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Before the by-election took over my life, I joined a lively exercise on how to improve Caerphilly town centre over the next five years. (And no, it didn’t involve press-ups, jogging, or whistles – this was the planning kind of exercise, though a bit of stretching the imagination was certainly required.)

Our challenge was simple: how can we make Caerphilly even more welcoming – starting from the moment you step off the train? After all, the station is the gateway to our town. And first impressions matter. Visitors should step out and think, “Ah yes, this is the famous Caerphilly – home of cheese, castle, and charm!”

One of the best ideas to emerge was greening the top of town (I promise it wasn’t me that suggested it). Picture it: stepping off the train and being greeted by trees, flowers, and greenery rather than the usual diet of paving slabs and parked cars. A few planters here, a few trees there, and suddenly the top of Caerphilly feels more like a welcoming garden than a waiting room for buses. It would be a breath of fresh air – literally. And the bees would thank us too.

But we didn’t stop there. Someone suggested a truly brilliant idea: painting the pavement from the station all the way down to the castle – with the history of Caerphilly told along the way. Imagine strolling downhill and reading the story of our town at your feet. “Here once stood the old market,” “Here the cheese fair brought thousands,” “Here the people of Caerphilly danced when the rugby team actually won.” It would be a walking history book with a sense of humour.

Families could follow the painted trail like a treasure hunt, discovering the tales and characters that made the town what it is. Visitors would learn our story without needing a guidebook or a decent signal. And let’s be honest: anything that keeps people looking down at the pavement instead of their phones is probably a public safety measure.

Then came the most musical idea of all: a bandstand at the top of town. Not just a token gazebo, but a proper performance space where people can sing, dance, and play when the roads are closed for events—which, as we all know, happens fairly often. Whether it’s the food festival, the Big Cheese, or a spontaneous outbreak of civic enthusiasm, the bandstand would give us a focal point for community fun.

Imagine brass bands playing in the sunshine, school choirs at Christmas, folk musicians strumming away while shoppers tap their feet with an ice cream in hand. Maybe even an occasional poetry reading for the deep thinkers among us. The bandstand could become a stage for Caerphilly’s creativity – and a fine excuse for the rest of us to sit, clap, and pretend we’re part of the performance.

The ideas might sound ambitious, but they’re rooted in something very Caerphilly: pride in our town. We all want Caerphilly to look and feel like the vibrant, welcoming place we know it is. Making the route from the station to the castle greener, brighter, and more musical would show visitors – and ourselves – that Caerphilly isn’t just a place with a castle in the middle; it’s a place with life, laughter, and ideas at every corner.

Of course, it’ll take time, planning, and, yes, money. But if there’s one thing Caerphilly does well, it’s teamwork. Whether it’s running a festival, building a float, or rustling up a choir at short notice, the town knows how to pull together.

So next time you step off the train, imagine it: trees swaying gently, stories painted on the pavement, and music floating in the air. A proper gateway to Caerphilly – one that says, “Welcome home, or welcome for the first time… either way, you’re in for a treat.”

And if the bandstand ever needs an opening act, I’m happy to volunteer for a speech. Just don’t expect me to sing.