THE old Palace Cinema in Risca is set to be revamped - one of three major developments in the town centre.

A new library and customer service centre is due to be built at the site, in Tredegar Street, which has been empty for more than 25 years.

Local people have long condemned it as an eyesore but Caerphilly council has now struck a deal to lease the building from Johnsey Estates for the next 20 years. Planning permission is still needed for the work.

The second scheme was confirmed this week, with an Aldi store set to go on the site of the former Kwik Save supermarket with an investment of £4 million.

Risca councillor Keith Griffiths, who is also the cabinet member for transport and planning at Caerphilly council, said he had received a letter from Aldi's managing director to confirm the store would be developed.

Plans may also be submitted for a retail store next to those facilities. In a third project for the town, Councillor Griffiths said there were also early-stage proposals by the Bird Group for a development on the former gas works, which could see houses and shops built.

He added there were also plans for walks on both sides of the river while the Salvation Army had expressed interest in building a new citadel on the gasworks site.

"We will be beginning to see the start of a bright new future for the town, which will be environmentally friendly," he said.

"The Bird investment is huge but has been under close wraps until now. It will be a massive operation. We have waited a long time for these plans and I am hoping for a report by the end of May."

He added that the Pontymister roundabout was due to be redesigned this year but this has now been deferred to accommodate the possible Bird development.