serving the rural Welsh communities of Pontfadog, Dolywern, Llwynmawr, Llechrydau and parts of Castle Mill and Bronygarth in the Ceiriog Valley
Cyllidwyd prosiect hwn drwy Cymunedau Gweledig Llywodraeth Cymru – Rhaglen Datblygu Gwledig Cymru 2014-2020, a ariennir gan Lywodraeth Cymru a’r Gronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer Datblygu Gwledig
The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.
Diolch yn fawr – thank you very much – to all who came to the Public Meeting with Community Engagement Consultant, Marc Roberts, on Thursday evening last week (30th January).
Around 40 residents of Glyntraian attended, as did Helen Williams from Cadwyn Clwyd, the Ceiriog Valley’s County Councillor Trevor Bates and recently elected Clwyd South MP, Simon Baynes, who congratulated GCC on running “an exemplary community engagement process to date”. We thank them all for taking such a close interest in the Consultation.
Attendees were given a presentation by Marc Roberts on the process and opinion gathering undertaken so far, and also the themes and preferred options that have emerged over more than 250 conversations, forums and 50+ 1-2-1 meetings with residents and stakeholders on the future use of the site.
The strongest themes on preferred options include, variously, low-cost starter homes, sheltered housing for older people, allotments, a Forest School, specialist and environmental education centres and a centre for youth service provision.
Marc’s presentation will shortly be made available as a download on this website. Please visit our News page, scroll to the bottom of the page and hit the ‘Subscribe’ button. Fill in your email address and this will then automatically drop all new posts regarding the Ysgol Pontfadog site (and other news from GCC) into your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Marc advised we have now entered the third and final phase of the Consultation. He took questions from the audience on the timescales and next steps, which include revisiting some key stakeholder consultees, a detailed analysis of the 225 completed surveys from Glyntraian households indicating residents’ priorities, and an options appraisal scrutinising the feasibility, viability, governance and financial sustainability of the options for future use presented to the consultant by mid-February.
The remainder of February is dominated by the preparation of Marc’s Final Report detailing the business case for the recommended option that he will deliver to Glyntraian Community Council (GCC) at the end of February.
GCC will meet as a full Council on Wednesday 4th March at which the Final Report will be discussed and a decision taken on whether to accept the recommendation for onward submission to Wrexham Council.
Wrexham Council’s Executive Board will determine its decision on the Report’s recommendation at a date to be confirmed.
Please direct all queries to the Clerk in the first instance clerk@glyntraian.org.uk.
Glyntraian Community Council Bids for Grant Funding to Run Public Consultation on the Future of Pontfadog Primary School Site After Closure
Glyntraian Community Council (GCC) agreed at its June meeting to bid for grant funding in order to run a wide-ranging public consultation exercise to seek opinion on the most favoured use of the Ysgol Pontfadog site. The 110-year-old village primary closes its doors for the final time on Friday 19th July at 3:15pm.
The Community Council voted by an 8-1 majority to sanction the 30 percent contribution cost of £3k to run a professional consultation and feasibility study through Cadwyn Clwyd. The Denbighshire-based Rural Development Agency provides guidance and support to communities across the region to help develop the rural economy in North Wales.
Grant funding has now been applied for and Cadwyn Clwyd’s decision on whether it will agree to fund the remaining 70 percent from ERDF monies is expected in mid-July. If approved, Cadwyn Clwyd will begin the process of inviting tenders from professional community engagement consultants via the Sell to Wales procurement site. It is hoped an appointment will be made, in collaboration with Glyntraian Community Council, by August with the consultation commencing in September.
“Wrexham Council Leader, Cllr Mark Pritchard has publicly declared the Local Authority is willing to transfer the whole site into the stewardship of Glyntraian Community Council once the school closes if a suitable use is agreed. GCC will become responsible for the repairs and maintenance of the entire site thereafter,” said GCC Chairman, Cllr Chris Futcher. “We wish to consult widely on the options for future use of the site, which will need to dovetail with our place plan and Wrexham Council’s own strategic priorities. We fully expect a robust, well-managed consultation process will reveal how most residents would prefer to see the asset used in the long-term. It will then be up to this Council, in close collaboration with the appointed consultant, to decide the best option to put forward to Wrexham Council. It is they who will ultimately make the final decision based on whether the chosen proposal is financially viable, sustainable and meets the needs of the community as a whole,” added Cllr Futcher.
“A professionally executed community engagement consultation is vital to ensure as many local people as possible have their chance to contribute to the process,” said Cllr Jools Payne, who chairs the GCC Communications Committee. “We anticipate the consultation may take up to five months. We will employ a wide range of online and offline tools and techniques, including digital as well as paper surveys, focus groups and public meetings to reach out to as many age groups, residents, visitors and businesses as possible.”
Anyone who wants to learn more about the Cadwyn Clwyd consultation on Ysgol Pontfadog is invited to contact the Glyntraian Community Council Clerk in the first instance by emailing clerk@glyntraian.org.uk or call 07948 214079. Details of further updates will be posted on the GCC Facebook page and this website.