Grwp Cymunedol Maestryfan Community Group have been awarded £30,000 to create a community green space on the estate.
The community group have campaigned tirelessly to improve the area and made applications to Menter Mon, the Welsh Government and European funding, to create the green space on the site known locally as Cae Doctor, which is next to the existing playground.
Benjo Popat, from Grwp Cymunedol Maestryfan, said: “Over the past 7 months, we have worked tirelessly Councillor Elin Walker Jones, Menter Mon and Gwynedd Council who own the land, coming up with a plan, obtaining quotes, and ensuring we have all the necessary consent and insurances to continue with the project on the land.
“Now that all the t’s have been crossed and the i’s dotted, we can now confirm that we have been awarded £30,000 of grant funding to complete the project.
“This £30,000 is in addition to the £18,000.00 grant money spent on play equipment for the park that is being installed at the end of this month.
“When we carried out our questionnaires on the estate last summer, the community made it clear that what they wanted was a safe playground for their children, but also somewhere convenient for adults to sit and socialise.
“The attached image, although it doesn’t look like much, shows the proposed plans for the site.
“The first stage of the project is to cut down the trees along the fence between the park and Cae Doctor. Many of these trees are self-seeded ash trees suffering from ash dieback disease.
“As you can see from the plans, we WILL be planting more trees. Also, the trees on the pavement outside the site and in the park will remain, as will those along the back of the site.
“Some of you may have noticed that the gate to Cae Doctor has been locked. This is necessary for us to safely continue with the works without causing a hazard to anybody else, to stop anybody allowing their dogs to foul on the site, and to stop the site being used for antisocial behaviour.
“Eventually, we will be creating a gated opening from the park in to Cae Doctor, meaning dogs will not be allowed.
“The whole project will be supported by volunteers, so we need your help!
“To assist with the volunteering, we have an additional budget of £3,500 for training sessions. This money is in addition to the £30,000
“If anybody would like to volunteer, or make donations, please contact us via this Facebook page.
“This is just another promising and exciting step on our quest to provide better facilities for the residents of Maestryfan.
“We hope you will support this project however you can.
“Thank you all – Grwp Cymunedol Maestryfan Community Group Committee.”
Phots: (1) The existing space in Maestryfan known as ‘Cae Doctor’ (2) Plans for the community green space.
