Cynllun Busnes ‘Y Ganolfan,’ Llithfaen
Caeodd Ysgol Gynradd Llithfaen ei drysau am y tro olaf yn 1966, ac yn fuan wedi hynny penderfynwyd ailagor yr adeilad fel canolfan gymunedol i drigolion y pentref. Cyngor Gwynedd sydd yn berchen ar yr adeilad, ond mae rheolaeth dydd i ddydd yng ngofal Pwyllgor Y Ganolfan, grŵp cymunedol sy’n cynnwys cynrychiolaeth o Gyngor Cymuned Pistyll yn ogystal â grwpiau defnyddwyr cyson.
Bu rhaid i’r Ganolfan gau yn Mis Mawrth 2020 oherwydd cyfyngiadau Cofid-19, ond yn ystod y cyfnod hwn darganfyddwyd bod pydredd sych (dry rot) wedi amharu ar yr adeilad. Mae’r gwaith o drin hwn a’r difrod wnaethpwyd i’r adeilad wedi golygu fod Y Ganolfan wedi parhau i fod ar gau tan 2023 gan olygu fod y gan y gymuned wledig wedi colli un o’i prif leoliadau ar gyfer cynnal digwyddiadau a gweithgareddau cymunedol.
Comisiynwyd R4C i ymgysylltu gyda’r gymuned leol a’r prif rhanddeiliaid i asesu effaith colli’r Ganolfan ar y trigolion lleol, adnabod yr anghenion lleol, ac adnabod cyfleon i ddatblygu ased fodern ar gyfer anghenion cyfoes. Trwy gyfres o gyfarfodydd, cyfweliadau, a holiadur cymunedol, datblygwyd achos busnes ar gyfer adnewyddu’r adeilad, ac yna lluniwyd Cynllun Busnes Llawn.
Mae’r Cynllun Busnes yn hanfodol i gefnogi’r ymdrech i ariannu’r gwaith o adnewyddu’r adeilad, sydd yn debygol o gostio cannoedd o filoedd o bunnau. Bydd hefyd yn sylfaen i’r pwyllgor allu datblygu gweithgareddau er bydd y Gymuned dros y blynyddoedd nesaf.
Mae arian ar gyfer rhan gyntaf y gwaith eisoes wedi ei sicrhau drwy gronfa ‘Tirweddau Cynaliadwy Lleoedd Cynaliadwy Llywodraeth Cymru’ diolch i ymdrechion tîm AHNE Llyn, a mae disgwyl i’r gwaith o adnewyddu’r adeilad gychwyn yn ystod 2023. Edrychwn ymlaen i gael cyfle i ymweld ar adeilad ar ei newydd wedd yn y dyfodol agos!
Ysgol Gynradd Llithfaen closed its doors for the last time in 1966, and shortly afterwards it was decided to reopen the building as a Community Centre for the residents of the village called ‘Y Ganolfan.’ Gwynedd Council owns the building, but day-to-day management is in the care of Y Ganolfan’s Committee, a community group which includes representation from Pistyll Community Council as well as regular user groups.
Y Ganolfan was forced to close in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 restrictions, but during this period it was discovered that dry rot had affected the building. The work of addressing this and the damage done to the building has meant that Y Ganolfan has remained closed until 2023, meaning that the rural community has lost one of its main facilities for holding events and community activities.
R4C was commissioned to engage with the local community and the main stakeholders to assess the impact of losing Y Ganolfan on the local residents, identify the local needs, and identify opportunities to develop a modern asset to meet current requirements. Through a series of meetings, interviews, and a community survey, a business case was developed for renovating the building, and then a Full Business Plan was drawn up.
The Business Plan is essential to support the effort to finance the renovation of the building, which is likely to cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. It will also be a foundation for the committee to be able to develop activities for the Community over the next few years.
Thanks to efforts of the Llyn AONB team at Cyngor Gwynedd, funding for initial works is already secured through the Welsh Government’s ‘Sustainable Landscapes, Sustainable Places’ fund, and the renovation of the building is expected to start during 2023. We look forward to having the opportunity to visit the building to see the transformation in the near future!