Talk of the town (From Penarth Times)

Talk of the town

A REPORT on the future of Penarth town centre has identified the high number of charity shops and car parking facilities in the town as major weaknesses.

Positive points include the strong sense of community and the low vacancy rate among business premises.

According to the Vale Council's corporate plan 2005-2009, a town centre strategy must be drawn up for Penarth, which has to address parking and traffic management issues.

A SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) report has now been drafted by officers which will be used as a basis for the strategy. Penarth Town Council is also being consulted.

The report highlights the town centre's strengths, including its good image as a Victorian seaside town, a strong sense of community in the town, the emergence of arts and crafts, the low vacancy rate among shops and the proximity to the M4.

But weaknesses include Penarth's proximity to Cardiff city centre, a lack of funding from the Welsh Development Agency, and the town centre shopping being split between Windsor Road and Station Approach.

The report identifies the regeneration of Ferry Road and the Sports Village as possible threats in the future.

But it also states that the planned Headland Link could promote regeneration in the area - ie Marine buildings and Penarth Marina.

Future use of the pier pavilion, new investment and growing population thanks to developments such as Penarth Heights and Cogan Hall, and the fact that Penarth is the nearest seaside town to Cardiff are all seen as great opportunities.