Penygroes Community News

Present

Phil Owen, Julie Owen, Cyng. Siân Thomas, Yvonne Watkins, Eleri Davies, John Davies, Stephen Lewis, Llinos Hindley, Nicola Davies, Mair Griffiths, Vicky Thomas, Julian Tandy, Marie Seymour, Peter Roberts, Yvonne Kelly (Treasurer), Mark Waygood (Secretary), Marie Hughes-Jones (Secretary), Alun Lewis (Chair), Huw Evans, Menter Cwm Gwendraeth


Apologies

•    None submitted

Volunteer of the Year Award - WINNER

•    Competition held for residents of Blaenau, Caerbryn & Penygroes.
•    The Chairman and Mrs Linda Roberts (paper shop) have counted the votes, and there is a winner.  Although many people were nominated, one name was ahead of the rest.  The names of candidates and numbers of votes won’t be mentioned as this isn’t an election, but one person has been chosen.
•    The winner is an example to us all and has done a lot of work in the village.  We have decided to present a clock to Mrs Mair Griffiths as a sign of our appreciation.  Mrs Griffiths is very supportive of everything that goes on in the village and thoroughly deserves this award. Mrs Griffiths thanked everyone that voted for her and was very appreciative of the clock., but added that the best way for the community to show appreciation was them to support the activities that are arranged in the village.  There are a number of events organised over the next few weeks and would ask people to be supportive.
•    The Chairman once again thanked Mrs Griffiths and said he was an example to us all.

Minutes of Last Meeting

•    Agreed they were correct

Young People’s Project – Pavilion Update

•    We have received two letters (read to all later).
•    There has been a meeting between Cllr. Siân Thomas, Cindy and Alana, from Menter Cwm Gwendraeth (MCG), members of the Rugby Clubs and the park.  An agreement was reached as to what rooms can be used by whom, so things are moving forward.
•    As the opening of the Pavilion has been delayed until September, the Mobi will return to Penygroes on a weekly basis until then.
•    Funding is needed in order to equip the youth club.  Sports Aid has pledged to donate £300, but more money will be needed.  We have one room but need some furniture for it, as the Forum has raised some money, the Chair suggested a sum of £500 be donated to the project.  We have over £2,000 available.  The figure was proposed and seconded.
•    It was agreed that Eleri Davies would work and co-ordinate with Alana & Cindy on behalf of the Forum.
•    A question was raised as to the result of the meeting at the Rugby club regarding setting up another group to deal with youth matters.  At that meeting, the majority of those present felt that there was no need for another group to be set up and that it would be better to have a sub-committee within the Forum to deal with this.
•    At the meeting, Mr Sutton mentioned that he had £500,000 in an envelope, but it seems he had a grant application form and not the money itself.  Part of this figure was to come from sports lottery grant, but since the fund has been limited to grants of £750 or under, this would be unlikely to take the young people’s project very far.  Mr Sutton disputed this. Mr Sutton’s group want to demolish the pavilion but over £100,000 has been spent already on new equipment for the park and further £83,000 on the pavilion.  Most people agreed there was no need.
•    Councillor Siân Thomas said she had received a letter from Mr Sutton, which attacked her personally, but it couldn’t be shown as it is now in the hands of the County Council’s solicitors.  The Chair of the Forum also received a strongly-worded letter but had not, as yet, decided what to do with it.
•    A letter responding to the offer of the Penygroes Children & Youth Community Group becoming part of Forum was read to all present by Mark Waygood.
•    A further letter was read by the chair from the County Council Chef Executive addressed to Mr Sutton (cc to Cllr. Thomas, Alun Lewis, Wendy Walters etc.) commending him on his ideas but highlighting the fact that a new pavilion was not a feasible proposition.
•    The Chair stated that party politics were left outside the Forum and that it would work with people from all political parties to improve the lives of residents from Blaenau, Caerbryn & Penygroes and wanted it noted that he himself has serious reservations about The Penygroes Children & Youth Community Project, where and when they meet, their constitution, whether they have an AGM etc.
•    A proposal was put from the floor that the Forum send a letter to Mr Sutton’s group politely declining the offer to send any Forum representatives, but once again offering the opportunity for his group to join the Forum in a joint effort, as it is well established and recognized by all other organisations and bodies.  The motion was carried.

Games Evening at Penygroes Hall

•    The date for the Games Evening is 6pm – 8pm, Thursday 6th July.  The Short  Mat Bowls Club are giving up their usual session at the Hall in order to help with the event.  Some young people are now part of the bowls team.  There were three 15 year olds at the prize giving last week.
•    Could anyone who wishes to help out that evening (and we do need a lot!) contact Yvonne Kelly.
•    Tea and coffee will be supplied free again, but there will be an entry fee, it was £1 last year.
•    There will be a climbing wall this time.
•    The Games Evening will be an opportunity for the young and old to mix together.

Building Developments –  A Brief Update

•    A letter was read out from Protex in answer to a number of points raised.
•    Residents of 84-110 Norton Road have been informed that Protex are working on their boundary.
•    John Davies has been given additional material to support boundary claims.
•    No 84 Norton Road has been informed about new parking arrangements for this property.
•    The Environment Agency has reported back to Phil Owen that the site is clear of oil contamination.
•    The remaining Japanese knotweed is being eradicated from the site.
•    Final reinstatement of the pipe trench on Plas Gwyn Road, Bridge St. and Waterloo Rd. is scheduled for 14th June (2-3 days).
•    The Council have said they will have to repair the road as it’s in very poor condition.
•    The Chair is writing to John Taylor (in his capacity as community councillor) regarding the site surface work that is being carried out will cause problems when it rains as it will just run of the surface and into the rear gardens in Norton road as it has nowhere else to go.
•    Can Siân Thomas write a letter to the council planning department to find out what is happening?  The rainwater gutter from the concrete works has been blocked up at the bottom near Caersalem.  We need to make two complaints, one to Hydrology and one to Highways.  If we have a prolonged period of rain, the mess will be washed down to the square.
•    Phil Owen said that he had not heard from the E.A. that the site was clear.
•    Peter Roberts said he had seen the dark brown oil contaminant when he passed the site a few days earlier.
•    Phil Owen was surprised that Protex have been allowed to take their own samples for testing.  So far all that has happened is that the oil patch has been covered up.
•    Phil Owen has sent photographic evidence to the E.A., copied to Protex.  The E.A. has not replied but he has met with Protex to be shown the contamination, but has heard nothing further.
•    Complaints have been made to Victoria King (noise dept.) regarding the noise when the large earth moving equipment starts at 7.30am.  If it continues, she will be coming out to see for herself.  The vibration is shaking windows.
•    Siân Thomas has received and forwarded two complaints, but is waiting a reply.
•    Is it true they have permission to work for 7 till 7 for 6 weeks and 8 till 1 on Saturdays?
•    Didn’t the original planning show noise baffles?
•    The Chair believes that the site should have a qualified civil engineer running the site.
•    Siân Thomas has put formal complaints in about Gorsddu Rd, but the highways are £43m in arrears.
•    The Chair suggested we go the County Council and protest about the conditions that the residents have to put up with.  Let’s have Eifion Bowen and the planning department answer our complaints.
•    We are still waiting for the tanks to go in, they seem to be carrying out the works backwards and cannot understand the order they are doing things in.  The understanding was the drainage was being done first!
•    We should ask Eifion Bowen, Mark James and the Highways Department to come to one of these meetings to discuss the situation and show them that as a village we are not happy with his officers.

Gardening Club - Report from Julian Tandy

•    Flower cauldrons and some other plants are being prepared by Gardening Club members for the ‘Strawberry tea’ day.
•    Plants, pots and compost have been delivered to both ward schools for some of the children to grow and plant on. These can then be entered in a special category in the Penygroes Flower Show.
•    Planting scheme for the Community garden has been worked out. We now require written quotes for the plants and for the ‘building’ work and hard landscaping of the site.
•    Date of the flower show is confirmed as July 22nd at the Rugby Club with entries open from 10am -12:30 pm

Community Development Officer

•    Siân Thomas is getting together with Yvonne to work out a budget and the financial planning but the officer assisting us at MCG as finished.
•    The chair suggested that this be concluded as soon as possible because a development officer will be able to do so much for the community.

Notice Board

•    Yvonne Watkins has been talking to MCG to have a notice board placed outside the hall similar to the one in the square at Gorslas.
•    Ideas to what you would like to see on the board are welcome including village history and local news etc.


A.O.B.

•    The fun day will not be going ahead but a Strawberry Tea day will be taking place on the 8th July, with stalls in or outside the hall.
•    Last week we had the BBQ and the money has started to come in slowly.
•    Anyone that wants to come to the fund-raising meeting in the Farmers on Thursday is welcome.
•    Question to Siân from the floor regarding the land in Saron towards Llandybie.  The new road has been put in but they haven’t replaced the hedges.  Do we know what’s happening there?
•    Siân had received an email and it is between the solicitors for the council and the landowners.
•    Question from the floor about the walking club. Mark Durdin has to complete a course before we can go on a council insured walk, and he hasn’t received details on the course yet.
•    The Treasurer confirmed the Forum has just over £2,000.  £500 will be donated to the Youth Project.
•    Cllr. Siân Thomas asked that the Forum speak to every society in the Ward to get them to write a letter of support if Penygroes wants to submit an application for a development officer.
•    The Chair said we have to co-ordinate this as there are a number of grants that have been submitted.
•    Marie Hughes-Jones showed all present what other communities are doing with their local newsletters.  There will be set up costs but local businesses can help support it.  Is there any budget allowance for this?  More information needs to be collected and local businesses contacted to assess interest and feasibility.
•    The costs will go up if we have it in colour but we need something bigger and easier to read.  If local companies can get involved it can become a sustainable project.
•    If we apply for a grant we have to be careful because a great deal of responsibility goes with these grants.
•    The chair proposed a small meeting with four or five people to discuss the grant application situation.  Julian Tandy agreed to chair the meeting, Eleri Davies, Marie Hughes-Jones and Yvonne Kelly agreed to be on a sub-committee.

Meeting Closed

Next meeting Tuesday 11th July at Caerbryn Hall