SOME parks in Blaenau Gwent will re-open on Wednesday, the county borough council has announced.

Five out of nine council-run parks will re-open in the wake of the new Welsh Government guidelines indicating that people can exercise as much as they like outside, and people from two households can meet up outdoors.

The parks reopening are Parc Bryn Bach in Tredegar, Bedwellty Park in Tredegar, Llanhilleth Park, Abertillery Park, and Ebbw Vale Welfare Park.

Children’s play areas will remain closed and the council is reminding people to maintain the two-metre social distancing rule.

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“Exercising, being outdoors and practising a favourite hobby is of course beneficial to people’s physical and mental health and well-being, and the Welsh Government has advised that people can now exercise outside a few times a day if they wish and people from two households can meet," said Cllr Joanna Watkins, cabinet member for environment.

“We have made the decision to re-open some of our parks, where we are able to safely fence off any children’s play facilities.

“We would of course remind residents to continue to adhere to the two-metre social distancing rule and follow the hygiene advice provided by Public Health Wales.”

Caerphilly county borough council re-opened its country parks - Parc Cwm Darran, Parc Penalta, Bargoed Woodland Park, Pen Y Fan Park, Sirhowy Valley Country Park - at the weekend.

However, the county borough council had to remind people that children’s playgrounds in the smaller parks remained closed.

Parks remain open in Newport, Monmouthshire and Torfaen but playgrounds are still shut.