Preseli MP Stephen Crabb has called on David TC Davies, Secretary of State for Wales, to throw his support behind two bids that have been submitted for the UK Government’s Community Ownership Fund from Crymych and Hayscastle.
The £150m Community Ownership Fund helps communities across the UK to take ownership of assets at risk of closure. The Community Ownership Fund helps to ensure that important parts of the social fabric, such as pubs, sports clubs, theatres and post office buildings can continue to play a central role in towns and villages across the UK. It has already awarded £23.9 million to 98 projects across the UK including Haver Hub in Haverfordwest and Havards Store in Newport.
Bids from Preseli Pembrokeshire that have been backed by Stephen Crabb have come from Y Cross Caslai Community Benefit Society Ltd and the CPD Crymych Cyf for Round 2 window 3 of the Community Ownership Fund. Stephen has had meetings with both committees and was in Crymych on Thursday 15th June to speak to those behind the bid put forward by Crymych Football Club.
As the bidding window has now closed and the bids are currently being assessed, Stephen has written to David TC Davies to ask for his support for the projects which will have a positive impact on two important rural communities.
The bid by the CPD Crymych Cyf (Crymych Football Club Ltd.) based in the village of Crymych, aims to develop sporting and wellbeing activities in the area and to secure and safeguard the future of Tafarn Crymych Arms in Crymych, North Pembrokeshire. The Crymych Arms is the last remaining pub in the village, a venue for people to come together to eat, drink and meet on an informal, social level. As an area with a higher than average number of older people, many of whom live alone, Crymych has a need for further social facilities to support members of the community, especially the most vulnerable and at risk of social isolation.
Y Cross Caslai Community Benefit Society Ltd based in the village of Hayscastle Cross are seeking to purchase the local public house, Y Cross, to ensure that this this vital community amenity remains open. The rural community of Hayscastle Cross and surrounding area has few services for local people, and I support the bid from Y Cross Caslai Community Benefit Society Ltd which will not only retain an important village asset but also promote community cohesion with a focus on a sense of place and societal well-being.
In his letter Stephen stated,
“I would like to encourage you to back these two worthwhile Community Ownership Fund projects in Preseli Pembrokeshire, as I know that you share my belief that the essence of Levelling Up is captured in the enabling of communities to retain, reimagine and regenerate key community assets to help them to flourish.”
Cris Tomos, said” The Community Ownership Fund is an important element of our planning to finalise the purchase of Tafarn Crymych Arms and to reopen it for the benefit of the community. It will be a community hub for the village and allow the local football club to have a base." Cris added "initiatives such as the Community Ownership Fund provide a vital matchfing grant element to allow local people to retain important community assets such as shops and pubs that would otherwise close for good and impact on local residents. We thank our MP Stephen Crabb for his support with our application.”
