Annual Report of Old Colwyn East Residents’ Association 14th June 2006
As always, this preceding year has been busy for the Association.
We have worked hard in consultation with partners, including the police and Departments of Conwy County Borough Council to try and make a difference in the village.
Particularly we wish to thank our policing team the CBMs Katherine Parmley and Mike Williams and our PCSO Martin Lewis, they have been very responsive. Sgt Kelly has also been very helpful and proactive. We are glad that Martin is on the road to recovery after illness.
Also we would wish to thank Chris Perry for his enthusiastic support and hard work keeping our streets and public gardens clear and problems to a minimum.
We started the year with the issue that the bank was to close. There was to be a seamless changeover to Securicor. Somerfield applied for planning permission for the machine to be installed in their wall and in due course this was granted.
The work by our MP, David Jones, Councillors and our association, residents and bank customers in conjunction with work done by Mr French of the Campaign for Community Banking and the Mail on Sunday, collectively achieved a very good result in Old Colwyn. We still have a free to use ATM machine. The cash machine is working well.
All the locations that we asked to be made designated areas for control of drinking in public are now formally designated areas. This enables officers to deal effectively with people caught drinking antisocially in the streets and gardens of the village. We welcome the fact that our recommendations were listened to and acted upon by the Licensing Department.
During the summer of 2005, the St John’s Church garden was awarded a joint Gold award with the other community gardens in The Snowdonia Wildlife Garden Competition 2005.
In Colwyn in Bloom 2005, it was judged best church garden and was part of Old Colwyn’s entry through The Old Colwyn Environment Federation, for Wales in Bloom Awards 2005, in which the garden was awarded a Certificate of Merit and Britain in Bloom in which old Colwyn represented Wales in the Community section and came second. The association has achieved its objectives by helping to raise the feeling of wellbeing in the village through the garden project. The achievement of awards is a significant secondary benefit.
The St John’s Church Garden was opened by the Bishop of St Asaph. David Jones MP attended and the representatives of Enfys and Wren who were the major funding bodies. Representatives of the of the Town and various departments of the County Council who gave great support and help, were also present in addition to residents and parishioners.
The project has now officially passed its’ 2000th hour of volunteer labour.
Departments of Conwy County Council continue to be of great practical support.
North Wales Housing, Clwb Seren contributed money for a new lawn mower and tools.
B & Q contributed £250 worth of plants as a better neighbourhood grant.
A resident raised the issue of a lack of dog bins in Wynn gardens which is a problem as many people take their dogs there for exercise.
Through the year, we liaised about the issue and the Old Colwyn Environment Federation has included the provision in a scheme of improvement for the garden.
Another resident brought up the subject of the toilets on the Old Colwyn side of the pier. It was generally thought unacceptable that people come to a seaside town and are unable to use conveniences on the promenade. .
Councillor Cowans said that he believed that there is a relationship between the west toilet and a concessionaire in the area of the pier, to save the ratepayers money. He drew a comparison with other areas where 20p is charged to use a good standard of toilet facility and expressed a view that we need to consider that type of facility
During the year, a report was received that Queens Court , Old Colwyn was to be used as a rehab clinic for Drugs and alcohol dependants. Some of the elderly residents present at that time had been given notice to quit, we were told.
Representatives of the association attended two separate meetings with Potens and became involved in consultations aimed at providing information for local residents in the form of a list of restricted patient types who would be allowed to reside at the premises.
As a result of a public meeting organised by the local councillors because of Old Colwyn residents’ disquiet, representations were made by them at a Planning Meeting in May and planning permission was refused.
Conwy County Council Planning Dept announced intentions to enforce against shopkeepers who have installed shutters to protect their business premises, as the premises are in a Conservation area. It was felt that the planners were working against the best interests of local business. The Association wrote to Planning supporting the shopkeepers right to protect their property. Councillor Cowans reported that the association view was amplified throughout Conwy. The situation later changed and Planning set up a task force of officers and members, to work out a new policy which will address the needs of the retail sector, the Police in terms of security and the Planners
Bod Difyr Flats remained an item of our meetings for a number of months during the year with known people frequenting and the level of drug related activity. Drugs distribution was very evident in our area. There was a significant amount of drug dealing going on openly in Station Road.
Carlton sold the Bod Difyr Flats to another company called Barbers Commercial. ~ There was violence at the flats. On one occasion a resident saw a group of persons outside with base ball bats shouting racist abuse at the people in the flats. The police and the management company were informed and asked to take action.
In February 2006, as a result of Police operations and action by the owners, the squatters at Bod Difyr were evicted. We thanked the owners Barbers Commercial and the police for their perseverance and their cooperation with us in helping to remove this problem from the centre of the village. The flats are in the process of being renovated and sold individually.
Police driver training with two tone horns and blue light training runs through the village have been a nuisance and we have made representations on two occasions to have these runs through the village reduced.
The overgrown hedge on the corner of Endsleigh Road and Queens Road ~ the Council enforced against the owner as a result of representations.
Problems of speeding around the back roads, in Old Colwyn. People are regularly showing off often creating heel spin and engine roar which concerns people. The police have indicated that they have a trained officer who can use a speed gun when they have obtained one.
There are vehicles which park regularly on the single yellow line on Station Road at its junction with Cefn Road, badly and dangerously obstructing drivers’ vision to the right along Station Road.
We wrote to Highways Dept asking that they consider placing “Give way” signs in Cefn Road and repaint the white “give way” lines on the carriageway. It was strongly felt that these two areas would become serious accident points if not tackled, especially with the drivers who drive without thought and at speed. The Council has now indicated an intention to put double yellow lines on the corner of Cefn Road and Station Road. We have welcomed the change in writing.
Antisocial behaviour by groups of persons in the Village. The issue is ongoing, there is antisocial behaviour including on street drinking and swearing. Groups of young people gather in Wynn Gardens and Llawr Pentre underpass and Min y Don area. This happens especially at the weekend from Thursday onwards.
Wynne Gardens ~ During the year, the sculpture in Wynn Gardens has been damaged with graffiti. The police have been successful on two occasions in finding and dealing with the offenders. It is however a continuing problem which will only get better with improved lighting and the involvement of CCTV.
The Council has arranged for the damage to be rectified at significant cost.
We have now received information today about people including cyclists being intimidated and threatened with violence by a group of youths and girls drinking on the beach path in the evening last week. This information has been passed to the police.
During the year St David’s Commercial attended a meeting to speak about the plans for the site of the Old Church House next to St John’s Church as a building development of 9 houses, this use was supported..
Mr Flanagan later sold the former St John’s Church House to a couple who have made application to develop it as Pay and Play centre for children’s parties with up to 30 children attending for a two hour party. If successful, this will have an impact on business. People complain about the lack of parking now.
This afternoon the Planning Committee deferred a decision for a site meeting next month after a speech from Cllr Cowans supported by Cllr Cossey in support of local business and regarding issues including parking.
Funding for 2005 / 6 period from North Wales Housing Association which continues to support our Association financially because the association represents occupants of their houses in the area. The committee wishes to thank them for their unvarying financial support.
The Committee has made representations about public health issues in our area which have been treated seriously by the Public Health officer and sorted out. We will treat those issues in confidence.
Radios ~ The radio scheme has come on line during the year. Cllr David Cowans who helped finance the scheme from his ward allowance in a previous year, that gesture was much appreciated. Thanks also to Glyn Rowlands the CCTV manager who has organised the scheme in conjunction with the operator and trained the users. The radio scheme was seen as a necessary add-on to CCTV coverage to help secure evidence and add to public reassurance. The scheme is working well and retail members report a feeling of reassurance by having the radios to hand.
We have made representation about over- parking by the taxis in Cefn Road which has a serious knock on effect on business in the area.
There was a fully supported proposal that the association write to make representations about the imposition of a pan-Wales Police Force from Westminster. This letter was sent. The matter is very much in the consultation phase.
Letter to MP about the credibility of the Chief Constable ~ The letter dated 2nd March 2004 detailed five areas of concern about the credibility of the Chief Constable following decisions and public outbursts which he had made.
The committee decided that the best way of finalising the matter which remains unresolved, was to post the letter on the Residents Association website where it can be read and people can make up their own mind. This was done.
Drinking and litter, Llanelian Road. It was noted recently that a very large number of beer cans and bottles had been dumped over the fence of a play ground in a housing estate off Llanelian Road creating a problem for voluntary workers and Council officials. The police have moved to reassure local residents in that area and provide contact numbers.
We wrote to the Police Authority about the story that front line officers have been taken from front line duties, to sit behind desks in the new Control Room at St. Asaph. The police cannot get sufficient civilian control room staff despite many being interviewed The Police Federation has expressed concerns about the speed of the move and lack of consultation.
The Chair of the Police Authority expressed his confidence in the press that this is the best way forward in terms of maintaining the integrity of police links with the public in the short term.
There was general support for the proposal that we write to protest that there are PCSOs being taken on to do police work and fully trained police officers are taken off the front line to do work in the control room. We asked for an explanation as to why other personnel cannot do the work if it is temporary and how long that is likely to be the case. This raises concerns for general front line policing when there a so few front line resources.
The Police Authority has not replied.
The Coastal Strategy Consultation ~ The Environmental and Technical Services dept of the Council have asked us to respond to a survey about the future of the Colwyn Bay promenade. This we have done and will continue to support as the Council examines the future of coastal defences in Colwyn.
2006 will go down as the year when there was an increase in needless environmental attacks on property.
Painting graffiti, scratching graffiti, burning property and plants, breaking down hedges and fences. Pulling out plants.
There is a terrific amount of work being done locally by the Old Colwyn Environment Federation which improves the locality no end. The needless and mindess attacks are done by a few but those few make a huge impact. We need lighting and CCTV where possible.
Graffiti Busters ~We would like to pay credit to Graffiti busters and the work that they have done in partnership with the Police and Council.
Website Our new website www.oldcolwyneast.co.uk has been up and running for some time now but this year has it been written and updated by the secretary for the committee which streamlines the issue. There is much interest in the site.
The Air Ambulance by the Reverend Glyn Price.
Organisation of the Welsh Assembly By Bethan Hughes, and Eve Pennant-Jones North Wales Regional Coordinators.
Inspector Gary Ashton on policing matters
Mr Andrew Salisbury regarding his proposed building development at the junction of Iola Drive and Queens Road, Old Colwyn.
Mr Colin Flanagan regarding his intention to build on the St John’s Church house site.
There have also been debates on the Queens Court Issue and the Church House development as a pay and play centre.
All these issues have been dealt with firmly and with the wellbeing of residents at the centre.
I commend this report to the meeting as a record of a year where we have met the objectives laid down by our constitution.