Tongwynlais Our Neighbourhood (TON)

What we did in 2013/2014

The group first met in September 2013, kick-started by the green land next to the

village hall being proposed for developing into houses. At public meetings held by the

Council in Bethesda, the general feeling was of the villagers objecting to this proposal.

The group has gained the support of over 40 local residents, and we work closely with

the Village Hall Committee, Community and County Councillors. We are now a

constituted group, and the next step will be to open a bank account so that we can

continue building on what we have achieved since our initial meetings in the Tanyard.

Thanks to the Community Council, Bethesda and the Village Hall Committee for

supporting the group by letting us use their space to meet for free.

Community Survey

The first task the group undertook was to put together a community survey, to establish

existing use of community facilities, ideas that residents have for improvements to the

village, and opinions on the land for sale. Thanks to Tongwynlais Community Council

over 1000 were printed. These were hand delivered in October 2013 to every house in

Tongwynlais and available via the primary school, local shops and community groups,

as well as digitally on tongwynlais.com. The massive task of compiling the data from

158 responses resulted in the document Tongwynlais Community Survey Results

which can be found on tongwynlais.com.

Community Growing Projects

In January 2014 a Grow Wild project proposal was put together by residents supported

by TON, submitted to The Royal Botanical Gardens for funding. The proposal was to

improve the lane between the playground and Ironbridge Road, creating a community

garden on the land next to the playground. Unfortunately the bid was not successful but

it demonstrates the will and ability of residents to put together ideas for imaginative

growing projects.

A growing project which was successful in securing funding, was for a Wild Weekend

to improve the steps leading up to Birch Court.

This area of Tongwynlais was very run down, with a lot of litter and overgrowth. It is an

important pathway as it connects the Catherine Drive area to the rest of the village.

Although there were no Catherine Drive residents involved in submitting the

application, they were involved on the day, picking up litter, clearing brambles and

donating plants. Ainon Church were supported by TON to submit the funding

application to Keep Wales Tidy, and the area has been cleaned up by residents since the

project, proving that if an area is looked after, it will look after itself.

Thanks to local residents and members of the TON group Carol, Carol and David, who

were inspired to buy and plant bulbs in the picnic area down Ironbridge Road.

Knowing You Knowing Ton

Knowing you knowing Ton took place in March 2014 thanks to the Village Hall

committee, who put in a successful funding bid to the Neighbourhood Partnership. The

community event involved Ainon Church, Tongwynlais Primary school, Womens

Institute, Bowls team, St Michael's Church, Bethesda Church, Castell Coch Coral Society,

Community Council, Police, The Academy of Cheer & Dance, County Councillors, Age

Connect and the Rotary Club. The aim of the event was to bring the community together,

to present survey results, and to gather information from asset mapping and future

village hall activities which took place at the event. Residents also actively participated

by completing A Postcard From Ton, which formed an exhibition at the event.

Historical photographs were displayed, and residents were encouraged to share

memories and stories about the village. Special thanks to the Womens Institute who

baked the delicious cakes, and to Debbie who took some lovely photographs:

Planning Application

TON continued to meet every two weeks, and a planning application for housing on the

land was submitted in April 2014. Members of the group were asked to speak and

present information at the public meeting where a petition was arranged and residents

were encouraged to partake in the planning process. Over 100 signatures and at least

35 objection letters have been logged so far, and the group plans to ensure residents are

kept fully informed and encouraged to attend the planning meeting. Thanks to Carol and

Henry who carried out a traffic survey on behalf of the group.

Big Lottery Outline Proposal

The Village Hall Committee with support from TON and the Community Council,

submitted an outline proposal at the end of June, to purchase the land next door to the

hall for community use. The proposal is for the land to be used for a green project,

which will include members from the whole community. Ensuring that all residents are

engaged in the project will involve targeting under-represented groups, specifically

residents of the Catherine Drive area of the village and those aged between 15 and 34. If

successful at this stage the Committee will be invited to submit a full proposal, with a

time-frame of 6 months to put together a full business plan and project outline. This will

be done in consultation with community groups, residents and the Community Council.

Publicity

Jack from Tongwynlais.com has been instrumental in keeping Tongwynlais up to date

with the groups activities, creating the Love Ton identity and designing fliers and

posters for our events. We attended the school fete in July with our trusty badge-maker

from Re-Create and presented the community survey information and Postcards from

Ton.

Carol and Jen have shot footage for Anne-Marie to put together a video about the land

for sale, which we are hoping can be shown at the planning meeting. We also have lots

of foot soldiers to thank who have dedicated time and energy, braving the weather and

gnashing jaws of pets the other side of letterboxes to deliver information through all the

households in our village. Thanks also to Pauline and Jen, who have let the group make

use of their printers.

Future Plans

Tongwynlais.com has kindly agreeed to make a donation towards the Time Credits

scheme which we have applied for funding from Neighbourhood Partnership to run. If

the bid is successful the scheme will promote and thank volunteering activities in the

village, encouraging those who have never volunteered before to contribute to

community life.

My time as Chair came to an end when Jen bravely agreed to step up and take on the

role for the next six months. We now also have another Carol to add to our collection,

who has agreed to look after our treasure for us.

I think youll agree that its been a busy first year, and I would like to say a massive

thank you to everybody involved for their commitment to the group. Thanks also for the

ongoing support and encouragement from Community and County Councillors Mike,

Linda, Brian, Ben, Chris, David and Jonathan, Assembly Member Julie, and to Labour

candidate Mari, whose gazebo is slowly becoming our group mascot! Heres to another

exciting year,

Amelia

Secretary, Tongwynlais Our Neighbourhood