Town Council News

The councillors are changing round again. This time it's goodbye to Councillor Hugh Sawyer, who is moving on to a new business venture, and hello to Councillor Isobelle Keith, who works at PCI Pharma Services and has lived in Hay for two and a half years - her husband Tom grew up in the area.
Isobelle has hit the ground running as a member of the Town Council, as she is now the Co-ordinator for the Green Transport Action Plan. She has already set up a lift/car share group on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/238557719890177/
The Green Transport Action Plan is part of the Low Carbon Hay Steering Group, which was set up by the Town Council after they declared a climate change emergency. There are eight different topic areas, all with the aim to reduce the area's carbon footprint by 2030. They include: reducing business energy use, reducing domestic energy use, planting trees, working with Hay School and local secondary schools, transport, and supporting Plastic-Free Hay.
The Town Council is also supporting the Sustrans idea of a Hay to Brecon Cycle Path, more or less along the route of the old railway. This isn't possible along the whole route, as there are parts of the old railway line that have been built on, or are privately owned, but they hope to be able to re-route around those areas. Again, there is a Facebook page - www.facebook.com/pg/brecontohaycyclepath
Also on a green and sustainable theme, the Town Council mentions Hayfield Garden, the community garden on the other side of Hay Bridge, on Racquety Farm. They are keen to welcome new members to the group, which grows organic fruit and vegetables which are shared among the members, with the surplus being sold. They meet on Wednesdays and Saturday mornings, but people may be there on other days as well.
And finally, the newsletter that went out with WyeLocal has a thank you from the Town Council to Harold Coombes, who has been looking after the garden around the Council Chambers for the past 20 years and has now finally decided to retire!