THE latest community news from Machynlleth.

Climate emergency motion

AT its meeting at The Plas on Monday, 17 December, Machynlleth Town Council unanimously responded to a 500-plus signature petition calling for a ‘climate emergency’ to be declared by passing a motion to support the request.

The council agreed to the following wording:

• All governments (local, regional and national) have a duty to limit the negative impacts of climate change, and local governments should embed this in their plans;

• The consequences of global temperature rising above 1.5°C are so severe that preventing this from happening must be a key priority;

• The town council has obligations under Wales’ pioneering Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Machynlleth is part of the UNESCO Biosphere so together we have a powerful opportunity to be leaders;

• It is vital that rural communities play their part in reducing carbon emissions, especially as there are potential benefits for land use;

• Bold climate action can deliver economic benefits in terms of new jobs, economic savings and market opportunities (as well as improved well-being for people locally and worldwide).

They went on to:

• Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’;

• Launch an inclusive consultation to develop an action plan over the next six months to: make Machynlleth net-zero carbon as soon as possible; increase local resilience to climate impacts; and maximise local benefits of these actions in other sectors such as health, agriculture, transport and the economy;

• Call on the Wales and UK governments to provide the support and resources to make this possible;

• Work with other local areas, particularly the community councils and other partners in the Dyfi Biosphere;

• Report within six months with the actions the town can take to address this emergency, for example increasing the energy efficiency of the Plas, or working with the town’s purchasing policy;

• Agreed to discuss with Renew Wales how they might support this process.

Bowls AGM

LEADING all present in silent tribute to members who had passed away during the last 12 months, club president Michael Williams opened Machynlleth Bowling Club’s annual general meeting 2018 on Thursday, 13 December.

Members noted with pleasure that Machynlleth-born William L James (Newtown) had been elected president of the Welsh Bowls Association.

He congratulated all the men and women bowlers who had ensured that the club’s four Montgomeryshire County League teams had performed well in their respective leagues and divisions.

Andrew Fleming, now one of Wales’ leading bowlers, had maintained his standing in the Welsh international team for the 21st season and had also retained his place in the Welsh Bowls Association’s (WBA) 11-man Elite Squad for 2019.

David Rowlands was crowned Montgomeryshire champion of champions, Andrew Fleming and Eileen Jones secured the Montgomeryshire mixed pairs title while, in the Aberdyfi open pairs, father and son duo Justin and Jake Hinge captured the runners-up spot.

In the Mid Wales Women’s Championships, Eileen Jones, Margaret Davies, Meira Evans and Kyli Williams took the runners-up silverware in the fours and Sue Mount was a semi-finalist in the singles.

Michael Rogers (chair) and Andrew Fleming (secretary) thanked the committee, sub-committees, staff and greenkeepers for their hard work and the organisers of the weekly whist drives for great work in raising funds for local and national charities.

Treasurer Barry Fleming, whose detailed annual accounts were received and approved with thanks, said that the club’s sound balances had been achieved through the dedicated bar staff, cleaners, members and all others who had helped in whatever way.

He extended special thanks to Debra Jones, Betty Fleming and the whist committee for continuing to use their excellent fundraising skills.

Officers re-elected were: Michael Williams, president; Julian Fenwick, vice-president; Michael Rogers, chairman; Eryl Jones, vice-chairman; Andrew Fleming, secretary; Barry Fleming, treasurer; and Thomas Jenkins, captain.

The committee members are: Betty Fleming, Don Lewis, Alwyn Jones, Llinos Griffiths, Justin Hinge, Phil English, Eileen Jones, Kevin Jones, Mark Rowlands and John Rogers.

Trustees re-elected were: Michael Williams, Michael Rogers, John L Williams and Andrew Fleming.

Andrew Fleming was re-elected as the club’s representative on the county executive committee.

Also re-elected were the club’s auditors, Messers Major and Evans.

In closing the meeting, the president wished members a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Mach Maethlon

MACH Maethlon held several well-received events prior to the festive period.

On Wednesday, 12 December, the Edible Mach group held a volunteers’ session at the Plas edible table, which was focused on constructing frames for newly made signs.

Then, two days later, at their regular local bowling club venue, Clwb Coginio featured Annie Levy who, showing her enthusiasm for “scrap vinegar” making as an approach to zero waste in the kitchen, took attendees through the art of natural vinegars as an easy and accessible form of fermentation and yield as very useful cooking ingredients.

She went on to show how to make wonderful drinks with such vinegars as well.

Members are excited to announce that the Co-op has selected Edible Mach Maethlon as a local cause.

Co-op members can now sign-in online and choose the group as a local cause, so for the next 12 months when you shop at the Co-op one per cent will go to Mach Maethlon.

If you’re not already a Co-op member, it costs £1 to become one.

Book club

UNDER discussion at the Tabernacle Book Club’s first session of the new year will be Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo.

If you like to read and chat, go along to the Tabernacle’s Green Room on Friday, 4 January, at 2pm, for a reflection of life through literature.

If you’re a member of a club, society or group, send your news to [email protected]