The community of Hermon near Crymych are ploughing ahead with a new venture to buy the village chapel of Brynmyrnach to open a ground floor heritage centre and a new upper floor area for two flats for local people.

The members of the chapel were faced with a difficult decision of looking at the best options for the old Victorian building built in 1888. The roof is in a very poor state and the cost of refurbishment would be an expensive endeavour.

Following a meeting of the chapel members along with people within the community it was proposed to sell the chapel to a new Heritage and Housing Trust being set up by locals. The idea was proposed at the meeting by the local county councillor Cris Tomos.

Cris explained “The new Heritage and Housing Trust would be a Community Benefit Society and limited company. Local people would be the shareholders in this cooperative housing venture that will have a local letting policy allowing affordable housing for local families and couples.”

The new project is now seeking local investors to help purchase the chapel with a request of lumpsums of £2,000 guaranteeing an annual interest rate greater that highstreet banks.

Cris further explained. “We are seeking local financial contributors in the same way as Canolfan Hermon Cooperative, 4CG Cooperative and Tafarn Sinc Cooperative attracted local people to help save and develop local assets. We are looking to identify 25 people to put in £2,000 each that will then allow us to match the funding required to purchase and start developing the old chapel for local housing and a heritage centre”

Anyone interested in knowing more can contact Cris on 07974099738 or email [email protected] Additional information will now be added to the project Facebook page on www.facebook.com/hermonhousing