New £2.1m visitor centre could be coming to Parc Penallta

An artist's impression of the proposed new visitor centre at Parc Penallta — An artist’s impression of the proposed new visitor centre at Parc Penallta

Senior Caerphilly councillors have backed plans to spend more than £2.1 million on a “flagship” multi-purpose visitor centre at Parc Penallta.

Due to the pandemic, more people used the park in Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet has said this demonstrates the need for a visitor centre.

What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?

A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.

It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.

Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:

Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces

Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.

_{Last updated October 13, 2023}

Cllr Nigel George, Cabinet Member with responsibility for parks and countryside, said: “The enhancement of this country park will reinforce the importance of our environments and landscapes, the health and wellbeing of our communities and contribute towards a strong identity for Caerphilly County Borough, the Valleys Regional Park and Wales as a whole.”

Welsh Government will provide a grant of £903,000 towards the project, while the council will fund the remaining £1,168,000 from the Corporate Projects budget.

Costs could be increased as the tender process is set to take place again due to the time that has passed since the initial one – this will provide a final price for the project.

At a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, March 9, the leader of the council, Cllr Philippa Marsden, said the space could be used for “agile working” by those who work from home.

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Property, praised the proposal and said it would help to encourage people to go to open spaces to better their health and wellbeing.

Timber from Parc Penallta will be prepared and used to build part of the centre.

Planning permission will need to be granted for the project before it can continue – if approved the centre is expected to be completed by spring 2023.

It is expected that improvements to the A472 would be a condition of planning permission for the site being granted.

CCBC

Sign-up to our daily newsletter