°¬˛ćAƬ Council is working with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust, Aneurin Leisure Trust and the Welsh Government on the future use of Trinity Chapel, a landmark building in Abertillery town centre.
The Council have secured funds in principle from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Programme that will enable the Coalfields Regeneration Trust develop work to undertake an internal refit of Trinity Chapel to become a new home for the town’s Library and adult education courses; an art gallery and a support hub offering employment and health advice. In addition, SmartMoneyCymru Credit Union will provide a new weekly financial loans and savings service from the Hub. There is also a plan to locate an ATM cash machine within the building.
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust have submitted a bid for a Community Asset Transfer of both Trinity Chapel and the current Abertillery Library building in Castle Street. If successful, Coalfields would look to turn the former library into a Training Centre especially for young people providing the skills to start businesses and obtain jobs in the local economy. The Training Centre will also incorporate a jobs and training advice service and a Community Shop and Café doubling up as a training facility and the promotion of healthy foods and nutrition.
The use of the building would be aligned to the Council’s priorities in promoting health and well-being and building fairer sustainable communities by working with local people to address poverty and unemployment.
The exterior of Trinity Chapel was originally refurbished as part of the Abertillery European Convergence Programme, and the Welsh Government’s Vibrant and Viable Places Programme.
Councillor Dai Davies, the Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration says:
“Trinity Chapel is a landmark building in Abertillery and it is exciting to be working in collaboration with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Welsh Government on plans which could bring this site back into use for the local community. As set out in our Corporate Plan we remain fully committed to the economic future of °¬˛ćAƬ and making fairer communities for our residents. We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership on schemes that will work to reduce the impact of poverty on our communities by maximising income and looking at training and skills opportunities in order to improve the future prospects of local people.”
Councillor Joanne Collins, °¬˛ćAƬ Council’s Executive Member for Education says:
“We recently committed to a new 10-year Leisure and Culture Strategy for the borough which recognises the importance of services such as libraries and Adult Education, which are of great benefit to local residents, and we are working closely with the Aneurin Leisure Trust to enhance facilities where we can. This is a great opportunity and an exciting future for Trinity Chapel.”
Alun Taylor, Head of Operations for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust in Wales said:
“The Trust is committed to assisting with the regeneration of town centres in former coalfield communities, like Abertillery. These new projects will demonstrate how partnership working can achieve the shared ambition to make Valley towns vibrant and prosperous places to live and work, creating new services on the high street and helping to create local training and local job opportunities for the future.”
Phill Sykes, Director of Operations at Aneurin Leisure Trust said:
"This is a really great development for Abertillery. A high street location will provide greater access to resources and assistance needed by the community to develop improvements for day-to-day living."
Hannah Blythyn Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government said:
“The regeneration of Trinity Chapel will enhance well-being and employment in the community, increase vibrancy in the town and create opportunities for local people. This is a fantastic example of how support through our Transforming Towns programme can be used to create a hub where people can go for a range of advice and support, that will be an asset to the entire community.”
The Coalfields Regeneration Trust was established in 1999, in response to recommendations made by the Government’s Coalfields Task Force. It was set up as an independent charity with a focus on supporting and working with former coalfield communities in most need to help create new social and economic opportunities for people in their local communities.
For more information go to - https://www.coalfields-regen.org.uk/