Penygroes Community News

Present

Julian Tandy (Chair), Mark Waygood (Secretary), Yvonne Kelly (Treasurer), Llinos Hindley, Nicola Davies, Kevin Kelly, John Davies, Les Samuel, Roger Evans, Siân Thomas, Huw Evans, Menter Cwm Gwendraeth

Apologies

Marie Hughes-Jones, Lynette Reynolds, Alun Lewis, Mair Griffiths, Eleri Davies

Minutes of last meeting

Correction to last months minutes; there were five winners of the Christmas Lights – Households, Garrity – Heol Caerbryn, Morgan – Maesglas, Richards – Waterloo Road, Smart – Blaen Emlyn, Smith – Pant-y-Blodau, Blaenau.

Last months minutes proposed: Llinos Hindley, Seconded: Nicola Davies.

Matters Arising

•    Owing to the poor weather conditions recently, Julian will be meeting Marie Anne Jones (walking to health) on Thursday 15th February.

Minutes

Apostolic Development

•     There are two applications for development.  Peter Roberts has found documents which states Park is for recreation use only.
•    Situation is now with the Councils Legal Dept., but we will only be given short notice if there is to be a public enquiry.
•    There is also a planning application for 31 homes in Caerbryn Road although they may have to reapply with fewer houses proposed.  There has been a good response form residents of Caerbryn Road.
•    A public meeting may have to be arranged but we may only be given a few days notice to arrange this.
•    The Forum is opposing this development and Siân is using this as a public mandate.

Emlyn Update

•    Roger Evans attended the meeting to correct a few facts he believes the Forum has wrong.  He publicly refuted almost all the claims that have been previously made against the Protex development.  Please see previous minutes for a more full description of these.
•    In brief, the following NEW points were made:
1.    Access land for a road was not required from either Calfaria Chapel or the Memorial Hall and there were no plans to purchase the Welfare Hall.
2.    To date 9million has been spent on the site.
3.    There is to be a Sports Hall behind the Rugby Club.
4.    It was suggested that Menter Cwm Gwendraeth could help with assessment of impact regarding Welsh language concerns with the proposed influx of large numbers of new residents.
5.    Section 106 is not in force on the Protex site as it came into force later.  1st phase would include a School.
6.    There is £5/6 million coming in grants.
7.    Affordable housing to be developed around centre for local people.  How local is local, this needs to be ascertained?
8.    An exhibition is planned; details may be ready by next meeting.
9.    New houses will harvest rainwater.  Four holding tanks agreed with council but Welsh Water have only agreed to one.
10.    Trenches have been placed around perimeter to capture surface water, 85% of which is now being drained off successfully.
11.    Roger was invited to sub-committee meetings and said that if community had any concerns, they should go to him.

•    The Community News is quoted as saying that a new school is planned for Penygroes 2008/09 owing to an increase in housing in Penygroes, Gorslas, Caerbryn and Blaenau.  If the existing Penygroes School is empty it may affect Apostolic development.  The local population is set to double in size.

Dog Fouling

•    The situation has deteriorated again and street cleaners refuse to clear this up but have been asked to report the problem.
•    Signs are still outstanding although they have been promised for a number of months.
•    Names / pictures of offending dog walkers please.  Siân will make another complaint.
•    Speak to community officers to keep a watch.  Wardens will work later hours if they know in advance of who to watch out for.

Community Development Officer

•    The grant for this position has been approved and the person recruited will be working from the Memorial Hall once suitable office equipment has been arranged.
•    Advertisements for the post will have to be arranged a.s.a.p. in as many  places as possible.  Two local residents have shown interest already.  Closing date for applications will be midday 16th March 2007.  
•    Interviews set to take as soon as possible thereafter.  The commencing date will be as close 1st April as possible as post is only for one year.
•    Huw Evans to arrange Job Specification with a preference for a bilingual candidate.
•    Suggested possible interviewers:- Siân Thomas, Robert Quick, Huw Evans, Alun Lewis
•    Sub Committee suggested to oversee Community Development Officer.

Community Garden

•    The grant for this has also been approved with a meeting this month to discuss and get the project up and running.  A further meeting is planned with the people responsible for the grant.
•    Story and pictures of Gardening Club members for the local papers to be organised.
•    There is also a grant available from Llandybie Community Council for the garden.

Health Impact Assessment

•    Initial contact made, hoping to report back with more details next month.

A.O.B.

•    We need to look at the availability of other local vestry’s for our forum meetings.
•    The next meeting to discuss Penygroes Park re-development is on 27th February at the Pavilion.
•    John Taylor has proposed a Community Facility to be built that the local youth should be able to use.
•    Tables for the Forum have been ordered.

Next Meeting at the pavilion, Wednesday 7th March

Meeting closed.

n.b. owing to the translation system problems (and subsequent complete failure), many points may have been missed or not explained fully / correctly.