Wednesday, September 21st, 2016
Tata Steel Sailing Club and Margam Archery Club and are the latest beneficiaries of a fund open to community groups in the ward of Margam.
From right to left in the foreground of the photograph: Neath Port Talbot Councillor Rob Jones ( Margam Ward), Paul Hinder (Project Development and Funding Manager), Murray Patterson of Glennmont Partners/Margam Green Energy, the Chairman of the Margam Archers Dave Hughes, Councillor John Rogers ( Taibach Ward), David Cook , Secretary of the Margam Archers Club.
The Margam Community Benefit Fund was established earlier this year by Margam Green Energy in partnership with Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. The annual community fund of £17,500 is available for the 20 year lifetime of a new wood fired power station that is under construction on land adjacent to Harbour Way in Margam.
Margam Green Energy Limited is providing the funding to promote inward investment and to support community facilities and activities in the local area. The individual grants of up to £3000 have supported a range of projects that have a positive impact upon health and recreation, education, environment, culture, energy efficiency and the local economy within the ward of Margam.
Tata Steel Sailing Club was awarded £2,605 to purchase wetsuits to make it easier for local children and adults to experience sailing for the first time. Margam Archers were given money to buy new equipment for members.
Other recipients include Tata Steel Cricket Club, who received money to improve their kitchen area and tea room; Margam Community Centre, which received funding to improve the Centre’s energy efficiency and Margam Youth Club, which has had its sports hall floor refurbished.
Two schools have also received monies from the Fund so far this year – Coed Hirwaun Primary School and Dyffryn Upper School. Coed Hirwaun received a grant of £3000 to part-fund the installation of a canopy to provide a dry learning area for the teaching of outdoor activities, whilst Dyffryn Comprehensive received funding to provide Welsh languages classes for parents.
Leader of Neath Port Talbot Council Cllr Ali Thomas welcomed the funding, He said: “This is a good example of the community benefit which the Council aims to maximise when attracting private sector investment into the area. I am delighted to see that this fund is being put to good use by groups in the Margam area.”
Councillor Rob Jones, ward member for Margam on Neath Port Talbot Council said: “The Margam Green Energy Community Benefit Fund is making a really positive impact across Margam and I encourage other local groups to apply for funding.”
Peter Dickson, Director of Glennmont Partners, the owners of the Margam Green Energy Plant said: “It’s great to see the Fund supporting a range of community projects in the Margam area. The Margam Fund will continue to support the local community for many years to come.”
He added: “Construction of our Margam Green Energy plant is making good progress. We are expecting it to start generating renewable electricity by the middle of next year, generating enough electricity to power approximately 75,000 homes in the region. When open it will directly employ 30 people.”
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