Newsletter

www.menter-aberystwyth.org.ukthe regeneration partnership for Aberystwyth Town and surrounding area

Spring 2

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Issu

e 1

Office B6, The Cambria Building, Marine Terrace,Aberystwyth, SY23 2AZ Tel: 01970 624912eluned.lewis@menter-aberystwyth.org.uk

Menter Aberystwyth is a regeneration partnership for Aberystwyth town and surrounding area and is funded by Aberystwyth Town Council, The University of Wales Aberystwyth,The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth Business Club and the Welsh Assembly Government.

Overview - BackgroundMenter Aberystwyth was officially established and registered as a Company Limited byGuarantee in March 2003. There are currently 13 Board Members, who are involved onan entirely voluntary basis, and who each have a commitment to developing andpromoting Aberystwyth.

Menter Aberystwyth covers not only the town of Aberystwyth but also surroundingvillages as far as Eglwys Fach to the North and Llanrhystud to the south. This areacontains 13 Community Councils and Menter Aberystwyth hopes to work in partnershipwith all of them. A representative of the Community Councils became a MenterAberystwyth Director.

Menter Aberystwyth can undertake a wide range of regeneration activities within the townand its surrounding area. It is a priority to act as an advocate and a facilitator for thetown and its wider area. A Business Plan has been developed and adopted by MenterAberystwyth and priorities and projects from this are currently being implemented.

For more information on the work of Menter Aberystwyth please log ontowww.menteraberystwyth.org.uk or contact the Development Officer on 01970 624912

Welsh Lady Fun Run

On March the 1st this year MenterAberystwyth held the first Welsh Lady FunRun along the promenade in Aberystwyth, anevent which it is hoped will grow from year toyear. The 5km run along the town’s promenadetakes place on March 1st with all thecontestants dressed up in traditional welshlady dress. This year’s event was anenormous success despite the extremeweather – proving that welsh ladies are madeof stronger stuff. Over thirty welsh ladiesbraved the extreme conditions on the promand raised over £1000 which will be sharedbetween two local charities – The Beacon ofHope and Bronglais Hospital’s Children’s Ward.

Aled Davies, former Mayor of Aberystwyth andMenter Aberystwyth Board Member said: “Ihope that the whole community, includingresidents, schools, businesses, sporting teamsand students will all get involved in this newevent. It’s a bit of fun that can putAberystwyth on the map and show everyonethat the heart of Welsh culture is here inAberystwyth”

Plans are now underway for the 2007 WelshLady Run, it is anticipated that many moreWelsh Ladies will participate and raise moneyfor local charities.

Aberystwyth and Area Master PlanA company called LDA Consultants have been tasked with developing an Aberystwythand Area Master Plan. The Masterplan, a consultancy which is funded by the WelshAssembly Government and Ceredigion County Council, is looking at all kinds ofimportant issues which affect Aberystwyth such as town planning, futuredevelopments, tourism, transport and parking.

LDA have recently held consultative workshops with business people and other keystakeholders which Menter Aberystwyth has taken part in. It is anticipated that a draftdocument will be ready in June which will then be used to consult with the widercommunity. The final document will shape and influence regeneration and investmentactivity in Aberystwyth for the next 20 years and needs to challenge existing viewsand persuade people to raise their aspirations for the town.

For further information on how you can get involved with the Master Plan pleasecontact the Development Officer on 01970 624912.

Ysgubory Coed

Tre’r Ddol

Taliesin

TalybontBorth

Llandre

BowStreet

Penrhyncoch

Pen-bontRhydybeddau

Llanfarian

Llanilar

Llangwyryfon

Llanrhystud

Aberystwyth

A new web based project is currently beingdeveloped and implemented by MenterAberystwyth. The project will develop aseparate community website for each area,enabling the community to accessinformation. It is hoped that all 13Community Councils in MenterAberystwyth’s area of coverage will support

the project. Menter Aberystwyth is able tofund 100% of the costs for the individualwebsites, and the support of eachCommunity Council will be vital in drivingthe projects forward and collecting theinformation for the sites. A pilot site iscurrently being developed for Borth inpartnership with Borth Community Council,

which is already online and can be foundby logging on to visitaberystwyth.com andfollowing the links.It is anticipated that sites will bedeveloped in partnership with otherCommunity Councils on a first come firstserved basis. For more information contactthe Development Officer on 01970 624912.

Communities to go online with their own websites through Menter Aberystwyth

Menter Aberystwyth newsletter 26/5/06 2:31 pm Page 1

2006 SummerEntertainmentProgramme for thePromenade and TownLast year’s successful Summer

Entertainment Project on the Bandstand

and in the centre of town included a

wide array of events. The project,

developed in partnership by Menter

Aberystwyth and Aberystwyth Town

Council, received funding from Tourism

Partnership Mid Wales, The Welsh

Assembly Government and Communities

First. The programme used the best of

Welsh Culture here in Aberystwyth by

using local choirs including the

Aberystwyth Male Voice Choir, Côr ABC,

Côr Ger y Lli and Côr Cardigan. Arad

Goch developed a street theatre style

show for children which was an

adaptation of their show ‘Lleuad yn

Olau’. Several jazz groups performed

and local musical group Showtime

Singers produced a show celebrating the

40th anniversary of VE Day.

It is hoped that this year’s programme,

despite having a smaller budget will go

from strength to strength, ensuring that

locals and visitors benefit from

performances by local groups, musicians

and choirs. The details of the

programme will be available soon, and

will be online on

www.visitaberystwyth.com and also

promoted through the Cambrian News

and Aber Diary.

For updated news visit.... www.menter-aberystwyth.org.uk

Who’s who in Menter?The Board of Directors is made up of the following individuals, some representing our core

partners and others who bring specific expertise and experience:

Cllr Ray Quant – Chairman

Gareth Rowlands – Vice Chairman and Business Club Representative

Huw Bates – Company Secretary and legal expertise

Louise Amery – Aberystwyth Arts Centre

Jim Wallace – University of Wales Aberystwyth

Ann Ffrancon – The National Library of Wales

Beverley Shann – Aberystwyth Town Council

Richard Griffiths – Tourism Business Representative

Dylan Raw Rees – Community Council’s Representative

Cyril Baker – Aberystwyth Chamber of Trade Representative

Aled Davies – Business Sector Representative

Lis Owen-Jones – Business Sector Representative

John Fitzpatrick – Voluntary Sector Representative

Our full time Development Officer is Eluned Lewis. Eluned is a local girl who was

educated at Penweddig Comprehensive before going on to study Geography at the

University in Aberystwyth. She has worked in the field of Community Regeneration

since graduating in 2001 having working for Pentir Pumlumon, a regeneration group in

North Ceredigion for three years before joining the Menter Aberystwyth team.

New visitaberystwyth.com website launchedOne of the first projects implemented by Menter

Aberystwyth was the brand new website for the town

and surrounding area www.visitaberystwyth.com.

The website, which is designed to market

Aberystwyth as a quality destination, is a fantastic

tool and resource for visitors and locals. The site

has pages which provide useful information on the

town and surrounding area. These include an

useful entertainment listing which is regularly

updated, an attractions listing which covers the

wider area and an accommodation listing which

details all graded establishments.

If you would like to know more about this project, or include details of your business/

event please contact the Development Officer by emailing eluned.lewis@menter-

aberystwyth.org.uk or telephoning 01970 624912. The website is an evolving project

and further work such as feature pages on walking in the Aberystwyth area plus a

comprehensive online business directory are in the pipeline.

Communities @One is a new initiative to

tackle the digital divide in Wales.

It aims to reach out to people who are

most excluded from new technologies and

ensure they can access the opportunities

they offer.

A team of Community Brokers are based in

Communities First areas across Wales and

will work with community groups to help

engage people with ICT (information and

communication technologies). Marc Davies

is the local broker for Aberystwyth and can

help groups wondering how new

technologies could help them by advising

on how to make best use of existing

equipment, assist groups plan a project

and apply to a fund.

The initiative is funded by the Welsh

Assembly Government and the European

Union through the Welsh European Funding

Office. It is administered by the Wales Co-

operative Centre and funding is available

until March 2008.

For further information please contact Marc

Davies on

01267 242349/ 07766 501904, email

marc.davies@walescoop.com or visit

www.walescoop.com/communities@one

Communities @One

Menter Aberystwyth newsletter 26/5/06 2:31 pm Page 2