A draft masterplan for the development of Caerphilly town area has been criticised for being “little more than a long shopping list”.
The plan sets out a number of projects within Caerphilly town centre and the wider Caerphilly basin that could deliver “substantial economic benefits”. These include a Metro station on Caerphilly Business Park,a multi-storey car park near Morrisons supermarket and a host of other ideas outlining development principles for the town.
The plan has been criticised as “inadequate” by the majority Plaid Cymru group on Caerphilly Town Council.
Plaid Cymru’s Town Mayor Simon Morgan said: “As it stands the Caerphilly County plan is little more than a long shopping list of projects. There is no coherence between them.
“No attempt has been made to assess the impact of some of the proposals on the environment,on the economy and the social fabric of Caerphilly.”
He added: “The town centre is in desperate need of a clear vision. Big chains are closing across the UK as shopping habits change. We need to look at how other centres have turned their fortunes around by providing incentives to set up local independent shops which will increase variety and quality in the town.”
Labour councillors have hit back however at Plaid Cymru claims of a lack of consultation on the plan.
Cllr Sean Morgan,deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council,said: “All town and community councils in the Caerphilly basin were invited to take part in discussions right at the start of the process back in June last year when they were all invited to attend the first stakeholder workshop.
“Following this,all town and community councils were sent an invite to another stakeholder event in January 2018. The Masterplan was also discussed at the meeting of Town Centre Management Group on March 6.
“The town councils have had ample opportunity to engage in the process right from the start. It is unfortunate that these unfair and inaccurate statements have been made and I would expect that an apology is forthcoming from the Mayor to correct the matter.”
• The draft plan can be viewed online at www.caerphilly.gov.uk/regeneration.