£250,000 boost for neglected shopping area

4.00.00pm GMT Thu 8th Mar 2007

Welsh Assembly candidate, Ed Bridges, has welcomed plans by Cardiff's Lib Dem council to invest in Gabalfa Avenue's shopping parade.

Residents on a Cardiff estate have welcomed news that one of the city's most run-down shopping areas is to get a facelift.

Cardiff Council has approved plans to spend up to £250,000 on the shopping parade at Gabalfa Avenue, as part of a scheme which will upgrade similar precincts across the city. The works could include improvements such as enhancing the appearance of shops, having disabled access addressed, parking facilities upgraded, rear lanes tidied up and graffiti removed.

Other areas set to benefit from the improvements over the next few years include Caerau Lane, Beechley Drive in Fairwater, Michaelston Road in Ely, Llangranog Road in Llanishen and Llanrumney Avenue.

Cllr. Ann Rowland-James, who represents Gabalfa Estate, welcomed the news, saying: "This is a very welcome move by the Liberal Democrat council, and will mean a much-needed revamp of our shopping centre. I have been campaigning for this work for as long as I can remember, and I'm so pleased it's paying off - especially after Labour ignored our area for so long."

Cllr. Ann Rowland-James has been calling for action to tidy up Gabalfa Avenue for years.

Ed Bridges, Lib Dem Assembly candidate for Cardiff North, added: "Cardiff's local shopping centres provide valuable shops and facilities for local communities. But many of these centres are in decline - small shops are closing, buildings are becoming run-down and levels of anti-social behaviour are increasing. This work by the council will help tackle that and breathe new life into areas like Gabalfa. It's wonderful news."

The news has also been welcomed by local residents. Cleo Hope, of Caldy Road, said: "This is great news for our area, and long overdue. At the moment, the shops look really run-down, and the area round the back is a disgrace. It's good to see the council stepping in, and hopefully the money will start to turn things round."