Menter newsletter 2 11/12/06 12:37 pm Page 1

Ysgubor y Coed Tre’r Ddol Taliesin Talybont

Llandre

Bow Penrhyncoch Street Pen-bont Aberystwyth Rhydybeddau Newsletter

Llanfarian Issue 2

Llangwyryfon Website Project moves forward The Community Website project www.aberystwythconnectedcommunities.co.uk has Aberystwyth developed significantly over recent months. The project which is being funded and Branding Project implemented by Menter Aberystwyth with the support of the Welsh Assembly Menter Aberystwyth have set up a Branding Government involves the creation of Group to look at the branding of the town separate community websites for each area, and the subsequent promotion and marketing enabling the community to access of that brand. The group consists of information. All 13 Community Councils in representatives from all the key organisations Menter Aberystwyth’s area of coverage now and institutions within the town and have separate web pages for their surrounding area. The image of Aberystwyth community on the main website. Many Community Councils have worked with will be looked at carefully and it is hoped Menter Aberystwyth to further develop their websites to include wider information Autumn 2006 that this will tie in with the findings of the on their communities. It is hoped that the Community Councils yet to get in touch recently commissioned Aberystwyth Master with Menter Aberystwyth will do so shortly before the project draws to a close. Plan which, after some delay, is due to be published in January. Following on from this For those Community Councils who are involved with the project training for the careful consideration will be given as to how web editors is currently being arranged for January 2007. to carry forward the Brand and funding will be sought to do this effectively. We hope to really raise Aberystwyth’s profile and effectively promote all of the town and surrounding area’s assets. 2007 New Local Service Directory Welsh Lady in operation on Fun Run The annual Welsh Lady Run event was and The Cambria who provide visitaberystwyth.com launched by Menter Aberystwyth last assistance with the organisation of the March to celebrate St David’s Day in event. It is anticipated that it will Menter Aberystwyth is proud to launch a style and help put Aberystwyth on the generate a great deal of support and that new Local Service Directory which is now map. Following on from the success of many more ‘Welsh Ladies’ will take part. up and running on last year’s inaugural event, the 2007 run www.visitaberystwyth.com. The directory, will take place on the 1st of March and Entrants, who will be charged a £5 entry which lists all types of Aberystwyth and will again see all the contestants dressed fee which will be distributed to the up in traditional welsh lady dress and charities will be able to enter the area businesses, is a valuable and useful taking part in a 5km run along the following categories: the best dressed tool. So if you are in need of a plumber or town’s promenade. team, fastest individual and best dressed carpenter, need to know where to buy individual. For primary schools, the organic food or what kind of restaurants This year’s nominated charities are Age entry fee will be £2 per child and there there are in the town, log on and make the Concern Ceredigion and DASH will be two categories, best dressed most of the service directory. Inclusion in Ceredigion, a charity which organises individual and the fastest school, which the service directory is currently free of holiday and leisure schemes for will require a minimum of ten children to charge so if your business is not currently youngsters with disabilities across enter per school. Entrants are also listed please contact the Development Ceredigion. Both are working with us to welcome to collect sponsorship for the Officer who will be glad to add your make the event bigger and better. two nominated charities and can obtain business to the ever expanding database. forms from Menter Aberystwyth or from We are also lucky to have the kind the charities direct. support of The Cambrian News, Radio

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

Office B6, The Cambria Building, Marine Terrace, www.menter-aberystwyth.org.uk Aberystwyth, SY23 2AZ Tel: 01970 624912 the regeneration partnership for Aberystwyth Town and surrounding area [email protected] Menter Aberystwyth newsletter 2 11/12/06 12:37 pm Page 2

Successful Summer Entertainment Programme Background Information Menter Aberystwyth was officially established and registered as a Company The 2006 Summer Entertainment Programme for the Limited by Guarantee in March 2003. There are currently 13 Board Members, Bandstand and centre of town has again been a success. who are involved in an entirely voluntary basis, and who each have a The programme of events, developed in partnership commitment to developing and promoting Aberystwyth. between Aberystwyth Town Council and Menter Aberystwyth pulled in the best of Welsh culture here in Menter Aberystwyth covers not only the town of Aberystwyth but also Aberystwyth by using local choirs, groups and bands. It surrounding villages as far as to the North and Llanrhystud to the is hoped that next year the project will go from strength south. This area contains 13 Community Councils and Menter Aberystwyth to strength, ensuring that locals and visitors benefit from hopes to work in partnership with all of them. A representative of the the performances by local groups, musicians and choirs. Community Councils became a Menter Aberystwyth Director. Menter Aberystwyth can undertake a wide range of regeneration activities within Aberystwyth Master Plan Update the town and its surrounding area. It is a priority to act as an advocate and a During spring 2006 a company called LDA Consultants facilitator for the town and its wider area. A Business Plan has been developed were tasked with developing an Aberystwyth and area and adopted by Menter Aberystwyth and priorities and projects from this are Master Plan. The Masterplan, a consultancy which has currently being implemented. funded by the Welsh Assembly Government and Ceredigion County Council is looking at all kinds of For more information on the work of Menter Aberystwyth please log onto important issues which affect Aberystwyth such as town www.menteraberystwyth.org.uk planning, future developments, tourism, transport and or contact the Development Officer on 01970 624912 parking. We are awaiting the final document, which is still being worked on as an additional retail potential study was also commissioned over the summer months. The document, which is now expected in January will Who’s who in Menter? shape and influence regeneration and investment activity The Board of Directors is made up of the following individuals, some representing in Aberystwyth for the next 20 years and need to our core partners and others who bring specific expertise and experience: challenge existing views and persuade people to raise their aspirations for the town. Cllr Ray Quant – Chairman Gareth Rowlands – Vice Chairman and Business Club Representative Working in Partnership with Huw Bates – Company Secretary and legal expertise Aberystwyth Chamber of Commerce Louise Amery – Aberystwyth Arts Centre Menter Aberystwyth has been working with Aberystwyth Jim Wallace – University of Wales Aberystwyth Chamber of Commerce as part of an overall plan to Ann Ffrancon – The National Library of Wales promote and assist local businesses. Eluned recently met Beverley Shann – Aberystwyth Town Council with the Chamber to demonstrate the new Visit Richard Griffiths – Tourism Business Representative Aberystwyth website, which was well received by members. Joint projects include co-ordinated late night Dylan Raw Rees – Community Council’s Representative Christmas shopping for Aberystwyth’s Shops in and a Cyril Baker – Aberystwyth Chamber of Trade Representative publicity feature in the Cambrian News. Aled Davies – Business Sector Representative Aberystwyth Chamber of Commerce has recently Lis Owen-Jones – Business Sector Representative employed a Liason Officer: Oliver Bizzaza, to assist with Rhiannon Rees – Business Sector Representative marketing Aberystwyth Chamber and communicating with its members. Oliver Bizzaza is a Masters Student at Our full time Development Officer is Eluned Lewis. Eluned is a local girl who and will be in the post for one was educated at Penweddig Comprehensive before going on to study year. The Chamber held a recent social evening, which Geography at the University in Aberystwyth. She has worked in the field of was attended by over 30 businesses from the town, many of them becoming new members. For further Community Regeneration since graduating in 2001 having working for Pentir details about Aberystwyth Chamber of Commerce you Pumlumon, a regeneration group in North Ceredigion for three years before can contact Oliver on [email protected] joining the Menter Aberystwyth team. The Future for Menter Aberystwyth We are nearing the end of our initial three Library of Wales and Aberystwyth Business community of Aberystwyth and surrounding year funding agreements with our funding Club will do the same. Future aspirations of area which will be circulated in the Cambrian partners which is in March 2007. Currently the group were discussed recently at the News shortly and the development of income Menter Aberystwyth is in the process of Annual Business Planning Meeting and new generating projects which will be looked at renegotiating funding with these partners projects have been identified and prioritised. again in a separate meeting. Menter and it is hoped that all will commit to a These include: the development of an Aber Aberystwyth also hopes to continue working similar level as previously received. The First Awards Scheme, a guide book for with the Welsh Assembly Government’s University of Wales Aberystwyth have already Aberystwyth and surrounding area, the Department of Enterprise, Innovation & indicated that they are willing to continue development of an Aberystwyth Branding Networks on projects which are important to their valuable support and it is hoped that Group and subsequent implementation of Aberystwyth and hope that their valuable Aberystwyth Town Council, The National projects, a survey to cover the wider support is also continued. For updated news visit.... www.menter-aberystwyth.org.uk