Llantwit Major Comprehensive School with Vale Youth Service

📅 Date: 18–22 November 2024


📍 Location: Llantwit Major Comprehensive School


🗣️ Who we spoke to: Over 300 students during each lunch breaks


Facilitators: Vale of Glamorgan Council Placemaking Officers and Vale Youth Service Team


🙋 Type of engagement: Short questions and interactive activities

This engagement aimed to capture young people’s views on the future of Llantwit Major, their priorities for change, and what they value most about their town. Officers spoke to students over five days during lunch breaks, using quick surveys and creative prompts like “What might a newspaper headline say about Llantwit Major in 10 years?”

🚀Emerging Themes

  • What students like about Llantwit Major:

    • Beach and scenic walks were the most popular features.
    • Green spaces, parks, and a calm, friendly atmosphere.
    • Good community spirit, historic buildings, and small-town feel.
    • Shops, takeaways, and places like Greggs and Filco.
    • Leisure centre and sports facilities (though many want upgrades).


  • What they want to change:

    • Litter and dog fouling – calls for more bins and litter-pick clubs.
    • Better public toilets and cleaner facilities.
    • Improved skate park, more ramps, and upgraded parks (Frampton Park noted as unsafe).
    • Beach improvements – café, seating, shelter, and toilets.
    • More shops (clothing, sports, supermarkets) and affordable food options.
    • Youth spaces – free clubs, indoor activities like cinema, trampoline park, arcade.
    • Transport issues – more frequent buses and trains, cheaper fares, better reliability.
    • Safety concerns – more streetlights, cameras, and police presence; reduce crime and drug activity near Black Bridge.


  • Future aspirations (next 10 years):

    • A safe, clean, eco-friendly town with more recycling facilities.
    • Cycle-friendly routes, adventure trails, and green spaces with seating.
    • Modern leisure centre, bigger swimming pool, and upgraded gym.
    • Youth centre, better sports pitches (3G), and more community events.
    • Large indoor attractions like cinema, trampoline park, and bowling alley.
    • Improved public transport, possibly even an airport!


💬Comments:

“We need more places to hang out – a youth centre with free clubs would be amazing.”

“The beach is great, but it needs toilets and a proper café.”

“Public transport is too expensive and unreliable – trains are late and buses don’t run often enough.”

“Litter is everywhere – we need more bins and a litter-pick club.”

“Please upgrade the leisure centre – it’s old and scruffy.”


Summary:

Students appreciate Llantwit Major’s stunning beach, open green spaces, and strong sense of community. However, they’re calling for major improvements in facilities, transport links, and youth services. Their vision for the future includes cleaner streets, upgraded parks, affordable local shops, and safe, welcoming spaces to socialise. There’s a clear demand for modern leisure facilities, indoor entertainment options, and eco-friendly initiatives to create a vibrant, inclusive town for everyone.