A sheltered housing project in Cardigan is reaping the rewards of a powerful new alliance of six construction companies in South West Wales.
The Bro Teifi complex now has a new private garden thanks to the ‘working together’ group of construction companies.
The improvement works were carried out under the direction of HM Building Services, of Narberth, as part of new pilot project in the construction industry.
“Thanks to HM Building Services and the ‘working together’ group we have transformed what was a muddy and unusable piece of waste ground into an attractive area for our residents,” said Louize Davies, the warden at Bro Teifi.
HM Building Services and the ‘working together’ group donated their labour free of charge so that Tai Ceredigion could push ahead with their plans at Bro Teifi.
“It’s been a hugely rewarding experience for us,” said HM Building Services proprietor Mark Thomson. “All our staff got a big boost in helping to carry out the works and improve the area.
“It cost us in the region of £26,000 to carry out the works, but we hope the residents at Bro Teifi enjoy the fruits of our labours for many years to come.”
The Bro Teifi project was the second scheme in South West Wales to benefit from the ‘working together’ partnership.
The St John Lloyd School in Llanelli has already seen major improvements to access routes into the school thanks to the partnership.
“It’s all part of a new initiative where our group of six local construction companies pool our knowledge and resources to help our local communities,” said Mr Thomson.
The ‘working together’ group of builders are helping to spread the gospel about sustainability issues in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire as part of a wider project sponsored by the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) and supported by Construction Skills.
The firms taking part are – HM Building Services, of Narberth; Dyfrig Dalziel Ltd, of Kidwelly; Lloyd & Gravell Ltd, of Pontyberem; Morganstone Ltd, of Llanelli; TAD Builders Ltd, of Llanelli; and T. Richard Jones (Betws) Ltd, of Ammanford.
“We’re all in this together as an enterprise and the philosophy is very much helping each other when it comes to community projects like the ones in Cardigan and at St John Lloyd School,” said Mr Thomson.
“As a group of construction companies we are looking at a whole range of ideas to do with everything from the environment and waste recycling, to work experience, best practice in the industry and community challenges.
“We are looking at a whole host of community projects in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire, projects which are both sustainable and bring benefit to the community.”
Bro Teifi warden Louize Davies said:“The garden work is invaluable to our residents. The builders have turned a once uninviting, unusable space into an area where residents are really looking forward to spending time in.
“We now have a lovely area to sit in. Also, keen gardeners can get their hands dirty with lots of new raised planters to grow flowers or vegetables. Our tenants can now get some privacy whilst enjoying the garden area as there is a new fence surrounding the garden separating it from a walkway behind.
“There is also a water feature, a barbecue area, shaded pagoda and seating areas and a rotary washing line.”
Mr Thomson added: “We have been working extensively with Tai Ceredigion over the last year upgrading properties in the South of Ceredigion and completing external maintenance works to their estates, but decided we wanted to give something back to the tenants and the Bro Teifi sheltered scheme community.
“When we saw the plans for the new garden, we thought that it was a very worthwhile project for the residents and would give them a better quality of life. We are really pleased that the tenants are so excited about their new garden and we hope it gives them many years of pleasure.”
Llyr Edwards, Director of Property Services of Tai Ceredigion, said “We all wish to thank Mark and all the team at HM Building Services for all their hard work and effort they have put into the new garden. After consultation about their preferences, the end product has exceeded many of the residents’ expectations, as well as our own, and has made the area safe and secure, with many of the tenants already planning for events in the spring and summer.”
