Bro Machno

Tranche One Rural Futures community

Bro Machno, Conwy

Dyffryn Machno is situated within the Uwch Conwy Ward, which has a population of 1,500 people. The ward boundary area is almost 18,000 hectares and the villages are classified as rural in a sparse setting.

Bro Machno is set within a beautiful landscape with wonderful walks, wildlife and natural resources and has strong and caring communities. This is a great place to live if you are young or old. There is something for everyone with lots of community groups providing social activities to get involved with.  Bro Machno has a strong community with an impressive ethos of caring for each other ‘from cradle to grave’.

However, pressure from the housing market is causing alarm within the community and the situation is deteriorating fast. Not a Second to Spare (Welsh version here Tai Machno papur)  highlights the on-the-ground experience of the community at Bro Machno in Conwy as an example of how a dwindling housing stock is a serious threat to Welsh Culture and Community Cohesion.

There are serious challenges to community and cultural sustainability, not least from a lack of affordable housing, exacerbated by the proliferation of second homes. The infrastructure of narrow roads, lack of parking and affordable housing within this ex mining area provides its own challenges as does poor broadband and mobile signal and low-paid work. 33.5% of households receive below 60% GB median income.

rural valley

Engagement to Date

Mark Gahan

Mark Gahan

Place Coordinator

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November 2018

Bro Machno Story Studio

story studio at Bro Machno, November 2018

The two day Story Studio was attended by over 100 people and discussions focused on past, present and future issues such as farming, tourism, youth, older people, community hubs and community shops. 

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Recent engagements

The community-led priorities outlined below have been highlighted since spring 2018 through a series of engagement events, discussions, community meetings and workshops.

Key engagement events have included:

  • Sgwrs Y Pentref– Ffair Dolig
  • Cardiau post Bro Machno Postcards
  • Rural Futures ‘shop’ Penmachno
  • Machno Ymlaen steering group meetings
  • Shaping our Future event, Cwm Penmachno
  • Community Hub design sessions

Microgrants

Local projects receiving funding through the microgrants programme

  • Clear Village: Penmachno Makers.  July – August 2019.  The project comprised of two workshops for the Penmachno community; the community hub open day digital skills taster session and the community hub design sprint
    Case study

 

  • Clwb y Llan + Neuadd Goffa Penmachno : Promoting the refurbishment of the old school.  July – August 2019.  Having engaged extensively with the community of Bro Machno, the main priority that emerged was the creation of a central community hub. This project brought everyone together so that the design and layout of the space could be discussed.

Community Priorities

The community has created a list of key themes which need to be addressed. One core idea is to improve the community owned Neuadd Goffa Penmachno Hall to create a modern community facility with resources and activities to act as a hub for the whole community within Bro Machno to provide a good foundation for the community to address issues relating to poverty in the area.

Four main aims are to:

  1. Develop community alliances and build social capital.
  2. Facilitate ways to develop and share skills or trades.
  3. Develop new services, projects and enterprises.
  4. Coordinate local advice and service provision.

Updates

Housing in Rural Areas – Sustaining Welsh Communities

Housing in Rural Areas – Sustaining Welsh Communities

by | 12 October 2021

Rising house prices have been causing alarm across the UK this year. For some rural areas in Wales though the loss of housing stock for the next generation has been a concern for some time with the situation reaching unsustainable levels due to locals no longer being...