Madam,

As a fairly recent incomer to Harlech – four years – and as someone with a public health and community background (now retired), I always read the community news and related articles with interest, being eager to gain knowledge about the community in which I now live. They can be most informative.

In the Cambrian News of 20 July, there was a report from Dyffryn Ardudwy and Talybont Communty Council describing the work they are doing to both maintain and improve their play park, which is excellent. Of interest to me was a comment from a Harlech resident stating “this park (Dyffryn) was much better than the one in Harlech and she would be bringing her child to Dyffryn”. Obviously she has every right to choose where to go but I find myself left feeling frustrated and irritated by the comment.

Some 18 months ago I became involved on a voluntary basis with a small local group – Harlech Community Parks. We are very aware of the poor state of the parks and the play equipment; our aim is to improve the community and play areas within Harlech in order to provide improved facilities for the children, young people and their families, both those that live here and those who each year visit the area.

We have consulted with the local schoolchildren, including the teenagers, and with their help have drawn up plans especially for King George V Field on Beach Road, working hard over the last two years to both gather support from the local community and seek grants locally and nationally to meet our aims. Doing so has proved difficult. We were able to secure a grant from North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) which enabled the replacement of the fencing around the play equipment on King George V Playing Field and, after much pressure, CADW and the local community council agreed to redo the small play area by the castle which became unusable following the work on the castle, making it safe with disabled access. Alas they would not agree to fund new equipment. Frustratingly, we have had little other success in obtaining wider grants which would enable us to replace the play equipment on King George V Field and generally improve the field’s appearance.

As a group we have been grateful for the support we have had from Harlech Community Council, Salop Caravan Park in Beach Road and other businesses and individuals within the community. But wider community support and help has not been forthcoming. We have advertised widely for volunteers, placing notices up town and down town and in the leisure centre and on our Facebook page, but with no success.

Please residents in Harlech with children and grandchildren who would benefit from improved play and green areas, come and join us so you and your children can enjoy themselves locally. Our contact details can be found on our Facebook page or on local noticeboards.

Yours etc,

Margaret Buttigieg, Beach Road, Harlech.

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