Pontypool Settlement Area

The Pontypool Settlement Area programme was a four year physical regeneration project that has seen over £10 million worth of funding invested in Pontypool and its surrounding areas between 2011 and 2015.

Funding has enabled works that have improved the appearance and viability of Pontypool Town Centre, Trevethin neighbourhood centre, and Garndiffaith neighbourhood centre.

It has also supported the Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme which provided grants to property owners to improve vacant and run-down properties, enabled improvement works to take place to the Italian Gardens, George Street/Commercial Street pedestrian area and Pontypool Indoor Market. Funding has also helped create and improve footpaths and cycle ways to create better connections between communities in the area.

The project was supported by the European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government, Heritage Lottery Fund, Cadw, Pontypool Regeneration Partnership, Bron Afon Community Housing and Torfaen County Borough Council.

 

                

Community Links

Community Links was an investment project which created and improved footpaths and cycle ways, linking Pontnewynydd and Trevethin to Pontypool Town Centre.

The Riverside scheme connects the communities of Abersychan, Trevethin and Pontnewynydd with Pontypool, and the new route makes it easier for people to reach the town centre to work and shop without the need to use the car or public transport.

The Churchwood Path project connects St Cadoc’s Church and Trevethin Shops to Penygarn Road. The money was spent on upgrading the existing public rights of way from St Cadoc’s to the lower section of Penygarn Road, installing new handrails, gates and steps.

Garndiffaith Neighbourhood Centre

Corn Bin and Garnsychan Partnership buildings

Funding enabled completion of refurbishment works to the Corn Bin and the upgrading of the neighbouring Garnsychan Partnership premises, both prominent and locally important buildings at the heart of Stanley Road.

The £835,271 project completed external works to the Corn Bin, and the internal refurbishment of both buildings. Office space / business incubation opportunities for social enterprises are now available in the Corn Bin, and the Garnsychan Partnership continues to successfully deliver community based social, environmental and economic regeneration activities for local community.

Public realm improvements

The Pontypool Settlement Area programme also enabled the regeneration of Stanley Road and improved linkages between the Millennium Hall and the wider community. . £141,425 of improvements allowed us to deliver:

• A new access ramp improving the conecStanley Road and the Millennium Hall
• A local heritage project in partnership with Abersychan and Garndiffaith history group and Garnteg School which resulted in a public information panel telling local people’s stories
• A heritage trail as part of the Torfaen Heritage mobile app. This was designed to encourage people with smartphones to explore the fantastic heritage attractions in and around Garndiffaith
• The Pillar of the Community sculpture along with various wicker sculptures within the grounds of Garndiffaith Millennium Hall representing the areas past and present.
• Street furniture and signage improvements to help improve the shopping experience on Stanley Road
• A new community noticeboard
• Major improvements to the accessibility of the Millennium Hall from Stanley Road improving both the accessibility and attractiveness of the site
• Community Planting and Fundays throughout the project culminating in the 2014 Garndiffaith Scarecrow competition and Funday.

Indoor Market Refurbishment

The Indoor market was a £2.5M major refurbishment project which took place between January 2012 and June 2015. Funding enabled extensive refurbishment works to be carried out to the Jubilee Building, main market hall and arcades.

Jubilee Building

Extensive works were carried out to the structure of the building and complete internal renovation took place to create a high quality office environment on the top floor and a much improved space on the first floor. Both floors are now fully accessible for all users due to a newly installed lift.

Main Market Hall

Major works to the main market hall were managed through a phased approach, which enabled Traders to operate from temporary locations within the arms of the Market building and allowed the market to remain open despite extensive works taking place. Following completion of refurbishment works, the Indoor Market offers free shopper internet access, public toilets with a dedicated baby/changing and feeding room and provides a supported, low risk hub for new retail business.

The Indoor market is looking to attract quality traders who are enthusiastic and dedicated to providing a high level of customer service.

To view an up-to-date schedule of available stalls please visit Pontypool Indoor Market area of the website.

Stall enquiries should be directed to the Pontypool Indoor Market Manager on 01495 742757.

Italian Gardens

An important part of the PSA project was improving the connections between Pontypool town Centre and the historic Pontypool Park.

Located behind and visible from bus stops on Hanbury Rd, the Italian Gardens link the town centre to the grade 2* listed Pontypool Park, and are an important green space in an urban area.

Funding enabled the installation of a fountain designed by artist Jane Turner, and landscape improvement works which has created a pleasant and welcoming first impression of the town centre and encourages people to make use of this green space.

The Italian Gardens was a joint project between Torfaen, Art Regen and Torfaen Museum.

Pontypool Public Realm

As part of the PSA project, Pontypool’s town centre underwent a bold transformation to make the town centre a safer and more pedestrian friendly space. Entrenched issues such as the cobble stones and temperamental bollards have been removed and replaced with more sympathetic materials.

Five pieces of public art were also installed along George Street to add interest and variety. These were developed with local schools, nurseries and community groups to establish a number of themes that are relevant to Pontypool and its people.

The results of the public realm improvements have been immediate with shoppers frequently commenting on the much improved streetscape. In addition, Pontypool Public Realm project won the ICE Wales Cymru Roy Edwards Regeneration Award in 2013 in recognition of concept, planning and design, contract management and construction.

Townscape Heritage Initiative

The Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a heritage led regeneration grant scheme operating in Pontypool Town Centre Conservation Area, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, Welsh Government, CADW, Torfaen County Borough Council and Pontypool Regeneration Partnership.

The THI offers grants to property owners to improve vacant, run-down properties and to encourage empty buildings to be brought back into use. The main aims of the scheme are to enable continued viable use of buildings which make up the special architectural character of the town centre contributes to the economic regeneration and sustainable conservation of Pontypool Town Centre.

Properties awarded grants and improved include:

• The White Hart
• No. 9 Crane St
• Credit Union
• The Globe Hotel
• 31 Commercial Street
• 33 Commercial Street
• 1 George Street
• Community Council Offices
• The Greyhound
• Former Market House

Trevethin Neighbourhood Centre

Trevethin Village Core

Bron Afon Community Housing worked with Communities First and Torfaen council to transform the shops and surrounding area.

The £1.5m project included improvements to shop frontages, roofs, walkways and car parking. It also enabled the creation of a cafe and social enterprise units.

Cath Stenson, Bron Afon’s head of community investment and involvement, said: "This is a major project to improve the shopping area which acts as the entrance to Trevethin. Working with our partners we have involved local people at every stage to make sure we have developed the proposals in a way which meets the needs of the local community and gives them a facility to be proud of."

Life Station

At the Trevethin Life Station work was undertaken to set up a sustainable community allotment and food growing project. The scheme aims to help encourage healthy eating and living by engaging the local community in a range of educational and training activities linked to the cultivation of produce from the site.

A disused area of land behind the centre has been landscaped and laid out with raised planting beds and allotment facilities. The scheme was implemented by the Council’s Economy and Renewal Team in partnership with the Life Station and Trevethin Community First Partnership. A range of local organisations and residents have already taken up plots.

Last Modified: 05/12/2018 Back to top