Residents in Cwmgelli, near Blackwood, are celebrating after plans to sell off a park for a housing development were scrapped.
Caerphilly County Borough Council had wanted to sell the green space land, measuring around 1,467 sq metres, with a proposed use for a housing development, but withdrew the sale after receiving a petition against the proposal in October.
As well as the 82-strong petition, ten letters of objection were also sent in response to the council’s consultation period.
If the park, near Heol Pit-Y-Ceiliogod Road, had been sold it would have left local families with around a mile trip to the nearest park.
Blackwood councillor Nigel Dix, who resigned from Caerphilly’s Labour group in September, spoke of his relief at the decision.
He said: “I’m really relieved that the plans were kicked out. I was fearful that land would be sold, as it’s a high-value spot and the council have a policy of getting rid of land not in use as a grab for cash.
“Crucially, their own parks department disagreed and said that the park was in use, and should be kept.
“We’ve fought tooth-and-nail alongside the residents to overturn these proposals, but the next step is to secure its long term future and ensure it stays there for generations of families to enjoy.”