The Bwllfa is an attractive mountain site on a plateau above Ton & Gelli Pentre. Previous generations have used it for informal outdoor leisure activities such as picnicking, camping, walking, and so on. In recent years it has been given over to development such as coal reclamation, but it is now used mainly for sheep grazing.

The woodlands development on Bwllfa farm is an ambitious project with multiple components based around an environmental theme. So far the walking trail system has progressed well with fencing, regrading and minor improvements already complete thanks to funding by Cyd Coed and under the supervision of Groundworks Trust.

We hope that an environmental management plan and a bio-diversity study will be completed soon. There have also been visits to the proposed site of the Environmental Initiatives Centre by members of the Planning Department, as well as some productive discussions, which have pointed the way forward. We will continue our efforts to realise this project and associated projects.

Based on our study of proposed sustainable energy in the Rhondda, we’re actively investigating a possible micro water turbine pilot project. As noted in the study these small schemes are generally not commercially viable to a large utility developer, but may be developed by smaller entrepreneurs; land owning farmers and community groups. This project is seen as a component of the Woodlands Development project so does however depend in part on getting planning permission for the environmental initiatives centre. We have identified a suitable site for the pilot with a view to providing a source of electricity for the proposed environmental centre.

The Playsafe Project aims to develop a number of safe play facilities for children and young people in the Ton and Gelli, Ystrad, and Llwynypia Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs. The project offers a means of kite-marking these facilities in terms of good practice compliance related issues. Examples of the proposed activites based around developing and implementing more advanced safety systems are:

• Appropriate volunteer recruitment and training
  
• All staff are CRB checked
  
• Staff encouraged & supported to gain recognised qualifications
  
• Additional club security issues addressed
  
• Regular safety checks of buildings and equipment
  
• Appropriate risk assessments undertaken
  
• Adoption and implementation of relevant policies
  
• A survey of young people’s needs conducted
  
  

Elements of other projects such as Fight Blight and Traffic Safety could also be incorporated into the Playsafe Project.

Pentre Park is a plot of land in the centre of Pentre that is currently underused. It is adjacent to a bowling green and Astroturf and floodlit areas. Rhondda Cynon Taff council, who own the site, have expressed an interest in a community based recreational development on the site.

RCBI have responded by compiling a report with a list of potential uses as a first step.

The aim of the proposals is:

• To regenerate Pentre Park and the surrounding area
  
• To suggest uses that are broadly compatible with the location and the needs of residents without restricting the choices as far as possible
  
• To work in sympathy with the aims of RCBI.

In keeping with these aims the local elected officials and members of the public will be actively involved.

With ever increasing traffic volumes, the dangers to young people from road users has never been greater. In response to this need, RCBI are investigating setting up a traffic safety centre. The intent is to create a series of scaled down road junctions and traffic hazards to educate children about traffic safety using a similar facility in Antwerp, Belgium as a source of ideas.

Pentre railway station serves a wide community in our area including Ton, Pentre, Gelli and parts of Ystrad. In order to maintain and improve the station we’re actively involved in adopting the station under Arriva Train’s Adopt a Station programme. The aim of the programme is to improve station by encouraging regular feedback about litter, grafiti, vandalism etc. We've been encouraged to pursue this by the Regeneration Area 7 Environmental Working Group and local councillors.

Clean up at Llwynypia Boys and Girls Club

The grounds of the Llwynypia Boys’ and Girls’ Club are in the process of been given a major clean up thanks to a grant from the Community First Fund. The bulk of the work, done by members of the Adult Training Centre, involves cutting back shrubs and trees that have taken over the large open space at the side and rear of the club. This space is now beginning to be available for use by the club and family events are planned for the summer months. Volunteers also ran a litter pick.

Clean up at Bwllfa Woodlands Waterways

One aspect of the next phase of the Woodlands Development Project is a clean up of the streams to remove, litter, fly-tipped items and provision of strategically placed benches and bridges. Measures will be taken to monitor and increase local bio-diversity.

A computer club based in Llwynypia Llwynypia Boys’ and Girls’ Club is close to opening. This consists of four Internet equipped PCs set up to help young people achieve computer literacy and give them access to the research capabilities on the Internet. Components of the club include a homework club, youth information and advice, Internet access and games. We will be working in partnership with the Rhondda Volunteer Information Centre to develop the information component of the club and so create a new community service for the locality.

The cinema and theatre is an active part of the community with a regular programme of live events and film showings. A number of physical improvements have been achieved in sympathy with the historic character of the building. The interior is regularly used as a location for filming. We are supporting the owners, the Rhondda Community Development Association, in raising funds to improve the facility.

Under the auspices of our community network, two working groups will oversee implementation of these projects. These are the already established Youth Strategy Steering Group and a new Environmental Initiatives Working Group, both reporting to the lead organisation RCBI and facilitated by staff working within the ERDF funded Community Regeneration Grid.