs through the meadow. 

The council has said their plans will be “developed as sympathetically as possible” to minimise the festival’s environmental impact and its countryside service and the Friends of Castle Meadows group will be asked to contribute to the way it is set up. 

The Eisteddfod’s Proclamation ceremony was held at Caldicot Castle in June and attended by hundreds of people.