Giant step for Carmarthenshire, giant bike for County Hall!
A GIANT bike has appeared at Carmarthen’s County Hall as the countdown to the Tour of Britain continues.
Carmarthenshire County Council has unveiled the six-metre statue as part of its welcome to the most prestigious cycling road race in the UK, which starts in Carmarthenshire on September 2.
It has been created by Welsh company Wild Creations, the people behind the popular ‘ball in the wall’ sculpture at Cardiff Castle for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
It will be a focal point for Stage One of the Tour of Britain which passes County Hall on its route from Pembrey Country Park to Llandovery.
People are being encouraged to visit County Hall for photo opportunities with the giant bike in the run-up to the event, sharing their photos on social media using the hashtags #BeicioSirGar and #CycleCarms.
It is part of a big marketing campaign by Carmarthenshire County Council to promote the tour.
Over the last week people have been spotting a number of green bikes that have been dotted around the county.
Local communities and businesses are also being encouraged to get involved and benefit from the tour, with 15 town and community councils and several cycling clubs amongst those putting on their own events and decorating their streets for crowds to enjoy.
Early indications are that thousands of people will visit Carmarthenshire to catch a glimpse of world-famous cyclists – possibly including Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas – and communities and businesses are set to see a boom in trade.
Similar regions around the UK that have previously welcomed the tour have reported economic boosts of around £4million.
The giant bike is the county council’s official entry into the national Tour of Britain land art competition, where towns and villages along the route are encouraged to get creative for the ‘eye in the sky’ cameras that capture the race for ITV4.
It will stay at County Hall until late September before moving to its permanent home at the newly opened National Closed Road Circuit in Pembrey Country Park.
Cllr Peter Hughes Griffiths, executive board member for culture, sport and tourism, said: “We are thrilled that Carmarthenshire has been chosen as the start of the Tour of Britain, the biggest road race in the UK.
“We wanted to do something special to mark this special event and provide a focal point for families who are as excited as we are to welcome the tour.
“The cyclists will be racing over Towy Bridge right in front of County Hall as part of the race, so this will be a great sight for them and everyone watching the live television coverage.
“Come along to County Hall to see the bike and take some selfies with it – we’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s pictures across social media as we lead up to September 2.”
- Information about the Tour of Britain Stage One event in Carmarthenshire can be found at carmarthenshire.gov.wales including spectator information, volunteer opportunities, limited edition merchandise, community events, competitions and more.
Digwyddiad enfawr yn Sir Gâr, beic enfawr yn Neuadd y Sir!
MAE beic enfawr wedi’i osod yn Neuadd y Sir, Caerfyrddin, wrth i ni ddechrau cyfri’r dyddiau cyn Taith Prydain.
Datgelwyd y cerflun 6 metr gan Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin fel rhan o’i baratoadau i groesawu ras beicio ffordd fwyaf nodedig y Deyrnas Unedig, sy’n dechrau yn Sir Gaerfyrddin ar 2 Medi.
Fe’i crëwyd gan ‘Wild Creations’, sef y cwmni Cymreig oedd yn gyfrifol am gerflun enwog ‘y bêl yn y wal’ yng Nghastell Caerdydd adeg Cwpan Rygbi’r Byd 2015.
Hwn fydd y canolbwynt ar gyfer Cymal Un Taith Prydain, a fydd yn mynd heibio i Neuadd y Sir ar ei ffordd o Barc Gwledig Pen-bre i Lanymddyfri.
Mae pobl yn cael eu hannog i fynd i Neuadd y Sir cyn y ras a thynnu llun gyda’r beic, gan rannu’r lluniau ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol drwy ddefnyddio hashnodau #BeicioSirGar a #CycleCarms.
Mae’n rhan o ymgyrch farchnata fawr gan Gyngor Sir Caerfyrddin i hyrwyddo’r daith.
Yn ystod yr wythnos diwethaf mae pobl wedi bod yn cadw llygad am nifer o feiciau gwyrdd sydd o amgylch y sir.
Mae cymunedau a busnesau lleol hefyd yn cael eu hannog i gymryd rhan ac i elwa ar y daith, ac mae 15 o gynghorau tref a chymuned a sawl clwb beicio ymhlith y rheiny sy’n addurno’r strydoedd ac yn trefnu eu digwyddiadau eu hunain i’r torfeydd eu mwynhau.
Mae’n edrych yn debyg y bydd miloedd o bobl yn heidio i Sir Gâr i gael cip ar feicwyr byd enwog (o bosibl bydd enillydd y Tour de France, Geraint Thomas yn eu plith) a fydd yn hwb sylweddol i gymunedau a busnesau.
Mae rhanbarthau tebyg ledled y DU sydd wedi croesawu’r daith yn y gorffennol wedi elwa yn sgil hwb economaidd o ryw £4 miliwn.
Y beic enfawr yw ymgais swyddogol y Cyngor Sir yng nghystadleuaeth cerflun tir Taith Prydain, lle mae trefi a phentrefi ar hyd y daith yn cael eu hannog i fod yn greadigol ar gyfer camerâu ‘llygaid yn yr awyr’ ITV4.
Bydd yn aros yn Neuadd y Sir tan ddiwedd mis Medi cyn symud i’w gartref parhaol yn y Gylchffordd Gaeedig Genedlaethol newydd ym Mharc Gwledig Pen-bre.
Dywedodd y Cynghorydd Peter Hughes Griffiths, yr Aelod o’r Bwrdd Gweithredol dros Ddiwylliant, Chwaraeon a Thwristiaeth: “Rydym ni wrth ein boddau bod Sir Gaerfyrddin wedi ei dewis fel man cychwyn Taith Prydain, sef y ras ffordd fwyaf yn y DU.
“Roeddem ni eisiau gwneud rhywbeth arbennig i nodi’r digwyddiad arbennig hwn ac i greu canolbwynt ar gyfer teuluoedd sydd yr un mor gyffrous â ni ynghylch croesawu’r daith.
“Bydd y beicwyr yn rasio dros Bont Tywi, sydd union o flaen Neuadd y Sir, felly bydd hon yn olygfa wych iddyn nhw a phawb fydd yn gwylio’r ras yn fyw ar y teledu.
“Dewch draw i Neuadd y Sir i weld y beic a chymryd ambell hun-lun; rydym yn awyddus i weld lluniau pawb ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol wrth i ni edrych ymlaen yn eiddgar at 2 Medi.”
- I gael gwybod rhagor am Gymal Un Taith Prydain yn Sir Gaerfyrddin ewch i sirgar.llyw.cymru lle mae gwybodaeth i wylwyr a gwybodaeth am gyfleoedd i wirfoddoli, nwyddau arbennig, digwyddiadau cymunedol, cystadlaethau a llawer mwy.
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