£4m boost for Welsh coastal communities
WALES’ coastal communities are set to benefit from grants worth more than £4m, it was announced yesterday.
The fourth round of the Coastal Communities Fund (CCF), which supports economic development in coastal areas across the UK, will support 18 schemes and businesses, creating a total of almost 100 jobs, including four apprenticeships. The recipients are: Carmarthen Bay Ferries Community Interest Company – £300,000 to reinstate and sustain a commercial ferry service on the Tywi estuary between Ferryside and Llansteffan, creating five new roles.
Vale of Rheidol Railway Ltd, Aberystwyth – To train two people in the skills needed to refurbish derelict steam carriages, including providing disabled access and first class accommodation.
The Marine & Property Group, Cardiff – £300,000 to build a new workshop and servicing area, with the creation of 11 full-time jobs.
West Wales Shellfishermans Association Ltd – £194,416 to establish a 3,000kg shellfish storage facility in Cardigan, including innovative racking systems for live lobster.
Grwp Llandrillo Menai, Denbighshire – £300,000 to create a north Wales Welding and Fabrication Centre at Coleg Llandrillo’s Rhyl campus. It will sustain 36 students, 12 apprentices and 50 staff.
Llaethdy Llyn – £122,361 to expand an existing dairy business based in Pwllheli, with a refrigerated delivery van and bottling plant equipment, plus two full-time posts.
Nova Innovation, Gwynedd – £265,000 to develop two tidal energy projects at Enlli and Morlais, creating four full-time posts.
Snowdonia Ice Cream Company Ltd – £94,000 to increase production.
Port Talbot and Afan Women’s Aid – To develop a social enterprise to develop the skills of 30 women, creating six full-time roles.
Bluestone Brewing Company Limited – £81,750 to create a beer bottling plant with shrink wrap packing line in an existing traditional stone building.
Dyfed Marine Training Limited – £300,000 to establish a Royal Yachting Association and Maritime Coastguard Agency-accredited training centre in Tenby.
GreenSeas Resources Ltd – £299,711 to tackle issue of seaweed blooms in Milford Haven waterway and address high nutrient levels caused by industrial and agricultural activities.
Mainstay Marine Solutions Limited – £300,000 to buy an amphibian hoist for use on Pembroke Dock, creating five new roles and two apprenticeships.
Milford Haven Port Authority – £139,568 to help install flour floating hotel rooms in the marina at Milford Waterfront, creating at least two new jobs.
Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum Community Interest Company – £300,000 to set up a test area for green energy, creating a new full-time role.
Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners – £298,000 to build a “Storm Centre” with hands-on exhibits about the climate and its impact on the local environment.
Torth y Tir Limited, Pembrokeshire – £139,990 to develop a community-supported bakery producing organic products through sustainable agriculture methods, and offering courses, creating two posts.
Haemaflow Limited, Swansea – £249,500 to develop a blood pump to will support patients during surgery.
Sian Callaghan, chair of the funding decisions committee, said: “We were impressed with the range of submissions which showed just how innovative coastal businesses and communities in Wales can be.
"We were delighted to see how many people would be able to secure new jobs as a result of these grants and in the background these projects will support even more jobs as they improve the economy of the areas they are based in.”
Introduced in 2012 by the UK and Welsh Governments, grants, which are looked after by the Big Lottery Fund, have been awarded to 218 organisations across the UK to a value of £125m.