Bargoed residents have helped rename a square in the town centre.
The public space, known locally as ‘Spar Square’, which is half-way along High Street, has been officially renamed ‘Royal Square’.
Many suggestions were received for the area by the council, but the most popular was ‘Royal’.
Local residents recall fondly the imposing Royal Hotel that once stood at this location, which was built in the early 1900s before being demolished in the 1960s.
Cllr. Ron Davies, cabinet member for regeneration said: “We would like to thank residents for sending in their suggestions. The naming of this square helps to link the regeneration with its past history and will hopefully provide a new local landmark in the town centre.”
‘Royal Square – Sqwar Y Royal’ has been engraved into the floorscape as a key feature of the ongoing town centre regeneration works.
The square is having a comprehensive overhaul with new natural stone paving, mature trees, sturdy street furniture and a new bus stop.
The work is part of the £8million Bargoed Town Centre Regeneration project.
Other developments taking place in Bargoed town centre include:
- The new public square, which will be built in front of the proposed Morrisions store and opposite Lowan’s Irish Bar, has now been officially named. Lowry Plaza will form a key part of the new development, linking the existing town with the new retail space and is named after the painter L.S Lowry who painted the famous picture of Bargoed. In addition to Morrisions, five new retail units will also front onto Lowry Plaza.
- Last month staff from Morrisons HR department travelled from their head office in Bradford to meet with council officers to discuss the number of jobs that the new store will create. It is estimated that the grocer will bring in the region of 250 new jobs to Bargoed town centre.
- Artistic railings are to be installed at the Pierhead in February. Funded from European Convergence, these railings will provide a series of arched panels with cut out graphics and images of the kind of items that would have been seen on display in the shop windows of the former Emporium. Ideas for the feature items were developed by local school children.
- In late Spring, a steel angel will be installed at the bottom of the High Street, fronting St Gwladys car park. Standing 6m tall, this artwork will provide a gateway into the town centre from the north. The design has emanated from the name ‘Angel Way’ and will form a guardian angel to the town with a backdrop of St Gwladys Church and the War Memorial.
Does this mean we can now refer to Royal Ron ?
No its just that Bargoed, with a historically high level of English migration to the mines has always had a monarchist tendency that differentiated them from the Irish and Welsh migrants.