The Billybanks is a large council estate in Penarth that has been abandoned for 9 years. It has been voted the ugliest unique eyesore in Wales as well as having won awards for architecture. In its time it’s been known to have its fair share of shady characters and dodgy deals as well as a vibrant and bustling community. The dilapidated buildings are covered in the rubbish from fly tippers but are also smothered by thriving wild plants with flowers and berries. It has been the location for several films and many photographic projects as well as being regularly frequented by graffiti artists, dog walkers and boy racers. And it’s where we currently live.The Billybanks housed around a 1000 people for several generations until the council decided to redevelop it in 1998 and had it largely emptied by 2002. They realised the potential money in the incredible views of Cardiff and wanted to build a range of luxury flats, despite inevitably causing the displacement of hundreds of families. Apart from a handful of residents who refused to be bullied out of their homes the Billybanks lay uninhabited until August 2009 when a group of friends parked on one of the roads with their vans, trucks and caravans.
The initial reaction to our arrival was mixed. The local paper, the Penarth Times, read ”Travellers not welcome” and quotes from neighbours such as
”The travellers haven’t caused any trouble as yet, but I do worry that they will increase in numbers and then you just don’t know what will happen”.
