This last year
has been very busy both for the council and myself. I notice I
have missed just a few meetings, so I am indebted to Gideon for
standing in my absence. So far as I can see he has done an admirable
job. I suspect the next year for me is going to be much more of
the same, so maybe the members make like to make him the chair
for the next year.
It
has been a frustrating year too for the council. Much of what
we are seeking to achieve has been stalled or failed to materialise.
Our
application for a first time sewerage scheme has been stuck with
Welsh Water and their consulting engineers for over a year whilst
they sorted out assessment criteria. I understand that they have
now been set, but the process is only now starting, so don't expect
early action.
Our
other big effort has been focused on traffic calming measures.
Horse riders first raised the issue and Carmarthenshire County
Council are investigating is conjunction with the Community Council
the installation of warning signs. Our other efforts have been
directed at keeping speed down in the East and West ends of Llanfallteg.
To support both initiatives, the precept was raised for the 2007/8
year to give part funding towards the costs of implementation.
CCC showed some early interest, but progress is painfully slow.
Footpaths
have been a ongoing issue for many past years. CCC promises for
help from rangers and contractors has all come to nothing. We
were asked to comment in their survey, and provided them with
some four pages of issues we had come up against. These issues
were aired at the last local access forum, and we have had more
promises of assistance. We shall wait and see.
The
council have had some successes too. Novembers 2006 gave rise
to flooding of the highway right through Llanfallteg, and many
gardens were under water. Residents complained that rain water
was coming in off the road. A site meeting with the highways engineers
pointed out some of the concerns and what we believe the causes.
Reluctantly CCC took action and installed "humps" across
many driveways to keep the rain water out. We are awaiting a wet
spell t see what effect these measures are going to have. I don't
think we have heard the last of the problem mind.
As
chair I took BT to task via the good offices of our AM member,
over the state of the telephone provision to Llanfallteg from
both Whitland and Haverfordwest exchanges. It brought a swift
response from BT. There has been an immediate improvement of fault
repair times, without any doubt. A team of engineers visited the
village from the Shrewsbury office, lamenting the lack of past
investment and promising a solution. This has been backed up in
writing promising a complete revamp during August for those on
01437 numbers with addition lines, more exchange capacity, and
less but new poles. I wait with bated breath.
If
this approach works, I think that this is a tool that we the members
must learn to grasp and make use of - badger both out CCC members,
AM member and even MP, to lean on the faceless mob in Carmarthen.
We need to be more proactive with letters to our local press,
and media.
The
Community Council has a great bunch of members and they are all
very capable. As a council we have moved forward in a positive
and directed manner, so far with limited success. We cannot leave
things lie and talk around them.
It's
time for action! Many thanks for you support and assistance over
the past year.
DK
4th May 2007.
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