An all-out effort is being made to revamp the long-neglected Strand riverside area in Cardigan.

Aberteifi 2010, the community group formed to celebrate Cardigan's 900th anniversary in 2010, is spearheading a funding bid to improve the area.

A petition was launched this week by Aberteifi 2010 chairman Cllr Llwyd Edwards, fellow committee members David Grace and local county councillor Catrin Miles backed by town mayor Cllr Gwynfi Jenkins and Cardigan Castle director Cris Tomos.

"This area is in desperate need of a revamp," said Cllr Edwards.

"After the failure to find funding under the Big Art project this is our chance to redeem ourselves," he said.

Mayor Cllr Gwynfi Jenkins said the site was especially important because it was so near to the castle.

"It's a mess and it is shown up by the renovations that are being done at the castle site," he said.

The Strand's sorry history is due to land ownership issues between Ceredigion County Council and the National Assembly dating back to when the new bypass was opened and the trunk road through the town decommissioned.

Various efforts to find funding by both the county and town councils have failed. The site would have benefitted from funding under the Big Art project but that was pulled due to public opposition to the planned 'balls in the river' artwork.