Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council was delighted to be invited to present at this year’s Ystadau Cymru Conference on 2nd December. Ystadau Cymru was established by Welsh Government to encourage excellence in active management of the Welsh public sector estate through strategic collaboration and good practise guidance. The presentation showcased the collective project work undertaken by Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council and Circular Economy Mid Wales (CEMW) entitled ‘Newtown as a Pioneer Reuse and Repair Economy in Wales’.
In December last year work started collaboratively between the Town Council and Circular Economy Mid Wales to submit an application to Welsh Government to seek funds of £675, 550 from the “Green Recovery Circular Economy Fund; Covid Reconstruction repair and reuse activites in Welsh Town Centres”. The funds would provide inward investment to Newtown including the purchase of property to house the “Waste Not Shop” as part of CEMW dedication to closing the economic loop in Mid Wales through repair and re-use.
As part of the Ystadau Cymru Conference, an award ceremony took place to recognise work under four categories:
- Creating Economic Growth
- Demonstrating Environmental Sustainability
- Delivering Social Value
- Delivering Innovation.
Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council were thrilled to accept the winning award for the category “Delivering Innovation”. Surprisingly is was also awarded the “Overall Winner 2021 Ystadau Cymru Award”. The win of both awards acknowledges the creativity of Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town Council to act as a trusted partner to enable social enterprise Circular
Economy Mid Wales to source much needed funds to enable a project of this nature to progress.
Mayor Cllr Richard Williams said “ It is fantastic that once again Newtown & Llanllwchaiarn Town council is being recognised nationally for our innovative and outstanding work”.
Acting as lead councillor on the collective project Cllr David Selby added “This award is recognition of a huge amount of work by a dedicated team from both the Town Council and the Waste Not team. Newtown is now leading the way with the “Waste not” culture
Commenting on the win Ed Humphreys Town Clerk “The success and national recognition in these two awards are a clear demonstration of the willingness of the town council to work flexibly and in new ways, grasping opportunities to work with others locally and directly with Welsh Government nationally, bringing significant investment into the community. This was made more possible by the evidence of community support in the Place Plan and the Council’s own 5-Year Plan both of which are already in place. Circular Economy Mid Wales trading as “Waste Not” opened its doors Saturday 28th November selling preloved goods at fair prices, refills on household products, advice & information on repairs, recycling and upcycling and workshops. Waste Not’s aims to make for a more sustainable tomorrow by demonstrating better practice today
Photograph: Ed Humphreys, Town Clerk, Cllr David Selby CEMW Lead Councillor, Mayor Newtown Cllr Richard Williams and Chris Powell CEO, Circular Economy Mid Wales with Ysadau Cymru award outside the new “Waste Not” Shop.
