The Welsh Government Minister for Social Justice has visited Glynmil Caravan Park in Merthyr Tydfil to learn about plans to make it ‘a safe, modern and secure place to live’.
Redevelopment work has begun after Welsh Government awarded the County Borough Council a Site Capital grant of more than £500,000 to refurbish all 24 amenity blocks on the 8.3 acres of land, which has been used as a residential Gypsy/Traveller site since 1977.
Minister Jane Hutt MS was given a tour of the park, where she was shown progress on the amenity blocks, which contain bathrooms and kitchens.
She also met officers from pre-school playgroup Meithrin, community arts organisation Head4Arts and the Pride Boxing initiative, which all run educational and wellbeing projects and activities for Glynmil residents and their children.
“I am delighted that the work at Glynmil Gypsy and Traveller Site has commenced,” said Ms Hutt. “I am also pleased to see Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council working with the residents at every stage, to bring inclusion services, activities for children, and energy cost saving utilities to the site.
“Our Gypsy and Traveller Sites funding will be instrumental in delivering a key goal of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan – to address the lack of site provision and poor quality of Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in Wales.”
Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing Cllr Geraint Thomas said: “The funding is creating high standard, energy efficient, modern homes for 24 residential pitches, redeveloping the community centre and redesigning the green spaces.
“The Council employs both a site manager and a live-in site warden to ensure the day to day running of the site is compliant, and it’s a safe and secure place to live.
“The aim is to offer a cultural way of life to Gypsy/Traveller families living within the county borough, while also supporting existing residents’ wellbeing.”
The redevelopment, which is being carried out by infrastructure and building consultancy service Capita, is part of a larger masterplan of works currently into phase 2, which is due to be completed by the end of September 2022.
