Bargoed Morrisons to open by Christmas

The new Morrisons supermarket in Bargoed is set to open by Christmas, developers of the site have said.

Work on a the 56,000 sq ft supermarket began in March last year. Morrisons will be the anchor tenant of the retail development which will have a 400-space car park.

The new supermarket will create 250 new jobs.

A spokesman from developers Simons said: “We are really enjoying working alongside Caerphilly Council and the local community. The site team are on schedule and we as a company look forward to helping provide this great development for Bargoed, with the new Morrisons superstore being the start of the new Retail Plateau.”

Caerphilly County Borough Council cabinet members recently paid a visit to the site.

Council leader Harry Andrews “This impressive structure will be such a welcome improvement for our residents, not just in Bargoed but right across the county borough.

“Bargoed has already benefitted from major improvements that have changed the face of the town, and the completion of the Morrisons superstore, along with the next phase of works which will bring a fantastic retail plateau and cinema for the community to enjoy, will make a massive difference to so many people.”

Aberbargoed company Sky Profile Ltd erect safety nets for the roofing industry and have been awarded the contract to erect the safety nets for the Morrisons building.

Gavin Jones and Geraint Jeffrey set up the business last year after working in the industry for 10 year with help from Caerphilly County Borough Council funding through the Local Investment Fund and the GO2 website grant.

Cllr Ken James, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Sustainable Development, said: “The wider regeneration of Bargoed has already brought so many benefits to the residents of our whole county borough.

“I am thrilled that this project has already exceeded its promise of bringing much needed employment before it has even opened by contracting a local business to be involved with the build. This fantastic new superstore joins the new library, road improvements and impressive town centre artwork as an example of how regenerating our town centres makes such a difference to our residents lives.”

In December last year it was announced that national cinema chain Odeon was the preferred tenant for the planned £6m council-owed cinema development being built near to the new Morrisons.

Letter from Plaid Cymru group leader Colin Mann.
Cllr Colin Mann, leader of the Plaid Cymru group has written to Caerphilly Observer. Here is his letter.

Over the last year, the current administration at Caerphilly County Borough Council has been highlighting some excellent schemes taking place.

These include a new £6m Centre for Sporting Excellence which is being built at Ystrad Mynach. This will serve as a base for Cardiff City and also the proposed official training complex of regional rugby side Newport Gwent Dragons, described as iconic by the council leader.

Then there is the new library being built at Caerphilly while the Morrisons supermarket development at Bargoed is well underway with plans also for an Odeon multiplex cinema in the town. The much-awaited radical improvements to the Blackwood Miners’ Institute were, of course started, under Plaid.

I’m delighted that these schemes are being recognised for what they – examples of a go-ahead, innovative local authority. Labour is taking forward the work of the last Plaid Cymru administration which drew up plans for all the projects above and for many others. When credit is claimed on completion it will be well to remember who started the work.