Fair

A COOPERATIVE effort between the Penllyn Partnership and Gwynedd Council resulted in a successful spring fair last weekend.

On Saturday, 14 May Cwmni Pum Plwy Penllyn, a not-for-profit company comprising of representatives from Bala Town Council and of the four community councils of Llandderfel, Llangywer, Llanycil and Llanuwchllyn, joined forces with Gwynedd Council to revamp Bala’s popular fair.The ambition was to attract more locals to the event, and provide more stalls for local individuals, organisations and companies to sell produce after waning visitor numbers in recent years.This fair was the first time for the experimental collaboration, with ballad singers, art workshops, book signings and wood turning all on offer for folk to enjoy.The fair’s numerous stalls were also arranged differently this year, running along the High Street, creating a natural path between them.“What we have heard from shop-keepers is, when the stalls are set out in the usual way, all they see is the back of the stalls, with people walking in front of those, therefore avoiding the shops altogether,” said Huw Antur, secretary of Cwmni Pum Plwy Penllyn.“We decided to rectify that this year and it seemed to have the desired effect.”The fair successfully attracted more footfall this year and there is hope that Cwmni Pum Plwy Penllyn will achieve similar levels of attendance for this year’s Autumn Fair.