An £8m regeneration scheme for Bargoed town centre is about to enter its final stage.
Contractors Alun Griffiths will begin work at Hanbury Road and Hanbury Square from September 10 to revitalise the square into a public events space.
Caerphilly County Borough Council has said current phases of the regeneration, paid-for with European Union cash, has already shown improvements in the town – most notably High Street where pavements have been widened and public art installed.
During the work on Hanbury Road and Hanbury Square there will be weekend closures (from Saturday afternoons) to sections of Hanbury Road.
The streets will remain open to pedestrians and businesses will be open for trading as usual. All car parks will remain open with free parking at Hanbury Road Car Park.
Cllr Ken James, cabinet member for regeneration, planning and sustainable development, said: “With the support and patience of the local community, we can look forward to an attractive and welcoming shopping environment that will benefit existing traders and hopefully attract new businesses and shoppers to Bargoed.
“Inevitably the works will cause some temporary disruption due to the scope of the improvements, but we will be working closely with businesses to ensure that they can trade as usual.”
Buses will still serve the town with temporary bus stops relocating from Hanbury Square to Under Cardiff Road, whilst Hanbury Square is converted into a new usable public and events space.
Alun Griffiths Contractors, who will be delivering the scheme, will have an Information Centre set up in the town for members of the public to visit for information or queries during the scheme. Details of which will be announced soon.
The £8m Bargoed Town Centre Regeneration project is being delivered with funding from the EU’s Convergence European Regional Development Fund, and through the Welsh Government’s Targeted Match Funding and Heads of the Valleys Programme.
It will be interesting to see what kind of space they can create. As given the slope, limited ground and fact that it is surrounded by roads I would have thought it less than ideal for such a purpose.
I wonder if the post office will now relocate. As given the out of town bus station and out of town supermarket to follow. This end of Bargoed must be something of a withered limb these days.
Well, I have to say that part of the regeneration that has been completed is very good. But access through the town is restricted by the poor location of bus stops (that have no pull-ins) and the contination of drivers parking on the pavements and double parking blocking pedestrian access and traffic flow. More than once I have seen pedestrians jump out of the way of buses and other vehicles that have mounted the pavements to negotiate double parking. The traffic problem is now becoming dangerous. I don't think that the loss of traffic wardens has helped at all and I hope drivers will be a little more thoughtful about where they plonk their cars. And NO MOUNTING THE PAVEMENTS, please.