After a devastating flood in February, Tylorstown Welfare Hall will be getting far more than a fresh coat of paint in the coming months
[Pictures thanks to Rebecca Sullivan]
The last remaining welfare hall in Rhondda Fach is set for a renovation this winter, hopefully reopening its doors to the surrounding community in December.
Tylorstown Welfare Hall, seven miles north-west of Pontypridd, was in desperate need of renovation after a substantial flood in February. The damage caused meant the welfare hall had to close its doors to the public.
Rebecca Sullivan, the Welfare Hall development manager, explained, “A water tank support structure in the attic collapsed and the front of the building saw a lot of water damage. It took nine weeks to dry out.”
However, Rebecca said there was a silver-lining to the flooding, “we discovered that the original parquet floor from 1933 was in fantastic condition.”
The welfare hall secured funding from the National Heritage Lottery Fund in January. This has gone towards refurbishing the flooring of the building, and will fund rewiring and a foyer makeover when further work starts soon. There are further plans for next year to upgrade the fabric of the building and to install a passenger lift, to improve access.
Rebecca said Social Business Wales (SBW) and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust have been instrumental in the planning of the renovation, having been on hand to provide building surveys, a business plan and human resources support.
Speaking at the 2019 Social Business Wales conference in Llandudno last month, SBW director Glenn Bowen explained how they support rural communities. As reported by Coop News, he said, “We work with people in communities, we help them highlight the problems they face and help them find their own solutions.”
In Tylorstown, Rebecca is looking forward to the renovation’s completion. “We’d love for the Hall to be open for December as we have a lot planned for the community. We are looking forward to reopening an improved building for local residents.”