Media Release No.10

Penarth Arts & Crafts Ltd: Penarth Pier Project
Visit by the Shadow Secretary of State
January 2008

Penarth Arts & Crafts Ltd, the community organisation which is planning to revitalise the Penarth Pavilion had a surprise visit this week from Jeremy Hunt, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport.

PACL has secured a planning grant from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting redevelopment of the Penarth Pier Pavilion.

Mr Hunt was given a tour of the building, constructed in 1929 as a "people's palace" and now which is in urgent need of internal refurbishment. The Pavilion has Grade II listing and is regarded as one of the most striking of seaside piers in the U.K.

The group was met by Project Manager Maggie Knight, and joined by two PACL Trustees, Peter Clark and Vale Councillor Maureen Kelly Owen to discuss future plans for the building. The scheme has gathered bi-partisan support and was warmly endorsed by Mr. Hunt and his party this week.

It aims to draw in the local community with a diverse range of activities including film and as well offer a wider public the opportunity to be part of a sustainable project through maritime and other alternative energy sources.

Newsletter Two - November 2007

Reminiscence Day September 2007

On the 13th September a special ‘Reminiscence Day’ was hosted at the Washington Gallery by well-known campaigner for the redevelopment of the Pier, June Elias. Many residents of Penarth and surrounding communities attended, sharing stories and photographs of their precious memories of the Pavilion. Some people recorded their memoirs on film and paper, providing the Project Organisers with useful information about the history of the Pier and its many uses. In its time as the ‘Marina’ dance hall, the Pavilion was a meeting place for many future husbands and wives! If you wish to share your memories please feel free to send an email or write a letter to the gallery – we’d be pleased to hear from you.

School Competition

Over the summer, schools in the Vale participated in a competition to design a logo suitable for the redeveloped Pavilion. The two winners, picked by judge Malcolm Hird, were Caelum Davies (13) and Connor Boyle (13) both pupils at Barry Comprehensive School. They were invited to the Washington Gallery where their designs were framed and exhibited. Malcolm said, “I feel that these entries help show some of the wonderful talent there is among young people in the Vale of Glamorgan. Some people might say these entries are more effective than the logo for the London Olympics which cost £400,000!”

Restoring Pier is in Vogue

The BBC website has been promoting the revival of Britain’s much loved and iconic piers. The British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) is running a competition for architects, planners and the general public to find designs for 21st Century piers. Once again Penarth is ahead of the game!

Visual Display Boards a Continuing Success!

The exhibition illustrating the Pavilion Project’s proposal, history and similar success stories has been continuing its tour around the Vale of Glamorgan. Most recently it has been displayed in the Penarth Library, Barry Civic Offices, the National Assembly for Wales and Llantwit Major Library, gathering valuable feedback from the community and involving them in the Project. Future exhibitions will be held at Barry Central Library, from 19th to 24th November.

What’s in a Name?

As part of the ongoing Project the public are being consulted on the future name of the Pavilion, with suggestions varying from Arfor (meaning ‘by the sea’) to Eco-Pier Wales. PACL are keen for everyone’s input, so if you have any suggestions, or wish to show support for one of those already put forward, please contact the gallery.

Supporting the Project

Look out for the Pavilion Project petitions, which have been circulated to strategic positions around Penarth, such as the library. Every signature will help the realisation of the Project, we’ve already collected 300 signatures todate and have an impressive 700 names on our mailing list. Support us by encouraging other people to join our mailing list, receiving news of the progress of the Project and details of forthcoming promotional events. If you would like to send a letter of support please address it to:

The Washington Gallery, 1-3 Washington Buildings, Stanwell Road, Penarth, CF64 2AD or email: info@washingtongallery.co.uk or info@eco-pier.co.uk

Volunteers

We are always pleased to hear from anyone interested in activities either at the Washington Gallery, the Education programme (mostly outreach) or the Pavilion Project Application. Please give us a call if you want to hear more about the programmes and how you could help.

Photography Competition

A photographic competition, which will have the Pier Pavilion Building as its subject, is being planned for this autumn. The competition will be open to all and will culminate in the winning entries forming part of an exhibition of painting, drawing and photography, inspired by this landmark, planned for late February/early March next year. The exhibition will be held at the Washington Gallery, managed by the charitable, not-for-profit organisation Penarth Arts and Crafts, who are the same charity who have secured a planning grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Website Progress

The Pavilion Project website will be ‘live’ in the next month. The website www.penarthpavilion.co.uk details the history, concept, educational programmes and latest news of the developing Pavilion, with a proposed forum for the community to discuss their thoughts towards the Project.

Grateful Thanks

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Triptych Marketing on this project - their ongoing expertise is much appreciated.

Newsletter One - August 2007

Welcome to this our first newsletter to let you know about developments with Penarth Arts & Crafts Heritage Lottery Fund planning application to refurbish this important landmark building.

Architect is appointed to Penarth Pavilion Project

Niall Phillips of Purcell Tritton Miller Architects has been appointed to prepare the Conservation Management Report for the HLF Pavilion Planning Application. As head of the Clevedon Pier Trust he has particular experience in this kind of project. Other recent work includes the £3.5 million visitor centre at Cardiff Castle and the World Heritage Resource Centre at Blaenavon. He is particularly interested in reuse of ‘problem’ historic buildings and identifying relevant development mechanisms to maximise grant aid, enabling contribution and other resources to achieve economic viability. As an architect previously successful in securing major bids with the Heritage Lottery Fund, we look forward to working with him.

Visual Display tours Cardiff and Penarth

An exhibition detailing the plans for the redevelopment for Penarth Pier Pavilion, which until recently had been displayed at the Washington Gallery and Penarth Town Council, moved to the Senedd, Wales’ National Assembly Building in Cardiff Bay on August 3. The specially-commissioned visual display boards demonstrate possible usages for the Pavilion including an education programme, film clubs, dances and local food outlets. Historical photos and information show us the story of the building from its inception in 1929. Visitors are being invited to give their comments on a feedback form and these will be collated to help PACL put together a plan for the Pavilion once it is refurbished.

Logo Competition

A competition for school children to design a logo for the project was successfully carried out in June and we had some excellent contributions from both primary and secondary schools. Malcolm Hird, a volunteer with PACL for the project is planning further school design competitions to help involve the younger generation in the project.

Maritime Working Party

The Maritime Advisory Committee for the Pavilion Project held their first meeting on the 18th July 2007 at the Washington Gallery. Headed by Commodore Donald Moore, the group discussed the Pavilion in relation to its unique position on the Bristol Channel. Maggie Knight, Project Director, agreed that a major theme of the project should emphasise the value and potential of the marine environment. At present the Pier accommodates the summer sailings of the two cruise ships, the Waverley and the Balmoral; there is also a popular custom for strolling along the Pier in the summer.

The University Royal Naval Unit was among those represented – there was discussion about whether it might benefit from docking at the Pier. It was thought that this was not possible at present but the organisation would still be included by its contributions to exhibitions and demonstrations within the Pavilion. Other bodies represented were the Cardiff Yacht Club, Penarth Yacht Club, Cardiff Water Bus, the Glamorgan - Gwent Archaeology Trust, Coastguard Watch, HM Coastguard, the Penarth Society, Alan Thorne (Historian) and John Goodwin (Cardiff University). Project officer Philip Watkins did an excellent job in bringing everyone together.

Further suggestions for maritime uses were the scattering of ashes from the end of the Pier. The committee members felt that the largest problem facing Pavilion’s redevelopment was the lack of transport to and from the Pier. The Waterbus Operator felt that there was an ‘audience’ for Penarth but that access from the docking point at the barrage to the Pier was seriously hindered by the steep hill, particularly as the majority of customers had been elderly people. The meeting was concluded on a positive note with Commodore Donald Moore saying the comments had been “constructive and valuable.” He hoped the group’s conclusions would be amplified and drawn together at the following meeting.

Website

The Pavilion website, www.penarthpavilion.co.uk is preparing to go live within a matter of weeks. The website, designed by Triptych Marketing is to be used an interactive tool receiving e-mails and will be kept regularly updated by a member of the project. Hopes are that the website will become a forum for the local community to express their views and ideas about the uses for the Pavilion.

"Reminiscence Day" Thursday September 13 11am – 4pm

A local resident, June Elias, who has lived in the area of Penarth for many years, is calling upon other residents to write to either the Penarth Times or The Washington Gallery, with their stories and memories of the Pier. She is planning to host the day with Washington Gallery staff and volunteers to record memories at the Washington Gallery on Thursday 11th September, 11am -4pm. Drinks and refreshments will be provided. Contact info@ecopier. co.uk or info@washingtongallery.co.uk . The poster attached to the newsletter can be downloaded or sent out to anybody who could publicise the event.

Working Parties

We are currently gathering working parties together to look at various aspects of making the Pavilion a sustainable and interesting public venture. These include education activities, art and trade exhibitions, film and social history groups.

Database

We have had a wonderful response to feedback forms, particularly from the Penarth local community, and are busy compiling a database of residents and businesses interested in the development of the Pavilion. Tell us if you want to be included for regular updates.