Hopes revamp will make park ‘feel more connected’ to rest of town

The next stage of a multimillion-pound regeneration project in Caerphilly town centre has been confirmed.

Dafydd Williams Park, which offers stunning views of the town’s famous castle, will undergo “significant improvements” based on the recommendations of a residents’ group.

Proposed renovations include improved entrances and street lighting, new artwork and children’s play equipment, and “attractive and welcoming” seating areas.

Cllr Jamie Pritchard, the interim leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, called the park “a centre point for our community”, and said it was “fantastic to see our redevelopment plan come to fruition”.

The renovations form part of the council’s Caerphilly Town 2035 placemaking plan, which also includes the nearby Ffos Caerffili market, as well as new homes in Pentrebane Street and proposals for a redevelopment of the town’s bus and railway stations.

Stockland and Windsor Squares have also been also revamped, with greater prominence given to the bird sculptures first installed there in the 1990s.

The plans for Dafydd Williams Park were developed following consultations and site visits by residents, schoolchildren and business owners – and it was found that people wanted the park to “feel more connected to the town”.

Liane Elms is a member of the residents’ committee for the project, and was one of the hundreds of people who took part in those discussions.

“I got involved with the residents’ committee because I was one of those people who used to complain about things, but I thought there’s no point if you’re not going to get anything done,” she said.

“With Dafydd Williams Park, I think it was more the safety aspect of it. People seem to be quite happy with the park facilities that are there, but there are concerns about the lighting and people don’t want to walk through there in the dark.”

On the wider Caerphilly Town 2035 project, she added: “When you have lived here a long time you can see Caerphilly progressing. It’s never going to be what it was in the 70s and 80s because retail has changed – but you can see with Ffos Caerffili, Windsor and Stockland squares, and the development at the top of town, things are improving.”

Cllr Pritchard thanked residents for helping to shape the planned improvements.

He said the council had “listened to the views of residents gained through engagement sessions, acknowledging the potential to improve the park’s appeal for everyone in Caerphilly”.