Deputy Minister tours Tywi Valley
The Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and European Programmes, Alun Davies, paid a visit to the Tywi Valley to see how the £15.7 million invested in the county by the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007 -13 (RDP) is helping rural communities in the area.
The RDP for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and is a scheme to regenerate rural Carmarthenshire. Individuals, community groups and rural businesses have all benefitted under the scheme and the Minister met with a selection of these beneficiaries during the day.
First stop was the office of Tywi Afan Yr Oesoedd (TAYO) in Llandeilo to learn how the organisation is strengthening links between the community and the landscape and helping people develop the skills needed to look after the landscape. Mr Davies was able to see the effect of TAYO’s work when he visited Cwm y Sgyfarnog Farm. Farmers Mr and Mrs Jamieson received assistance of £6,500 via TAYO to restore and expand natural habitats for wildlife, including woodlands, farmland and wetlands through Axis 3’s Landscape and Biodiversity element.
Next up was Dryslwyn Community shop where he met volunteers including committee member Gerry Gold, who took over the existing business on April 3rd 2009. The shop received £19,076 from the RDP Axis 3 Access to Services fund in order to carry out extensive refurbishments and extend the property. Within 8 months of trading their sales had reached the annual target they had set and, more recently, a home delivery service has been launched for the elderly and those unable to make daily visits to the shop.
The afternoon, took the Deputy Minister to Llandovery where he saw how a £14,200 Zero Carbon Communities grant has helped the Rugby Club to install solar panels resulting in lower electricity bills and running costs for the building as well as helping tackle climate change.
He went on to the Llandovery YMCA, where £38,820 RDP funding from both Axis 3 and 4 has contributed to a training facility that includes internet access, web conferencing facilities, video recording and editing, CD and DVD production and website creation. The Minister spoke with volunteer Jill Tatman, one of the driving forces behind the project who played a part in the Centre being awarded a Silver Rose Bowl by HRH the Prince of Wales in 2010 for being the YMCA that had contributed most to its local community.
Finally, Llandovery Railway Station was the last project on the Minister’s itinery. The station received £41,500 assistance under both the Access to Services and Developing Identity and Distinctiveness elements of the scheme with RDP funding helping to improve the ground-floor waiting room and café, ticket information and signage. Gill Wright, one of the Directors of the Heart of Wales Line Development Company, discussed with Mr Davies future plans to help bring inward investment into the town of Llandovery itself and her hope of developing the Heart of Wales Line further.
At the end of his whirlwind tour the Deputy Minister said: "I've had a very busy day of visits in Llandeilo and Llandovery today, which just goes to show how much the Rural Development Plan funding is contributing to creating and maintaining vibrant, sustainable communities in the area."
The RDP for Wales 2007-2013 is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and is a scheme to regenerate rural Carmarthenshire. Individuals, community groups and rural businesses have all benefitted under the scheme and the Minister met with a selection of these beneficiaries during the day.
First stop was the office of Tywi Afan Yr Oesoedd (TAYO) in Llandeilo to learn how the organisation is strengthening links between the community and the landscape and helping people develop the skills needed to look after the landscape. Mr Davies was able to see the effect of TAYO’s work when he visited Cwm y Sgyfarnog Farm. Farmers Mr and Mrs Jamieson received assistance of £6,500 via TAYO to restore and expand natural habitats for wildlife, including woodlands, farmland and wetlands through Axis 3’s Landscape and Biodiversity element.
Next up was Dryslwyn Community shop where he met volunteers including committee member Gerry Gold, who took over the existing business on April 3rd 2009. The shop received £19,076 from the RDP Axis 3 Access to Services fund in order to carry out extensive refurbishments and extend the property. Within 8 months of trading their sales had reached the annual target they had set and, more recently, a home delivery service has been launched for the elderly and those unable to make daily visits to the shop.
The afternoon, took the Deputy Minister to Llandovery where he saw how a £14,200 Zero Carbon Communities grant has helped the Rugby Club to install solar panels resulting in lower electricity bills and running costs for the building as well as helping tackle climate change.
He went on to the Llandovery YMCA, where £38,820 RDP funding from both Axis 3 and 4 has contributed to a training facility that includes internet access, web conferencing facilities, video recording and editing, CD and DVD production and website creation. The Minister spoke with volunteer Jill Tatman, one of the driving forces behind the project who played a part in the Centre being awarded a Silver Rose Bowl by HRH the Prince of Wales in 2010 for being the YMCA that had contributed most to its local community.
Finally, Llandovery Railway Station was the last project on the Minister’s itinery. The station received £41,500 assistance under both the Access to Services and Developing Identity and Distinctiveness elements of the scheme with RDP funding helping to improve the ground-floor waiting room and café, ticket information and signage. Gill Wright, one of the Directors of the Heart of Wales Line Development Company, discussed with Mr Davies future plans to help bring inward investment into the town of Llandovery itself and her hope of developing the Heart of Wales Line further.
At the end of his whirlwind tour the Deputy Minister said: "I've had a very busy day of visits in Llandeilo and Llandovery today, which just goes to show how much the Rural Development Plan funding is contributing to creating and maintaining vibrant, sustainable communities in the area."
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