Work to start on £2m Bargoed bus station

How the new bus station will look when it is completed next year

Construction work is set to begin on a £2m bus station which is part of a regeneration scheme for the centre of Bargoed, in Caerphilly county.

The work will involve the demolition of a former "Powercut" building and adjacent property to create a pedestrian access to the centre.

Construction is expected to take up to six months.

The bus station will have five bays and is part of an £8m regeneration plan.

Ron Davies, the Caerphilly cabinet member for regeneration and countryside, said: "I am delighted that work is set to begin on this next exciting phase in the ongoing regeneration of Bargoed.

"Bargoed is a key strategic town centre with a very proud history, and I am hopeful that these ambitious schemes will have an extremely positive impact and give Bargoed a vibrant future as a key shopping destination in the heart of the South Wales Valleys."

The works will also include new public toilets, landscaping and street furniture including cycle stands, benches, signage and bins, street lighting and CCTV.

Earlier this year, Deputy Minister of Housing and Regeneration Jocelyn Davies visited Bargoed to announce an £8.3m funding package for the regeneration for the town.

This includes money from the European Regional Development Fund and match funding through the Welsh Assembly Government.

The regeneration, which has taken a decade to plan, involves a rebranding of the town with the phrase "Bargoed's Big Idea."