Set-back for Cylch Caron but ambition and commitment remains

A partnership project to provide an Integrated Resource Centre in Tregaron – Cylch Caron – has been suspended. However, partners say they remain committed to making improvements to the rural model of community care and housing in the area.

The Project Board has made the announcement on behalf of the three main partners – Ceredigion County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and Mid Wales Housing Association (now incorporated within Barcud housing group).

The project was due to deliver a single site GP surgery, community pharmacy, outpatient clinics, community nursing and social care facilities, as well as extra care housing. Despite considerable effort in recent months to consider alternative size and design options, it has not been possible to deliver a proposed extra care scheme for Tregaron which is financially viable within the available capital and revenue finance.

Project Board Chair Peter Skitt said on behalf of all partners: “This is deeply regrettable, but a necessary step now so that we can all re-focus on an achievable solution for the community in Tregaron and the surrounding area. The council and health board will make urgent assessments as to any interim solutions which may need to be implemented as we build a long term plan.”

Group Chief Executive of Barcud, Steve Jones comments, “Developing an innovative joint service housing and community health scheme in deep rural areas such as Tregaron is challenging, both in terms of achieving sustainable design, affordable tendered building prices, and viable operational costs. Substantial efforts have been made by each of the partners, working together with the support of Welsh Government, local politicians, and community businesses, to try to achieve a financially viable scheme to enable local services and accessible homes to be delivered in Tregaron. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to achieve a financially viable scheme on the current proposed site.”

Eifion Evans, Ceredigion County Council Chief Executive, said: “We are committed to the Cylch Caron project as a Public Services Board and will continue to look at various other options for health and social care to be provided in the Tregaron area.”

Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board Steve Moore added: “The ambition in our ten-year strategy is for an integrated, social model for health. Schemes such as Cylch Caron, and those we have already delivered in other parts of Ceredigion, are important for us to deliver on this. We will not lose sight of this aim and will continue to work in partnership with the council and other stakeholders to find a solution that is right for this community.”

All three partner organisations remain deeply committed to the delivery of local health and social care services, alongside quality accessible affordable homes; and will continue to work with the local community representatives in Tregaron, and the Welsh Government, to explore other ways of delivering these services and facilities.