In
October 2004 we started the annual Cowbridge Food and Drink Festival.
This became so successful by 2006 that running the
Festival had become a full time job and we handed it
over to a separate voluntary Organisation.
It is now one of the most popular Food Festival in Wales and in 2010 was the
winners of the National Tourism Awards Wales; Best Community Event 2010.
Cowbridge Jazz Festival
In June 2005 we started the Cowbridge Jazz Festival following on from the successful Jazz concert and lunch during the 2004 Celebrations.
The Restoration of Cowbridge Town Wall
2006 was the start of the restoration of the Cowbridge Town Wall with the clearing of the vegetation by volunteers of the intrusive vegetation that all but hid the Wall.
2008 saw rebuilding work start on the section between the Physic Garden and the South entrance with a grant to help train inmates from HMP Parc in the skills of working with lime mortar.
2009 and our request to the Vale Council for a £60,000 Grant to restore the Wall acquired increased urgency with the collapse of the Wall by the Market Tavern!
The Report commissioned in 1999 by the Council estimated the cost of repairs at £402,610 excluding fees and VAT with an annual maintenance budget of £2,500 excluding materials and administration.
2011 completed the
renovation works to the satisfaction of both CADW and the Council Conservation
Planning Officer and within budget.
We were also able to undertake archaeological investigations to
determine the full extent of the original medieval wall construction much of
which is buried beneath the Georgian rebuild and this work is now the subject
of a Paper published in November 2011 by the Cowbridge Record Society in their
book entitled "Echoes of Old
Cowbridge”.
Negotiations are now proceeding with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to put in
place a programme for future maintenance to ensure that the Walls do not fall
into disrepair once again.
Floodlighting the Holy Cross Church was completed in 2008
First advocated in 2004 as part of the 750 Celebrations the negotiations were complicated by the Town Council being responsible for the ground surrounding the Church. Then there were complaints concerning possible light pollution, disturbing bats and wrens! Fortunately the delays were eventually beneficial, as they enabled us to take advantage of the latest advances in LED lighting with much lower running and maintenance costs.
The Church was “washed” in colour changing lighting instead of being floodlit, using just 240 watts instead of 3000!
Finally on the 23rd of November 2008 the floodlighting of the Church of the Holy Cross was officially switched on!
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