Cogan Primary School Engagement

📅 Date: 26 November 2024

📍 Location of Engagement: Cogan Primary School, Penarth

🗣️ Who we spoke to: Year 6 pupils (26 students)

Facilitators: Vale of Glamorgan Council Placemaking Officers

🙋 Type of engagement:
Informal one-to-one conversations using questionnaires to gather views on what pupils like about Penarth, what they don’t like, and what they would improve.

🚀 Emerging Themes

  • What they like: Penarth Pier was the most popular feature, followed by Cosmeston, the local chip shop, and parks. Other mentions included the beach, skate park, recreation centre, and community spirit.
  • What they don’t like: Busy town and traffic were the main negatives. Other concerns included rude people, outdated play equipment at Nursery Park, dark lanes, brambles near the recreation centre, and lack of bins.
  • Improvements suggested:
    • Add football nets and improve pitches at the recreation centre
    • More bins, especially near recreation areas
    • Resurface and improve safety of Dolly Steps with lighting and CCTV
    • Upgrade skate park and parks (treehouse, slides)
    • More sports facilities (rugby pitches, basketball courts)
    • Rain shelters for homeless people
    • Better public transport and cheaper train tickets
    • Brighter, greener spaces and more shops
    • Indoor skate park and water park

💬 Comments

“Add football nets to goals by the recreation centre – we really need them.”

“Please remake the Dolly Steps – they need attention - add lighting and CCTV.”

“Penarth Pier is the best thing in town.”

“Nursery Park play equipment is outdated – needs improving.”

“More bins around the recreation centre – there’s too much rubbish.”

“Town is very busy and there’s too much traffic.”

📢 Summary
Year 6 pupils from Cogan Primary value Penarth’s pier, parks, and community spirit but raised concerns about traffic, safety, and lack of facilities. Their priorities include improving sports facilities, adding bins, and making parks more exciting. Safety improvements like lighting and CCTV for Dolly Steps were highlighted, alongside calls for better public transport and affordable leisure options. Feedback shows a strong desire for greener, safer, and more engaging spaces for young people.