Cyngor Tref Llandeilo Fawr Town Council
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News

Message from Ken Day
Chair/Cadairydd Ymddiriedolaeth y Neuadd Ddinesig Llandeilo Fawr Civic Hall Trust


24th January 2008

To All Friends of the Civic Hall, Supporters and Users of the Hall

At the beginning of another year, the Civic Hall nearly completes its third year as an independent public venue. Since April 2005, the hall has been run on behalf of Llandeilo and Ystrad Tywi by a group of trustee-directors elected from the local community. Its objectives are to continue to provide an excellent venue for the people to use as a cultural and arts centre, and to upgrade its facilities to the highest possible standards.

In regard to the first objective, the community has voted with its actions by using the hall so extensively that it is difficult now to book the building. A wider spread of hirers are using it than ever before.

As to the second aim, the trustees and their ambassadors Menter Bro Dinefwr have made major grant applications to Loteri Fawr and other sources in order to upgrade the facilities to much higher standards. The Lottery application itself was two years in the making and the trustees were disappointed when the bid was refused recently after being short-listed. This refusal has caused a re-think in strategy. Now, instead of relying solely on a single refurbishment funded by a large grant, the trustees will improve the current state of the hall to make it more attractive and usable (to touring theatres, for instance), and continue to make further large grant bids in order to make the big improvements to hall so desperately needs. Smaller grants will also be applied for to make individual changes, such as better disabled facilities, lighting rigs and sound systems.

To make the main hall a more attractive environment, we are benefiting form a grant for materials from Carmarthenshire County Council. Arranged by County Councillor Ieuan Jones, the grant will buy paint and other decorating materials and a group of volunteers led by Angela Towler will decorate the hall itself. Students from the decorating course at Coleg Sir Gâr under the expert guidance of tutor Allan Maunder are going to redecorate the dressing rooms and the rear wall of the stage. The Civic Hall has previously benefited from the students’ work by them decorating the front of the building, the foyer, kitchen and upstairs Gallery Room. We are very grateful to both Coleg Sir Gâr and Carmarthenshire County Council for their continuing support.

The hall finances are improving due to hall-run events, such as the monthly ‘car boot’ sale, adding valuable income, more use of the hall by community members and to prudent management. The financial position has been supported by a diminishing annual grant from the county council, and the objective is to achieve self-sustainability in two years when the grant expires. As part of the programme the cost of hiring the building has had to rise. When deciding how much the rise should be, the trustees were guided by the need to cover the costs of light, heating and care-taking, a requirement to simplify the pricing structure inherited from the county, and the views of hirers. We were also mindful of the relative costs of other public buildings locally and the fact that facilities in the Civic Hall are constantly improving.

The trustees are encouraged by the support of the people who hire the hall when it becomes necessary to increase the rates of hiring. We are confident that users of the all will understand and support the newest round of rates, which come into force on the 1st April this year.

With all good wishes for the New Year. Blwyddyn Newydd i chi.

Ken Day,
Chair/Cadairydd Ymddiriedolaeth y Neuadd Ddinesig Llandeilo Fawr Civic Hall Trust

 

 

Message from Dwr Cymru Welsh Water

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water will be shortly carrying out a 1.5 million investment scheme to upgrade 15 kilometres of water main in the area.

Once works complete, these works will ensure that the customers continue to receive a top quality and reliable supply of water direct to their taps.

We would like to keep you updated of our plans and invite you to a public exhibition on Tuesday 4th December 2007 between 4.00pm-7.00pm at the Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo.

This will enable you to view the work plans and direct any questions you may have to the members of the project team.

Further enquires Freephone 0800 052 0130

 

Mayor's Report

Well there goes another year. I suppose that just like most Mayors I had so much I wanted to do and so many things I wanted to achieve during my year of office. I don’t think that aiming high and having lofty goals is such a bad thing and it was important to me that we strive to be positive and move forward as a Council. However, the reality is that we as Town Councillors are all volunteers – there are so many things that we must do as a Council and also in our own private lives that we just don’t seem get around to many of the other things we want to do.

Given these constraints how do I measure whether my term of office has been a success? If we set our sights on the stars and don’t get there have we failed, or is success being closer to the stars than you were when you started? I know that I have not managed to reach anywhere near the stars and there are many more things I would like to have done in an ideal world – but as we all know we are not living in an ideal world. Whether or not the year has been a success is for my colleagues and the residents of Llandeilo to decide rather than me.

I would like to think that we have moved forward rather than back and achieved some part of what I set out to do. In my opinion we are more positive and the Town Trail Heritage Project and the Shire Hall Renovation Project have been successfully completed. These two projects alone are the culmination of a major contribution by the whole Council and demonstrates the commitment that my colleagues have to improving and promoting Llandeilo.

The Town Council Fireworks Display at Cae William was once again a great success, we were lucky with the weather once again with no rain for the fourth year in succession. My thanks to the Fireworks Committee, the volunteers who helped out and the Programme sponsors who all contributed towards making it such a great success.

The Xmas Lights Display underwent a significant change, largely due to changes in legislation. Gone were the strings of lights across the road to be replaced by new sprays of lights attached to buildings in Rhosmaen Street. These will be added to in future years as finance allows. We are fully committed to improving and adapting the display year on year provided it represents reasonable value for money. I would also like to thank all those businesses who took part in the Christmas Window Display Competition – it really did make a difference.

There are a number of words I could use to describe my year in office – challenging and difficult are but two. It was always going to be challenging and I set that challenge for myself by setting my goals high - the difficult bit was largely down to me as well as I took on additional roles and responsibilities in my day job after only 4 months of my term as Mayor.

It was a bit of a struggle from Christmas onwards to fit everything in and I have to pay tribute to my Deputy Councillor Richard Wallace who was a tremendous help to me all year. Whatever I have asked him to do to help me out, and there were many unseen things behind the scenes, he was always there.

Difficult and challenging it might have been but I have to say that it was also very enjoyable and very rewarding. These positive aspects far outweigh any negatives. I had the pleasure of meeting many new people and made many new friends.

I am a bit reluctant to single out highlights as I have enjoyed many aspects of the role over the year but nevertheless the following are three of the main highlights:

1. Being Mayor of Llandeilo finally prompted me to realise an ambition of mine and visit our twin town of Le Conquet. I had wanted to go there for some time but just hadn’t got around to it. In August 2006 I finally went and it was a fantastic few days which I enjoyed immensely. Le Conquet is well worth a visit.

2. The Llandeilo Flower and Music Festival exposed me to a cultural experience that astonished me. Those who know me well would know that I am somewhat of a cultural dessert and would be surprised to find that I enjoyed it immensely. The 3 concerts I attended – Emma Kirkby, Rebecca Evans and Cor ABC were absolutely outstanding. The Festival is an extremely important event for Llandeilo. The quality of the artists that are attracted is quite fantastic – some of the best (if not the best) in the world and that speaks volumes for the hard work the Festival Committee put in towards promoting Llandeilo on the National and International stage.

3. Finally it has to be supporting events promoted by local groups and organisations and meeting the people who work so hard to make them a success. I have been a resident of Llandeilo for 27 years and have lived in this area all my life but I have still been surprised by the vibrancy of our town. There is far more going on here than even I had appreciated. There are so many people doing so many things for their own organisations, clubs and societies and this reflects very well on us as a community and on Llandeilo as a town. It was very important to me as Mayor to show my support for the superb and selfless work these people put in to make Llandeilo the place that it is.

Anyway enough from me my time is up. It is time for my Deputy, Councillor Richard Wallace, to take up the reins and lead the Council through 2007/08. I already know that he has many things he wants to achieve and I have every confidence that he will give the role his full commitment. He will have my full support in helping to make Llandeilo a better place.


Hugh Towns
Town Mayor 2006/07

 

Tywi Community Network

The Tywi Community Network offers an opportunity for town and community councillors, local groups and community activists to discuss issues and projects with county councillors and staff. In the February meeting in Llandovery, the Police reported on action taken to deal with speeding bikers and a Housing Officer gave a presentation on affordable housing. In the June meeting in Ffarmers, members of the Carmarthenshire Young Farmers Club spoke about their activities and staff from the Volunteer Bureau explained how they match up willing volunteers with organisations in need of help. At each meeting, Menter Bro Dinefwr report on progress made in local grant-funded projects and offer help with new ideas. Meetings are held bilingually with simultaneous translation and all are welcome. For more details visit the website www.thecarmarthenshirepartnership.org.uk (English) www.partneriaethsirgaerfyrddin.org.uk (Welsh).

Ros Bellamy
Llandeilo Town Councillor


Footpath Annual Report

Mr DI Davies, the Council's Technical Officer has compiled a report on the status of the footpaths in Llandeilo. It can be read in Adobe Acrobat format by clicking here. (Opens in a new window).

 

Shire Hall Open Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Saturday April 21st saw the doors of Llandeilo’s historic Shire Hall thrown open to the public. Owned by the Town Council and rented to Cambria Archaeology Trust the building has recently undergone a major refurbishment so as to properly house the Dyfed Environmental Record Archive. Visitors were introduced to the archive of the buildings and sites of S.W. Wales, as well viewing objects, heritage photographs and television programmes of Llandeilo. Talks on the history of the building, the archaeology of Carmarthenshire as well as the chance to make Roman style pottery were other events that took place during the day.

The Council was also keen to get across its work and activities and so councillors were on hand to conduct visitors on guided walks along the Towns newly developed Heritage Trail.

The Town Council assisted by the County Council and grant finance have together assisted Llandeilo on its recent upward progress in which its rich past is playing a key role in its developing future.

Further details from Councillors: Ros Bellamy or Roy Davies
C/O Llandeilo Town Council, Shire Hall, Carmarthen Street, Llandeilo

 

Town Heritage Trail

Trail panel at Abbeyfield House
Trail panel at Abbeyfield House

Trail panel at Town Car Park
Trail panel at Town Car Park

Trail panel at the Church
Trail panel at the Church

Trail panel at Crescent Road
Trail panel at Crescent Road

Visitors and local people have been full of praise for the Llandeilo town heritage trail, which has now been completed. All the bills have been paid and the grant money has replenished the council’s bank account. The project has greatly enhanced the town, for a cost to us of less than £7,000. The impact on our cultural life, education and tourism will continue to develop, as more people become aware of what we value in this lovely historic town.

The town trail leads the walker around the oldest part of Llandeilo, starting from the main car park and town map. Colourful bilingual leaflets, available from many outlets locally and across south and west Wales, explain the historic and cultural background to the sights. Bilingual interpretation panels and blue plaques mark various notable places on the route.

The 6 panels have an attractive design, with a consistent background theme of the river and ravens. In a striking way they incorporate diverse elements:

  • historic paintings such as JMW Turner’s “Llandeilo Bridge” and “The Weavers of Rhosmaen” by Carey Morris
  • photographs of Llandeilo in former times by well-known photographers including D C Harris
  • specially commissioned art work and photographs
  • extracts from contemporary texts such as Thomas Jenkins’ diary and shop advertisements
  • and even graffiti done by troops stationed here during the Rebecca Riots.

Our thanks go to the designer Phil Waite and director Gwilym Hughes of Cambria Archaeology for their work on delivering the project, to Dilwyn Thomas for installing the hardware and to staff at Menter Bro Dinefwr for their support in the grant process. We wish to thank County Councillor Ieuan Jones, Lyn Hughes, Simon Jones and Lyn Davies for their input. Within the town council team, Roy Davies did a huge amount of work on the historical research, Richard Wallace visited all the land and property owners to obtain the necessary permissions, Pam Steane Price supported the design and proof-reading, and Ros Bellamy administered the project. The council’s financial officer Chris Plummer monitored the grant and technical officer Des Davies supervised the installation work.

The work was done by local businesses wherever possible, and we were pleased that this Carmarthenshire County Council grant helped to safeguard 2 full-time jobs with a major employer in town. Our aim of increasing the knowledge and awareness of the local cultural identity is being fulfilled, and the Council will continue to look at ways of developing this further in the years to come.

Llandeilo Roman Fort, Dinefwr Park - Excavation 2005

The trial excavation has now finished and the trenches have been backfilled. To see more about the fort and read the excavation Dig Diary, visit www.cambria.org.uk/projects/llandeilofort.htm and follow the links.

Tree planting by Llandeilo Bridge

The Town Council have been successful in obtaining a Community Grant from Carmarthenshire County Council, to plant trees on the land by Llandeilo Bridge. This land is in private ownership, but the Council feel it is such an important viewpoint on the main southern approach to the town, that they wanted to enhance it. A scheme was carefully designed by David Rice Forestry Consultant, agreed with all the landowners and approved by the County Council's Conservation Section. The contractor, Coed Dulais, is planting over 200 trees there. The contractors filled over 10 large binbags with litter they collected on the site, and we have arranged for extra litter bins to be placed on the roadside, to try to discourage people from dropping litter over the wall.

Pictures courtesy of Dai Jones owner of Coed Dulais, our contractors for the planting, and show Dai James collecting rubbish from the land.

The land next to Llandeilo Bridge which is being planted with trees
Dai James
Some of the rubbish

The land next to Llandeilo Bridge which is being planted with trees

Dai James

Some of the rubbish

 

Don’t you wish someone would do something about -


· bringing more jobs to Llandeilo
· tidying up the railway station
· providing facilities for youngsters?

Llandeilo Town Councillors work together to deal with issues like these.

We need more members – people who live or work in and around Llandeilo – to join the council. We’re especially keen to get more young people to represent different interests in town.

Could you help to make Llandeilo a better place to live?

Phone Councillor Ros Bellamy on 823542 to find out what’s involved in joining the council.

 

 


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