Demolition to begin of former community centre

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s housing division has announced plans to begin demolition of the former community centre in Lansbury Park, Caerphilly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has received £100,000 from Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places funding stream to demolish the derelict building, as part of wider plans for environmental improvements to Lansbury Park. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The demolition process will begin with removal of asbestos, which will be carried out in line with legislation set by the Health and Safety Executive. There will be on-site security during this time to ensure public safety and to stop any unauthorised persons entering the area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

After asbestos has been safely removed from the building, demolition works will begin around the second week of March and is expected to be completed by 21st March. The council has appointed Cardiff Demolition Company Ltd to carry out this work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr David Poole, the council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, said “The community centre has been derelict for some time and, due the extent of asbestos within the building, it was not feasible to bring the building back into public use. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council is, however, working in partnership with the local community and a number of other agencies to look at improving the wider environment in Lansbury Park and the lives of those who live there. Consultation will be carried out with the community over coming months to identify further improvements to the area.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Christine Forehead, local ward member and the council’s Cabinet Member for Human Resources and Governance, added “Whilst there had been hopes the centre could have been brought back into use for local residents, we appreciate the scale of the building repair issues meant this was not possible. It is pleasing to see progress now being made with the demolition of the building and see this as a positive step forward in transforming Lansbury Park for both current residents and future generations.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Barbara Jones, Deputy Leader and local ward member, concurred with Cllr Forehead and further commented “Lansbury Park is situated in the St James 3 ward which was ranked as the most deprived area in Wales in Welsh Government’s 2014 Index of Multiple Deprivation. The multi-agency task group that’s been set up is working in partnership with residents to tackle a number of issues in the area, including the physical environment, supporting people into employment and improving the overall health and wellbeing of local people.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​