Old Colwyn (East) Residents’ Association
Minutes of the Open Meeting Wednesday 14th July 2010
Item 1.
Those present signed the register.
Item 2.
Apologies – David Jones MP, Darren Millar AM, David and Christine Curtis, Monty Slocombe, Mr and Mrs Morton, Ray Gardner, Mr and Mrs Clowser.
Item 3
The minutes of last meeting on Wednesday 12th May 2010 were read out by Councillor Cossey. There was unanimous support for the minutes and they were accepted as a true record. There was a query that they were the minutes of the May meeting. The month of June was however the AGM which will be reported in June 2011.
Item 6 (brought forward)
Police Report.
Sergeant Alison Guillemin was present. She reported that from a police perspective when she last attended, there was considerable concern about antisocial behaviour. Reported incidents are checked weekly and plotted and antisocial behaviour and associated criminal damage has reduced.
There was trouble related to a recent football match both in the Town centre and at the match. All licensed premises had cooperated with the police and had closed their doors. She commended the licensees for their responsible actions on that day.
The Chair asked about two persons with CRASBOs allegedly living rough in Old Colwyn. Sgt Guillemin replied that one had been arrested and charged and the other is outstanding but is out and about so officers will catch up with her. CBM Mike Williams is coordinating the issue.
The Chair continued to say that quite a lot of stones are being knocked off walls such as outside the Methodist Church, criminal damage really and asked if the police could keep a watch for things like that. It is sad to see the damage and it costs so much for the places to be kept going anyway.
Sgt Guillemin said that she understood the concerns and gave information about an operation targeting antisocial behaviour which was about to start.
Councillor Cossey added that now that the police are mapping incidents it is even more important that people ring in if they see anything.
Sgt Guillemin agreed and asked that people spread the word to ask others to phone in with information about things happening. Ring in on 101. People should phone in with what they think is important and the police will assess the information.
A resident asked if there will be any more police around during the school holidays. She was asking with particular relevance to elderly people who were intimidated by bad behaviour of various types.
She added that she had emailed the secretary after the last meeting and asked if it was possible for committee members to go into schools and explain to young people how frightening it is for vulnerable and elderly people. She explained that in Conwy a few years ago a group of residents used to meet at the Marine Hotel when recycling was the issue and they worked with the police then. She added that the children were very good with recycling and wondered if we could get the message across to the youngsters to have pride in the community, don’t throw litter, bring them into the community and let them start having pride but when they do offend then we have got to see that something is done.
She added that in her opinion, both police and Council are not enforcing the laws that have been made to be able to cope with this issue.
Sgt Guillemin replied that those messages are given strongly just before the end of term, also there are Police School Liaison Officers whose job it is to go into schools for prepared lessons in which messages such as public duty and respect are constantly reinforced to the young people.
She also said that it is possible for people such as members of the public to go into schools and give the message. Most children would listen.
The resident continued that the reply from the secretary to her email asking if members of the committee could visit schools to give a talk, had mentioned that people going into schools need police checks.
Sgt Guillemin replied that as long as the police were present and residents were
going in to chat to them, checks would probably not be required. Ex-
The resident continued that she had spoken to children who had dropped litter and they were perfectly polite when she spoke to them about it.
Sgt Guillemin added that she could not say that there would be more staff to cope over the holiday period. The staff and volunteers that are available will be used effectively.
There was a discussion about the use of signs and news letters to emphasise messages to community. If such a thing could be done, the size of the print is important for elderly persons to see.
Councillor Cossey replied that the committee could examine the issue at the next meeting.
Sgt Guillemin was thanked for her report by the Chair.
Item 4
Matters arising from last month’s minutes~
Item 5
Standing items~
Policing/Local Crime / Nuisance
Group behaviour problems remain a problem occasionally.
There has been damage to public property.
We have two persons subject of CRASBOs living rough in Old Colwyn; they act violently together causing public anxiety and are sometimes deposit their excrement in public places.
They scream at each other using foul language in public. They use violence on each other and their behaviour is not pretty to watch. Police have been informed and are actively targeting their activities.
The work done by the Highways Agency under the arches last year though effective is not visually acceptable. The Agency has said it will make the work acceptable. The downspout which is not channelling water away from the railway into the stream at that point belongs to Railtrack and so may take longer to resolve.
Soap scum in Afon Colwyn ~ This is still a feature and still under review by environment agency. More foam was photographed last weekend and it is noticed that there are a number of various sized fish in the pool.
The issue has previously been discussed of deep half -
Councillor Cossey reported that he had had a meeting with the owners of the Yew tree cottage and they were agreeable to a plan to mend the wall in Station Road and construct a new access into Yew Tree Cottage land. It is now a question of arranging a time for it to happen.
Councillor Cossey recently spoke 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 wants to put a two metre fence at the bottom of the bank. The Council and our Member of Parliament are arguing that the fence should be replaced at the top of the bank.
Marine Roundabout ~ unofficial signs Posting has been seen recently but is now being managed well by the Council.
Refuse wheelie bins stored on the street –
Bins in Cefn Road Old Colwyn ~still under review
The bins in Princess Road ~ The bins are now stored off the street. This is a major improvement and Councillor Cossey is thanked for pressing this matter.
The bins at the top bus-
In Station Road behind Somerfield a triangular shaped enclosure. This area has been cleared recently of cardboard and other rubbish by Chris Perry.
Thanks to all for the improvements.
Our Association Website -
June unique visitors 388
July up to the 2nd 7
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Item 7.
Any other business.
New Association secretary required ~ David Curtis announced his resignation as secretary at the AGM; a new secretary is required.
It would be possible for the job to be split ie a Minutes secretary and for other members to attend meetings and produce reports to the Committee and Open meeting (as with Monty Slocombe and the Pier committee report to follow later).
David Curtis would be prepared to maintain the Association website if required. That would entail the new secretary sending him an email containing the page to be posted.
The Chair started the conversation on the issue by saying it is such an important issue that people are required to come forward with suggestions as to the way forward.
A letter to the secretary was read by the Chair, it was from Reverend Keith Forecast, who thought that it was important that a person with the right skills should be chosen from the Committee as they know the issues. He had considered the post of secretary but could not commit to the post. He did however offer to take on the post of Vice Chairman if the committee saw fit to take up his offer.
The Chair proposed that Reverend Keith Forecast be Vice Chair. This was unanimously agreed.
There was a discussion about the post of secretary and various issues were discussed including whether such copious minutes as taken over the last seven years need to be recorded. David Curtis has done it in his own way but that is not a template for the next secretary. Reverend Forecast developed this argument by saying that it is only the decisions taken that need to be recorded.
Hillary Hughes agreed to consider taking over the role of Minutes Secretary.
Councillor Cossey said that Councillors could possibly write letters on behalf of the association.
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ALDI issue
The Chair read an email to the secretary from Neil and Shereen Jones
David,
We are not able to make the meeting this week but we would like it mentioned that Aldi have now installed a new external refrigeration system. To our great relief it inaudible to us and we finally have a conclusion to this matter.
Would you please convey our thanks to the Residents Committee for their interest and support over the last few months.
Regards, Neal and Shereen Jones.
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St John’s Church Garden ~ has been judged at the end of the month by a Green Pennant judge ~ the result is embargoed to 28th July.
St John’s Garden has been judged for the Snowdonia Wildlife Garden award ~ results awaited.
St John’s garden was judged as part of Colwyn Bay’s entry in Wales in Bloom on Monday 5th July.
Adopt a Border Scheme at St John’s Community Garden.
The Chair introduced a plan to encourage people to participate in St John’s Garden. He invited people to consider participation and also to pass the information on to others who might be interested.
The garden project has been running since September 2004. Funding came on stream in April 2005 and since then almost 4800 hours of voluntary work have established seventeen borders.
Now that all borders are complete and in order to keep the garden viable and sustainable it has been decided to ask people to adopt and care for one border independently.
Garden groups are difficult to manage and it is hoped that Adopt a Border will be successful because people can go in their own time and work at their own patch and then leave.
Monty and Claire Slocombe have agreed to adopt a border
Roger Skinner has agreed to mow the short grass.
The more people who are able to Adopt a Border the better, it is hoped that it may become a flagship for demonstrating what can be done in a community.
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St John’s Church Community Wildlife Garden
Please become a project member.
ADOPT A BORDER.
Concept of the Garden ~
The garden is semi formal but has a theme which is dedicated to providing habitat and food sources for wildlife.
Information ~
Help is needed to care for the garden which has been in existence since 2004. There are now seventeen flower borders, of varying sizes. They are mainly stocked with perennial flowers which seed and provide habitat and food for insects and birds.
The borders need to be tended minimally allowing seeds to germinate and grow for identification purposes, weeds that are unwanted can then be taken out.
(As an example) some of the borders contain Forget-
Intention ~
Members of the public are asked to consider adopting a border in the garden. In this way people will become part of the project and will only care for the part of the garden that they have adopted. People must simply agree to keep the garden as a wildlife garden
Advice will be given on the type of plants, shrubs and care needed in the borders. Members will use their own tools and organise their own work to suit themselves.
It is hoped that by encouraging the community to participate in the care of the garden, it can continue to be the pleasant centre of the village, visited and enjoyed by many.
David Curtis
Project Manager.
Mobile telephone ~ 07980403447.
Email curtisec135@hotmail.com
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Monthly notice of amount of donations ~ Last month’s donations amounted to £19.60.
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Pier issues ~
Pier committee inaugural meeting.
Monty Slocombe is a member of the Pier committee.
The marine surveyor’s report is still awaited. The waterfront project is due to start this year.
Monty will update the residents and also take their ideas forward in due course.
Report of Monty Slocombe
As promised a brief run down of our Pier meeting on 30.6.10:
A committee of 15 met. It is very much embryonic, and we are to some extent fighting in the dark at the moment. However, these are the main points to emerge:
(1) The receivers are willing to sell it to our group, or the highest bidder. They have spent about £10,000 to date, so obviously are looking to recover at least this amount.
(2) A web site was discussed.
(3) It is intended to create interest by printing flyers, and distributing them throughout the area (Expensive and time consuming in my opinion as all residents are thought to be aware of the dilemma, and most for its restoration)
(4) They intend to create a graded membership, £10.00 with voting rights down to £1.00 with no voting rights.
(5) It was believed to be possible at some time in the future to get the buildings and structure declassified as a listed building through CADW.
(6) It is intended to get a shop premises in the centre of the Bay as a focal point and apply for charitable status to avoid rates, taxes etc.
(7) It was said that the "Friends of the Pier" still existed and they still had £500.00 in the coffers. It is now inactive, and their constitution allows for money to be given to a similar organization if it ceases to function for its original purpose. I suggested that a member of our group, who is also a member of the "Friends" formulates a motion that this should be done. Apparently the friends are concerned that Mr. Hunt should have a say in spending. However, he is expressly not invited to join us in order that we should remain independent from other vested interests.
(8) An Adrian Hancock was involved in the restoration of the Pier at Weston Super Mare and has contacted David Jones, M.P. offering his help.
(9) We are still waiting for the Structural Report.
That is the nub of what was discussed. The next Pier Meeting will be on 4.08.10
Report to Pier committee sent to the secretary by Darren Millar AM re Pier ~
Councillor Cossey read the report
Dear Members,
Colwyn Bay Pier
I thought I should provide an update in relation to Colwyn Bay Pier, particularly following the reports in the local press last week. The reports suggested that debris is falling off the Pier onto the beach. Some material was removed by our surveyors some weeks ago in order for them to carry out the requested survey, but there has been no indiscriminate accidental falling of material otherwise. Briefly:
• Council officers have met with representatives of the Trustees in Bankruptcy in order to understand their position and the complex situation surrounding Mr Hunt’s bankruptcy
• The Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee has established a Task and Finish Group to prepare an options paper for consideration through the Council’s political processes. The Task and Finish is due to meet first on 28 June
• The Council’s position and the work of the Task and Finish Group will be informed by a condition survey that the Council has commissioned. Unfortunately the completion of the survey has been inhibited due to Mr Hunt’s refusal to allow access to the superstructure of the Pier. We are seeking to address that problem in cooperation with the Trustees in Bankruptcy
• We are considering (and we keep under regular review) what public safety measures may be necessary due to the condition of the structure
• A local government elector (as well as Mr Hunt through a Freedom of Information request) has challenged the exercise of the Council’s powers in relation to commissioning the survey and has referred the issue of our expenditure to our external auditors (KPMG) for consideration
• The Council’s Master Planning exercise for Colwyn Bay (as part of its Strategic Regeneration Area work) has made no commitments or significant proposals in respect of the Pier, although there is a schematic drawing that shows little (if any) of the Pier in situ in the future. I should stress that that is simply a schematic drawing at this stage and the Master Plan will be further consulted upon
We have written to the local MP and AM to keep them informed of the situation
Iwan Davies
Cyfarwyddwr Corfforaethol Dros Dro/Acting Corporate Director
A resident outlined her fear that development money for the refurbishment of the Promenade could be lost if the Pier issue drags out for any length of time.
Councillor Cossey replied The total refurbishment of the Promenade will start later this year. The master planners have said that there needs to be some sort of focal point. No decision has been taken as to what that will be.
It was discussed that because the pier is owned by someone, they cannot get grants.
The Marine surveyors report will give some direction, they have been asked to cost various options.
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The Chair announced that it had been seen in the local paper that at 2.30pm on July 18th the Church in the Park was hosting a special day in the life of the Reverend Keith Forecast who is celebrating 50 years in the Ministry of God’s Church. He congratulated Keith on his 50years in the Ministry.
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Councillor Cheryl Carlisle gave a report of issues attended to by her and Councillor Cossey during the month.
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A resident spoke of her idea. She felt that we need to get back to some community spirit. The older generation have probably got it but we need to instil it into the younger generation. There are hedges overhanging the pavement and some pavements are narrow for disabled persons. She felt that there should be a newsletter encouraging people to have pride in their community.
There are avenues for funding such ventures.
Reverend Forecast suggested that what you cannot do is to make people read it.
The resident suggested that in foreign countries people have to clean outside their home. People should be made aware of that they should do, if they do not comply the council should enforce against them.
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Item 8
The next meeting is Wednesday 11th August 2010 at 7pm. The Speaker will be David Jones MP.
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