£1.2m fund to build ‘vision’ for residents
A LIST of huge improvements is set for a Valleys village after it won more than £1m lottery funding.
The group, known as Ynysybwl Regeneration Partnership, has laid out exactly where the National Lottery and Welsh Government funding of £1,273,099 will be dished out after an extensive consultation with residents of the Cwm Clydach village in Rhondda Cynon Taf.
These are the big improvements earmarked by the group for Ynysybwl:
A new centre – “somewhere for everyone to come together, especially young people”. Residents say £300,000 will go towards its development;
The group wants to keep the Butcher’s Pool open as well as building a splash pad, for which £100,000 has been allocated;
Improved routes and trails in the village and forestry with “good signage” – £82,600 has been secured for this;
Making Daerwynno Outdoor Centre a centre for people to drop in for a coffee when walking in St Gwynno forest, as well as a potential information point at a cost of £200,000;
An unspecified amount is allocated for “history and bio-diversity” to build upon the village’s “rich heritage” through better signage and interactive ideas including phone apps;
Two members of staff, insurances, financial support, office costs, monitoring and evaluation, legal obligations over the seven years and professional fees.
Louisa Addiscott, programme manager of the partnership, said: “It’s a seven-year project so we think it’s great to have the money but it’s also about building a vision. This isn’t going to happen overnight.”
The board of trustees is made up of volunteers from the village, and various public meetings were held in 2015 and 2016, engaging with 400 people.