21 July 2008

This week's Gwynedd Council's press releases.

An opportunity to discuss affordable housing in Botwnnog

Following joint working between Gwynedd Council, Llyn Communities 1st Housing Group, Botwnnog Community Council, the Gwynedd Rural Housing Enabler, Cymdeithas Tai Eryri and a private developer, an open afternoon will be held in Botwnnog where members of the public will have an opportunity to view drawings for a possible affordable housing scheme on a site near Congl Meiniciau, Botwnnog.

Over the past years Gwynedd Council’s Affordable Housing Officer and the Gwynedd Rural Housing Enabler have worked together with Botwnnog Community Council and the Llyn Communities 1st Housing Group, to identify and respond to the local need for affordable housing.

As part of these efforts, Gwynedd Council, Cymdeithas Tai Eryri, the Rural Housing Enabler and a local developer are now in discussions to look at the possibilities of providing rented and shared ownership affordable housing units on a site near Congl Meinciau Botwnnog. The private developer in question has commissioned work to assess the suitability of the site and to prepare initial drawings for approximately 10 affordable homes for the site which could consist of two, three and four bedroomed units. 

Although a planning application has not been submitted for the development, an open afternoon is to be held in the Vestry of Rhydbach Chapel, Botwnnog between 3.30pm and 7pm on Thursday, 31 July in order to display the initial drawings for the site. This will provide an opportunity for the local community to register their interest in the proposed affordable homes and to ask questions or to voice their opinions in relation to the scheme in question.

Councillor Glyn Roberts, local Gwynedd Council member for Botwnnog said:

“This meeting provides and ideal opportunity for the local community to view the initial drawings for the site in Botwnnog and to also ask officers from Gwynedd Council and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri questions on any specific aspects of scheme. 

“The afternoon will also provide anyone wanting to register their interest in the houses the opportunity to do so.”

The proposed affordable housing units will be offered to people in genuine need of such housing and who have a local connection to the area.  The housing units will be offered for either rent or for purchase through a shared ownership scheme.  Further information on the Gwynedd Affordable Housing Project can be obtained by contacting Gwynedd Council’s Affordable Housing Officer on 01286 679 498

Gwynedd Country Parks secure national award

Gwynedd Council’s two country parks are amongst the best in the country, as they scoop the prestigious national Green Flag Awards.

This is the first year that Padarn Country Park in Llanberis and Glynllifon Country Park near Llandwrog have secured the prestigious Green Flag Award – the national standard for high quality Parks and Green Spaces.

Councillor Roy Owen, Gwynedd Council’s Lifelong Learning Portfolio Leader said:

“This national award proves that Gwynedd can boast of some of the most wonderful parks and open spaces which offer the county’s residents and visitors a unique experience.

“It’s a great honour for both parks to have received this coveted award, and it confirms that both Padarn and Glynllifon Country Parks provide a welcoming and well managed space for their local community.”

Barry Davies, Gwynedd Council Maritime and Country Parks Officer added:

“We are delighted to have been awarded the national Green Flag awards for Parks. This recognises the hard work and dedication of the staff at each Park, and underlines what we already knew – that Glynllifon and Padarn Country Parks offer a great visitor experience and are comparable with the best Country Parks and Open Spaces within the United Kingdom.”

Padarn Country Park in Llanberis is set in 800 acres of countryside, which includes Padarn Lake and the surrounding woodland which incorporates numerous footpaths and picnic areas and a cycle track.

Located within the walls of the old Glynllifon estate - the residence of the Newborough family for centuries - the Glynllifon Country Park boasts magnificent gardens, of real historic and scientific importance. The Park also has numerous craft worshops, a craft shop and gallery and the Black Cat Café serving delicious light refreshments.

Paul Todd, Green Flag Award scheme Application Manager added:

“The increasing number of Green Flag Award winning parks and green spaces highlight the important role they play in bringing people together and improving their quality of life. Congratulations to all the management, staff, and in particular, thousands of volunteers whose hard work and dedication has brought this award of excellence.”

Sites that secure Green Flag Awards must be freely accessible to the public, and provide a welcoming and well managed space for their local community.

Sites are judged each year by a network of over 600 green space professionals; each winning site is entitled to fly the Green Flag to highlight their status. This year a record 742 green spaces across the country secured the award.

- The Green Flag Award scheme, launched in 1996, is managed by the Civic Trust on behalf of Communities and Local Government and the Green Flag Advisory Board which comprises founders of the scheme, sponsors, winners and judges. It is sponsored by Communities and Local Government, English Heritage, The Countryside Agency, English Nature and in Wales by the Countryside Council for Wales, the Design Commission for Wales, Environment Agency Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government.

- Any green space that is freely accessible to the public is eligible to enter for a Green Flag Award.  Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status. 

- The Civic Trust is an independent, national charity, founded in 1957.  It works with people to promote thriving towns and villages, developing partnerships between communities, government and business to deliver regeneration and local improvement. 

“Building for the Future” Public Consultation

Members of the public in the Ffestiniog area were invited to have their say on a multi-million pound proposal to develop new residential care facilities in the area for older people earlier this week. This follows confirmation that Gwynedd Council’s bid for funding support from the Welsh Assembly Government has been successful.

The proposals - which are being developed by Gwynedd Council include:

-       building a new £1.5million extension to the Bryn Blodau Residential Home in Llan Ffestiniog to cater for people with dementia as well as new en suite facilities

-       working in partnership with Cymdeithas Tai Eryri to build a new £7million 40 unit Extra Care Housing facility in the area.

Both proposals will deliver new care options for older people, and will address the Ffestiniog area’s care and housing needs for the coming decades, and will cater for the anticipated significant increase in the number of older Gwynedd residents and residents with dementia .

It is expected that building work on the Bryn Blodau Residential Home will be completed by December 2009 with building work on the Extra Care units earmarked to begin during 2011.

Gwynedd Council’s Senior Portfolio Leader for Care, Councillor John Wyn Williams said:

“Gwynedd Council is committed to providing high-quality modern care for our most

vulnerable older people, and to prepare properly for a projected increase of around 10% in the number of older people who will be living in the county over the next 10 – 15 years. 

“The Ffestiniog area ‘Building for the Future” proposals is amongst four pilot projects in communities across the county with funding also secured for similar Extra Care Housing facilities in Bala .

“Project Officers this week met with around 60 Llan Ffestiniog residents to explain the proposals and to answer questions.  Residents were also shown a virtual tour of an Extra Care Housing facility similar to the one being proposed for Ffestiniog. 

“The feedback from this meeting was encouraging with residents presenting a number of constructive comments and suggestions that council officers will now be looking into.

“Gwynedd Council and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri have pledged to develop this project in partnership with the local community. To this end, a series of consultation events will be arranged across the Ffestiniog area over the next few months, and we will be urging residents to come along and share their views and opinions with us as the project evolves and plans and designs are developed.”

Fort more information about the “Building For The Future - Residential Services for Older People in Gwynedd” Project, phone the Project Team on (01286) 679289.

The other two areas where developments are planned include Porthmadog and Bangor.

Key national skills role for Gwynedd Council officer

Gwynedd Council’s Strategic Director for Development Iwan Trefor Jones has been appointed a member of the new Wales Employment and Skills Board. 

The Board – which has been established to provide high quality advice and support to Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on skills and employment issues and is chaired by Sir Adrian Webb - has 13 members selected on the basis of their expertise in the skills and employment arena.  Iwan Trefor Jones is the only Board member from a local government background.

Iwan Trefor Jones said:

“Local government has a key contribution to make in terms of strengthening the skills base of the Welsh workforce and bringing economic prosperity to all parts of Wales. 

“I am deeply honoured to have been offered the opportunity to represent local government on the Wales Employment and Skills Board and to assist the Welsh Assembly Government in the process of formulating policy in this important area.”

Gwynedd Council Leader, Councillor Dyfed Edwards added: 

“Iwan is a key member of Gwynedd Council’s Senior Management Team who has a wealth of experience of leading on successful key strategic projects to strengthen the local economy and to ensure that local people have the skills and training they need to meet the needs of employers. 

“Iwan will be a strong and authoritative voice for local government, and rural Wales on the new Board, and I am delighted that he has been offered this prestigious position. This in itself highlights the fact that Gwynedd Council employs people who are recognised as prominent experts in their fields on a national level.”

PHOTOGRAPH: Wales Employment and Skills Board Chairman, Sir Adrian Webb with Gwynedd Council’s Strategic Director for Development Iwan Trefor Jones

Caernarfon – A Sense of Place: Have your say

Promoting Caernarfon as a national hub for the interpretation, study and enjoyment of Wales’ rich culture, language and heritage has been recognised as a top priority for Gwynedd Council and the Caernarfon Partnership.

As part of this work, a drop-in session will be held on Friday, 18 July at Oriel Pendeitch  from midday to 8pm where the public and interested organisations can have their say on outline proposals, which include:

·       various guided heritage tours or cycle trips
·       re-enactments
·       hand-held devices/ mobile phone tours
·       public art
·       interpretation panels located at vital areas throughout the town

Councillor Ioan Thomas, Caernarfon Partnership Chairman said:

“A tremendous amount of work is currently going on to ensure that Caernarfon is a town with a bright future as well as a fascinating past.

“Caernarfon Partnership, Gwynedd Council and our partners are committed to ensuring that Caernarfon reaches its full potential as an unique tourism destination. That’s why we want local residents to come along to the drop in session to have their say and to present their ideas.”

Sioned Williams, Head of Gwynedd Council’s Economy and Regeneration Service added:

“By working together with our partners, we aim to implement a programme of activities which will celebrate the town and contribute towards creating a distinct sense of place.

 “We are grateful to all of those who have presented comments so far, and we hope that as many Caernarfon residents, businesses and other interested parties as possible will come along to the drop-in session and let us know what they think.”

The outline proposals which will be on display at the drop-in session this Friday are based on research undertaken by Sian Shakespear Associates and Creu-ad (on behalf of Interpretation Consortium Wales) into interpretation programmes/activities undertaken in towns throughout the UK and Ireland, as well as incorporating the views and opinions of local residents and interested parties.