Blackwood Unique Places Unique Town Centres

9 Town Centres Unique Places 10 10 Town Centres Unique Places 9 page 15 14 14 11 9 5 2 7 1 Information Additional Conclusion Funding Management Town Centre The RoleOf Bargoed Blackwood Caerphilly Background places? unique centres town Why are Contents

Unique Places Unique Town Centres

9 Town Centres Unique Places 10 Why are town centres unique places?

Town centres are playing an increasingly important role as customers rediscover the true value of shopping locally.

They are also helping people to establish a sense of place in uncertain times and providing a space where they can reconnect with their .

1 Bargoed Blackwood Caerphilly Diverse

The retail offer in town centres encourages people to visit on lifestyle has led to the is a broad one, mixing different days for a variety of emergence of a café culture. familiar high street names reasons. Services which are As coffee shops and cafés place with smaller independent available in town centres their tables and chairs out onto retailers. This combination include: Post Offices, Opticians, the pavements, towns have gives the customer a unique Pharmacies, Estate Agents, developed a more continental shopping experience. The Banks, Building Societies, atmosphere encouraging perception may be that town Dentists, Hairdressers and people to stay longer and centres are just about shops, Nail Bars. Town centres also socialise. Therefore, it is the but in reality, their appeal is have a long tradition of being sheer diversity of what town far wider. Service provision is places where people go to centres offer in a single equally as important as retail. meet up with friends in cafés location, which is their real Having access to a wide range and restaurants. The increasing strength and one of the secrets of services in one place popularity of a more European of their enduring appeal.

What is their appeal and why should we regard town centres as unique places?

2 Town Centres - Unique Places Blackwood Bargoed Caerphilly A465(T) Convenient

Pontlottyn A470(T) A469 The recent emergence of A4048 retail parks, often located A467 away from the traditional centre of a town, has meant Markham that the role of the town centre

Aberbargoed has now come under even Bargoed A472 greater scrutiny. Oakdale B4251 B4254 Nelson Blackwood Newbridge Today’s customer is seeking A472 A472 Ystrad better value from their Mynach shopping experience and A467 the convenience of the town A470(T) centres is becoming a strong A4048 attraction, in comparison

Bedwas to retail parks.

Caerphilly A467

A469 For many shoppers, a town A468 A468 centre with its multitude of shops and essential services 28 is still within walking distance 32 M4 of their home. In contrast to a NEWPORT retail park, that may be a car or bus journey away. © Crown copyright. CCBC, 100025372, 2009

3 Local

To understand why town a community is told through difficult to define and virtually centres are unique you need a town centre’s architecture, impossible to replace. Town only to visit them and look public art and its landmarks. centres encourage a person to around at the buildings that These celebrate successes have a feeling of ownership make up their fabric. These and achievement, but also over where they live. They can tell of a rich local heritage that remember times of hardship also play a valuable part in link visitors with the town’s and even moments of loss. The contributing to the notion of a cultural as well as its historical emotions people feel by being place someone can recognise past. The evolving story of part of a community are very as home.

Caerphilly Blackwood Bargoed

In conclusion, town centres a connection between the This document begins with an are still at the heart of the many separate elements that overview of each of the three community and need always make up a community. principle towns in Caerphilly be regarded as such. County Borough and sets out It is these qualities, which make their individual strengths as They combine a diverse offer town centres unique places and investment opportunities for of shops and services, in a are the cornerstones on which retailers, service providers convenient location, providing their future needs to be built. and businesses.

4 Town Centres - Unique Places Caerphilly

is the largest town in the County Borough and a sub-regional centre.

The catchment area for the Whilst Cardiff Road is a more to the northern suburbs of town includes , traditional shopping area Cardiff allows the town to Abertridwr, Llanbradach, featuring many of Caerphilly’s market itself to a much wider , , Machen, independent retailers, inter- customer base, capitalising on , Waterloo and , spersed with familiar high street its proximity to the capital. The this area has a population of names including: Peacocks, unique character of this historic approximately 53,000. The Superdrug, Tesco and Iceland. town, makes it a real alternative town is a popular tourist desti- to the big city experience. nation, due to the presence of Future developments in the the second largest fortress in town centre are focussed on two The branding of ‘Relaxing Retail Europe located in the centre of sites: Firstly an area on the West Therapy’ has given the Town the town. side of Cardiff Road, secondly Centre a strong identity and a site in Park Lane, which over- defines the shopping experience The town has two shopping looks the castle and presents a it strives to deliver. In 2009 areas each providing a distinct prime town centre location. Caerphilly was awarded Fair- type of shopping offer. The trade Town Status in recogni- Castle Court Shopping Centre, Caerphilly town centre is built tion of the work done by local located directly opposite the around its majestic castle and is retailers, businesses, churches castle, is home to a wide variety surrounded by beautiful Welsh and voluntary groups to promote of multiple retailers including: countryside. Its close proximity the concept of Fairtrade. Morrisons, Argos, WH Smith, Boots and Costa Coffee.

5 and Town Centre

6 Town Centres - Unique Places Blackwood is the second largest town in the County Borough area and is one of two sub-regional centres.

The catchment area has a Within the last few years the from all over the surrounding population of approximately town has dramatically improved area. Together these projects 34,000 and includes Argoed, its transport infrastructure with define the town’s future, making , Penmaen, the construction of the Sirhowy it an attractive option for , Pontllanfraith and Enterprise Way and the iconic investors looking to locate in . There are a number Chartist Bridge. The new road the South East valleys. of multiple retailers present now links the town centre with in the town including Argos, the Oakdale Business Park Private sector investment in two Peacocks, Boots, Iceland opening up the town to 5,000 new retail parks, located at and Superdrug. potential customers. either end of the town centre, creates new opportunities for Blackwood town centre offers Blackwood has long been retailers looking for a presence shoppers a wide choice of an interchange for bus routes in the South East Valleys area. independent retailers from all over the South East The northern Retail Park is interspersed with multiple valleys, the construction of the anchored by an ASDA retailers. The strength of its award winning Interchange superstore and the southern appeal is the range and Bus Station makes the town development by a Focus diversity of its retail offer. more accessible to people DIY store.

7 The Chartist Bridge and Statue

8 Town Centres - Unique Places Bargoed is the most northern of the six main retail centres in the County Borough and is located in the .

It is the third largest town The new £25 million link road comprehensive public realm behind the sub-regional centres Angel Way was opened in scheme that will create an of Caerphilly and Blackwood 2009, linking the north and environment that enhances and is the largest of the four south of the Rhymney Valley. the pedestrian space. A district centres. The catchment This road significantly increases new retail plateau is under area for the town includes accessibility to the town and construction, which is situated Rhymney, , , provides an opportunity to directly alongside the existing , Deri, New attract well-known high street retail area. It will create a new Tredegar, and names to improve the existing shopping centre at the heart with a combined retail offer. of in the town centre. population of over 26,000. The Council has ambitious plans The Bargoed Big Idea website - Since the closure of the to continue the regeneration www.bargoedsbigidea.co.uk colliery in 1977, Bargoed of Bargoed. The construction is a stand-alone Internet site has been in a weak economic of a new bus station at the that acts as an information position. The town has a north of the town centre will point for the Greater Bargoed number of multiple retailers improve transport infrastructure Regeneration Scheme and including Peacocks, Dorothy and accessibility. This project as an interactive investment Perkins, Burtons and Spar. will be combined with a portfolio.

9 Regeneration Scheme: Phase 1 - Angel Way

10 Town Centres - Unique Places The Role Of Town Centre Management

Through the process of Town in the towns will largely be These include a Town Centre Centre Management, Caerphilly driven by the vision and Management Group for each County Borough Council has aspirations of the local authority, of the three principle towns. established a method to look balanced with the level of The groups comprise of key after its three principle towns. financial investment that can be stakeholders from each town This model of Town Centre secured from the private and including local councillors, Management is now explained public sectors. Some of the retail groups, Town Councils, in detail. Town Centre factors of the regeneration Police Officers and Local Management within the process will fall outside the Authority Managers. The Caerphilly County Borough control of local government. groups are chaired by a covers the three principle Therefore, one of the roles of local councillor and focus on towns of - Caerphilly, Town Centre Management is strategic as well as operational Blackwood and Bargoed. to draw together some of the issues. They also form part of different goals and ambitions of the Council’s wider decision- The role of Town Centre the public and private sectors, to making process and are used Management operates using form a single cohesive vision as consultation forums. five key principles. towards an achievable objective. 1. Strategic Development 2. Operational Issues 2. Operational Issues The day-to-day use of town 3. Coordinating The centres, means that operationally Public Sector there are always issues to 4. Encouraging Private resolve in order to create a Sector Investment better environment and improve 5. Engaging With The the streetscape. Many of the Retail Sector issues require repeated site visits and internal officer meetings before they are successfully 1. Strategic Development In a strategic capacity, Town concluded. Town Centre The strategic development of Centre Management works Management provides a way the town centres is a core with various groups and to ensure that operational issues part of the Council’s wider committees within local such as graffiti, flyposting and regeneration strategy. The speed government to promote the damage to the public realm are and nature of the development interests of the town centres. resolved quickly and effectively.

11 Building new partnerships with The audit highlights both Police Officers responsible for operational and strategic town centre policing has helped issues. In addition, it gives to tackle long standing problems specific details about each that blight town centres, such item and identifies the as retail theft and anti-social department and manager who behaviour. Through Town Centre is progressing it. This group Management, the Police have forms a major part of the been able to access the many Town Centre Management different service areas within model in Caerphilly County the local authority. These Transportation, Cleansing, Borough Council, which resources and expertise have Parks, Licensing, Community enables the Local Authority to helped Police Officers to deliver Safety, Tourism, Economic deliver an effective provision a better service for the people Development and Environmental of its services in each town of the community that they serve. Health. In addition, the three centre in an accountable and Police Inspectors who have transparent way. responsibility for each of the 3. Coordinating Public Sector three principle town centres, Central to achieving operational attend the meetings. To 4. Encouraging Private success in the managing of the represent each ‘Town Centre Sector Investment Town Centres has been the Management Group’ the Developing a brand for the establishing of the ‘Town Centre Chairperson of those groups town centres has been vital Improvement Group’, which is (a local councillor) also attends chaired by the Cabinet Member the ‘Town Centre Improvement in attracting investment from for Regeneration & Countryside. Group’ meetings. both the private and public This group coordinates the work sectors. The three town centre of the various departments Each meeting, held at the brands have been rolled out within Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Tredomen Business across a number of marketing Council and comprises of key & Technology Centre, looks platforms including: investment managers from within the at an Environmental Audit portfolios, lamppost banners, council, whose service areas compiled by the Town Centre shop window stickers, website include Highways, Planning, Development Manager. and town centre newsletters.

12 Town Centres - Unique Places Each town through its branding offers visitors a varied and context. A monthly Town Centre is given a strong confident individual shopping experience News has also been introduced image, helping to dispel the and attracts new shoppers to make retailers feel part of a stereotypes and preconceptions, from outside the existing wider town centre community. which are sometimes associated catchment area. These events This newsletter provides details with the industrial past of the create an opportunity for of events and occurrences . Through retailers to target a new within the specific town centre. branding, each town’s uniqueness customer base and so expand and individuality is highlighted their business. Staging Footfall counters have been and reinforced. These brands different events in the town installed into each of the are also used to give an over- centres plays an important town centres. The information arching identity to the town part in broadening the overall recorded is provided to when providing information on visitor offer and prolonging retailers each week in the specific projects to investors. customer dwell time. form of a Footfall Index.

5. Engaging With The Retail Sector Engagement with the retail sector is an area that local government has found difficult in the past. The Town Centre Development Manager in Caerphilly County Borough Council visits the three towns each week to communicate with both the national and The council’s web site includes independent retailers. Retail The Index allows retailers to individual web pages on each News informs local retailers, compare their town’s footfall of the three principle town in particular small businesses, with the other two principle centres. The installation of on issues that are currently towns in the county borough webcams has enhanced affecting the retail sector. This and provides them with a people’s opinion of the area document ensures that they have national town centre and encouraged more visitors. some knowledge of the main benchmark figure. The issues affecting retailers. It also Council views the Footfall An events programme tailored allows them to put their local data as a valuable indicator around each town centre performances into a national of the town’s performance.

13 centre partnerships in other Funding areas of the UK as an example of best practice in Town Centre The Council provides the Management. The approach funding for Town Centre adopted in Caerphilly County Management in its entirety. Borough was featured at the The Town Centre Development Association of Town Centre Manager delivers the process. Management (ATCM) Summer School and is used in their A budget is allocated from presentations as an excellent the Economic Development example of how to manage Division to pro-actively market smaller centres. the three town centres. Conclusion Each individual town benefits A portion of money from The importance of town centres from the vision and enthusiasm the ‘Area Forum’ budget is in the wider regional economy that Town Centre Management available to each of the of Caerphilly County Borough is brings. The challenge in the Town Centre Management now clearly recognised by the coming years will be to continue Groups, enabling them to Local Authority. Within the scope to develop Town Centre take forward projects they of Town Centre Management, the Management within the County consider to be important for strategic and operational needs Borough and secure additional the town’s development. of the town centres are being resources. By investing in Town addressed in a coordinated way. Centre Management, the authority To address maintenance is delivering a better service, issues, provision is made This model of Town Centre improving the town centre within a maintenance budget Management has been widely environment, attracting additional for town centres which is recognised by councils and town visitors and encouraging renewed allocated on an annual basis. private sector investment.

This money is used to ensure Town Centre Management in that the environment in the Caerphilly County Borough is principle towns reflects their helping to enhance, maintain status as the shop windows and develop town centres as of the County Borough. unique places.

14 Town Centres - Unique Places CACI Market break down of the expenditure Additional Summary Report  of each geographic area that This report is compiled by the town centre sits within. Information CACI, one of the UK’s most Town Centre Management in respected retail analysts. It Footfall data Caerphilly County Borough provides detailed information Caerphilly County Borough on the town’s demographics Council has installed electronic Council takes a proactive using the ACORN profile. It pedestrian counters into each approach toward attracting also sets out the towns place town. The counters are provided new retailers and investors. in the retail hierarchy. by Footfall (an Experian company) and measure the To assist in the evaluation Drivetime Map number of people on the main process of each town centre The maps provided by Faber shopping street 24 hours a a number of key tools are Maunsell / AECOM show the day, seven days a week. available for each town centre. population within a 10 minute, 20 minute and 30 minute Weekly reports from Footfall drive time of town centre. provide comparative data on the The following reports can be previous week, the corresponding obtained without charge on Experian GOAD Maps week in the previous year request from the Town Centre These reports, produced by and a National Town Centres Development Manager. Experian, give a detailed benchmark figure.

15 For more information: Andrew Highway Town Centre Development Manager, Chief Executive’s Department, Tredomen Business & Technology Centre, , , CF82 7FN

Tel: 01443 866213 Fax: 01443 866216 e-mail: [email protected] www.caerphilly.gov.uk

16 Town Centres - Unique Places Town Centres - Unique Places

Bargoed Blackwood Caerphilly