New organisation to co-ordinate big effort to put some life back into Holyhead

Oct 28 2009

PLANS are underway to form an umbrella organisation that could breathe life back into Holyhead’s town centre.

At Monday, October 19’s meeting, Holyhead Town Council voted unanimously to back moves to form Cwmni Tref Caergybi (CTC).

If it becomes a reality CTC could co-ordinate all the present organisations in town such as Holyhead Opportunities Trust and the various Communities First partnerships to work together for the benefit of the whole of the town and possibly Holy Island.

Dewi Lloyd of Anglesey County Council’s economic development unit recently authored a preliminary working business plan which includes identifying town centre properties owned by the Welsh Assembly Government, which could be transferred to the company.

Holyhead mayor, Cllr John Chorlton, said: "The idea is to have one organisation covering the whole town.

"Kingsland and Llaingoch have not been covered by Communities First and forming this company we could go out to the whole of Holy Island to Trearddur Bay and Rhoscolyn.

"It’s still in its infancy, there are no hard and fast rules yet."

Holyhead town council clerk, Cliff Everett, explained: "The concept is like that of Cwmni Tref Caernarfon.

"There, various stakeholders and bodies came together to access grant funding and they have been successful to the extent that they are responsible for running the Galeri and properties on the Maes, and employ 40 people.

"I’ve been to two meetings to discuss draft proposals to form the company and when I asked what monies would be put in, I was told that Môn/Menai would make a significant contribution which sounds good.

"Properties that are already in the ownership of the WAG that could be passed over as assets for the good of the town and community.

"The key issue is the empty properties on Market Street. People need to take them on for business but find that the rent and rates are too high.

"Property owners are not prepared to rent for just six months which would allow people to have a go with their business.

"This is an opportunity for the town to tap in to a lot more resources.

"There is £15m available through Môn/Menai. If we can’t get our acts together they will go and spend this money across the water."

In his draft business plan Dewi Lloyd said: "Local Development Trusts have been established across the UK in recent years in order to pursue economic, social and environmental objectives.

"Gwynedd has seen the establishment of significant property development trust schemes, (such as) Cwmni Tref Caernarfon (CTC)

"CTC was set up in the 1990s to address the problem of vacant and dilapidated properties in Caernarfon Town Centre. Its set-up phase was funded by the local authority and WDA (Welsh Development Agency now part of the Welsh Assembly Government), with a view to it becoming self-funding.

"The venture has proved to be successful in that CTC has managed to buy, refurbish and rent out over 25 premises, which now generate an annual income of about £300,000."

Councillors voted to put forward Cllrs Trefor Lloyd Hughes and John Victor Owen as their representatives for Cwmni Tref Caergybi.