Community Proposal for Gelliswick Bay
We had a delightful chat with Caroline Jones recently. She told us all about her plans for an area in Gelliswick, a sheltered bay close to Milford Haven. Not having heard of the area, I had to look it up and found it is named for the Vikings who invaded the area many moons ago.
Caroline told us about an asset transfer planned for an area in Gelliswick Bay comprised of the former caravan park, the Sea Scout hut, Gelliswick Bay public convenience, a large, wooded area, and some green space. The council has invited proposals that will improve and enhance the facilities.
Caroline saw this as a great opportunity for the community and with the support of Vicky Möller has put together a joint proposal letter inviting all groups and organisations with a social, wellbeing and/or environmental purpose to join them in a collaborative expression of interest by 25 April.
At the moment, they ask for support by way of letters, preferably on headed paper, stating that there is a requirement for this venture and why. The letters will be handed in with the expression of interest. The project also invites interested people join with them to get things done.
Caroline stressed: “It feels essential that we keep this land for community use. We are really keen to rebuild a resilient community after the pandemic, to bring people back together for a common cause. And what better way than in getting back out in nature – which has proven to be so valuable for everyone’s mental-health, creativity and education.”
She sees the project as an opportunity to uplift and encourage people, to ease loneliness, to build individuals’ confidence, and to explore different interests, hobbies, hidden talents and ideas.
“The list is endless as to what we could do with this lovely space,” she said. “The project would create an opportunity to provide support and assistance like sign-posting, offering access to courses and/or resources. We have been in discussion with a wide range of agencies.
“Of course we are committed to being as eco and environmentally friendly as possible in preserving the existing natural environment and maintaining at least a carbon-neutral foot-print while aiming for zero waste.
“We want to welcome all ages. We could have wellbeing therapies, learning and teaching opportunities, volunteering, arts and crafts, music workshops, social and team-building activities or even just relaxing.”
Caroline and her team envision multiple small undercover venues for small gatherings and a larger one for events, meetings and activities, as befitting the location, like a yurt, a fixed marquee or roundhouse, an outdoor but undercover cooking area, a pizza oven, barbecue, compost toilets, and space in the woodland in which residents can reconnect with nature and each other to play and simply to be together.
Caroline and her team are passionate about the project and their ideas sound wonderful. “We want to invite the people of Pembrokeshire to get involved in making this vision a reality. You can help by getting involved, first in your own letter of interest, and by contacting the group to find out how else you might become involved.”
Contact details are below:
Caroline Jones, Gellirs Vik Village Lead Project Proposer
communitychances@protonmail.com
07533 049412
Vicky Moller, Grwp Project Manager
01239 820971 or 07791 809 810
Vicky@grwp.wales
it will not work… the youth will wreck it as they do now… best left as is for wildlife… so who’s going to police it 24 hrs a day? there’s drugs done down there now and dumped rubbish… be great if it worked… but like the toilets there wrecked now shut…
So according to our classic Milford-pessemist, we should just do nothing.
There’s already a community centre, there’s no reason not to utilise that rather than creating a new one.
The plan for developing it as a caravan/glamping/camping will bring tourism to this side and will surely benefit the community and local businesses