A WOODLAND walkway linking Pontypool’s car parks and the town centre will uncover hidden heritage items.

The Pontypool Leisure and Culture Corridors project will create an easily accessible route through the woodland along the Afon Llwyd in Pontypool Park.

Running from the car park at leisure centre and emerging in the Italian Gardens, the corridor will provide an alternative route for visitors to the park, and Trosnant Street residents, to access the town centre on foot.

As part of the project the council will also be engaging with the community to create a number of sculptures that tell the story of the town and carry out environmental improvements in the Italian Gardens.

It is hoped the route will create new habitats for native bats, and improve sign posting between the park, the town’s car parks and the shopping area.

Cllr Lewis Jones, executive member for regeneration, said: “Revitalising this route will create a strong physical connection between the town and its sports and leisure facilities, encouraging people to leave their cars and access the town centre on foot.

“It will also allow people to view the tramway tunnel and glimpse a piece of Pontypool’s industrial heritage that they may never have seen before.”

The project has been funded by the Welsh Government under the Vibrant and Viable Places Programme.

Cllr John Cunningham, executive member for neighbourhoods, said: “The link between the car park at Pontypool Active Living Centre and the Italian Gardens is a bit of a hidden gem and offers walkers a completely different view of the park and the river.

"This project will make this underused route safe and accessible, and create a clean, green link between the car parks and the town.”

Work will begin this month, expected to last until April, and the route will be closed to the public for the duration of the work.