A former courthouse in the centre of Bargoed is the new home of Bargoed Town Council.
The listed historic landmark building was officially reopened as the new Town Hall on Saturday June 28.
The site, originally built in 1904, was opened by Howard Llewellyn, Mayor of Bargoed Town Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council Mayor Cllr David Carter and Gwent Police and Crime Commissioner, Ian Johnston.
Situated on Hanbury road, next door to Bargoed Police Station, the old court house will bring the Town Council into the community.
At the event the Town Council’s new logo and crest were officially unveiled after being designed to celebrate the opening of the new hall.
Cllr Tudor Davies leader of Bargoed Town Council, said: “The council are thrilled to be working alongside Gwent Police. The Court Building is an iconic part of the history within Bargoed.”
Ian Johnston, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent, said: “It’s great to see life injected back into the old Police Court again.
“Police stations play an important role in reassuring the public but we can make more effective use of the spaces available at some of our stations and breathe life back into our buildings by forging partnerships such as this one.
“I’m delighted that we were able to accommodate Bargoed Town Council and provide them with a centralised base in the heart of the community they serve.
“The rental yield is also circulated back into the estates pot which helps towards the upkeep of our stations and properties throughout Gwent.”
The Mayor of Bargoed, Howard Llewellyn, said: “After having talks with the newly elected commissioner we at the Bargoed Town Council were delighted at the prospect of moving into the building adjacent to Bargoed Police station, formerly the Magistrates Court.
“We felt that our occupation would create more activity at the building and that our intention is to encourage other organisations to meet in our rooms, such as the Crime Prevention Panel, the Chamber of Trade and so on.”
This is exactly what town councils should be doing, i.e. bringing the work they do for the community, back to the community.
The fact that the building will also now be used for other community groups to meet in and to use is good news, further good news is that the `Bargoed Town` now has a civic `Town Hall` focal point, on the high street, for all residents and visitors to access, and to follow the work of the Town Council.
Conversely, Caerphilly town Council meets in a back room of a Community Centre, up a flight of stairs, which would daunt the most tenacious of disabled people, for which it pays more rent than that paid by Bargoed Town Council for their own Town Hall.
I wonder how many people know where the Caerphilly Town council actually meets every month???? I wonder how many people have been encouraged to attend its meeting and follow the trail of your money being spent by them??
and I wonder how many people know that it occupies a room in our Community Centre which has been taken out of public use, unlike Bargoed Town Council which is a actively bring community space back into public use..Well done Bargoed Town Councillors for their commitment to the Community they serve. Labour Councillors I believe?????
Absolutely right, on all counts, why is Caerffili Town Council, of which I am elected member, doing taking up space in a community centre? I am firmly against this but as several members of the Town Council are also on the management committee of the Twyn I do not see this situation changing soon.