Economic Crisis Marks the Death of Thatcherism

I couldn't resist re-producing the quote below from tonight's blog by Robert Peston, the BBC's Business Editor. As someone who believes that much of what is wrong with our society can be traced back to the economic policies of Margaret Thatcher, I find it heartening to see that the current world financial crisis may ultimately have its benefits.

Robert says,

"I've also been musing on the historic significance of tonight's events, and I think it can perhaps be seen as the death of Thatcherism, or at least of an important strand of the dominant ideology of the 1980s and 1990s.
It was Margaret Thatcher who in a series of bold reforms from 1979 onwards gave the City the freedom to trade in everything and anything.
She removed restrictive practices, she encouraged the free flow of capital to and from anywhere in the world, she created the notion of the City as the Great British Success.
For the liberalisation of the City to end with a quartet of our biggest and proudest banks being forced to put out the begging bowl to Government, well that is a moment in ecnomic history - which may well, ultimately, be as significant as the nationalisations of the 1940s and the privatisations of the 1980s."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/robertpeston/

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.
The above premises applied to extend their hours of late night opening from 11pm to 5am from Monday to Saturday.
Diwedaraf / Latest - APPLICATION REJECTED
The shop still retains permission for the following opening times:
University Term Time: Tuesday -Saturday 3am, Sunday & Monday 1am
University Holiday Period: Midnight on all days


CYNLLUNIO / PLANNING

Carregwen, Ffordd Llanbadarn Road A080919
Codi ty datgysylltiedig / Erection of a detached dwelling
In the front garden of the above house

Carregwen, Ffordd Llanbadarn Road A080920
Codi ty datgysylltiedig / Erection of a detached dwelling
In the rear garden of the above house

Mae dau gais adeliadu wedi eu cyflwyno ar gyfer Carregwen ar Ffordd Llanbadarn, rhwng Ffordd Caradog a Ffordd Ddewi. Y llynedd, gwrthodwyd cais i adeiladu tri tŷ yng ngardd y tŷ gan Bwyllgor Rheoli Datblygiad y Cyngor Sir. Nawr mae dau gais arwahan wedi eu cyflwyno ar gyfer dau dŷ yn yr un ardd.

The above two planning applications have been submitted for the garden of Carregwen in Llanbadarn Road, between Caradoc Road and St David's Road. Last year an application to build three houses in the garden of the house was rejected by the County Council’s Development Control Committee. Now two separate applications have been submitted for two houses in the same garden.

Ysgol Plas Crug School, Coedlan Plas Crug Avenue A080848
Erection of Conservatory
Diweddaraf / Latest - In the consultation period

Llyfygell Genedlaethol / National Library A080810LB
Listed Building Consent - New external wheelchair platform lift, 2 disabled parking bays, relay existing steps adjacent to new platform lift, new access ramp to main entrance, ramps to existing footway.

Mynwent Aberystwyth Cemetery, Ffordd Llanbadarn Road A080587
Erection of a garage and stores and ancilliary accommodation
Diweddaraf / Latest - Earliest possible date for decision is 12th November.

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 possible date for decision is 12th November.

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 – No objection from Highways Dept. Earliest possible date for decision is 12th November.
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

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
Diweddaraf / Latest - No objection from Highways Dept. Earliest possible date for decision is 12th November.

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 possible date for decision is 12th November.
A briefing session and open forum for local residents will be held at on Wednesday 15th October at 2pm at the Lounge, Pantycelyn, Aberystwyth University.

Bryn Penglais / Penglais Hill A080067
Adeiladu meddygfa a creche
Erection of Doctor's Surgery and Creche
Diweddaraf / Latest – Full planning consent has now been 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. No final decision as yet.


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

Ceredigion achieves Fair Trade status

Ceredigion has become the 12th Fair Trade County in Wales. The award has been given two years after a joint motion by Plaid Cymru and Lib Dems called for the Council to pursue Fair Trade status. The county-wide campaign was started by a group in Aberystwyth.

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 Fairtrade Foundation awards Fairtrade status to Nations, Towns, Counties, Schools and Churches that meet five goals developed to raise awareness and support for Fairtrade goods. The movement is making a significant impact in helping the developing world and is strongly backed by churches and chapels.

In a letter to the Council, the Fair Trade foundation said,

"Congratulations on comfortably exceeding the targets given for both retailers and caterers supporting Fairtrade. There is clearly a broad base of support for Fairtrade products in Ceredigion and the sale of Fairtrade products is of course at the core of the Fairtrade campaign. Please pass on our thanks to all the businesses whose support has helped to make Ceredigion a Fairtrade County".

The letter went on,

"Congratulations on gaining the national Library of Wales as a Flagship Employer. We hope that they will use their position to promote Fairtrade to contacts, clients and staff and that their support will encourage other businesses to think about making their own commitment to Fairtrade.

"We would like to particularly highlight the excellent work in promoting support for Fairtrade among the County’s schools. "

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

Plaid Win Another By-election

Plaid Cymru have won the Aberystwyth Town Council By-election in Penparcau, taking their total to ten out of nineteen members on the Council. Owain Jones won on his first attempt by 24 votes over Labour candidate Dylan Jones with the Lib Dems trailing in third place. Plaid's representation in the Penparcau ward is now at it's highest ever, with one County Councillor (Rob Gorman) and three out of five Town Councillors. The By-election was called following the death of longstanding Independent councillor Owen Jones.

In Rheidol ward, another Town Council by-election saw the Lib Dems retain the seat left open by the resignation of their former councillor Lorrae Jones-Southgate. Martin Shewring won by 76 votes over Plaid's Sandra Oliver who received a good vote but was unable to repeat the spectacular win by Plaid's Aled Davies in the same ward's County Council by-election in July.

IS-ETHOLIADAU CYNGOR TREF ABERYSTWYTH
ABERYSTWYTH TOWN COUNCIL BY-ELECTIONS

Penparcau
Owain Jones (Plaid Cymru) 141 (42%)
Dylan Jones (Llafur/Labour) 117 (34%)
John Thornton (Dem Rhyd/Lib Dem) 77 (22%)

Rheidol
Martin Shewring (Dem Rhyd/Lib Dems) 243 (59%)
Sandra Oliver (Plaid Cymru) 167 (40%)

New Cycle Path Welcomed

The new section of cycle path from Tanybwlch to Llanfarian via Rhydyfelin is a huge step forward for cyclists wanting to ride into Aberystwyth from the South and is already being used by both cyclists and walkers before it’s even been publicised. It allows cyclists to ride into town avoiding the main road and the large hill at Rhydyfelin. This greatly improves safety and so encourages people from that side of the town to cycle in.

However, further inland, the usefulness of the section from Trawsgoed to Tregaron is severely compromised by a major diversion off the old rail line near Tynygraig and the fact that the path stops two miles short of Tregaron. This is a lost economic opportunity for Tregaron as it’s well documented how cycle paths bring money into an area.

The County Council still has a tendency to see cycling as a tourist activity whereas scores of local people cycle around Aberystwyth every day. Now that Aberystwyth has the Ystwyth Trail coming in from the South and the Rheidol Cycleway from the East, I believe the next step is to make the town itself more cycle-friendly.

The photo shows Simon Leather of Llanbadarn Fawr trying out the new path

Penglais Surgery Gets Go-Ahead

The long-proposed medical surgery on Penglais Hill finally received planning permission this week. The application has been altered from the original in order to accommodate concerns of local residents who have been keen to protect the beautiful 'Dingle' lying between the site and Dan y Coed. Since the application was first put forward a public right of way has been declared running alongside the Dingle. The application site has therefore been narrowed and lengthened in order to place less pressure on the path.

As well as a doctors' surgery the new development will also include a students' medical centre, dentist surgery and nursery. A landscaping plan has been devised with the aim of protecting as many trees on the site as possible. When completed it is expected that Padarn Surgery will move to the new site.

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]