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
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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
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Trail
Trail panel at Abbeyfield House
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Trail panel at Town Car Park
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Trail panel at the Church
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Trail panel at Crescent Road
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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.
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The land next to Llandeilo Bridge which is
being planted with trees
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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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