A community turned out in force to celebrate a blooming great cash boost from a housing association.
The community event to brighten up life in King’s Road, Llandudno was made possible by a £2,000 grant from Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Chest Fund.
Cartrefi Conwy took over responsibility for housing from Conwy County Borough Council in 2008.
As part of the transfer agreement, the association undertook to set up a £250,000 Community Chest from which it is making £50,000 a year available for five years for community projects across the county.
Bids are invited from local organisations and one of the latest windfalls has gone to the Tudno Palace Group.
The money was for a range of summer projects designed to strengthen community spirit in the King’s Road area of Llandudno which the group covers.
The Community Chest contribution has helped cover the costs of everything from afternoon teas for the elderly to a day trip to Blackpool.
But the most visible sign of the contribution is the array of blooms provided as part of a major planting scheme which have brought King’s Road alive with colour.
Around 200 members of the local community – including many excited youngsters -gathered on one of the greens off the road to enjoy a planting and fun day to celebrate the achievement.
They shrugged off dark clouds and rain to have a great time on the bouncy castle and face painting stall and to tuck into sizzling barbecued burgers.
Cartrefi Conwy Neighbourhood Co-ordinator Elaine Williams, who helped organise the big event, said: “Despite the gloomy weather people had a great time, and they really had something to celebrate because the planting has been a fantastic success.
“On top of the money from the Community Chest we also had had donations of cash from North Wales Police and of flowers from Talgoed Nurseries in Glan Conwy.
“This meant we have been able to fill 45 hanging baskets with blooms such as petunias, magnolias, marigolds, pansies and lavender, which are now adorning almost every house along Kings Road.
“Residents did a lot of the planning work and actual planting themselves, which has all helped foster community feeling in the area.
“I would like to say a big thank you to Cartrefli Conwy for making the Community Chest contribution, without which none of this could have happened, and also to everyone else who made donations and gave practical help to the project. It really is a marvellous achievement.”
Tudno Palace Group committee member Natalie Kearney said: “The day was really great and all the children enjoyed it.
“We started the community group about 18 months ago so that we could do more for the children of the street.
“So far we’ve had a trip out to Blackpool and we also did a Christmas party – with Santa even popping in.
“As we’ll as doing activities for the children we’re also trying to work with older residents of the area and have held an afternoon tea with bingo and raffles and we will be holding another one from funding from the Police.
“I think it’s really good that we can work together for the community.”
Enjoying the fun day from her vantage point right across the road, at the house where she lived for 40 years, was one of Kings Road’s residents of longest standing, 73-year-old Ann Nolan.
She said: “Everyone in the road has been working very hard on the hanging baskets and they are a real credit to them – they make the whole place look so nice and colourful.
“I’ve been living in the road for 40 years and I can say it’s the best it has ever looked.
“It was a very nice gesture of Cartrefi Conwy to give money from the Community Chest to make all this possible.”
Another local resident, 50-year-old Debbie Molloy, said: “I was born and bred in Llandudno and have lived here lived in King’s Road for the past six years.
“It has been marvellous for the children and adults from the area to get together for the fun day and for everyone to have worked so hard on the planting scheme.
“Because the children had a hand in the planting I am sure they will now want to help to keep the flowers looking nice.”
“The hanging baskets everywhere make the whole area so colourful and bright and it was good of Cartrefli Conwy to make this possible with the Community Chest donation.”
Neighbour Jake Cordell, 27, spent the afternoon manning the busy burger stall at the fun day.
He took a quick break from slaving over the hot barbecue to say: “The planting has been a really great thing for the whole community and makes the whole road look so bright and pleasant.
“It’s also been fantastic to see people of all ages getting so involved in the project.”
Any groups interested in applying for Community Chest funding should contact Cartrefi Conwy’s Community Involvement Team on 01492 805529 or 805531, or email [email protected]
