The History of the Plas Pentwyn Project
Plas Pentwyn is Coedpoeth’s Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Centre and provides a wide range of “one stop shop” community focussed facilities including an Information Resource Centre (New Library); a Computer Training Suite; Playgroup and Childcare Provision; a Committee Room; a Community Hall; a Cafe and Exhibition Space. The rented accommodation at Plas Pentwyn includes 8 Business Units and Office Space. The variety of activities is designed to encourage individuals to access training, increase employment opportunities and encourage business start ups.
Plas Pentwyn utilises sustainable energy features such as a ground source heat pump, rainwater harvesting, solar panels, windcatcher and sunpipes.
Funding for Plas Pentwyn came from the West Wrexham URBAN II Programme, through the European Regional Development Fund, the Welsh Assembly’s Local Regeneration Fund and Wrexham County Borough Council.
Coedpoeth Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Centre
The demolition of Penygelli Junior School commenced in January 2007 and the new building was handed over to Wrexham County Borough Council in April 2008.
In March 2008 the Coedpoeth Community Development Committee named the building Plas Pentwyn, which translates as Hilltop Hall.
Examination of the 1872 Ordnance Survey shows acres of open farmland and a farm located close to this site called Pentwyn Farm. Many villagers recall the farm and indeed still refer to the land as Pentwyn fields. The name is Welsh, easily pronounceable and reflects local history and heritage, which was very important for the community to incorporate. The public areas of the building have been named after the four areas of Coedpoeth. The Library is called Nant, the ICT Suite Smelt, the meeting room Talwrn and the Community Hall Adwy.
Plas Pentwyn opened its doors to the public on Monday 9th June 2008.
Urban II
The West Wrexham URBAN II programme was a community led approach to economic, environmental and social regeneration and was focused on 9 of the 17 urban village wards of West Wrexham Town Centre.
Coedpoeth is one of 5 communities in West Wrexham where the community Action Plan for the URBAN II programme identified the need for an Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Centre as a priority project, addressing key needs within the community.
A wide range of consultation activities were undertaken with the Coedpoeth and West Wrexham community from 2001. The need for a community resource centre was the first priority identified in the Coedpoeth Community Action Plan, developed following community research and needs analysis in 2002.
A number of potential locations for the proposed centre were identified and explored through an option appraisal analysis. The use of the Penygelli Junior School was identified as the preferred option. A new school was built within the village, therefore the existing school site became available from November 2006.
Coedpoeth Community Development Committee
The Coedpoeth Community Development Committee, made up of local residents, worked closely with Wrexham County Borough Council, together with local organisations, in order to develop this important facility and in March 2006 consultation activities were undertaken with organisations and users of the community centre and Parish Hall to ensure that the plans for the new centre were suitable to meet their needs. The plans for the Centre were also made available to the community and local residents with flyers through doors and at the local library along with a number of community events to showcase the plans and access feedback.
The project provides a “hub” for the development of a further range of outreach provision in the area, also taking into account existing provision at the Community Council owned Parish Hall and the Youth Centre.
Cymraeg
Canolfan Menter a Dysgu Gydol Oes Coed-poeth
Dechreuwyd dymchwel Ysgol Iau Penygelli ym mis Ionawr 2007 a throsglwyddodd yr adeilad newydd i Gyngor Bwrdeistref Sirol Wrecsam ym mis Ebrill 2008.
Ym mis Mawrth 2008 rhoddodd Pwyllgor Datblygu Cymunedol Coed-poeth yr enw Plas Pentwyn ar yr adeilad oherwydd ei sefyllfa. Mae map 1872 yr Arolwg Ordnans yn dangos erwau o dir amaeth agored a fferm gerllaw’r safle hwn yn perthyn i Fferm Pentwyn. Mae llawer o bentrefwyr yn cofio’r fferm ac, yn wir, yn dal i gyfeirio at y tir fel caeau Pentwyn. Mae’r enw’n hawdd i bawb ei ddweud ac mae’n adlewyrchu hanes lleol ac etifeddiaeth oedd yn bwysig iawn i’r gymuned ei ymgorffori. Enwyd rhannau cyhoeddus yr adeilad ar ôl pedair ardal Coed-poeth. Nant yw enw’r Llyfrgell, Smelt yw’r Ystafelloedd TGCh, yr ystafell gyfarfod yw Talwrn a’r neuadd gymunedol yw Adwy.
Agorodd Plas Pentwyn ei ddrysau i’r cyhoedd ar ddydd Llun 9fed Mehefin 2008.
