Belle Vue Park Engagement

📅Date: 8 May 2024

📍 Location of Engagement: Belle Vue Park, Penarth

🗣️ Who we spoke to: Parents and carers using the park

Facilitators: Vale of Glamorgan Council Placemaking Officers

🙋 Type of engagement:
Informal one-to-one conversations using questionnaires to gather views on what people like about Penarth, what could be improved, and future priorities.

🚀 Emerging Themes

  • Parks & Green Spaces: Belle Vue Park praised for cleanliness, safety, and facilities (toilets, coffee shop, community hub). Desire for more parks, splash parks, and indoor play areas.
  • Accessibility & Infrastructure: Uneven pavements, tree root issues, lack of toilets in all parks, limited parking near schools.
  • Town Centre & Shops: Concerns about empty shops, too many coffee and charity shops, and gaps appearing on the High Street.
  • Youth Provision: Lack of activities for older children and teenagers; requests for skate parks, MUGAs, and youth clubs.
  • Community Facilities: Maintain existing hubs, add more integrated spaces for families and events.
  • Transport & Parking: Limited parking and fines; suggestions for pedestrianising the High Street.

💬 Comments

“Belle Vue Park is clean and safe with good flooring – brilliant park.”

“Not all parks have public toilets – this needs to change.”

“Too many coffee shops and charity shops – and shops closing down.”

“Uneven pavements – not practical with a pram.”

“What is there for children after the parks? No youth activities or indoor facilities.”

“Splash park and soft play indoors would be great.”

“Pedestrianise the High Street.”

📢 Summary
Parents and carers value Belle Vue Park for its safety, cleanliness, and community facilities. They appreciate Penarth’s green spaces and walkability but raised concerns about uneven pavements, lack of toilets in all parks, and limited parking. There is a strong call for more youth facilities, indoor play areas, and better maintenance of existing spaces. Town centre issues include some empty shops and too many coffee/charity shops. Suggestions for the future include better pavements for prams, Sensory play equipment, skate parks, and improved community hubs.