Stanwell School Engagement


📅 Date: 23 October 2024

📍 Location of Engagement: Stanwell School, Penarth

🗣️ Who we spoke to: Year 7–11 pupils (17 students)

Facilitators: Vale of Glamorgan Council Placemaking Officer

🙋 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:
    • Green spaces and parks
    • Coastal features (pier, beach)
    • Coffee shops, restaurants, and library
    • Walkability and good transport links (two train stations)
    • Community spirit and friendly atmosphere
  • What they don’t like:
    • Uneven pavements and potholes caused by tree roots
    • Lack of lighting on railway and clifftop paths
    • Insufficient bins for recycling and dog waste
    • Overflowing bins and gum on streets
    • Unreliable bus services and lack of bike-friendly roads
    • High house prices and income inequality
    • Limited sports facilities and activities for young people
  • Improvements suggested:
    • Better lighting on railway path, clifftop paths, and public areas
    • More bins (including recycling and dog waste) and regular maintenance
    • Pedestrian-friendly areas and reduced car presence on the Esplanade
    • Wildlife-friendly features in parks (bug hotels, bird feeders)
    • More sports facilities (football pitches, astro turf, public swimming pool)
    • Improved pavements and bike-friendly roads

💬 Comments

“The pier is a great place to go with friends and family – easy to walk around town.”

“Improve lighting on the railway path and clifftop path.”

“The pavements are uneven.”

“Bins are quite poor – there should be more and different types for recycling.”

“We need more sports facilities like football pitches”

📢 Summary

Students from Stanwell School have expressed how much they value Penarth’s green spaces, coastal views, and strong community spirit. At the same time, they raised concerns about infrastructure, safety, and the lack of facilities available to young people.

Their key priorities include:

  • Better street lighting to improve safety

  • More bins to keep public areas clean

  • Creating pedestrian-friendly routes and spaces

  • Enhanced sports facilities for recreation and wellbeing

  • Wildlife-friendly parks that support nature and sustainability

The feedback highlights a shared desire for Penarth to be a cleaner, safer, and more inclusive town, with spaces that encourage both recreation and environmental responsibility.