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Caerphilly County Borough Council’s proposed budget cuts could have a “big impact” on events, Bargoed Town Council’s mayor has said.

In a town council meeting on January 24, Mayor Howard Llewellyn spoke of the borough council’s proposals to cut match funding as part of its plan to save £30 million next year.

Bargoed Town Council has relied on the borough council to help financially support and organise some of its annual events – and Caerphilly Council’s deputy leader has said this will continue to be the case this year.

Mayor Llewellyn said: “We still have match funding. If they are going to reduce or delete these, it will have a big impact on the events that we can put forward.”

Last year, Bargoed Town Council put on events with Caerphilly County Borough Council – including the first-ever Bargoed May Fair.

This event brought more than 16,000 visitors to the town centre on Saturday May 13.

Deputy Mayor Reg Carroll explained that if the funding was removed, the council would need to “seriously rethink our funding by the summer”.

The council’s proposed cuts could also see Caerphilly’s Coffi Vista close and New Tredegar’s Winding House mothballed. 

Events help to “increase the footfall”

In the same town council meeting, the councillors responded to a resident who complained that there was a lack of variety in the shops on offer. 

This comes after Bargoed’s Gus Jones Jewellers, and fish shop-turned-cafe Belinda’s Plaice, announced it will close in 2024.

Mayor Llewelyn added that putting on events was one of the ways they could, as a town council, help to bring people into the town.

Cllr Llewelyn said: “We cannot do a lot about shops coming into the town.

“What we can do and what we do very well is put on events and increase the footfall.”

Bargoed Town Council plans to send representatives to discuss the matter at a public consultation on the proposed budget cuts, which will be held at Bargoed Library on January 30.

More about these events can be found on the council’s website.

“More focus on Bargoed, not less”

Caerphilly Council’s deputy leader, Jamie Pritchard, has said there will be more events in Bargoed this year, not less.

Cllr Pritchard said: “The events programme is crucial for town centres, and this is why I promote, support and visit as many of our events as possible.

“Despite big pressures, and with additional support from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund we have announced an overall increase in the 2024/25 programme, with additional events for Bargoed and Risca.

“So, there will be more focus on Bargoed, not less.”

Cllr Pritchard continued: “Where we have town and community councils, it is important we share the burden of the funding challenges to ensure the increased amount of events is able to be maintained.

“Bargoed Town Council has a great record when it comes to supporting the events programme, and I would like to thank them for their efforts.”