Pwllheli community rallies round to promote the town

Feb 11 2010

A NEW community partnership has been set up to boost tourism and bring some much needed cash into a seaside town.

The Pwllheli Partnership, made up of local dignitaries and representatives from different groups in the town, has already applied for a £5,000 grant from Gwynedd Council to get the ball rolling.

The town council has also backed the new venture agreeing to give the partnership a cheque for £500 once they have secured the Gwynedd Council grant.

One of the first items on the agenda for the group will be to produce flags and banners to decorate the streets of the town centre as well as upgrade existing booklets promoting Pwllheli.

Partnership member Stephen Tudor said: "The partnership came about following a series of meetings between members of the sailing club and other organisations.

"We wanted to improve communication between all of the different groups so we could let people know about the different events we had going on at the club so the town could capitalise on it.

"We soon found out that there was enough scope to expand and strengthen the idea."

The partnership has already attracted strong support from groups such as Communities First, Coleg Meirion Dwyfor and Pwllheli Chamber of Trade.

The group are now hoping to put their ambitious plans into action if their grant application is successful.

Mr Tudor said: "Representatives from Gwynedd Council have been sitting in on our meetings and have been very supportive, as have the mayor and deputy mayor but the partnership is open for any individual or group with an interest to join.

"The hope is that we will be able improve how we market Pwllheli to people.

"As a group, we have been looking at a lot of things that we want to do, even as near as this summer.

"The first step will be creating banners and flags to give people a warm welcome to the town.

"We have also been discussing the possibility of having a shuttle bus to take people attending sailing events to different parts of the town which would also act as a sort of park and ride system for those who work in Pwllheli.

"Of course everything depends on how much money we will be able to get and how well we can work.

"I remember reading the Herald a couple of months ago and hearing about all the developments going on in other towns and one thing that certainly struck me was that the only thing we had was hopes for the future.

"We have to work together to succeed on this and it is a good time for this to happen in Pwllheli."

Town councillor Alan Williams said: "We have a list of events outlined and at some point we hope to arrange a public meeting about the plans.

"We have to raise £1,000 for the partnership before we can be eligible for the grant.

"The town council has decided to donate £500 which is guaranteed by the sailing club.

"We hope now that the Chamber of Trade will see it fit to match that amount so we can move ahead with the scheme and continue to work together for the benefit of Pwllheli."

A spokesman for Gwynedd Council said it could not comment on the application at this stage but said it had outlined a number of measures as part of its responding to the recession plan.

These included working with local businesses, creating a package to support the retail sector in adapting to market changes and strengthening the image of the town centre as part of a Pwllheli Pilot package.