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Plans to spend nearly half a million pounds on upgrading children’s play areas have been announced by Caerphilly County Borough Council.

The council has said play areas at Holly Road in Ty Sign, Risca, as well as on Cwmalsie Crescent, Pontllanfraith and Cefn Road, Hengoed, will see “major upgrades”, while there are also plans to upgrade the play area at the Bryn in Trethomas.

A new “multi-use games area” is also set to be installed in Bedwas.

The £495,000 funding for the project comes from the council’s Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS) programme, which the council say is seeing £260m invested into improving council housing and surrounding areas throughout the borough.

The programme has already seen numerous skate parks, outdoor gyms and play areas set up across the borough.

Other play areas earmarked to receive new equipment include:

• Cross Street, Gilfach
• Ty Isha Terrace, Cefn Fforest
• Pantycelyn Street, Ystrad Mynach
• Penylan Road, Argoed
• Attlee Road, Blackwood
• Pengam Road, Penpedairheol

Meanwhile, Maesycwmmer’s Hill View play area is set to get a new spiral slide, while new youth shelters are to be set up in Graig y Rhacca and Britannia, near Aberbargoed.

Elsewhere, kick walls – which are boards on the ground to kick footballs at – are planned for the Avenue in Gilfach, Fairview in Pengam and Griffiths Street in Ystrad Mynach.

Cllr Lisa Phipps, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “The council’s flagship WHQS programme has seen the largest single investment ever into tenants’ homes and their local areas.

“The environmental element of the programme has not only delivered aesthetic improvements and practical elements, like additional car parking, but also increased opportunities for tenants and their families to improve their physical and mental wellbeing; by providing suitable outdoor spaces for exercise and recreation.

“These are the final play facilities being improved through the programme and I’m sure these, and the numerous others already delivered, will be enjoyed by our children and young people for many years to come.”