Ambitious plans for the future of one of the most deprived areas in Wales have been unveiled.
A major study, commissioned by Caerphilly County Borough Council, has been produced to help shape the future of Caerphilly town’s Lansbury Park estate.
Entitled the ‘Deep Place Study’, the study has been produced by academics Professor Dave Adamson and Dr Mark Lang, who have developed an approach to achieve economic, social, cultural and environmental sustainability in the most disadvantaged communities.
The plan sets out a range of recommendations to help tackle some of the key issues identified as part of the study, which has sought the input from residents and local services such as the police and health board.
In total, 22 key actions have been highlighted for consideration. These include:-
• Reviewing the current housing allocation.
• Securing Welsh Government funding for redevelopment work.
• Introducing a three-year programme to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour.
• Creating a multi-agency ‘Coalition for Change’.
• Developing local drug and alcohol services.
Dr Lang said: “The Deep Place Study will help trigger a strategic response, involving the council and other members of the Public Services Board, the private and third sectors and the community, to tackle the issues affecting the estate and identify opportunities for positive change.
“It is clear that there is a real determination to deliver improvement and this innovative approach will focus on economic, social, environmental and cultural aspects of the community.
“I’m confident that the council and its partners can bring about positive change and that there is a commitment to deliver the key recommendations in the report.”
Cllr Dave Poole, deputy leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, said: “The council has pledged to do all it can to transform the fortunes of Lansbury Park and this comprehensive plan will provide a clear framework to deliver change and improvement.
“As part of this process we want to work closely with the community to shape a positive future for everyone living on the estate.”
Lansbury Park has a population of around 1,500 and forms part of the St James ward, which was ranked as one of the most deprived areas in Wales in the 2014 Welsh Index of Deprivation.
It’s the economy stupid. Jobs first, then everything else follows.
You can do the academic studies till you’re blue in the face but without work for idle hands it’s throwing good money after bad.
These studies are money for old rope for people who produce nothing tangible or of any worth.
Dinner party chit chat and posturing for virtue signaling fantasists.
I agree with Pete’s comments.
Also,we had a Police Station based on this estate ( provided a police presence with local officers with local knowledge of area and known offenders )but this was closed a few years ago.This gave residents some reassurance and acted as a deterrent to those involved in antisocial behaviour & crime.
Drug & alcohol services are fine – but generally the people who misuse these substances rarely admit they’ve got issues and seek the help of such services and if they are referred to these services they generally don’t keep up their visits.
Also we had a purge on this estate a number of years back ( 1980’s ? ) – targetting crime and drug dealing – yet years on we are back looking at the same old problems.
That good old phrase springs to mind ” Lessons will be learned ” but generally never are.
What will the 3 year programme targetting antisocial behaviour and crime involve ? patrols by Community Support Officers / Council Wardens – with no relevant powers !
Stop wasting money on surveys and rhetoric and lets have some real action producing real improvements.
I couldn’t agree more with the comments below, it’s just councillors reinventing the wheel yet again. When will people stop wasting money on these studies when they have been done countless times before. You can have all the alcohol and drug clinics in the world but if people don’t want to change they won’t. We need jobs, we need insatives to make people get off the dole, so it worth them working at the moment people get paid more for doing nothing than working surely if you work you should have more benefits not less. No one in their right mind would work for less money. We need to stop giving extra money to addicts too. What are the polIce going to do to combat anti social behaviour? We need police on the beat, we need to keep police stations open. We need proper police on our streets not community officer or council wardens who have no powers to deal with th se issues and even less respect from the public