Area Development Plan
Edition No 3 18 March 2008
CONTENTS
Introduction
Background
Purpose of this Plan
Vision
Working with Others
Development Categories
Community Life and Social Interaction
Health and Well-being
Employment and the Economy
Housing
Transport
Community Space
Traffic
Heritage, Tourism and the Environment
Appendices
1) Recent Events Organised by the Community of Llanychaer
2) Village Enhancement plan
INTRODUCTION
Llanychaer, lying two miles upstream of Fishguard on the River Gwaun and adjacent to the Pembrokeshire National Park, is a wonderful example of a small, scattered community achieving a great deal against considerable odds. Many similar villages risk losing their identity as more houses become second or holiday homes, and young folk move elsewhere. The village possesses no shop or meeting place and its scattered community numbers less than 100 people.
However there is a strong sense of community spirit and the development of this Area Development Plan by local people demonstrates their belief in the importance of this spirit and their commitment to sustain it in future. The Plan outlines issues and concerns raised by local people along with some suggestions and proposals that would address these issues. The overall objective is to strengthen the community and to provide an ongoing forum for the discussion of ideas that would benefit Llanychaer and its inhabitants economically, environmentally and emotionally.
The Plan is intended to be a ‘living document.’ This means that over time it will develop and evolve in response to the needs of the community, promoting awareness of what is good and identifying the areas where change may be necessary. This first edition of the plan has been drafted by a small sub-group on behalf of the Llais Llanychaer forum and then circulated for wide review and acceptance. The sub-group will incorporate amendments and new ideas into the document as appropriate and it is important to stress that all the current (and future) issues and ideas contained in the plan are the product of much debate amongst the residents of the village
BACKGROUND
In a world which centralises communities around economic and logistical hubs; where technology creates as many problems as it solves, and where the natural world is increasingly taken for granted … it seems that vibrant rural communities have much to offer, not just by way of relaxation for the weary town-dweller but also as a place where a way of life and a regard for people can both inspire and contribute to the health of society as a whole. These are rather grand statements for a small village like Llanychaer and, although we don’t intend to change the world, we are most certainly intent on sustaining an atmosphere here which we feel is special, which matters to us all, and which positively impacts on residents and visitors alike.
Community spirit is therefore important although it has waxed and waned over the years: encouraged by the activities of individuals and by seasonal farming activities, but then retreating as technology and economic cycles have taken their toll on rural ways of life. Rather than feel helpless in the face of ‘progress,’ and with a strong desire to keep community spirit alive, the community embarked on a process of informal discussions in February 2001. The aim was to bring people together to develop projects that would benefit the village using Objective 1 funding.
The subsequent foot and mouth outbreak delayed progress but the interest remained alive and this put the village in a good position to be selected in 2002 as a partner in the Pembrokeshire SHARP Project, a community research programme aimed at promoting healthy living. The majority of Llanychaer residents willingly undertook to be interviewed in order to express the concerns they had for themselves, the village, and its way of life. This process highlighted the issues about which most people were concerned (and also eventually influenced what should be the key action themes of our Development Plan.) The interviews distinguished between what people regarded as ‘important to them in their community’, and what people regarded as ‘problems for them in the community.’ Items marked ‘important’ were not necessarily a problem, but clearly attention needs to be focused in these areas to prevent them from becoming problems through lack of attention. Items given a high ‘problem’ rating are clearly issues needing to be address by this Development Plan.
Being encouraged by the success of the SHARP consultations, and those that preceded it, we created a community forum, called Llais Llanychaer, to be the vehicle for bringing ideas and projects to fruition. The forum, which had its inaugural meeting on 29 May 2003, is open to all residents of Llanychaer and to others for whom the village provides a focus, connection, or point of interest. “Llais Llanychaer” … meaning ‘the voice of the Llanychaer community’ … has these aims:
to build and sustain community spirit and its sense of well-being, and
to provide the vehicle whereby funds and other resources can be acquired to develop projects and events in line with the goal above
All residents were invited to the inaugural meeting and a high percentage of the community attended. This resulted from a concerted effort to canvass interest. We also gleaned the thoughts and views of those who were either unable to attend or who were meeting-shy. Subsequent events have shown that the ‘need to get together and do things as a community’ is a strong one and that Llais Llanychaer is proving to be an excellent vehicle both for making this happen and for sustaining progress. Since its formation in 2003 we have held approximately 22 events and 22 forum meetings. A list of events held is shown in Appendix 1. They have been hugely successful events both in terms of attendance and, where appropriate, in demonstrating our ability to generate income.
Note: in the centre of the village is a green space which, many decades ago, was acquired by the Council in preparation for a road-widening scheme. This has not come to fruition and the space now serves a variety of purposes as a ‘village green.’ This is not its formal status but, for convenience, the space is referred to in this document as ‘the Green’ or the ‘village green.’
PURPOSE
The purpose of this action plan is
to set out a direction and framework to help Llais Llanychaer make tangible and purposeful progress in sustaining the spirit of the community and its sense of well-being
to provide a credible and strategic basis to support applications for grants to fund future development projects
to help sustain the momentum created by the SHARP project and maintain visibility with, and the commitment of, the project’s sponsors
VISION
Our vision is that we see ourselves as a purposeful, healthy, caring community which is at ease with itself and which is able to sustain its spirit and its confidence in the future.
It will be well balanced, pro-active and, irrespective of size, will make the best of local opportunities to maintain and enhance the quality of life for all inhabitants. The atmosphere will be one of ‘neighbourliness’ with an absence of ‘us and them.’ Residents will represent a range of ages, backgrounds and occupations, and thus provide a rich social mix as well as complementary resources and skills.
The village will retain its identity and not become a passive satellite of neighbouring communities receiving more development-attention. A well-supported Llais Llanychaer forum will serve as Llanychaer’s main means of discussing, planning and implementing actions to build and sustain the spirit of the community and its sense of well-being.
WORKING WITH OTHERS
Our philosophy is to work closely with other organisations and local and national bodies to pursue our aims. We can communicate needs, priorities and insights to them as they work to meet their responsibilities. It also enables Llais Llanychaer to access the resources required over and above what is available in the village community. Llais Llanychaer does not seek to usurp the responsibilities of any of these bodies or individuals. Our aim is to work with them and to complement what they can do to further and protect the interests of the village. Our hope is that local, county and national authorities are supportive of, and sympathetic to, the goals of Llais Llanychaer and this plan, and demonstrate this commitment by their decisions and actions.
To date, the bodies with whom we have worked include the WDA; Pembrokeshire Coast National Park; Pembrokeshire County Council; the SHARP project; Keep Wales Tidy Campaign; Healthy-Cooking and First-Aid training providers; Glandwr Baptist Chapel; Cwm Gwaun Community Council; Calor Welsh Village of the Year inspectors; Welsh Assembly member and local businesses.
DEVELOPMENT CATEGORIES
Community Life and Social Interaction
Relevance to the Community
Data from the SHARP project confirmed that ‘families, neighbourliness, sociable interaction and a happy community’ were the top priorities for local people, contributing significantly to personal health and the well-being of the community. Village consultations also identified that the following were inhibiting factors: lack of a neutral meeting place; the ‘staggered’ nature of village and its geography, and outdoor events are weather dependant
Llanychaer celebrates the fact that it is a bilingual community and, within practical boundaries, Llais Llanychaer aims to use the Welsh and English languages during its activities.
Progress so far
More than forty very well attended village events in recent years testify to their success as a means of bringing people together. Appendix 1 lists the range of activities. These occasions demonstrate that we have wide range of complementary skills and the ability to organise and run diverse events that are safe, fun and which appeal to all ages. Annual events now include the Haymakers’ Tea, BBQ, Harvest Supper, and Christmas carols on the Green. Even the forum ‘committee’ meetings attract 12 or more participants … about 15% of the community. The constitution of Llais Llanychaer states that “the committee shall be the members who attend any particular committee meeting on any particular date.” In addition the position of Chairperson rotates throughout the year. We believe that these factors encourage a feeling of ‘inclusivity.’
Our local history day created much interest with the consequence that a small group of residents now meet regularly specifically to follow-up and investigate various matters of historical interest.
Communication is important and, in order to keep residents informed, bi-lingual newsletters have been delivered to every house in the village. We have also installed two locally made oak notice boards at key places in the village, and we have taken the first steps to create a village website.
We have published a ‘Harvest Recipe Book’ comprising recipes submitted by village residents and other supporters of Llais Llanychaer. The process of collecting these recipes, collating them and producing the booklet created a good amount of interaction. Several of these books have now been sold and have contributed usefully to Llais Llanychaer funds.
In June 2005 we learned that our entry in the Community Life section of the Calor Welsh Village of the Year competition had earned us a place on the shortlist for judging. This put is in the top group of 8 out of a total of 60 entries in this category. The judging panel visited the village on 14 July. We were then invited to the award ceremony in Cardiff on 28 September 2005 and received Special Merit recognition for our efforts. The citation for the award said that “as a village without a shop, school or hall the effort and achievements were outstanding and in the opinion of the judges deserved recognition”
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- expanding the newsletter and combining it with a directory to promote local businesses and services – deriving a small income from advertisers.
- bringing the village website on-line, maintained and updated by local volunteers
- creating a welcome pack for new residents
- Welsh-language classes for English-speakers keen to learn
- starting an over- 60s group for older residents
- developing links with local schools
- further develop links with local press (newspaper, radio)
- further seasonal editions of the Village Recipe Book.
Health and Well-being
Relevance to the Community
The SHARP survey showed that there are health concerns and illnesses in the area with stress and loneliness affecting health. The whole thrust of the project was to improve the level of health and well-being in the community. In the list of Important Issues, interviewees placed ‘local health services and facilities’ in the top 6 (out of 14).
Progress so far
Our programme of events has undoubtedly had a positive impact, given the link between a healthy community spirit and personal health and well-being. We are now concentrating on more specific issues and, for example, have held a healthy-eating demonstration and also run three training courses to qualify more than 20 participants in Cooking Hygiene.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- ‘green gym’
- community walks – walking partners
- more talks on health and nutrition
- more healthy-living demonstrations
- free health checks (eg diabetes cholesterol and blood pressure) to be made available at community events)
- liaise as appropriate with the 2005/2006 Community Participation Project to ensure that the village benefits from all the care resources that are available to the community
- evaluate the idea of having a help-request telephone rota to complement and underpin the already high-level of informal neighbour support that is evident in the village
- Yoga and other alternative health groups and classes
- an amnesty and collection of old and unwanted medicines
- voluntary energy-loss assessment of local homes to increase awareness of heat loss and energy wastage, and to encourage improvement actions to increase the comfort of home environment
Employment and the Economy
Relevance to the community
This has been an issue for the village since the closure of the RNAD depot at Trecwn. Many then made redundant are still unemployed.
Employment is most often considered in its obvious guise of providing direct jobs, the lack of which was a frequently-voiced concern in the SHARP interviews. 76% of those interviewed cited this as a problem area and, of these, 37% rated ‘work’ in their top three items of importance for the community. The shortage of work is a problem causing local residents, particularly the young, to move away. The impact of providing local jobs is not limited to those who get the work. Local jobs increase the probability that different generations of a family will stay close by, with all the social support that this implies. The presence of local business creates a ‘buzz’ and sense of purpose which assists in halting any trend towards a village becoming an inactive rural backwater. Employees use local facilities such as the pub (and potentially a shop) thus increasing the economic viability of the village, in turn attracting appropriate developments in housing and public amenities. Additional benefits are that local businesses have resources and skills which can be made available to the community.
Our aim is to encourage and/or create a level of employment which results in a measure of economic and residential stability
Progress so far
Llais Llanychaer is not an employer but its activities to date have attracted business to the pub and to some local individuals (e.g. construction of notice boards and, in 2007-08, a major project to build the Dan Y Coed Bridge over the River Gwaun.) We have also benefited from the resources available from local businesses (e.g. equipment used during the Village Clean-Up event). Potential businesses have been helped by the loan of equipment acquired by Llais Llanychaer.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- create directory of local skills (i.e. within 3-mile radius of village centre)
- assess potential for ‘not for profit’ enterprises
- review possibility of reviving previous businesses that have closed
- provide outlet for locally-produced crafts and produce
- examine ways of attracting appropriate businesses
- make use of the graduate help and other related schemes in the area to assist local graduates
- evaluate whether local crafts, and the sale of local produce, can flourish on a business basis
- assess the potential for environmentally-friendly fish-farming in the River Gwaun
- the suggestion of a themed tea room in the centre of the village was raised at both open meetings. This could create employment and stimulate local entrepreneurship to sell baked goods, produce and capitalize on local craft skills.
Housing
Relevance to the Community
The Llanychaer community is an aging one with few young families and (deleted ‘fewer’) young children. ‘Housing’ was rated in the top 5 (out of 14) topics in both the SHARP lists of Important Issues and Problems. Its importance is due to the fact that the existence of appropriate and available housing would help families ‘stay local’, allowing older folk to keep in touch and giving them the peace of mind that help is near when needed. The reverse is also true in that older folk can assist with child care and babysitting. There is not enough affordable family housing in or around the village. There are also perceived inequalities in planning applications which prevent building.
Progress so far
Little action has been appropriate to date, not least because it is quite possible that a small number of low-cost houses will be provided in the village in the foreseeable future. Currently, Llais Llanychaer is not responsible for any proposed housing developments. However, we maintain awareness of the aims and outcomes of SHARP project and seek involvement in any consultations and decisions that would affect the community.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- develop and/or support proposals for low-cost, energy efficient housing for young people seeking starter homes
- pursue the possibility of some of the land in the Trecwn valley (compulsorily purchased by MOD) being offered back to the village. A possible location could be the piece known as the ‘old burning ground,’ although this would need to be decontaminated, a responsibility believed still to be resting with the MOD. It is thought that this land contains a comprehensive sewage-treatment infrastructure
Transport
Relevance to the Community
Suitable bus transport is lacking, especially for people with disabilities. Also the shuttle bus services that do exist take people away from Fishguard rather than into town. These observations help to explain why residents rated ‘transport’ in the top three problem areas in the SHARP interviews. The times, availability and reliability of local bus services were cited as specific problems.
Transport was also rated of medium importance in the list of ‘Important’ issues since services are vital for non-drivers living in a rural community who need to get to essential facilities, hospital appointments etc.
Progress so far
Llais Llanychaer has not addressed transport issues to date, although we have already proved the effectiveness of providing mini-bus transport during our Open gardens day.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- eliminating confusion over times, availability and reliability of local service
- publicising the recently-commenced Green Dragon service for walkers
- dealing with the lack of timetables
- identifying, with individuals’ permission, which residents in the community have specific transportation needs which are not covered by existing services
- creating a database of Volunteer drivers – transporting in own cars as well as possibly delivering prescriptions to housebound residents. This service would be trialled for an appropriate period, collating the data on the patterns of usage in order to decide how best to respond to future demand.
Community Space
Relevance to the Community
The appearance of the village matters to residents not just because they take pride in the appearance of their surroundings but also because they wish visitors to be attracted to the village and its amenities. This strengthens support for local businesses (e.g. the post office and the pub) and for village events. It also sustains the feeling that Llanychaer is a viable community and in touch with the rest of the world. It is also important that venues are available for meetings and indoor events, and that these venues are acceptable to the majority of people participating.
There are three public buildings in the village: Glandwr Chapel, St Davids Church and the Bridge End Inn. In addition, householders have been willing to make their properties available for meetings and outdoor events.
Given these positive facts, our current plan is to maximize the use we can make of existing facilities … each one being suitable for different purposes. Our vision is that the public buildings (e.g. church, chapel, public house) will remain economically sustainable and in active use. We will remain open-minded about creating a new public building to serve as ‘Village Hall’ as a project some time in the future, but only if the need is fully demonstrated as we gain more experience of staging community events and if such a project would be financially viable.
The village green is important to residents as it makes a big visual impact and yet it is not in the care or ownership of the village. It is under-utilised, and perhaps not optimum in terms of layout given the twin needs to preserve space and provide sensitive yet effective parking facilities. The village is also served by a number of footpaths, many of which have recently been restored and maintained.
Several suggestions have been made about Community Space, and these are recorded below simply to illustrate the variety and complementary nature of what it might be possible to provide in future:
- village green – for village use, fetes, barbeques etc. Our aim is to provide a well-maintained village green with adequate parking and providing a focal point for outdoor events
- community shop / tea room / gallery for crafts / speciality produce / newspapers milk / wine. Our vision is that a local shop thrives in meeting everyday shopping needs, provides an outlet for locally produced items, and acts as a focal point for informal social contact
- ‘permanent’ venue for events, meetings, barn dances. This would not necessarily be a ‘new build’ but an existing building(s) whose owner is happy for it to be used occasionally for designated purposes
- suitable space for chat and leisure e.g. nicely landscaped open air seating area where one can take time out and watch the world go by
Progress so far
- two marquees have been acquired and have already proved their worth by providing temporary covered spaces during village events such as the Haymakers’ Tea; Easter Eggstravanganza; Autumn Festival; Village of the Year judging, and so on
- a range of equipment including outdoor tables and chairs has been acquired for village use (e.g. events on the Green; village visit to Scolton ‘Proms in the Park’; Open Gardens etc.)
- preliminary meetings have been held with County Council representatives regarding the future of the green, and the settlement of this topic has been raised as a high priority for 2008.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- conduct audit of local buildings to identify potential community space e.g. empty or unused barns, houses – write to local residents to find out who may be aware of any suitable building becoming available and conduct exploratory talks with Glandwr Chapel trustees and deacons
- enhance village features by using natural materials
- examine the possibility of creating picnic area(s)
- discuss replacement of the fence that surrounds the village green
- seek permission to use the Church and Chapel for specific events (e.g. concert, flower show, exhibition etc)
- meet with representatives of Pembrokeshire County Council to clarify matters regarding the green; its use; issues of fencing and parking; future plans, and liabilities
- clarify who owns of St David’s Church car park in order to encourage and help the upgrading of it (e.g. gravel, possible picnic area)
- examine the feasibility, desirability and impact of providing public toilets in the village
- ‘buy a brick’ scheme is suggested as part of a fund-raising initiative towards costs of a permanent community space if such a project is deemed to be appropriate
- examine possibility and viability of starting a community shop (see above under Employment) or alternatively the potential for a ‘drop shop’ where supplies pre-ordered from local producers and other retailers can be left for collection.
Traffic
Relevance to the Community
The village is bisected by a narrow country lane with no off-road parking. Matters are complicated by steep hills and houses abutting the road. The concerns which make ‘traffic’ a widely-felt problem include:
- Dangers of parking obstruction
- Dangers of speeding
- Width of road compounds the problem
- Concerns for safety – particularly with visitor traffic i.e. people who don’t know the road
Progress so far
Some meetings have already taken place with County and Community Council representatives regarding the desirability for a 30mph limit on the currently de-restricted road through the village, and also the re-alignment of the fence between the road and the green. Llais Llanychaer regards the settlement of these topics as a high priority for 2008.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- survey of where would be ideal to provide suitable and discrete parking
- work in collaboration with Community Council in order to deal with traffic concerns
Heritage/Tourism and the Environment
Relevance to the Community
The village environment is important for the residents of Llanychaer. There is an extensive network of footpaths around the village and many of these have been recently overhauled, an ongoing programme which is much appreciated by residents. These paths are increasingly used by locals, but could be better promoted to visitors. A guide containing details of walks, trails and natural history is urgently needed in view of the number of visitors using holiday cottages in the area and to ensure active use of the funding that PCC and PCNP have invested in reopening paths. All developments, whether in terms of publicity or the provision of new facilities, must address both the concerns of landowners and the community at large. There is also general interest in exploring heritage – this could be exploited further to encourage visitors.
Our overall aim is that there is year-round interest in, and use of, the village and its amenities from residents and visitors alike
Progress so far
- a sub-group has surveyed the village and prepared a list of Village Enhancements (see Appendix 2). This includes the planting of shrubs, flowers and the provision of some seating. Daffodils have been planted throughout the village in time for the 2007 and 2008 spring seasons. The stream running alongside the road from the T-junction in the village to the stone bridge over the river Gwaun has been cleared and the foliage on its banks tidied up.
- a ‘litter-pick’ day was held to tidy up the village as part of the Tidy Wales week and we were nominated as finalists and invited to Cardiff for the awards ceremony. Another session is planned during 2008.
- we have raised the profile of the historical importance of the area by holding a ‘capacity crowd’ local history afternoon. Interest is sustained through the means of a newly-formed History Group which meets on the last Monday in the month.
- In partnership with PCNP, and using funds that the village successfully acquired from Sports Council Wales, we have installed a new 12m footbridge over the river Gwaun. Project development; bridge selection; planning approvals; construction of concrete piers; and installation of the bridge itself were major activities for us during 2007 (in addition to the 8 village events held.) The bridge was opened by Iolo Williams on 25 February 2008 with 100 people present, and was followed by exhibitions and lunch at the pub. The bridge is a central feature of a 2km circular walk which could not be undertaken before without a suitable river-crossing.
Future development possibilities include all or some of the following:
- implement the Village Enhancement Plan
- publicising the recently-commenced Green Dragon bus service and the fact that Llanychaer will be on the North Pembs Trail to be promoted in 2006.
- advocating restoration of the water wheel as an item of interest in its own right but also as a means of demonstrating how ‘green’ electricity can be generated.
- provide rubbish bins so long as their use can be supported by a viable management plan
- assess possibilities for enhancements to the river including regeneration of fish stocks in the river. Liaise with the Environment Agency as appropriate
- advocate the provision of safe footpaths and disabled riverside walk in the Gwaun valley
- endeavour to re-create the footpath joining Llanychaer to Fishguard Lower Town by
- working sensitively with all those who have an interest in, and/or whose approval is sought for, this project
- advocate the provision of multi–user footpaths, cycles, bridleway as and where appropriate
- develop the idea of a ‘Countryside Passport” to increase awareness of walkers in the countryside as regards the code of behaviour and how to deal with emergencies arising
- produce and publish a leaflet giving details of walks, trails etc.
- re-create a map of the village and its facilities as it was prior to the acquisition of the Trecwn valley by the MoD. This has local-history interest in that it will record how the village looked during a significant period in its life.
Appendix 1
Some Recent Events Organised by the Community of Llanychaer
(both before and after the formation of Llais Llanychaer)
Bank Holiday Fun Day
Firework Night
Tractor Cavalcade
Haymakers’ Teas
Treasure Hunts and BBQs
Guided walks in the locality
Harvest Suppers
Healthy-Eating Cookery Demonstration
Autumn Festival
Carol Singing on The Green each December
Quiz Night
Local History Talk
Compilation of book of Local Recipes
Cooking Hygiene courses
First Aid course
Easter Saturday Celebrations
Village Outing to St Fagans Welsh History Museum, Cardiff
Village Litter Tidy-Up Day
Events Management courses
Turkey Bingo Evenings
Open Gardens Day, plus follow-up visits and dinner
‘The Story of Stones’ - Geology talk
Village Outing to ‘Proms in the Park’, Scolton Manor
Plus Fund Raising Activities, for example …
Restoration of the Church Roof: St David’s, Llanychaer
Paul Sartori Hospice,
Ysgol Gynradd Llanychllwydog, Cwm Gwaun
The Gateway Club, Fishguard
Appendix 2
Llanychaer Village Enhancements
Village Green
Llanychaer signs inset in Oak
All signs in the village cleaned –schedule of cleaning
Ranch style fencing 3 bars with square mesh around the “Green”
New kissing gate
Cut back overhanging trees and scrub around the field perimeter to the fence line
Raise crown on Willow
Plant an Oak Tree dedicated from Llais Llanychaer
Daffodils around the Notice Boards
More Picnic tables on the “Green”
Waste Bin on the “Green”
Fence off the “bend” of playing field roughly a meter in, starting at the field gate up to the other side of telephone kiosk, putting the space created for the use of parking and enabling the traffic to flow easier through the village. *See Below
Approaches to Village
Speed restrictions.
‘Take your litter home’ signs.
Compact shrubs perhaps Hebe on the verge by Old Post office
Daffodils planted on verges up to Bryn Deri
Bryn Deri would like a circular bench around the tree on the green
Shrubs planted on the green along field fence line
Daffodils around the Notice Board
Daffodils where able up to and on the cross roads
Cross roads strimmed to keep tidy