Rural Regeneration

• Powys Local Action Group. Local Action Groups (LAGS) are created to oversee the delivery of the EU’s rural Development LEADER programm. Members of LAGs are from private, public and third (charity) sectors

  LEADER means links between actions for the development of rural economy

  Brexit means there is uncertainty for LEADER projects and unless EU Rural Development money is replaced by UK government LEADER projects will cease after 2020
• Powys Regeneration Projects 


  Between 2011-2013 grants of over £4 million helped 310 businesses/ community projects / creating 36 full-time jobs

  2014-2020 sustainable tourism projects, farm diversification and resilient Powys. (Increase of resilience of local high streets and loyalty card schemes), grants for glam ping sites, welding workshops, equine enterprises, wildlife tourism

  Agriculture industry, green tourism, creative industries, renewable energy

  EU funding ended
• Hay-on-Wye


  a bottom up project lead by localism

  Richard Booth invented the ‘book town’ concept. First opened his second hand bookshop in 1962 and opened 10 more in 10 years, rebranding as ‘the town of books’.

  Now and international organisations of book towns wirh book villages around the world in Europe and Noth America
• Hay-on-Wye


  Next Peter Florence launched the Hay Festival of Literature & Arts which runs 10 days at the end of May.

  The first festival was in 1988, attracting famous names, 200,000 visitors per year and generates £26 million for the local economy
• Conflicts between locals and tourists

  Parking issues during the festival. 30% of respondents deaf that parking problems disrupted their their daily lives. Visitors parked in resident only places.
• House prices increased 


  The median price is £305,000

  Forces local people out, holiday letters likely to buy, houses stay empty during winter, less people to support local business, derelict buildings unattractive

  Immigration encourages young telecom workers who work from home