**Neglected Caerphilly Market Area Branded ‘Crime Scene’ as Businesses Count the Cost**
Years after closing its doors to shoppers, the once-lively Caerphilly indoor market stands abandoned, its legacy now marred by neglect and a surge in anti-social behaviour. Once the bustling heart of this Welsh town, the market is now at the centre of growing frustration among local business owners, who say they are left to face the fallout alone while waiting for promised redevelopment.
Where customers once flocked, a sense of desolation now greets visitors. Proprietors report smashed glass underfoot, unruly weeds encroaching on pavements, and weathered police tape trembling in the breeze—physical markers of neglect that make the area visibly uninviting. The unmistakable odour of cannabis often lingers in the air, compounding the sense that this quarter has become a magnet for troublesome behaviour.
Business owners describe a daily struggle against vandalism and public disorder that deters potential customers. The problem, they claim, stems from the closure of Caerphilly’s indoor market in January 2023. This decision was part of a regeneration plan, making way for the acclaimed Ffos Caerffili food and craft market, a container-style venue hailed as one of the UK’s finest. Yet, despite Ffos Caerffili’s success, traders in the shadow of the old market believe they have been left in limbo.
Francesca Keirle, who opened Geshmack Bistro on Clive Street about a year ago, voices the mounting frustrations. Her establishment, separated from the old market by a narrow alleyway, has been subject to repeated incidents involving young people. “Children use wooden planks to access the derelict building, sometimes starting fires inside,” Francesca explains. She and her staff have faced verbal abuse and had to contact police on multiple occasions. She remarks, “Some of the children I see climbing on the roofs look to be as young as ten. It’s deeply worrying and incredibly sad, because what we’re seeing is the result of a lack of guidance and support.”
Security concerns aren’t the sole issue. The dilapidated environment is hampering business. “The area honestly looks like a crime scene. Overgrown weeds and police tape simply don’t attract customers. Potential patrons take one look and walk the other way,” Francesca laments. She adds that despite the high rates local businesses are charged, little appears to be done to support them as they wait for change.
Debra Hale, who runs Nice gift shop a few doors down, has managed her shop for three decades. She says the decline in footfall is unprecedented—estimate losses of £400-£500 a week. “I’m fortunate to have loyal regulars, otherwise the business wouldn’t survive,” Debra states. Her hope is for swift action from local authorities. “We just need the council to get on with demolition and move forward with the redevelopment, so people have a reason to visit again. With vacant stores, broken glass and groups of teenagers loitering, it’s hardly a welcoming place.”
The Caerphilly County Borough Council insists a substantial transformation is planned for the area. Their ‘Caerphilly Town 2035’ masterplan features the demolition of outdated units and the development of a modern apartment complex, set to include 72 new homes and seven commercial spaces. However, despite site preparations starting in March, residents and business owners report that timelines have come and gone, and patience is wearing thin.
A spokesperson for the council responded: “The redevelopment of the former indoor market will bring much-needed housing to the town centre and a healthy mix of retail and commercial space. Demolition will commence as soon as utility services are disconnected, and meanwhile, additional site hoardings have been installed to deter trespassers.”
As the wait continues, affected traders hope that promised regeneration will soon become reality, breathing new life into a once-prized corner of Caerphilly. For now, their calls for urgent action echo through the deserted streets—a stark contrast with the proud market days of the past, but a story familiar in so many towns wrestling with post-industrial decline and the ongoing struggle to reinvent the high street for a new era.