Leaving a sustainable nuclear legacy
Nuclear Decommissioning Authority socio-economic funding is bringing fantastic benefits to Anglesey and Gwynedd.
Front: Jeremy Gilmour NDA, Back: Pat Jones, Project Co-ordinator and Jamie Reed NDA
NDA colleagues recently visited the region to meet the beneficiaries of some major funded projects including the Outdoor Partnership, MSParc, Menter Môn and the Morlais tidal energy project.
We have supported the Outdoor Partnership since 2012 and have seen them grow into an award-winning charity that empowers communities and enhances people’s lives through inclusive, outdoor activities throughout the whole of Wales and beyond. Over 800 fully qualified volunteer leaders and coaches now reach out to engage with 20,000 individuals a year and more than 5,000 people with any kind of disability and their families have benefitted from outdoor activities so far this year.
Visitor centre and café in progress
Jamie Reed, NDA director of socio-economics said: “It was a genuinely impressive visit and a great opportunity to see projects such as Morlais, a Menter Môn project which aims to benefit local communities, the economy and help tackle climate change by using renewable energy to generate clean low carbon electricity.
All in all, there are some fantastic projects underway in NW Wales, demonstrated by Morlais and MSParc in particular. They illustrate best practice for the NDA Group which we will be able to apply to other regions ensuring our funding brings maximum benefit. Colleagues learned a great deal from the visit.”
The group also visited the Marquess of Anglesey column to see how a £1.3m project to restore the grade II* listed building back to its former glory and transform the cottage into a visitor centre and café is progressing.
The Marquess of Anglesey Column
A £70,000 Magnox socio-economic scheme investment will help ensure this historic community asset is accessible to an anticipated 12,000 Welsh and English visitors a year who will be welcomed by six employees that are supported by 50 local volunteers. The project is also connecting heritage with the community to bring local schools and Bangor University together to create a unique educational resource at the new attraction.
Pat Jones, Anglesey Column Trust Project Coordinator, said: “We’re very grateful to Magnox and the NDA for their grant towards the restoration of the Marquess of Anglesey Column.
We were delighted to welcome their representatives to the site to see the work which they are generously supporting. The new visitor centre isn’t quite ready yet, but we were able to climb the 115 steps to reach the top of the 27m column to enjoy the fantastic panoramic view.
Thank you again – your contribution is helping to safeguard the future of this historic landmark.”
Magnox and the NDA are creating sustainable communities close to the earliest nuclear sites by investing in projects that boost the local economy and help people secure employment.
This investment is coordinated through the Magnox socio-economic scheme, which celebrated its tenth anniversary last year, and has seen over £16 million NDA and Magnox funding poured into over 1,200 extraordinary projects.