A Day in Clydach Vale

The Community Energy Wales team took time away from our usual desks and screens to spend the day at Cambrian Village Trust Lakeside Cafe Bar. And what a great day it was.

As well as a day of team strategising and a superb lunch, in a building powered by a 100kW micro hydro turbine, ex-miner and hydro-engineer Gareth Thomas gave us all a brief overview of the history of the former colliery site, now a countryside park with two lakes and a network of paths on re-natured coal tips.

Showing us a sample of his collection of mine-related memorabilia and an incredibly moving newspaper from 1965 depicting the Cambrian Colliery explosion, Gareth described the hard life miners’ families had to endure. He also said talk of reopening the pits is senseless and that he would never wish for anyone to have to work underground.

Gareth also showed us the micro hydro turbine and explained how it powers the cafe by direct wire. They also have solar panels for the football changing rooms and have plans to power more onsite, avoiding transmission and so saving money. The income from their renewable energy generation funds so many worthwhile projects that help people with their wellbeing. The two lakes, the cafe, the football facilities, the gardening, bike-hire, shop selling local produce and much more makes for a fantastic place to spend time in nature and is inclusive to all.

Diolch o galon Gareth for your generosity and for sharing your vast knowledge with us all. And to Phil and the team in the cafe for being such brilliant hosts. The Community Energy Wales team had a great day in Clydach.

Community Energy Wales is in the business of supporting communities do more of what the Cambrian Village Trust does. You can read about our proposals that would help create the conditions for more of this here: Community Energy Wales Manifesto 2026

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