CARDIGAN Town recently hosted delegates from across Wales including the Mayor and Town Council representatives of Abergavenny, Menter Mon, Anglesey, Welsh Government Regeneration Team and Wrexham City Council.

Cardigan councillor Clive Davies was asked by the Smart Towns project and Welsh Government to give a guided tour around Cardigan, along with fellow councillor Catrin Miles.

The day included meeting staff at Cardigan Castle and high street traders, along with visits to Huit Denim and Mwnt Beach.

During the tour, councillors and tradespeople explained factors and influences which had enabled Cardigan to achieve low shop vacancies, being recognised as a UK Turnaround town and a UK Great British High Street.

“Cardigan is home to a number of entrepreneurs and community-led organisations who are addressing the challenges towns face head-on,” said Cllr Davies.

“This involves grasping the best of what the area has to offer and building businesses and ventures that make the most of local, sustainable resources - the food, environment and culture.”

Cllr Davies also explained about the Internet technologies and other digital tools employed in shops and on the high street which had proved essential in supporting the town.

He some of this technology was used to gather statistics and information then shared with businesses or event organisers requesting it.

The delegates, in their respective roles, also expanded on their own plans for their individual communities.

Cllr Tony Konieczny, Mayor of Abergavenny, said: “On behalf of Abergavenny Town Council, I would like to thank Cllrs Catrin Miles and Clive Davies for hosting us in the lovely town of Cardigan.

“As we are just starting our journey on utilising technologies to measure our our town it was very informative to talk to the users of the well-established and growing scheme in Cardigan.

“Our visit was well co-ordinated, and we were able to see the distribution of the wifi network and discuss how the data collected by footfall and various sensors could be used to enhance and inform a variety of stakeholders.

“Thanks to this visit we are already formulating plans for Abergavenny. Diolch yn fawr!”