New chapter for town’s library

Feb 14 2008 by Sian Watts, Rhymney Valley Express

REGENERATION plans have been revealed which will soon see a Rhymney Valley library moved into a listed chapel.

The demolition of the current library building in Bargoed is scheduled for the end of the year, and eventually its new home will be the Hanbury Road Baptist Chapel.

In the interim period between destruction and converting the new home, resources will be temporarily housed in St Gwladys Church Hall for an estimated two to three years.

The library serves a catchment area of more than 16,000 people and last year received 65,487 visitors.

Other options were considered for the re-siting including Bargoed Community Centre or operating a mobile library service, but it was decided St Gwladys Church Hall was the best way forward considering issues including space and location.

The Family and Local History Collections will be temporarily moved to the Winding House Museum in Elliotstown, New Tredegar.

The relocation is part of the overall regeneration of the town which includes the building of a supermarket which has yet to be revealed.

Coun Tudor Davies said: “As the ward member for Bargoed and cabinet member for regeneration, I am looking forward to the regeneration of the town so we can bring on par with everywhere else.

“We have got the new Angel Way and we don’t want it to be a bypass so we have to make sure we have a good quality shopping centre.”