Dark Sky Status for Brecon Beacons

The beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park has received further protection from modern life as a result of receiving dark sky status, the first location in Wales to receive this award, and only the fifth destination in the world.  This is as a result of a joint approach from the National Park Authority and the Park Society, although the decision has been two years in the making.

Jim Wilson, Chair of Brecon Beacons Park Society, said it recognised the area as one of the best places in Europe "to truly see dark skies".  The park joins illustrious company that includes Mont Megantic in Quebec, Canada; Exmoor National Park in south west England; Aoraki Mackenzie in New Zealand; and NambiRand Nature Reserve in Namibia with the status.

The Brecon Beacons

What does dark sky status mean? Put very simply it means that the night-sky is protected and lighting controls are in place to prevent light pollution. This is great news as the Park already possesses some of the UK's darkest skies, which is ideal for stargazing. It has been said by officials that people can see the Milky Way, as well as numerous constellations, bright nebulas and even meteor showers on clear nights.

Martin Morgan-Taylor, board member of the International Dark-Sky Association, the US based organisation which awards the status, said the gradual loss of the view of the night sky was a loss of part of culture.

"Whilst no-one wants all the lights to be switched off, we can improve the lighting we use in towns and cities. However, the best views of the night sky come from places such as the Brecon Beacons, who have dedicated themselves to protecting and restoring the night sky for all to enjoy."

The chair of the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, Julia James, was quoted as saying that attaining the status was a massive boost for the entire area, also bringing wellbeing, tourism, economic, wildlife and environmental benefits.

To get through the application process local astronomers conducted a survey to assess the levels of light pollution, and lighting engineers audited the existing external lighting in the national park.  Information leaflets and letters were distributed to residents living in the 'core zone' to help them understand the simple measures they could take, such as tilting outdoor security lights downwards instead of up, that could make difference to how dark the night sky appears.  Local communities supported the bid, with residents in Talybont-on-Usk holding their own Star Party and organising a community light switch off.

Jim Wilson, chairman of Brecon Beacons Park Society, thanked all those who had taken part in the project, saying it recognised the park as one of the best places in Europe to see truly dark skies.

Environment Minister John Griffiths called the accreditation a "massive coup". He said: "It shows the level of commitment here in Wales to tackling climate change and improving peoples' physical, spiritual and mental well-being."

Twelfth Century Thatcham Building Saved as a Result of Grant

An august body that goes by the name of The Old Bluecoat School Trust is feeling pretty pleased with itself at the moment as the result of Thatcham Town Council in Berkshire agreeing to pay an annual grant of £1,000 to help towards the upkeep of the building that dates from 1304.

It may seem a small amount in view of the fact that estimates for essential works in itself run to the best part of £120,000. But in such difficult fiscal times any money is good money, and the only action that the Trust have to take is to offer the building for fifteen days use a year.

At the meeting of the finance and general purposes committee, Trust chairman, Clive Williams, was in attendance to outline the steps that had been taken  to raise funds for the refurbishment of the Grade I-listed building to bring it back into public use.

Old Blue Coat School in Thatcham, Berkshire

With the not unsubstantial sum of £120,000 looming in the  background, he explained that the charity has applied for various grants, and, at the end of last year, a promise of £60,000 was secured from Greenham Common Trust if match funding could be obtained.

Mr Williams said that an application was to be submitted soon to the Wolfson Foundation for £60,000, and that other bodies had been approached in order to secure a further £80,000 for ‘highly desirable’ work.

Owen Jeffrey, the local councillor for Thatcham South and Crookham felt that support was essential in view of the work that the Trust had carried out in ensuring that the building had not already been disposed of. He felt that it was a’very, very reasonable request’, and added: “It has the potential to be an extremely worthwhile investment by the town council.”

Further support was forthcoming from the leader of the town council, Lee Dillon (Lib Dem, Thatcham north), who added: “The ability to have a unique venue within the town and also look to extend the use should be credited.” As a result of all this positive talk, the decision was unanimous.

Although the money being offered by the council is not large, it is felt that it should have a positive effect on other attempts to raise money as it is from the council and represents a regular income stream.

Mr Williams said that a funding stream from the council could help attract other donations, and that, in the future, the trust would like to be in the financial position to have a paid employee as everyone working to rescue the building was currently doing so on a voluntary basis.

English Heritage has described the building as “one of the most important buildings in the area and of national importance”.

http://www.oldbluecoatschool.org.uk/

Rhossili Bay Judged to be Third Best Beach in Europe

In a top ten that is smattered with the usual suspects from Spain, Italy and Greece, it may be considered a little surprising that Rhossili Beach on the Gower Peninsula close to Swansea has been voted the third best beach in Europe in a survey of worldwide tourists by the TripAdvisor website.

Not only that but it was joined in the top ten by Woolacombe Beach in Devon in fifth, with Porthminster Beach at St Ives in ninth. Even allowing for the fact that many of those expressing an opinion may be British based, it is still a fine accolade and Trip Advisor stress that opinion was received from a world wide clientele.

Rabbit Beach at Lampedusa, Sicily, and Playa de las Catedrales in Ribadeo, Galicia, Spain were the exceptional venues that beat Rhossili, but the result came as no surprise to Swansea Council leader David Phillips who was quoted as being “delighted, but not surprised”. He continued, “We hope that many more visitors continue to enjoy its outstanding natural beauty."

In complete contrast to many of the other successful participents, Rhossili which is is a three-mile (4km) stretch of white sand that is set within an area designated as the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK, has only one building, perhaps explaining what sector of the market voted for it. That building is The Old Rectory, an old house dating to the 1850s which is now owned by the National Trust. Also visible at low tide is a ship wreck.

The bay has Worm's Head at one end - a small tidal island and the most westerly tip of Gower - and on the other there is the other small tidal island of Burry Holms. Trip Advisor were obviously delighted with the outcome of the poll with Emma Shaw representing the company saying "Huge congratulations to Swansea's Rhossili Bay for beating many of the most exotic beaches across the globe.”

Rhossili Bay

Travellers who visited the beaches in question had given them all “the highest levels of praise". The TripAdvisor website carries reviews of places, hotels and restaurants posted by travellers and holiday makers.

Local residents were obviously delighted, but wondered whether the success could turn out to be a two edged sword. Barbara Powell, who runs West Pilton House B&B in Rhossilli, said her guests were often astonished that an area of south Wales is so beautiful.

"I hope more people come and share it with us," she said. "I think the main appeal of Rhossili is that it's unspoilt - that's probably the most important thing. The views are stunning - Three Cliffs Bay, Worms Head, across to Llangennith... you can walk here, you can go paragliding, horse riding and fishing and surfing, of course."

Adam Short, a born and bred local who has run the Worm’s Head Hotel in Rhossili for over ten years said, “It has that perfect arched bay and it's very natural," he said. "It can also look very dramatic. You have Worm's Head on one side and Burry Holms on the other side. Of course, it's the double edged sword. On one hand, we want to keep the beach unspoilt but on the other hand we need to attract visitors to the area as that's what drives the economy."

Was it ever thus, the conundrum whereby places that trade on rugged, unspoilt scenery can generate income that only crowds can bring?

Morecambe Bay Cable Car Plan for South Cumbria

Early days yet, but one entrepreneur has a wide ranging plan to link the Lake District to Lancashire. He believes that it could become a world class tourist attraction.

Mark Draddy has been involved in the development of the idea for some three years and believes that Trans Bay Cable Way could have a significant economic impact for Furness and the South Lakes. A landscape designer hailing from Milton Keynes, he says that he has always had a soft spot for the area and thinks that  his idea could put the area “back on the international tourist map”.

Mark said: “Of course this is a huge infrastructure project and won't come cheap. There are proposals afoot to produce a full feasibility analysis which will reveal build costs but also highlight the massive opportunities.”

The proposal document goes on to say that: “A major building project of this nature would generate employment and, thanks to the shipbuilding heritage of Barrow, the skills required can be sourced locally.”

Morecambe Bay

There will be an obvious popularity with sight-seers and tourists, but Mark also believes that a cable car across the bay could provide an alternative mode of transport for people visiting the Lake District without a car.

As it is likely that the journey would be about forty minutes in length, and would also be a more environmentally way of getting around, it is also suggested that could provide a much-needed “kick-start for the economy” across Morecambe Bay.

Mr Draddy continued to say that he was encouraged by what he had learned from having a close look at a number of similar projects worldwide, including ones in Hong Kong, Vietnam and France. He understands that there could be some who would protest against the idea,  with  emphasis on the impact on the Lake District scenery,  but that he has no intention of damaging the local area.

He added: “Many cable cars traverse stunning mountain ranges, gliding silently on very low-profile towers with very limited impact on the environment.”

Newquay Aiming to Stay a Top Resort with Local Initiatives

Newquay in Cornwall knows that you can’t stand still to stay on top, and so it is making sure that local people can play their part by being involved  in the future of the  town that they call their home.

Residents  are being called upon to attend a special meeting aimed at instilling some pride into the resort.  An open meeting called ‘Pride of Place’ is being staged by Newquay Regeneration Forum on Monday, March 11 – it has been arranged to discuss the condition of Newquay’s public areas.  Officers from Cory, Cormac, Cornwall Council and Newquay Clean will be on hand to answer any questions residents may have.

Held at the Griffin Inn on Cliff Road from 7.30pm, organisers say the meeting is an “extremely fantastic” opportunity to find out about the general budget cuts and the ongoing impact on the council’s responsibilities.  Both town and Cornwall councillors have recently thrown the spotlight onto the image of the town centre and surrounding areas. Concerns have been raised regarding peeling paint on benches, derelict buildings and broken bins, among others.

A Regeneration Forum spokesperson said: “There have been grave concerns highlighted in recent press reports regarding the detrimental impact on replacement, maintenance and repair of street furniture and fixtures and fittings. Newquay Regeneration Forum Ltd urges as many people as possible to attend the meeting on March 11.”

Anyone wanting to submit a question should do so to the Regeneration Forum by emailing Claire Evans at b4csw@bt internet.com by Thursday, February 28, including your name.  Claire said: “Each person that submits a question will be given a slot to ask their question to the panel at the meeting We look forward to seeing as many people at the meeting as possible.”


Newquay Mayor Kevin Towill is also urging residents to attend the meeting. He said: “I think this is an excellent opportunity for residents and different organisations in the town to come along and question council officials under one roof. Cornwall Council is a very large organisation. Many people find themselves directed to different departments and individuals at County Hall.  One large open meeting is a simple and effective way to communicate. I’d encourage as many people as possible to attend.”

Fistral Bay in Newquay

Meanwhile as a separate initiative, SHOPS in Newquay are being offered the chance of a shop-front facelift thanks to £8,000 of funding secured by the Town Team. The money forms a “significant” part of the £10,000 which was awarded to the Town Team in 2012.

It was awarded following an application to become one of the UK’s Twelve ‘Portas Pilot’ towns in a Government-backed initiative to regenerate retail areas and high streets through community-led projects.  The Town Team is made up of representatives from  Newquay Business Improvement District (BID) and Newquay Town Council, as well as businesses, residents and community organisations.

One of 371 applications from towns across the country, the team won the sum to assist with the projects that it felt would make a difference to Newquay’s high street, and was made Town Team Partners, with access to resources and workshops on invigorating and improving town centres. Through the ‘Newquay Shop Front Improvement Grant scheme’, the Town Team is offering up to £250 per retail business for refurbishments and visual improvements to the outside of retail properties.

This could fund a new shop front, better signage, or even a simple paint job depending on individual requirements. The grant is available to local property owners, tenants and businesses in Newquay town centre from Monday, February 18, on a first come, first served basis. The Town Team says it is essential that people register their interest as soon as possible by logging onto www.newquaybid.co.uk and downloading and completing the expression of interest application form.

BID manager Eve Wooldridge  said: “The aim of the scheme is to help regenerate the retail sector by upgrading the frontage of shops, providing a more pleasant environment for residents and visitors, as well as brightening up our town centre.  We are targeting properties with shop fronts that are in the greatest need of improvement and that will bring about a significant positive impact to the area.”

Cornwall councillor for Newquay Central, Geoff Brown, said: “I am delighted that so many of our town centre retail businesses will be able to take advantage of this funding. It not only provides much-needed grant aid to local retailers and improves the visual appearance of our town centres, but it also has an important secondary impact on the local economy. Local painters and DIY suppliers will also gain from this grant, helping to boost the economy in Newquay. I hope that as a result more people visit our town to shop and to enjoy its refreshed appearance.”

Coastal Communities Fund Money Coming Whitby’s Way

Whitby is set to benefit from over £3.4 million in funding after grants from the Coastal Communities Fund were announced this week. The grants will see £2.6 million spent at Whitby Business Park, while Whitby train station and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway are set to benefit to the tune of £800,000.

The borough council estimate that the business park development has the potential to create more than 2,700 jobs through the proposed potash mine and wind farm projects. Coun Derek Bastiman, cabinet portfolio holder for strategic planning and regeneration, said: “This grant represents a huge vote of confidence from the Department for Communities and Local Government in the work this council is doing to attract investment and jobs, and help retrain and upskill local people to ensure we deliver prosperity for the people of Whitby and the borough.

“The potash mine and offshore wind industry have the potential to completely transform the area and bring a new dimension to the local economy which for so long has relied heavily on tourism. Investing in the business park and its infrastructure, as well as people and their skills, will help ensure we are in the best possible position to capitalise for the benefit of our residents.”

Of the 20 successful grant applications announced by the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles MP, the £2.599,373 awarded to Scarborough Borough Council is the highest in England and represents around 10 per cent of the total money awarded.

In their 40th anniversary year the NYMR is also celebrating as £1.4 million is set to be invested in the railway, including the £800,000 from the community fund. Network Rail had already pledged £500,000 and the Coastal Communities money will also open the door to a further £100,000 from the Railway Heritage Trust. This money will be used to reopen the second platform at Whitby train station and NYMR General Manager Philip Benham said he believes the knock-on effects have the potential to bring an extra £6 million into the local economy each year.

“It’s probably the biggest single sum invested in Whitby’s railway since the Beeching report of the 1970s. This is really exciting news, not only for NYMR, but also for the whole Whitby community. This is the ideal start to our 40th anniversary year, and reflects the growing success of our steam service - now in its seventh year. It is also a hugely important boost for the Esk Valley railway line.”

The funding will allow NYMR to increase the number of trains it runs daily into Whitby from three to five. Mr Benham believes this has the potential to bring an extra 50,000 passengers to Whitby each year, raising an extra £140,000 for the railway in the first year, rising to £400,000 by year three.This will create around 15 jobs on the railway itself, with another 52 in the wider tourism sector.

With tourism suffering a slump at present due to the economic downturn, Mr Benham said he hopes this investment will arrest the decline. The sum will allow extra amenities to be added to the station, included toilet facilities. Platform One will be totally unaffected by the works and there should be no disruption to services.

Wiltshire Heritage Museum Running Out of Room

An unexpected knock on effect of an increase in the level of new house construction is that Wiltshire Heritage Museum at Devizes is running out of room to display the artefacts that developers are uncovering.

Developers are required to arrange archaeological investigations on land where they intend to build and investigators come up with boxes full of artefacts dating from prehistoric to relatively modern times. But David Dawson, of the museum in Long Street, Devizes, says neither it nor Salisbury Museum have room for more. 

He said: “We can get up to 100 boxes a year. We commissioned a new store about two years ago at our own expense and that is now full, so we have no place to put any of this new material. The companies that carry out the excavations have to store it themselves. This material is really useful for research but until we can find more room to put it, it will not be available to us.” 

The museum could only recently house finds from a Saxon cemetery in Market Lavington that was excavated in 1990 and some of these artefacts will soon go on show. But the material from more recent excavations is likely to lie gathering dust for some time. Mr Dawson and his opposite number at Salisbury Museum, Adrian Green, have jointly written to Coun Fleur de Rhé-Philipe, the Wiltshire Council cabinet member for economic development and strategic planning, highlighting the problem. 

They wrote: “It is essential that adequate financial provision for long-term storage should be provided through the infrastructure delivery plan and the community infrastructure levy. Wiltshire Council does not cover the cost of maintaining the archaeological finds and archives that are generated as a result of planning consents that have been approved by the council.” 

As a result of the letter, Wiltshire Council has included a requirement in the emerging core strategy – or local plan – to provide storage for artefacts unearthed in these excavations. 

Mr Dawson said: “If the government inspector approves the core strategy, it will be the first time a local authority has taken on this responsibility.”