Cymru Quarry Group
Delivering Social Value Through Active Travel Infrastructure
At Neath Port Talbot Council, we are committed to ensuring that our procurement activities create a lasting and meaningful difference within our communities.
We were proud to work in partnership with Cymru Quarry Ltd, the principal contractor responsible for delivering a new designated active travel route linking Neath Town Centre with Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School. The project involved widening existing footways into verges and, where required, the carriageway, helping to provide a safer and more accessible route for pedestrians and cyclists.
Working together, we achieved a range of valuable community benefits that extended far beyond the physical construction works.
Jobs and Skills
The project created opportunities for local people to gain valuable skills, experience and employment:
– Delivered more than 35 targeted recruitment and training weeks.
– Worked in partnership with Cyfle to provide a multi-skilled construction shared apprenticeship opportunity.
– Offered a work experience placement to a long-term unemployed resident, who subsequently secured a full-time permanent position with the company as a Groundworker.
Supporting Local Businesses
The project generated significant opportunities for local suppliers and businesses:
– 90% of subcontractors engaged on the project were South Wales-based SMEs.
– 25% of subcontractors were based within Neath Port Talbot.
Sustainable Construction in Action
Environmental sustainability was embedded throughout the delivery of the scheme:
– Reused 6,000 tonnes of recycled aggregate sourced from local steelworks.
– Implemented a Material Management Plan to maximise the reuse of excavated materials on site.
– Utilised a hybrid generator, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 50%.
– Repurposed tree stumps into wildlife habitats, enhancing local biodiversity.
Inspiring the Next Generation
The project team actively supported young people by:
– Donating six hours of staff time at Cefn Saeson Comprehensive School to assist with mock interview sessions, helping students develop confidence and employability skills.
Caring for Our Community
The team also made a positive contribution to local schools and community initiatives by:
Funding the purchase of 10 mini balance bikes and helmets for Ysgol Tyle’r Ynn in Briton Ferry through a collaboration with Cycle Champs.
Donating gifts to support Neath Port Talbot’s Mr X Christmas Appeal.
Contributing 40 hours of staff time, alongside financial support, to install cycle shelters at St Joseph’s Primary School, Neath, and Castell-Nedd School, Port Talbot.
These achievements demonstrate how public sector investment can deliver lasting social, economic and environmental benefits for local communities while creating important infrastructure improvements.
A huge thank you to the Cymru Quarry team whose commitment helped make these outcomes possible: Peter Walters, Jack Horton, Neil Jones, Eifion Evans and Michael Morgan.
