Paving stones in Pontypridd bearing Lostprophets lyrics may be 'ripped up'

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/dec/10/lostprophets-lyrics-paving-stones-pontypridd

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Calls are growing for song lyrics penned by Ian Watkins which are inscribed on paving slabs in his home town to be "ripped up" and trashed. Words originally immortalised in a street in Pontypridd, South Wales, with pride are now an unwelcome reminder of the town's links to the former Lostprophets frontman, said local Labour Welsh assembly member Mick Antoniw.

Watkins, 36, pleaded guilty at Cardiff crown court last month to a host of offences including two counts of attempted rape of a baby. The admissions, which have sickened fans, came as he was about to stand trial accused of 24 separate sex offences.

It was only last year that 10 paving slabs inscribed with lyrics from the song Streets Of Nowhere were put down with pride in Taff Street as part of a civic regeneration project seeking to highlight the area's culture and successes. Watkins's words state: "Every time I walk these streets I know they're mine."

His words are on public display along with lyrics from Green Green Grass of Home, a hit for Sir Tom Jones, another local boy.

"The paving was originally put down in good faith when there was a lot of pride locally surrounding the Lostprophets," said Mr Antoniw. "Since then there have been a number of concerns raised and quite a lot of shock in Pontypridd about the detail of what he did."

The AM continued: "This was something that was put in place and intended for people to take pride in. The feeling is that it should be ripped up now. It's not something that the council should make a song and dance about but I think that these pavings should be discreetly removed."

Nobody was available for comment at Rhondda Cynon Taf council.

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