Old Colwyn (East) Residents’ Association
Minutes of the Open Meeting Wednesday 10th March 2010
Item 1.
Those present signed the register, there were 20 persons present. …………………………………………………………………………………………….
Item 2.
Apologies – David Jones MP, Mark and Elly Chatham, Reverend Keith Forecast, Patricia Dickman, Roger Parry, Cllr Bob Squire, Mrs Clowser, Tony and Marcia Beardmore, Monty Slocombe.
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Item 6
Police Report.
CBM Mike Williams and Sgt Andy Kirkham were present. Mike started by saying that there was not much to report. He had looked at the statistics before attending. He feels that we are going through a quiet period. There was a street robbery on Llanelian Road the previous Thursday, The offenders were apprehended quickly and have been charged.
A stolen motor cycle has been recovered in Llanelian Road and investigation is continuing.
He said that he had been on annual leave and some abstractions recently and had been out in the village for the first time the day on Tuesday, Tan y Coed garden has had some work done on it and looks very tidy as does the whole village.
There has been some more damage reported to Jumpin Jungle.
The secretary mentioned the issues of drug pushing in Cliff Road. The police are pursuing the person concerned.
Councillor Carlisle asked what the situation was with the Ship Pub which was closed down.
Mike replied that it was difficult because the Ship has no permanent landlord, it changes every couple of weeks.
Sgt Kirkham added that they are up for review by the Licensing Authority very soon.
The Chair thanked the officers for attending the meeting and they left.
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Item 3
The minutes of last meeting on Wednesday 10th February 2010 were read to the meeting by the secretary. They were proposed as a true record by Ray Gardner, seconded by Janet Gardner. The minutes were accepted unanimously.
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Item 4
Matters arising from last month’s minutes~
The Fencing that was erected by the Council opposite the Catholic Church in Cliff Road has now been mended and new shrubs have been planted in front of it behind a new lane of fencing. Thanks to all concerned.
The terrible potholes in Wynnstay Road were discussed.
A resident said that it is difficult to see the damage when going down the hill and could any warning signs be put out.
There is no money at present but it is high on the priority list with the Cabinet Member responsible. A sign has been placed on the approach. Thanks for that.
Last month the issue was highlighted of deep half -
Councillor Cossey replied that the ALDI money had been used to replace most of the gulleys in the village with covered ones and unfortunately there was insufficient money to do the ones by the Post Office. It is well known that they require doing and they will possibly be done within the next year. This has been highlighted in the press by councillors. Thanks for that.
Last month it was highlighted about the work done some months ago under the arches
when the road was closed for nine weeks. The resultant concrete work is unsightly
and less than professional. It is dark concrete and has not been made smooth. Also
the down-
Councillor Cossey replied that he sits on the North Wales Trunk Road agency and will bring the matter to their attention. He has also arranged for an Audit of the environment in the 50 mph area, it was planted 25 yrs ago with the new road and it has not been touched since.
Councillor Cossey updated the meeting that he attended the meeting last Friday and raised the issue which will be done by the agency.
Also the environmental report has been done and it can be put into the Strategic regeneration to be dealt with. Also some special slabs with raised areas to prevent pedestrians using certain areas on the offramp will be cleaned soon as they are full of dirt.
Overhanging hedges are a problem ~ who can we contact? Councillor Cossey replied that there should be a Footpath Inspector and he would make enquiries and report back. He is still making enquiries on the issue.
Mrs Williams spoke of the street lighting in the entry at the rear of Princess Road. The light has gone again. She also reported that a large hydraulic cherry picker was operated in the alley; it has caused a big hole in the tarmac. Councillor Cossey noted the issues.
Action ~ The light has been fixed and the damage assessed by the Highways Inspector.
Item 5
Standing items~
Policing/Local Crime / Nuisance
Incidents associated with the supply of drugs continue in Cliff Road, Cefn Road, Station Road and back Abergele Road areas the police have been informed, The Proactive Team is looking into the issue.
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On street drinking is still happening in Old Colwyn. Bottles are regularly discarded. Back Abergele Road and Min y Don Park are badly affected.
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Public Meetings about Strategic Regeneration Area funding
Changes have been announced to the SRA funding issue, affecting old Colwyn as the SRA money is to be spent in Colwyn bay and Rhyl.
A letter had been received by the committee from the Welsh Assembly .
The key lines in the letter were 1. That Community-
The secretary reported that he had spoken to Paul Smith that day. He had pressed Mr Smith on whether Old Colwyn was likely to be successful in pressing ahead with a 14 point plan for infrastructure change in the village.
Mr Smith had said that he was willing to speak with residents
The secretary had told him that Shane Wetton had spoken to them and that he needed to be guided by the committee before making any further arrangements.
Our Councillors had held public meetings to work towards a package of measures that could be paid for by SRA funding.
In view of the letter which we recently received from the WAG telling us that community led funding applications were not expected could he give a view please about whether it was still useful to work towards a package of measures for the Village.
Mr Smith replied that SRA funding is only focussed on Colwyn Bay and Rhyl, as areas with high levels of social deprivation.
The secretary pressed him on the issue of whether Old Colwyn fell into Colwyn Bay.
Mr Smith replied that it did not. He is putting the finishing touches to the Community Fund and is talking to N Power who will contribute.
SRA Money has already been spent in Station Road, Colwyn Bay.
Communities can make application for projects up to £20,000 or 50% of the cost of the project. That is the fund that Old Colwyn would have to bid into. For instance Abergele wanted £200,000 for a changing room / toilet block. They have been granted £20,000 from the Community Fund.
~There was a discussion about this report at Committee. Councillor Cossey said that he thought that Mr Smith was possibly mistaken, there were other SRA funding pots and some of our requirements could fit into housing for instance. He will make enquiries.
Councillor Cossey has since met with the Civil Servant who heads the SRA project on behalf of the Assembly Minister to clarify the position with regard to Old Colwyn.
If the 14 point plan discussed in public meetings was to be submitted as a Community Project then the grant is only 20k. As the project was agreed by the then Deputy Chief Executive of Conwy to go into the full BayLife plan, it will be able to attract more funding as it will be part of the Council’s programme. Some items might not be done for up to 10yrs but they will be within the major plan.
We can therefore as a Community Group put forward other schemes, or even one of the 14 points, if we wish, if it going to cost less than 20k and do it ourselves.
We recall that Shane told us that initially there was talk of 7 to 10years funding but then said that it was £20 million over 3 yrs with decisions to be made about further funding after that.
Our Councillors have a plan amended by public consultation.
Let us hope that in the fullness of time we get some decisions because if we have to wait ten years for instance for the street scene issues to become a viable project, then all the other issues extend that long too, rusty poles sticking out of the footpath etc etc. As stated, it is pointless doing work if it is going to be dug up again.
The Council quite naturally is wanting to take the lion's share of the SRA funding for its projects, housing, offices, change civic centre to a hotel?
It is all a bit woolly really.
It is time that the Minister became a little more specific about the what,when and where of regeneration funding.
Councillor Cossey added This all came about because the Minister shouted at the Chief Executives and told the to get some projects rolling, We went to see Bethan who was the Project Manager for SRA in Conwy and asked if we could put forward a project for Old Colwyn which she agreed for us to do to go into the master plan for Colwyn Bay, including Old Colwyn.
At that time nobody knew anything about a Community Cohesion Officer or the Community Fund, that has come about since. As far as I am concerned our plan will go to Bay Life as part of the councils plan, not as a community project.
Since then this community fund has come along and if there are any community schemes which we could do which cost less than £20,000 we as a Residents association can put a bid in to the Community Cohesion pot.
The Bowling Club in Min y Don is going into the master plan for Colwyn Bay. The plan should be completed soon, it has been held up by illness. As soon as finished the plan will be circulated for agreement. He added that he sits on the Bay Life Board and will take it to a meeting and present it for them to add to the master plan.
Janet Gardener added that the Reverend Keith Forecast is keen to have the bowling Club in the Park because they can share facilities.
Councillor Cossey answered that it will be more of a community facility than a Bowling Club.
Peter Lawrence asked if there is anything on the list of 14 points which is below £20,000 and how many applications for £20,000 can be submitted.
Councillor Cossey said that he thought that it was one application per year. N Power who built the windfarm are giving £150,000 per year for Community Projects.
A resident asked if the project had to be match-
Councillor Cossey replied, communities will not get 100% of a project.
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At the last open meeting the following question was asked
On Sunday 6th December, banging sounds were heard from the wall at the top of the Tan y Coed bank in Station Road. COMMUNITY PAYBACK had knocked a very large hole out of the wall in the location where a stile used to be before the wall was reinstated.
It was reported that it was a matter of according with the requirements of a nearby resident’s deeds giving access to Station Road via the wall.
The committee asked if a group such as “Making Tracks” who did the initial work to the wall could be engaged to repair the damage done to the wall and restore it to a simple stile.
Councillor Cossey answered that he would arrange for that to happen.
Since then enquiries have revealed that there is no public right of way over the wall at this point and the access to the premises concerned was not marked on local official maps.
Councillor Cossey resolved to speak to the owner of the premises concerned in the light of the damage which has started to occur to the banks as a result of the wall being breached again.
Councillor Cossey is having a meeting on 11th March.
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Soap scum in Afon Colwyn ~ The Environment Agency has written to all houses in that area asking them to check their connections. ~ nobody has seen any more suds in the river recently.
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Refuse wheelie bins stored on the street – The Council are taking this matter very seriously and letters have been sent to residents also work is in hand to ensure parking for some of the bins. Thanks for that.
Councillor Cossey added that Community payback will remove the soil for the bins to be taken off the road in Princess Road.
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Our Association Website -
February unique visitors 433
March up to the 10th 152
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Cliff Road parking signs. The yellow lines have been installed at the south end of the Road but not at the North end. Councillor Cossey said recently that the north end was removed from the plan but then reinstated so it may be done later.
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Item 7.
Any other business.
· Community Health Trusts Councillor Cossey clarified that the Minister had said that the establishment of 7 community health trusts would go ahead dispite complaints that she had not consulted certain groups that she had said had been consulted.
- Marine Roundabout ~ unofficial signs The secretary spoke of the fact that most of the time there are up to four sheets attached to the railings around the roundabout. People have also now taken to draping sheets over Eirias park wall. It is unacceptable especially with Britain in Bloom approaching. Whose responsibility was it he asked to remove these unofficial signs.
Councillor Cossey confirmed that Highways had a standing instruction that they be taken down if seen.
- Councillor Cossey recently spoke to committee of the fact that complaints had been made about the state of the railings on top of the embankment of the promenade at Old Colwyn end towards Eirias.
Network Rail have asked Conwy to hand back the lease of the bank and they have said that they will put a two metre fence at the bottom of the bank. This will badly affect the Waterfront Strategy Regeneration ideas. It will also hold litter and rubbish as there will be no access.
David Jones MP is helping to make our views on the issue known to Network Rail and encourage them to replace the fence at the top of the embankment.
- Monthly notice of amount of donations ~ Last months donations amounted to £22.
- Aldi refridgeration issue ~ The Chair added that nothing has happened yet and men had been seen on the roof testing the roof. Residents are concerned that ALDI may be intending to put another retrograde application in to put the plant on the roof.
Councillor Cossey added that it was a suggestion to ALDI from the Environmental Health officer to put it on the roof near the main road. He said that he would make enquiries.
- Councillor Cossey reported that David Jones MP intends to hold another public meeting about the Pier at 6pm of 26th March at St Paul’s Church.
Pier update ~There has been a preliminary inspection of the Pier. The inspector was
not allowed into the building itself and has not been up the steelwork, just a quick
safety inspection. He is talking £4 -
The belief is that £9 million is required for the whole Pier. The structure is listed but the building is not. There is talk of taking the current pavilion off and putting a more modern design which could be better used.
- Monthly report from Councillor Cossey and Councillor Cheryl Carlisle
Please find below the list of work myself and Brian have done this month.
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Item 8
The next meeting is 14th April 2010 at 7pm. It will be at the Methodist Church unless otherwise informed.
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