About us

About Us

BRAG
BRYN RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP

BRYN RESIDENTS ACTION GROUP (BRAG) is a voluntary group supporting the village of Bryn, located on the B4282 between Cwmavon and Maesteg. Primarily a agricultural area its coal reserves changed it into a typical mining village with the advent of the industrial revolution. Since mining ceased it has reverted in the greatest part back to its farming roots. It is now a developing rural village that is a very pleasant place to live and play due to its location in the Margam Mountains and surrounding Afon forest. Being close to the M4 it has easy access to all major towns and cities in South Wales. It has become a very popular place to live whilst retaining its village atmosphere.

On this site you will find information on:

Details of past and future events
Things to do and see
Things of use to Bryn residents
Brag projects past and future
Useful links
Plus much more of interest!

Brag, Bryn and the heritage of the village and its people

BRAG is a local volunteer group, working to promote and support the community of Bryn.

As well as organizing events, it supports groups in the village such as the historical society and local school and promotes projects aimed at making Bryn “A nice place to be”. All residents are welcome to attend the village meetings and have a say on what is happening in their community. Its also a chance to meet the police, local Councilors and the BRAG members.
Formed in 2009

Giving a community voice to all

Attracts grant funding for the benefit of Bryn residents and visitors.

COMPLETED PROJECTS

The village first came together to discuss the upcoming local unitary plans of the local authority in 2009, over a period of some years developers had tried to reopen the old wounds caused by the mining industry in the area. A number of attempts to open opencast mining in the area had been fought off by residents combining with our neighbors in Maesteg. However these were one offs where the village had come together to fight a specific cause. At the meeting held in the summer of 2009, it was realized that if we were to be taken seriously by the local authority we would have to form a cohesive group representing the wishes of the community, to the local authorities and developers, as there was no consensus on forming another level of local government i.e. a community council the next best thing was to form a properly constituted action group, hence the formation of BRAG. Its aim being to make BRYN a nice place to live.
Since then it has become a force for the good of the residents, with many projects coming to completion.

Regular meetings are held monthly with local Councillors to discuss points of concern.
These also include representatives of the police.
The meetings are open to all and are a chance for the people of Bryn to bring up points of concern.
Items brought up and actions include everything from state of the roads to cleaning up the streets, and working parties have been formed on regular basis to litter pick the area.
New road signs have been placed at the entrance to the village, 20mph areas formed where children cross the main roads and 20mph signs at the village school.
The old dram road has become pedestrian only putting a stop to a well used rat run for car drivers.
Events put on to bring the village together, include St. David’s day celebrations, Christmas parties, Historical society meetings.
Bi-monthly Newsletters to keep the community informed.
A web site opened where all could see what was happening, all minutes of meetings are openly published on the web for all to see and comment on.
Three major eye sores have been dealt with at the entrances of the village, i.e. The old colliery buildings demolished, the old bus garage demolished, and after a long fight, the defunct petrol garage demolished.
Other smaller jobs completed include the keeping open of the footpath by the river which the developer tried to build on. The removal of storage containers from Varteg row, again from the same developer who has proved most uncooperative. The river bridge abutments are being rebuilt.
The area around the old coal tips have been fenced and gated and will eventually become a wild life preservation area as well as a picnic area, and the start of a very nice walk up to the forestry.
A face book page has been opened to allow more open comment.
This summer in June a major running event has been organized which it is hoped will become internationally recognized, and its own web site opened to promote it.
Promotion of the historical side of the village, along with promotion of the country side around us by providing information on country walks.
The involvement of the local school in village events and projects.
This just the start in bringing our community together, this has been achieved in a little under 2 years watch this space. BRYN REALLY IS BECOMING A NICE PLACE TO LIVE.
Saturday 18th June 2011 saw the first BWYSTFIL Y BRYN Alpine Races. We hope this will be the start of many such events over the coming years. The feedback from people on the fun run and the endurance races have been very encouraging, our sponsors seem very happy with our efforts, so hopefully with this in mind next year should be even better.
Picnic area constructed on site of old colliery tip. 2012
Picnic by Royal Oak upgraded 2012.
2013 fast internet access to the community centre has now been provided by RESQ, who were the first to bring fast internet access to the village;
Bwystfil y Bryn Alpine races now a permanent feature of the village activities with 4 races held to date and the fifth planned for May 2015.
In addition to this we’ve also taken over and reinstated the Richard Burton Road Race in Cwmavon.
To Accommodate the races a further two web sites have been opened one each for both races.
Progress made on rebuilding part of the village park to allow the building of a skate boarding track with money being awarded from lottery funding.
Project successfully completed with the school and National Lottery called Coal Coal our
Country needs coal, it took a year to finish. But showed what can be accomplished with cooperation in the village.
Various activities are still being produced in the village, e.g. Pantos, Easter and Halloween events as well as a recent planting of daffodils around the village to brighten it up.
January 2015 skate park finally opens on part of the old tennis courts, work includes updating the remaining tennis court, see under sport for pictures of opening.
Sadness as last concert held at Bryn school prior to its closure and pupils moved to
Cwmavon despite a fight to keep open. Still keep up running special events for them.
2016 Started running I.T. classes for beginners in community center.
After a long wait and much pressure the youth club re-opens.
Trim trail moved from school to community park for benifit of kids.
2017 After a long time finally got every thing in place to instate a memorial to the miners who worked in the collieries around Bryn, at the old coal tip site picnic area.

COMMITTEE AND ANCILLARY MEMBERS

Paul Bulmer (Chair)
Mark Dummer (Treasurer)
Vacant (Secretary)
John and Dianne Thomas Trustees
Dafydd Bowen (Trustee and Historical Society Chair)
Peter Phillips Webmaster.

Committee Members

Sue Phillips, Louise Hopkins, Michelle Jones, Dave and Jenett Eckton, David Yorwerth, Delyth Wanklyn, Martyn Pallant, Phillip Morgan.
Morgan Thomas, Dylan Morgan, Morgan Thomas, Gareth & Gaynor Jones, Helen Rees, Tracy Cooper, Val Merriman(President WI), Gaynor Bowen (Secretary WI), Betty Daniels (Vice President WI), Rowena Hughes (Chair Over 50 Club),Gareth Jones (Vice Chairman Over 50 Club)
Shaun Tobin “Richard Burton 10k Chair

Local Councillors

Cllr David Whitelock Cllr Charlette Galsworthy Cllr Rhidian Mizen

Police

Karen Davies Community Police Officer Karen.Davies4@south-wales.pnn.police.uk

Derek Jones Community Centre Manager 07767 620689 d.i.jones@npt.gov.uk
Jessica M. Davies Community Centre Admin 01639861111 j.m.davies@npt.gov.uk

Derek Jones Community Centre Manager 07767 620869 d.i.jones@npt.gov.uk
Jessica M. Davies Community Centre Admin 01639861111 j.m.davies@npt.gov.uk

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