Ffestiniog Area Regeneration Plan 2007-2013 (Part of the Gwynedd Regeneration Framework) www.gwynedd.gov.uk Document Content This Area Regeneration Scheme contains the following sections: Introduction What is an Area Regeneration Plan? Ffestiniog Area Regeneration Plan Section 1 – Area Profile Introduction Geographical Boundaries Population Mobility and Migrating Environmental Features and Designations Deprivation Economy of the Area Economic Activity Housing Health Voluntary Activity Section 2 – Analysis of Local Circumstances Introduction SWOT Analysis Section 3 – Aspirations of the Area Regeneration Vision for the Ffestiniog Area Main Aspirations and Impressions of the Community Main Aspirations and Impressions of Voluntary Organisations and Businesses Main Aspirations and Impressions of the Services Section 4 – Thematic and Spatial Priorities Introduction Ffestiniog Thematic Priorities Ffestiniog Spatial Priorities Summary Section 5 – Action Areas Introduction Table of Action Areas Section 6 – Implementing the Regeneration Scheme Introduction Approving the Regeneration Plan Regeneration Plan Lead Bodies Regeneration Plan Partners Reviewing the Regeneration Plan 1 Introduction What is an Area Regeneration Scheme? The Gwynedd Regeneration Strategy sets out the context and a clear direction for all of the county’s regeneration activities, with its unique patchwork of communities from 2007 – 2013. The Area Regeneration Schemes are operational documents that implement the Regeneration Strategy. The areas are based on the definitions of the Unitary Development Plan, which are based on dependence districts. Gwynedd Regeneration Strategy 2007-2013 Porth - Caernar - Dolgellau / Tywyn / Ll yˆn Area Bala Area Ffestiniog Bangor madog fon Area Barmouth Machynl - Regenera - Regenera - Area Re - Area Re - Area Re - Regenera - Area Re - leth Area tion tion generation generation generation tion generation Regenera - Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme Scheme tion Ffestiniog Area Regeneration Plan This Area Plan was created by consulting with stakeholders in the area, including local residents, agencies and organisations that work in the area. The Area Plan has taken into account other strategies that influence and contribute towards the regeneration field, including local strategies for the Bro Ffestiniog area. Stakeholders were consulted with regularly throughout the process of drawing up the document. Meetings were held with community regeneration groups, and discussions were held with agencies that work in the area. As many studies have already been held in the area, they were all considered when developing this plan. By means of these consultations, a comprehensive picture was compiled of the nature and scale of the challenge facing the area’s communities, and measures were drawn up to respond to them. This Regeneration Plan identifies the main measures and projects for the regeneration field in the Bro Ffestiniog area for 2007 – 2013. The projects are intended to give a direction to all regeneration activities and efforts undertaken by all of the Plan’s partners, whether they are voluntary agencies, public organisations, private businesses and/or community groups. The regeneration projects for the area are intentionally broad in order to ensure that flexibility exists within the Regeneration Plan to respond to, and take advantage of, any challenge that arises during the period in question. 2 SECTION 1 Area Profile Introduction Bro Ffestiniog lies in the centre of the County. It is an area that is famous for its quarries and slate industry, along with its rich culture and unique Welsh nature. Geographical Boundaries The Ffestiniog Area Regeneration Plan focuses on the catchment area that encompasses the electoral wards of Bowydd a Rhiw, Diffwys a Maenofferen, Teigl and Trawsfynydd. Blaenau Ffestiniog is the main town that serves the area. The area abuts the electoral wards of Penrhyndeudraeth to the north, Dolgellau to the south, Harlech and Llanbedr to the west and Llandderfel and Llanuwchllyn to the east. The boundaries of this Regeneration Area are in line with the boundaries found in the Unitary Development Plan. Population The Census figures show that the area’s population is 6350. The majority of the population, 56%, is of working age (16-64), whilst 22% is over 65. The figure for the female population, namely 52% and the male population, namely 48%, in the area matches the pattern of the county. 3 The Welsh nature of the area is reflected in the fact that 71% of the residents are able to read, write and speak the language in comparison to a county average of 60% and a national pattern of only 16.32%. Mobility and Migrating Blaenau Ffestiniog is the main town and centre of the area where a number of mainstream services are provided. There are four wards in the area, namely Trawsfynydd, Teigl, Diffwys a Maenofferen and Bowydd a Rhiw. The statistics of the Office of National Statistics show that there has been a population growth in Gwynedd and Wales over the last six years of 0.25%; however, in the Ffestiniog area, it was seen in 2007 that the population had reduced by 2.5%. The use of cars is low in the three wards in Blaenau Ffestiniog as 31% of households do not have a car; however, in Trawsfynydd only 18% of households do not own a car. It is likely that this reflects the rural nature of the Trawsfynydd ward. Environmental Features and Designations The area’s special environment means that it has been protected by the Snowdonia National Park Authority since 1951. The purpose of the National Park is to “safeguard and improve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area and promote opportunities for the public to understand and enjoy its special features.” It is important to note that the National Park is in the process of developing a policy on the “Future of Snowdonia” which will set a direction for the Park’s work for the next 15 years. The draft document acknowledges that many challenges are facing the Park, including climate change, the change in agriculture policies, the need for land for housing and businesses and the need to make sustainable use of tourism and leisure. Blaenau Ffestiniog is the exception as it is a post-industrial town. Many plots within this area have been identified as a Site of Special Scientific Area (SSSI) and this also reflects the area’s special environment. In its 15 year plan, the National Park is eager to improve and protect its biodiversity, and encourage the planting of coppices and improve the feasibility of farming. In addition, Afon Eden and Gors Goch in Trawsfynydd have been identified as a Special Area of Conservation as various species live there. It is important to draw attention to the site of the nuclear power plant on the outskirts of the villages of Gellilydan and Trawsfynydd on the A470, where decommissioning work will be undertaken until 2015. 4 Deprivation In 2000, the National Assembly, by using the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD), designated that the Bowydd a Rhiw ward, Blaenau Ffestiniog, was amongst the most deprived wards in Wales. Because of the position of the ward on this list, it was designated as a Communities First ward. The Communities First programme will change again in 2009/2010 and the “Communities Next” consultation document has been published outlining the Assembly’s intentions for it. There will be increasing emphasis on the economic work of Partnerships and hard measurable results will be required. Tackling the deprivation cycle is a priority, along with tackling child poverty and encouraging social enterprises. The WIMD figures were published again in 2005. This time, it appeared that the Diffwys a Maenofferen ward was the most deprived in the area; this ward was amongst the 10% most deprived wards in Wales. Unfortunately, Bowydd a Rhiw was also positioned high on this list. From looking in detail at the statistics in the study of deprivation, it can be seen that the income of the Bowydd a Rhiw and Diffwys a Maenofferen wards are within the 25% lowest in Wales, whilst the residents of Diffwys a Maenofferen are within the worst 20%. Also, the study looks at “distance to services” and the Trawsfynydd ward is amongst the worst 8% in Wales. Economy of the Area This area has faced a number of economic challenges over the years. The decline in the slate industry in Blaenau Ffestiniog in the 20th Century was responsible for a huge reduction in the population from over 15,000 to only 5,000 today. The impact of this loss was mitigated in the 1970s by the electricity generating works in Tanygrisiau and Trawsfynydd, along with the Cookes Explosives factory in Penrhyndeudraeth. Cookes has now closed down and the Nuclear Power Plant in Trawsfynydd is being decommissioned. Currently a vast number of jobs derive from the work of decommissioning the nuclear power plant in Trawsfynydd. Nevertheless, in the long-term, fewer and fewer jobs will be created and the work will end in 2015. Rehau plastics company is one of the area’s main employers, along with the slate quarries that continue to produce. Economic Activity The figures of the last Census showed that 72.6% of the population in the Ffestiniog Area were Economically Active which is slightly higher than the general picture for the rest of the County. On the other hand, 10.3% of the population of the area of working age are unemployed, in comparison to a figure of 7.6% for the County. 5 The general picture reflects the picture for the entire County with 65% in employment - 11% being self-employed and 54% being employed. Creating income, addressing economic inactivity and increasing the role of social enterprises is a priority in the Communities Next plan that will be operational from 2009 onwards. Housing The Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation 2005 shows clearly that the condition of the area’s housing stock is generally poor with the vast majority of them being houses that were built in the hay-day of the slate quarries.