Plaid Name Town By-Election Candidates

Plaid Cymru have named their candidates for the two Aberystwyth Town Council by-elections due to take place in Rheidol and Penparcau wards on September 18th.

Sandra Oliver will represent the party in Rheidol where she only narrowly failed to win a town council seat in May's local council elections. The Lib Dems are also fielding a candidate. Only last month Plaid Cymru's Aled Davies pulled off a stunning win in a County Council by-election there in what was, for many years, a safe Lib Dem seat.

In Penparcau, Owain Jones is Plaid's candidate. Labour and the Lib Dems are also in the contest here.

Plas Crug Avenue Re-surfacing

The resurfacing of the roadway section of Plas Crug Avenue will start next week commencing 18th August and should be completed by the 29th after which all the potholes will be a thing of the past. The work will involve reducing the severity of the sleeping policemen following complaints from the emergency services and cyclists.

After this, similar work is planned for the pedestrian /cycleway section of the Avenue from Plas Crug School to Alexandra Road.

Aber Police apply for Alcohol License 'Cumulative Impact Area'

Aberystwyth Police have applied for parts of the town centre to become a 'cumulative impact area' in assessing new alcohol license applications. This would mean that any applications would not only be decided on their own merits but on the effect they would have when added to other licenses in the area.

The submission by the police says,

"We consider the evidence to be persuasive and the areas to be considered as proportional to the problem presented. These streets contain a significant number, type and density of premises selling alcohol, all of whom, we contend, contribute, in a cumulative manner, to serious problems of nuisance and disorder both outside and some distance from the individual premises....."

"In these circumstances we ask that the Council consider the adoption of a special policy of refusing licenses....because the area is saturated with licensed premises and the granting of any more would undermine one or more of the licensing objectives."

Consultation on the idea has just begun and will end on 30th September. Anyone wanting to make comments should write to The Licensing Section, Cyngor Sir Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, SA46 OPA or e-mail licensing@ceredigion.gov.uk.

Anyone wanting to see the full submission by the police can obtain a copy by e-mailing me.

Despite bordering on the town centre, in the past year Bronglais ward has experienced just 5% (18) of the recorded criminal damage offences in the town and only 3% (11) of offences involving violence.

Cynllunio Diweddaraf / Planning Latest

Y diweddaraf ar geisiadau cynllunio a thrwyddedu yn ward Bronglais a'r cyffiniau

The latest on planning and licensing applications in Bronglais ward and around

TRWYDDEDU / LICENSING

Siop Bwydydd Parod Marco, 19 Stryd y Dollborth

Marco's Takeaway, 19 Northgate Street

Mae'r siop uchod wedi gwneud cais i ymestyn eu horiau bwydydd hwyr o 11yh i 5yb o ddydd Llun i ddydd Sadwrn.
Mae'r cais ar gael i'w archwilio yn yr Dylid cyflwyno unrhyw sylwadau erbyn dydd Marwth 19 Awst i'r Adran Drwyddedu, Cyngor Sir Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, SA46 0PA.
The above premises have applied to extend their hours of late night opening from 11pm to 5am from Monday to Saturday.

Any comments shouold be made by Tuesday 19th August to the Licensing Section, Cyngor Sir Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, SA46 0PA

CYNLLUNIO / PLANNING

14 Coed y Buarth A080456

Codi estyniad ail lawr a lolfa haul
Erection of second floor extension and sun lounge.
Diweddaraf / Latest – Approved subject to conditions

Northgate House, Stryd y Dollborth / Northgate Street A070273

Gosod 2 uned tewychu wrth ymyl yr adeilad

Installation of 2 condensing units to side of building

Diweddaraf / Latest - Development Control Committee on 18th June decided that the application should be deferred to invite the applicant to relocate the condensing units or, failing the identification of an appropriate site, the carrying out of works to mitigate the sound from the units which is disturbing local residents. Officers were also told to consider imposing restrictions on the operating times of the units. A failure to agree to this will result in refusal of permission and enforcement action.

Mynwent Aberystwyth Cemetery, Ffordd Llanbadarn Road A080587

Erection of a garage and stores and ancilliary accommodation

Diweddaraf / Latest - in the consultation period

Tir rhwng 3 a 4 Rhes y Poplys / Land between 3 & 4 Poplar Row A080535

Codi ty ffordiadwy / Erection of affordable dwelling

Diweddaraf / Latest - Earliest likely date for decision is 10th September.

Llyfrgell Cenedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales A080401

Hewl un ffordd newyddyn cysylltu y Llyfrgell a Champws y Brifysgol

One-way link road between the National Library and the University Campus

Llyfrgell Cenedlaethol Cymru / National Library of Wales
Adeiladu ramp er mwyn creu mynedfai’r anabl ger y drws cefn.
Construction of ramp to create disabled access to rear door
Diweddaraf / Latest – Consent granted

Campws Penglais i Gampws IGER / Penglais Campus to IGER Campus A080373

Gosod ceblau ffibr optig tan ddaear ar gyfer cyswllt data

Installation of underground fibre optic data link

Diweddaraf / Latest - Approved subject to conditions

Ysbyty Bronglais / Bronglais Hospital A080176

Erection of 5 storey extension and 2 storey car park

Outline application (i.e. for the principle of the development)

Diweddaraf / Latest - Earliest likely date for decision is 8th October.

Bryn Penglais / Penglais Hill A080067

Erection of Doctor's Surgery and Creche

Diweddaraf / Latest - Outline planning approval has already been granted. This latest application is for the detail of what could go on the site. The consultation period has now ended but comments sent may still be considered. The developers have extended the length of the site in order to reduce pressure on the Dingle behind the site. Earliest likely date for decision is 10th September.

Plot 6, Llys Ardwyn, Ffordd Ddewi / St David's Road (Hen Safle Penweddig / Old Penweddig site) A080513

Codi ty datgysylltiedig / Erection of a detached dwelling

Darn o dir ar ochr yr ysbyty o'r safle yw Plot 6 ac mae modd ei gyrraedd o'rtracc ger brig Cae'r Gog

Plot 6 is the piece of land on the hospital side of the site, accessible via the track at the top of Cae'r Gog.

Diweddaraf / Latest – Earliest likely date for decision is 10th September.

Other applications so far approved at Llys Ardwyn are:

Phase 1 - 9 flats

Phase 2 - 18 flats

Phase 3 (the old school 'C' Block) - 17 flats (inc. 3 affordable)

4 apartments in the 'Undercroft' (3 as affordable housing)

Houses on plots 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Gellir gweld y cynlluniau yn Swyddfa Cyngor y Dref yn Neuadd y Dref, Aberystwyth (Ffon 624761). Dylid danfon sylwadau at yr Adran Cynllunio, Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0PA

Plans for all applications can be viewed in the Town Council Office in Aberystwyth Town Hall (Tel 624761). Comments can be sent to the Planning Department, Neuadd Cyngor Ceredigion, Penmorfa Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA46 0PA

Lansio Arddangos Tai Ceredigion / Tai Ceredigion Showhome Launch

Tai Ceredigion, the planned new housing association for Ceredigion, has opened a series of show homes around the County. The homes are designed to demonstrate the quality of renovation that current council tenants can expect if council housing stock is transferred to the new organisation following the planned vote in November.

Government economic policies mean that housing associations can raise far greater amounts of money for upkeep and renovation than councils are able to. This is believed to be the only way that the current council housing stock will be able to meet the ambitious Welsh Housing Quality Standard which all Registered Social Landlords are expected to meet by 2012. The council housing stock in Ceredigion currently needs an investment of around £40 million to meet this standard.

Tai Ceredigion will be a not-for-profit Industrial & Provident Society with charitable objectives.

Click on one of the images below for details of the showhome opening times in Penparcau and Lampeter where staff will be available to discuss the whole process.

Council didn't give permission for full Tabernacle demolition

The decision to demolish all four walls of the Tabernacle Chapel in Aberystwyth was taken unilaterally by the owner and was not authorised by the Council, this blog has been informed. The decision, following the recent fire which destroyed the inside of the building (see below), has been greeted with widespread dismay in the town as it was believed the historic front wall on Powell Street was still capable of being preserved.

Following the fire, the building was issued with a Dangerous Structures Notice by the County Council's Department of Highways Property & Works on 7th July. This required the owner to make the building safe within two weeks. However, as a listed building, the owner still has a responsibility to maintain anything capable of being preserved. Demolition is to be used only as a last resort. The Dangerous Structures Notice does not obviate an owner from their responsibilities under this legislation.

A structural survey indicated that, although three walls were structurally unsound and required demolition, the Powell Street wall may have been capable of being preserved and less drastic measures, such as propping, could have been used to make the wall safe.

The County Council's Planning Department are understood to be unhappy at the pre-emptive action and are considering their options.

Town Council gives grants to local groups

Aberystwyth Town Council have donated money to sixteen different local organisations in its latest round of grant awards. This is a little-publicised aspect of the Town Council's work. Organisations applying for grants have to demonstrate that their work would benefit the people of Aberystwyth, that they are non-commercial and that the organisation is well-run. Town Council grants are a lifeline to many voluntary and independent groups locally. The list below shows the vitality of Aberystwyth as a town.

Those receiving money this time are:

Aberystwyth Ladies Choir
Aberystwyth Silver Band
Aberystwyth Surf Lifesaving Club
Cantorion Aberystwyth
Celtic Challenge
British Heart Foundation (Aberystwyth Branch)
Citizens Advice Bureau
Cruse Ceredigion Bereavement care
Do-Re-Mi (Castell Rock)
Grwp Aberystwyth Gwyddach / Greener Aberystwyth Group
Music Fest Aberystwyth
Penparcau Senior Citizens Club
Progressive Action Group
St John Ambulance (Aberystwyth Branch)
Y Gyngres Geltaidd Cangen Cymru
Yr Angor

Thanks to Jim Griffiths for the photo at the cheque-giving ceremony in the new Arad Goch building

By-election victory marks a sea-change in Aberystwyth politics

A historic sea-change has been taking place in Aberystwyth politics. And Aled Davies’s stunning by-election win for Plaid Cymru on Thursday (see below) has confirmed it.

At the County Council elections in May, Plaid won more votes in Aberystwyth than any other party. This was the first time that had happened. But that statistic was skewed by the fact that the party performed exceptionally well in Penparcau, the town’s most outlying ward, where electors had two votes and where the Lib Dems only put up one candidate. In the town’s other four wards, those immediately around the town centre, the perennially dominant Lib Dems still remained on top, albeit narrowly.

Thursday’s by-election victory in Rheidol ward has changed that. Looking at the most recent election in each of the four town centre wards (i.e. last Thursday in Rheidol and May 1st in the others), Plaid now hold 47.5% of the vote with the Lib Dems on 41%.

In electoral terms, Aberystwyth has, for the first time ever, become a Plaid Cymru town.

Shock Plaid Victory in Rheidol By-Election

Aled Davies has won the Rheidol Ward County Council By-election for Plaid Cymru. The shock victory by 19 votes over the Lib Dems in what was previously their third safest seat in Ceredigion will stun the Council's ruling Lib Dem/Independent Coalition who now only hold the Council by a narrow 22-20 margin. The full result is as follows:

Aled Davies (Plaid Cymru) 271

Alec Dauncey (Dem Rhyd/Lib Dem) 252

Carol Kolczac (Ann/Ind) 98

Richard Boudier (Llafur/Labour) 36

Luke Evetts (Ceid/Con) 17

The by-election was called after the forced resignation of the former Lib Dem councillor Eric Griffiths. The favourite to win the seat for the Lib Dems, town mayor Lorrae Jones-Southgate, then resigned both as mayor and town councillor after failing to win the nomination as Lib Dem candidate. Eric Griffiths had won the seat by a majority of 293 over Plaid at the County Council elections in May. Plaid Cymru now hold three of the six County Council seats in Aberystwyth with the Lib Dems holding two and the Independents one.

Aled is a Town Councillor and former town mayor who has twice narrowly failed to win a county council seat in North ward. He has a reputation as a hard and conscientious worker and will undoubtedly give a good service to the people of Rheidol ward.

Harpists demonstrate against Council cut

Over 30 young harpists and their parents demonstated this morning outside Ceredigion Council's headquarters in Aberaeron against the decision of the Council's Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Education to scrap peripatetic harp teaching throughout the County. If carried through, the decision has long-term implications for the tradition of the harp in Ceredigion, the county that produced Catrin Finch.

What is particularly concerning is that the decision seems to have been made entirely opportunistically. When it was discovered that the current harp teacher was having to leave a decision was simply taken not to replace her. The scrapping of the service had not been planned at all and there has been no consultation with the schools or parents affected. There has been no guidance for children currently using the service, nor for the schools who have bought harps at considerable expense. This is surely not a proper way to run an education service.

Many schools will be writing to the Council to protest, as will Ceredigion's Assembly Member Elin Jones.

Tabernacle severely damaged by fire

The Tabernacle Chapel in Mill Street was severely damaged by fire on Friday night. People living close by had to be evacuated whilst the fire was being fought. The picture shows fire fighters still pumping water into the building on Saturday afternoon.

The chapel, built in 1879 and at one time able to hold 1,500 people, has been disused since 2002 after its congregation dwindled. In 2003 the Mimosa Project was launched, aimed at turning the building into an exhibition centre about migration from and to Wales, but the project never got beyond the planning stage. However, last year, planning permission was granted to Merlin Homes to turn the building into flats, albeit with strict condition to preserve the historic features.

Fire Officers will be assessing the damage in the next few days.

Council acknowledges street rubbish problem

Ceredigion Council has acknowledged that litter from black bags has increased recently in Aberystwyth and says it is actively looking at solutions.

In response to concerns expressed by someone working in the Pier Street area, a senior Environmental Services Officer writes,

"Like you, I am concerned about the problems that appear to have escalated in Aberystwyth in recent weeks. The situation was particularly bad on Tuesday but we haven’t been able to identify the exact cause. It has been suggested that quantities of refuse had been placed out by some landlords cleaning properties earlier vacated by students, although this has not been substantiated.

"There are ongoing discussions with colleagues in the Housing Division and the Highways Property and Works Department to try to identify measures that the County Council can implement that will help to address the problems. However we do need the cooperation of local residents, landlords, property owners, businesses, etc. I’m not convinced that everyone in the town places a sufficiently high priority on civic and community pride. This is a challenge if the ambitions of the Aberystwyth Master Plan are to be realised.

"A programme of activity is being prepared by the County Council for the coming months to raise awareness and focus people’s minds on appropriate ways to store and present their refuse for collection. We are also engaging with various individuals and groups who have an interest in or could offer collaborative and sustainable solutions to a complex issue that does not have a single answer."

[Thanks to Harry James for the picture]

Call for Faster Progress on Fair Trade

Alun Williams has called for Ceredigion Council to speed up its work on becoming a Fair Trade County after Wales was last week declared the world’s first Fair Trade Nation.

“A motion to look at making Ceredigion a Fair Trade County was first agreed by the Council in October 2006 – 20 months ago. Although a Council committee has been working on it, progress has been extremely slow. It clearly hasn’t been prioritised by the Council and Ceredigion has been overtaken by many other counties in Wales.

Eleven Welsh Counties have already achieved Fair Trade status. All the others are working towards it. After all the work put in by local groups in places like Aberystwyth and Lampeter – both Fair Trade towns - we must make sure that Ceredigion doesn’t finish near the end of the list. Now that Wales has been declared the world’s first Fair Trade nation, due to all the support there is for Fair Trade around the country, I want to see Ceredigion catch up and do its bit.”

The qualify as a Fair Trade nation Wales has had to demonstrate to the Fair Trade Foundation that all its counties have achieve, or are working towards, Fair Trade status and that Fair Trade groups are established in 55% of its towns. The Fairtrade Foundation awards Fairtrade status to Nations, Towns, Counties, Schools and Churches that meet five goals developed to raise awareness and support for Fairtrade. Fair Trade supports small farmers in the developing world who produce food we cannot produce at home and who are disadvantaged by international trading conditions that benefit big business. The movement is making a significant impact in helping the developing world and is strongly backed by churches.

Mwy gwybodaeth / More information:
http://www.fairtradewales.com/

Sue Jones-Davies voted Mayor of Aberystwyth

Plaid Cymru's Sue Jones-Davies has been voted the new mayor of Aberystwyth for 2008/09. Sue is a highly respected personality in the town, a former actress who now teaches yoga amongst many other things. She represents the Bronglais area. She was elected unanimously by the Town Council following the recent resignation of Lorrae Jones-Southgate.

Meanwhile, the former Mayor's resignation letter has been released by the Council....

Mr Town Clerk and fellow councillors,

It is with great deliberation and sadness that in the light of the outcome of the unfortunate by-election in my Rheidol ward, where I have proudly stood as their Town Councillor these past four years and having served this Town of Aberystwyth with honour and pride. The dedication I have given to my position of Mayor and Deputy, before that as Mayoress goes without saying. I was immensely proud of having a second term of office as Mayor for 2008/2009. Sadly I now find that I do not have the full support of many of my fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors and the members of our Local and Executive branch to stand as their selected candidate for County Council in my ward being Rheidol ward; thus find myself in this impossible situation. Thus it leaves me with no other choice that after much thought and immense sadness I resign from Aberystwyth Town Council, thus relinquishing my Chains of Office.

I wish to express my gratitude to our excellent Town Clerk and Assistant, both Jim Griffiths and Carol Prime, for the great support and hard work during my affiliation with them. I pray you will continue to support and respect them as they very much deserve to be.

I had great vision for our new Town Council and for the future development and betterment of our beautiful Town and my name of Aberystwyth of which I had great pride and even greater pride in my self-respect and good name.

I wish you my fellow councillors well in the future and that my participation and contribution will be remembered with respect. One has to make great personal sacrifices when holding high office and when you stand as a Representative of the people who elect you to do so.

Therefore, I am now going to stand down in order to concentrate on my family life and my University degrees in politics and law, and ensuring that both my children succeed in their University years with my undivided love and support.

My best wishes to you all

and

it is with much regret.

Lorrae Jones-Southgate

Mayor of Aberystwyth Resigns

Lorrae Jones-Southgate has today resigned as both the Mayor of Aberystwyth and Town Councillor after failing in her bid to win the Lib Dem nomination to stand in the Rheidol ward County Council by-election. Lorrae was voted top of the poll in the ward in last month's Town Council elections and followed this by being voted Mayor for the second year running. The resignation will come as a further shock to residents of Rheidol ward who only two weeks ago saw the resignation of their Lib Dem County Councillor Eric Griffiths. The resignation will mean a further by-election in Rheidol ward which is due to elect a new County Councillor on July 10th.

Although Lorrae's style is not to everyone's liking, there is no doubt that her tremendous work-rate and commitment as Mayor in the past year has won her the respect of many in the town, including that of councillors from other political parties.

Aled Davies is Plaid candidate in Rheidol By-election

Aled Davies has been selected as Plaid Cymru's candidate in the forthcoming Rheidol ward County Council by-election. Aled is a former mayor of the town and only narrowly failed to win North ward in the recent Council elections, losing by just 23 votes.

The Rheidol ward by-election has been caused by the resignation of the sitting Lib Dem councillor Eric Griffiths who won the seat by a majority of 293 in May over Plaid Cymru candidate Sue Jones-Davies. However this majority was down by 105 compared to the previous election in 2004 and the momentum in Aberystwyth is with Plaid Cymru who gained 45% of the vote across the town at the recent elections compared to 31% for the Lib Dems.

The by-election will take place on July 10th. The polling station will be the Sea Cadet's Hall in Riverside Terrace from where the result will be announced at around 10.30pm.

Ysbyty Diweddaraf / Hospital Latest

Bronglais Hospital has revealed modifications to their plans for a major new extension. At a recent meeting with local residents, attended by 35 people, the scheme's architect explained that the new block would be set back five metres from Caradog Road compared to the current Biochem Lab and that a small garden would be created between the Ty Geraint palliative care centre and the road. They also intend stripping the white wall in front of the Biochem Lab to reveal the slate underneath.

These adjustments to the plans met with approval from the meeting. However there was dismay that, despite putting an extra layer on the bottom car park, the hospital now intends to provide just 22 extra car parking spaces compared to the present. This figure is a considerable reduction on the originally proposed 70 extra spaces. When questioned about this the hospital cited the contraints of the site and the need to provide large parking spaces for the disabled.

The meeting asked the architect to consider reducing the overhang of the building, painting it a light colour and providing a pathway for people to want to walk from Caradog Road to Penglais.

The latest announcement from the Health Minister is here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/7438377.stm

LLwyddiant Castell Rock Success

The Castell Rock festival in the castle grounds was once again a big success this year with a record attendance of all ages. The Castle is a fantastic venue for festivals of this kind and everyone involved deserves credit for putting on such a well-run event.

You can see my pictures of the day at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24136983@N07/
or
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/aberystwyth/pages/castellrock_2008_pics.shtml