Work to build new skate park and play area underway

Work to build a new skate park and play area in the Penllwyn area of Pontllanfraith has begun.

The £131k work is part of a £437k project to bring environmental improvements to Penllwyn.

The funding comes from Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme.

The contract to build the skate park was awarded to Bendcrete Leisure Ltd earlier this year.

The company also has the contract to build new skate parks in Bargoed, Graig y Rhacca, Phillipstown, Porset Park and Rhymney.

The council held consultations with residents, as well as Penllwyn Primary School and Penllwyn Community Partnership to decide how to use the funding.

Councillor Lisa Phipps, the council’s cabinet member for homes and places, said: “A healthy and active lifestyle is important for all residents in the borough, so I am very pleased to see that work on the exciting new skate park and play equipment in Penllwyn has started.

“Projects like this will help with improving healthy social integration amongst our young and build community relationships, creating communities where residents feel proud to live in.

“I look forward to visiting again when it’s completed.”

Anna Lewis, chair of Penllwyn Community Partnership, said the work is “fantastic for the children of the Penllwyn community”.

She added: “The Penllwyn Community Partnership has campaigned for this for years, so it is great to be able to see it come to fruition as part of Caerphilly Council’s WHQS environmental programme. Thank you to all those involved.”