{"id":16867,"date":"2020-03-05T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T13:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress.glyntraian.org.uk\/?p=16867"},"modified":"2020-03-30T22:53:43","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T22:53:43","slug":"council-votes-to-accept-ysgol-pontfadog-feasibility-study-recommendation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.glyntraian.org.uk\/?p=16867","title":{"rendered":"Council Votes to Accept Ysgol Pontfadog Feasibility Study Recommendation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Glyntraian Community Councillors voted by a majority of 7-1 to\nendorse a recommendation to develop a small number of low-cost starter homes on\nthe former Ysgol Pontfadog site in the village of Pontfadog in the Ceiriog\nValley at its Council meeting last night [Wednesday 4th March].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vote followed publication on Friday 28th February of a\n38-page feasibility study and options appraisal. The report by independent\ncommunity engagement consultant, Marc Roberts of Cynlas Cyf, is supported by a\n58-page Appendices document. It comes eight months after the closure of the\n110-year-old village primary school by Wrexham Council and six months of\nintense engagement with stakeholders and members of the local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tasked with exploring the most viable, feasible and financially\nsustainable future for the site, Mr Roberts\u2019s report concluded that affordable\nhousing for young families, firmly tied into a local lettings policy and with a\ncommunity benefit embedded into any development agreement, will best serve the\nwider interests of the Glyntraian community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A postal survey of 323 households in the ward elicited an\nimpressive 71% response rate. Affordable starter homes for young families\nearned the maximum highest perceived benefit score from 40% of all respondents\n\u2013 higher than any other option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cynlas Cyf, based near Caernarfon, was appointed to manage the\ncommunity engagement project after a competitive tender and selection process.\nThe project was co-funded by Glyntraian Community Council and Regional\nDevelopment Agency, Cadwyn Clwyd through the Welsh Government Rural Communities\n\u2013 Rural Development Programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The meeting was attended by Wrexham Council Leader, Cllr Mark\nPritchard and Cadwyn Clwyd Project Manager, Helen Williams, who both praised\nthe integrity and quality of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glyntraian Community Council Chairman, Cllr Graham Barrow said:\n\u201cWe wish to thank Marc Roberts for his diligence and hard work in conducting a\nrigorous and thoughtful consultation. He has produced a balanced and extremely\ndetailed report, thoroughly researched, soundly evidenced and which pays due\nregard to the desires of many in our community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe report will now be forwarded to Wrexham Council, owners of\nthe site, for further consideration. We look forward to working closely with\nthe Authority, potential developers and of course, Glyntraian residents in\ndesigning a scheme the village can be proud of and which duly acknowledges the\nmuch-valued history and heritage of the old school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ysgol Pontfadog Feasibility Study project received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities \u2013 Rural Development Programme 2014 \u2013 2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development from the Welsh Government<\/p>\n\n\n\n