This summer in Caerphilly has been a joy for me and my family. We’ve spent shopping days on the high street, enjoyed lunches at Ffos Market, taken trips to the library, visited the newly refurbished castle, and sat outside cafés and pubs soaking up the sunshine and atmosphere. We’ve attended music events across town, and finally, over the final weekend of the Summer Holiday, we joined thousands of others at the Big Cheese Festival — the highlight of the summer, which was brilliantly attended despite the weather.
Experiencing all this has reminded me of something important. The real strength of Caerphilly does not come from millions of pounds funnelled through Council “place-shaping” schemes. It comes from the business owners, entrepreneurs, and local people who work tirelessly to make this town what it is.
Walk along the high street today and you will see it. From bustling restaurants serving food from around the world, to thriving pubs, microbreweries, and coffee shops — hospitality has become the backbone of Caerphilly’s revival. These are not just businesses; they are meeting places, sources of local pride, and the reason people are drawn back into town week after week.
Consider the example of Coffi Vista. Under the Council’s management, it ran at a huge loss and eventually had to be shut down — a perfect example of how taxpayer money can be wasted when government tries to do what private enterprise does best. Now, under private ownership, the café is flourishing. It’s providing excellent service, attracting visitors, and adding to the welcoming feel of our town centre.
And what a finale to the summer: the Big Cheese Festival once again showed Caerphilly at its best. The rain couldn’t dampen the spirit — the food, music, performers, and sheer good humour of everyone who came made it a success. It was another example of how, when our community comes together, Caerphilly shines.
There is a lesson here. Local government should focus on getting the basics right: keeping our streets clean, ensuring safety and security, and supporting — not competing with — the very businesses that give Caerphilly its spark. Too often, this Labour-run Council and the Labour Welsh Government have put barriers in the way of enterprise, spending taxpayers’ money poorly while neglecting the simple things that matter most to residents and traders alike.
By contrast, independent businesses are showing what can be achieved when people are free to succeed. They have taken the risks, met the challenges, and proven that Caerphilly can be a destination in its own right. They deserve not only our custom but also our support.
That is why Welsh Conservatives want to see business rates scrapped for small and independent businesses. We beleive in rewarding those who invest in our communities, not burdening them with more costs and red tape. If hospitality and independent retail are what is pulling people into our town centres, then we should be encouraging their growth at every opportunity.
Caerphilly has the potential to be a real gem of South Wales — a town that people are proud to live in, visit, and return to. This summer has shown me personally how much we already have to celebrate. Not because of the Council’s grand schemes, but because of the creativity, commitment, and sheer hard work of local people.
As a resident, and as someone who has spent the summer with my family enjoying everything our town has to offer, I am convinced of one thing: the future of Caerphilly will be built not by bureaucracy, but by the passion and enterprise of its people. Our job in politics is simple — to stand alongside them, listen, and make sure the conditions are right for them to thrive. If we do that, the next chapter in Caerphilly’s story will be even brighter.
Byron Williams
Caerphilly Conservative Association
