A Vale of Clwyd village hall has moved closer to achieving a net zero target \u2013 making it one of the most carbon neutral public buildings in Wales.<\/p>\n
The First World War building in the village of Llanbedr DC has just had its latest renewable energy refit thanks to rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd\u2019s Green Communities Project awarding the project \u00a329,000 to spend on renewable energy.<\/p>\n
The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has put up \u00a34,000 of that from their Sustainable Development Fund as match funding.<\/p>\n
It puts them well ahead of the Government\u2019s 2050 net zero target and the \u00a31.3 million fund is still very much open for business, according to Green Communities Lead Haf Roberts who said: \u201cThis is probably one of the first carbon-neutral village halls in Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere in Llanbedr they have looked at every aspect of their approach \u2013 there\u2019s an outdoor gym, rainwater recycling system, air source heat pump and now an electric bike charger and an extended photo-voltaic system installed by way of the Green Communities fund, which seeks to promote environmental improvements and community well-being projects.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe support from the Green Communities Fund has allowed them to add 15 new solar panels and a 9.5-kilowatt battery so that electricity generated during the day can be stored for use 24\/7.<\/p>\n
\u201cA further \u00a34,000 from the AONB\u2019s Sustainable Development Fund has paid for motion-sensitive lights outside that are angled down so as to reduce light pollution and comply with the Dark Skies Policy and they have also helped with match-funding for the solar project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the first Green Communities project to be completed and it comes on top of previous work that has been done at the village hall here in Llanbedr where they have shown a real commitment to the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cadwyn Clwyd\u2019s Green Communities Fund provides money to kick-start sustainable community-led projects across the rural areas of Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy and is being administered by rural development agency Cadwyn Clwyd.<\/p>\n
It is funded by the Welsh Government Rural Communities Rural Development Programme paid for by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), and Welsh Government.<\/p>\n
The new systems including the battery have been installed by Tremeirchion-based Hafod Renewables, experts in green energy systems and their Managing Director David Jones said: \u201cThis means Llanbedr has now got a modern and up-to-date system which has pretty much taken them off-grid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe systems they have here will last them 25 years – we\u2019ll only need to come round for the annual service.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a fantastic community here, very forward thinking and always looking to safeguard the future of the building.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hall Manager Ron Bell made the application for the funding and he said: \u201cIt has been borne out of a commitment to the environment and a desire to reduce costs while making the Village Hall as accessible as possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have had tremendous support from Cadwyn Clwyd and from the officers at the AONB and a great job done by Hafod Renewables.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means that we have futured-proofed the village hall and added extra amenities with the outdoor gym and the bike charging point which will hopefully attract more visitors to the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total cost has been \u00a328,875 which has been met by the grants and now we have a very modern village hall which is busy throughout the week with activities ranging from model railways to birthday parties, yoga, Pilates, karate and table-tennis.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Green Communities project aims to deliver the wellbeing goals of the Welsh Government\u2019s Wellbeing and Future Generations Act by focusing on Covid recovery and green growth at a community level.<\/p>\n
It is a Welsh Government scheme under the ENRaW Fund (Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being) to support improvements to where people live, work and play.<\/p>\n
It covers the rural areas of the four counties where biodiversity projects and green infrastructure can promote\u00a0 environmental improvements and community well-being.<\/p>\n
Communities with an idea for a project within the eligible counties can declare an interest by filling in the form available on the Cadwyn Clwyd website at http:\/\/cadwynclwyd.co.uk\/green-communities\/<\/a> or get in touch with Haf Roberts at Cadwyn Clwyd on 01490 340500 to talk through your project ideas.<\/p>\n Cadwyn Clwyd\u2019s partners in the project include Denbighshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Flintshire County Council Wrexham County Borough Council and The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.<\/p>\n Since 1995 Cadwyn Clwyd has attracted nearly \u00a330 million in European and domestic funding for North East Wales\u2019s rural areas across sectors such as the environment, food and drink, tourism and rural services to support communities at the grass root level.<\/p>\n For more information about Cadwyn Clwyd contact them on 01490 340500, email: admin@cadwynclwyd.co.uk<\/a> or go to http:\/\/cadwynclwyd.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n