Communities First
February 2004 Newsletter
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Communities First
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Become a member of ecodyfi We want everybody in the Valley to join, so it only costs £1. Drop into Ty Bro Dyfi or send some stamps. The information centre is open Monday to Friday between 10.00 and 3.00. You might even like to get involved in staffing it or in helping to run a project. Please come and see us!
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10 February 2004
Theme Groups including Young People's GigFollowing the first meeting of the Young People's Theme Group back in September, and also in response to consultation carried out with some of the youth of the area, a very successful "Gig" that had been organised by members of this group was held at the Machynlleth Community Centre on December 18th, when around 100 young people came to listen to and enjoy one of Wales's most promising and upcoming bands "Kentucky AFC" as well as two local bands Acid Reign and Pickle Rooney. It was also a very successful evening in regard to consulting with the youth of the area, and to find out their needs. A total of forty nine questionnaires were completed and returned, with at least 10 young people willing to help organise a similar event in future. Thanks to everyone who helped on the night and also to the Arts Council for Wales "Noson Allan" scheme that made the evening possible. We look forward to a similar night in the not too distant future. The Young People's Group will be an ongoing group meeting regularly looking to address the needs of the young people in the area, and to consult with and involve the young people themselves. The Steering Group and Facilitator have continued to form "Theme Groups", with the latest of these being the 'Language and Culture Group'. Cyril Evans, said "we had our first meeting of this group on Wednesday January 14th, with Gareth Ioan of Cwmni Iaith Cyf. our guest speaker. "Anyone with an interest in this group or indeed any other theme group is welcome to contact me at the Communities First Office".
Communities First Trust FundThere has been a lot of interest in and use made of this fund, which is a scheme of small grants with the intention of supporting economical, environmental, social or cultural activities, these include small improvements and feasibility studies on village halls, musical and other cultural events, youth projects, video in the community, help to enable established groups to continue, as well as groups involved with childcare and language and even a marquee to provide a village with an entertainment and social activity venue. "Even though the money available to the area for the first three years has nearly been used" said Facilitator Cyril Evans, "the Assembly have decided that the Trust Fund is going to continue, and that the additional money will be available from April onwards, although the amount is not yet known." Dyfi Valley Ideas BookThe bilingual Communities First Ideas Book containing every single idea, view and suggestion to date from local people saying what they feel is required to improve upon their quality of life and for the sustainable regeneration of the Dovey Valley will shortly be updated, therefore if you have any ideas, views or suggestions, now is the time to write them in the the book so they can be included in the updated version. The book is also available by e-mail in either Welsh or English, and arrangements can be made to receive it by contacting the office on 01654 700315 or E-mail cyril@powys.gov.uk There is considerable information on the entire area that includes a section on Communities First Bro Ddyfi, including the 'Ideas Book' Newsletters and other information available on the "Ecodyfi Website" http://www.ecodyfi.org.uk/regeneration.htm. Communities First and the Machynlleth & District ForumA joint meeting was held recently to look at all ideas and suggestions received to date by both processes, with the intention of preparing a draft action plan, but as there was considerable discussion regarding the ideas and suggestions before putting them into themes, and the feeling that some ideas needed to go under more than one theme, it was decided to hold another meeting before preparing the Draft Action Plan. Meeting date TBA - Please let us know if you are interested in attending. Machynlleth Broadband ProjectBroadband is a fast way of sending and receiving information over the Internet. For users at home it allows computer programmes, music and television from almost anywhere in the world to be delivered right to your own screen. For business users it can boost productivity and reduce costs, both beneficial to the local economy and jobs in this area. These are all good reasons for having Broadband but there's a catch - we can't have it in this area unless enough people register their interest in it. The company that can give us Broadband Internet is BT but they won't move until the number of people saying they want it reaches a special number. They call it a 'trigger level'. For Machynlleth the number is 400 - it's fewer for the other telephone exchanges in the Dyfi Valley. We want to publicise the need for registering and that's where you can help. Firstly if you use the Internet at home or at work, please visit www.machbroadband.org.uk where you will find out more about registering and on progress so far. Secondly, you can help us by trying your luck in our logo competition. We want you to design the logo to go on our broadband leaflets and to make it more fun, we are going to show all the entries on our website and in the window at Ty Bro Ddyfi in Machynlleth. Whoever makes the logo we think is best will win a PLAYSTATION 2 and their logo will be professionally drawn and printed on all our posters and paperwork. The closing date of the competition is February 29th 2004 and entry forms are available at Ty Bro Ddyfi, Machynlleth Library, Machynlleth Telecentre and the broadband website. Ceinws CampPeople living in Ceinws are to be asked how they would like to see their community re-developed as moves to brighten up the area are announced, and a study will be carried out between now and March to discover people's priorities. This exciting opportunity to revitalise the area is being promoted by ecodyfi, which is working with Forestry Commission Wales and Communities First to explore how the site may be better used. Most of the buildings on the Forestry Commission Wales site in the village are unused and some are dilapidated. There is also some hard-standing and other land. Two buildings are occupied on short-term leases and there are two houses. The Welsh Development Agency has provided some funding so that ecodyfi can appoint professionals to help discover what people in Ceinws and Esgairgeiliog would like to see happen on the site and how they would like to be involved, as well as looking at issues concerning planning, access, compatibility of proposals, outline designs, costs, funding and management. Ideas do not have to be connected with woodworking or the timber industry, and anybody with opinions or suggestions for the use of Ceinws Camp, or who require further information, should contact either: Andy Rowland, ecodyfi Manager 01654 703965, or Dave Farmery, Forestry Commission Wales 01341 422289, or Cyril Evans, Communities First Bro Ddyfi 01654 700315. Housing and Transport needs analysisCommunities First, in collaboration with CAMAD, ecodyfi, Powys County Council, and Glantwymyn Community Council are hoping to carry out both a Housing and Transport Needs Analysis over the next few months. We would like to take this opportunity to point out the importance of completing and returning these questionnaires, and would also ask that you encourage your friends and neighbours to complete and return theirs, so that we are aware of your future needs. The Steering Group have also written to ask for the support of Llanbrynmair and Cadfarch Community Councils, as well as Machynlleth Town Council for this very important piece of work. The next Steering Group meetings will be held on Monday February 23rd at Llanbrynmair Community Centre at 6.00pm and on Wednesday March 24th at Aberhosan Community Centre at 1.00pm**Note:Anyone is more than welcome to come along and observe Steering Group meetings** |
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