Minutes of the Meeting held at The Granary, Wern Fawr, Talgarth on 29th July 2009.

Attendance:  Carol Williams, William Powell, Tony James, Elaine Starling, Neil Bally, John Wake (TPMW), Lynne Groves, Kathryn Jones Parkinson, Marion Meredith, Oliver Sims, Lisa Marie Bacham, Geoff Smart,  Joyce Shaw, Daffydd  Roberts (PAVO) John Whitehead (Mill Project)

Apologies:  Michael Cunningham, Stephen Groves, Pip Ellis, Rita Rogers, P. Maughan, Geraint Pritchard, Clive Micklewright, Rob Hughes.

A.    WEB LINKS.    

In the absence of Punch Maughan and the two local Representatives who were researching this issue, the discussion was limited.

B.    TALGARTH TIRC.    

Tony James was introduced to the Meeting.   Very recently, he has mounted a campaign to “Save The TIRC”.   He has managed, with the cooperation and support of the Town Council, The Regeneration Group, The Festival Group and the Mill Group, to put together a sum of money which will delay the early closure of the TIRC in Sept 09.   It is hoped that this delay will enable the TIRC to put themselves on a sound footing so they can move with confidence into 2010 and beyond.    The lease for the building is available for the next 12 years.

The TIRC is run by volunteers.  This week, a new committee under the chairmanship of Tony James has been formed.  Tony appealed to this group and other to support this venture as the TIRC should play a vital role in the Town.  He stated that it was important that any further discussion about Websites should involve the TIRC.  It was appreciated that the TIRC needed a revamp and that is what the newly formed committee are hoping to do.

John Wake asked if there had been a usage survey of the TIRC in the last 12 months.  The reply was that in the last few months, there had been a significant wind down but a figure of 4000 was reported at the time of the closure earlier in the year.   John suggested that this base line could be used to evaluate progress in the next 12 months.

It was agreed that co-operation between the various groups re web links should include the TIRC.

Tony requested that a copy of these minutes is sent to the TIRC to keep them informed.

C.    Walking Guides.

Geoff Smart has agreed with the Hay Walking Group that they will test run the longer routes around Talgarth.   The Maps are ready but Carol Williams has been unable to find any good photographic Images of the Talgarth area.  She wants to commission a photographer to take these pictures. They can be used on the Web as well as in the booklet to convey images.  They can also be used in the TIRC.

Davis Thomas (Crickhowell) is prepared to include one of the walks in the Crickhowell Walking Festival Programme, early 2010.

What Carol would like is a list of people’s desired images by the end of August 2009.

Carol stated that any tender needed a brief e.g.  

1.  One day photographing in the Town Centre  

2.  Photographs of local interiors

3. Photographs of exteriors (i.e.  Whipping Tree.)

Lisa Maria requested some good images of the Festival.  It was reported that last year’s B&R used photographs of the Talgarth Festival for the event at Libanus!   The plan is launch the Guide at the Christmas Market in Talgarth.

D.    Mountain Bike Event

Oliver Sims went to the The Royal Welsh and for half a day advertised “Destination Talgarth”.   Carol Williams has had some postcards produced which are now available for business use.

Oliver had a lot of interest on that day.

He is investigating a proposal for a “Multi event”.  He has spoken to the people at Llangorse Lake and they will allow a Kayak event.   So the proposal is the following:

1)    Mountain Bike ride from Talgarth along the bottom of Myndd Troed to Llangorse Lake.

2)    Kayak on the lake.

3)    Run over to top of Myndd Troed back to start point at Talgarth Car Park.  He is proposing to run it back to back with an event in Hay.

Some of the route still has to be confirmed.  

Carol and D. Roberts from PAVO were asked if they had any training, packs course available for organizing an Extreme Sports Event.  They are going to investigate. Date not yet confirmed (probably autumn 2010).

E.    Collobor 8.

Carol Williams presented a programme explaining the function of this group.

Its purpose is to facilitate business growth which will lead to new markets, develop sustainable Tourism, (hence Destination Talgarth), and develop partnerships across the European Union which will enable communities like Talgarth to further develop.

The aim is to share best practice; resources, ideals etc. and that Tourism should not damage the environment but sustain it.

Already there are Clusters and links with Ireland, Holland and Belgium.  E.g. an exchange visit has been arranged for later in the year for a group from Southern Ireland.

It is hoped that groups involved in this cluster will develop their “Uniqueness of Place”. For example, re Talgarth, sustainability, creativity, the beautiful countryside, local food and the genuine local friendliness and hospitality.

The ( partners fo far are

1.    South Kerry, Southern Ireland

2.     Meetjesland     Belgium,   

3.    de Merode.       Belgium

4.    Dutch Waterline project in Holland

5.    Tillberg in the Netherlands

6.    West Country Trust (UK)

7.    South Down Joint Committee (New National P{ark)

8.    Brecon BBNP

9.    Merthyr

Funding comes from the following: 50% from Europe. The rest from Powys and Tourism.

Tillberg in the Netherlands is developing an IT bus. (They are famous for Technology)  They will travel to the UK and some time in the future; spend 2.3 days in Talgarth helping local business etc.  But they will also learn from our experiences.

One of the towns in Belgium has developed a “Cherry Festival”.  Everything is based on Cherries e.g. they put on the “Cherry Orchard” play by Chekov.  They have a cherry stone spitting competition.   Cherry Brandy etc.

So the idea and the purpose of Collobore is to assist and develop ideas with partners across the Northern Part of European Union.

In September, 3 course are being run which are free

1.    29Sept Brecon – Sense of Place.

2.    20th October Put the Park in your Heart at Libanus.

3.    27th October   Customer Care at Brecon TIC. 

The programmes will be repeated in Feb, March an April 2010.  At our next meeting, A Vision Statement and a Code of Conduct will be developed.

F.    Talgarth Mill Project.

John Whitehead outlined the proposals for the Full project in Talgarth.

This project is linked to the Green Valleys Project.

The purpose is to develop a community based small scale Hydro Schemes in upland areas.

This scheme is widely dispersed and has been successful because of the involvement of local communities.

The aim, in Talgarth, is to re develop the mill and use the Water Wheel to produce electricity. To justify the expense it has been agreed that an educational centre will be developed to publicise eco-tourism.

So Money is needed a) to further renovate the mill

 b) to renovate access

c) to produce a Deck to overview wheel and river

d) To develop a walk along river banks to the Rocks

 e) A lower walk at river level.

 f) Develop an ecological/Arts project.

Discussions have taken place with 1) PAVO, 2) local schools.

Some funding has already been made available but further grants are being applied for.

The Mill project is also involved with other partners in the Community in developing an application to enter the Village SOS Competition.  The deadline for this application is the 14th August 2009.  This project application includes further development of 1) the Mill, 2) the walk 3) in workshops, 4) development of the Town Hall Basement.   The proposal would include an eco-information centre, an eco-cafe which could sell local food (ongoing research) produce flour which could then be made into bread produced in a wood fired bakery oven. (Discussion)     

Timescale is to establish walk by May 2010.  To create an Ecological /Arts Park which is sustainable.

Only one project will be selected from Wales.

18 Projects will be selected for Development at the grant stage (monies available for that) The last project standing will tie in with the BBC.

The progress of this bid will be reported at the next meeting.

The Mill Project will be at the Talgarth Festival at the end of August.

G.    Signage   Talgarth   John Wake

The view was expressed in earlier group meetings that “nobody” stopped or came into town!

John Wake travels Wales, he felt that the Town Signage erected along the Relief Road gave no sense of place so, with others and in research he has come to the conclusion that signage for Talgarth should state:

Talgarth, ancient capital of Brycheiniog”.

The Idea was greeted unanimously. Talgarth Council were asked to investigate.

H.    Other events related to Talgarth.

1.    Food and Produce Fair 12 July went well. Next one is scheduled for Sunday 27th September

2.    Festival is on 29/30 September.  Web site and programmes available.  Roy Noble opening Festival on the Saturday.   Also a Festival Service on the Sunday led by Canon Roland Edwards.   The festival was congratulated over the quality of the programme and website.

3.    Toilets still open.

4.    Whipping Tree Llanelieu work being done by conservationists in October.

5.    Car Parking Charges still with the legal dept. Parking still free.

6.    Bridge End Conservation -  ‘Talgarth’  has been left smudged because it was erased in the last war to prevent spies locating the town.  It was suggested that a small information plaque or leaflet should be produced to explain the significance of the wall.

7.    Lisa Marie agreed to put the current minutes on her website.

8.    Daffyd Roberts for PAVO said that “ this meeting demonstrated the amount of good work going on in Talgarth and the Collective approach of the Community.   If he can help in any way, he will. He emphasised the importance of linking the websites and having a Collaborative approach which included all partners so that duplication does not take place and effective links are established.”

Next meeting to include two walks “To road test Walking Guide

1)  Around Talgarth (Town Walk)

2) Talgarth, Tregunter, Bronllys etc (4 miles)

Meet at the Radnor Barn for a short briefing at 2 pm on Tuesday 15th September.  All are welcome.

The walk will commence after the meeting. Please come suitably attired.  Town walk will be the less strenuous of the two.  

The group would like to thank the Shaw’s at the Granary for hosting the meeting.