Cynllun Cymunedau'n Gyntaf Posted Thursday, November 15, 2001 by penllyn
Mae Cyngor Gwynedd newydd gael cadarnhad gan y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol fod y cais i gynnwys ardal De Llyn -sef wardiau Aberdaron, Botwnnog a Thudweiliog - fel rhan o’r Cynllun Cymunedau’n Gyntaf, wedi llwyddo. Mae 88 cymuned, neu ward, yng Nghymru eisoes wedi eu dynodi yn rhan o’r cynllun arloesol yma; yn eu plith ward de Pwllheli.
Dyma gyfle arbennig, gydag arian dynodedig, i bawb oddi fewn i’r cymunedau yma gyfrannu tuag at gynllun arloesol ac i geisio adnabod a chynnig atebion tymor hir i’r ffactorau amrywiol sydd yn achosi problemau cymunedol. Mae'r rhaglen yn cynnig arian ar gyfer newidiadau a gwelliannau lleol - boed yn ymwneud â hyfforddiant, gwaith, gweithgareddau cymunedol, gwasanaethau lleol, gwell amgylchedd neu well safon byw. Dan y cynllun yma, pobl leol fydd yn penderfynu beth sydd ei angen.
Mae’r Cynulliad yn cydnabod mai nid ymateb tymor byr sydd ei angen ond arian tymor hir sydd yn rhoi cyfle i wneud gwir newid ac effaith. I’r perwyl .hwnnw, fe fydd sicrwydd o arian i gynllunio dros y tair blynedd nesaf gan edrych ymlaen hefyd
dros o leiaf 10 mlynedd i ddod. Cyflwynir rhagor o fanylion yng nghyfarfod Fforwm Bro Llyn yn Neuadd Sarn Mellteyrn ar nos Fawrth, 28 Tachwedd 2001.
o'r Llanw tach.2001

Communities First Posted Thursday, November 15, 2001 by penllyn
Two areas in Llyn have been designated as part of the Communities First Programme run by the assembly. One area is the Pwllheli South ward. A public meeting will be held at Ysgol Cymerau on Thursday 22nd of November at 7pm. Local residents are urged to attend to find out what it's all about. The other area includes the wards of Aberdaron, Botwnnog and Tudweiliog.

Fforwm Bro Posted Thursday, November 15, 2001 by penllyn
Cynhelir cyfarfod cyhoeddus Fforwm Bro Llyn am 7.30 nos Fercher, 28 Tachwedd 2001 yn Neuadd Sarn Mellteyrn. Bydd cyfle i drafod gyda chynrychiolwyr ELWA, yr angen am gyrsiau hyfforddi sy’n diwallu anghenion lleol er mwyn i bobl Llyn gael y sgiliau i’w galluogi i gael swyddi yn yr ardal. Bydd cyhoeddiad hefyd bod De Llyn i gael arian drwy Gynllun Cymunedau’n Gyntaf. Mae’n flwyddyn erbyn hyn ers y cyfarfod cyhoeddus cyntaf ble y trafodwyd anghenion penodol ar gyfer ceisio gwella sefyllfa Llyn. Fe benderfynwyd bryd hynny i sefydlu Fforwm Bro Llyn a, dros y misoedd diwethaf, mae’r grwp bach a enwebwyd fel Pwyllgor Llywio wedi bod wrthi’n trafod ac yn cynllunio.
Un pwnc sydd wedi cael cryn sylw yn y trafodaethau ydi anghenion cyflogwyr bach a’r hyn sydd yn achosi pryderon neu rwystrau i gyflogi a hyfforddi yn yr ardal, ac i ddenu pobl ifanc i aros i ddilyn gyrfa yn eu hardal. Mae teimlad y dylid sicrhau bod darpariaeth hyfforddi yn diwallu anghenion lleol ac i’r perwyl hwnnw gwahoddwyd ELWA, sef Cyngor Cenedlaethol sydd’ yn gyfrifol am hyfforddiant ac ariannu cyrff hyfforddi yn lleol, i gyflwyno eu cynlluniau ac i glywed am obeithion ac anghenion lleol Llyn, gan bobl Llyn, yng nghyfarfod nesaf y Fforwm Bro. Mae ELWA wrthi ar hyn o bryd yn ymgynghori ar eu cynllun Strategaeth Corfforaethol, drafft sydd yn cynnig cynlluniau ar gyfer 2002 i 2005 ac mae eu gwahodd nhw i gyfarfod y Fforwm yn gyfle euraid i gynnig ein sylwadau ac i geisio dylanwadu o bersbectif lleol. Peidiwch â cholli’r cyfle felly.
o'r Llanw tachwedd 2001

A Bridge too far Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2001 by penllyn
As reported here earlier in the year, the plans by Gwynedd Council to widen the Bridge at Boduan on the main Pwllheli - Nefyn road is back on the agenda. The Council originally made the decision to widen the bridge on safety grounds as they claim that two cars cannot pass each other on it. It is true that the bridge has been the site of many accidents over the years. An alternative plan costing around £600,000 has been dismissed as being the more expensive option.
Because the bridge is a listed monument the proposed widening had to be put before Cadw, the Commission with responsibility for listed buildings. Cadw have refused the planned scheme. In the Royal Commission Survey of 1964 the bridge is described as being 18'8" wide, a three arched bridge 84ft. long with a central arch span of 20ft., rebuilt in 1805. Schedule No. 1670.
The council is now taking a pro-active role and at the last Dwyfor area committee meeting Dewi Williams of the councils highways department is reported to have said, " Work should be done before a fatal accident occurs". He probably meant before another fatal accident occurs. The council has also sent a letter to the assembly and obtained the Area committees backing. It was also asking local councillors to send supportive letters.
A few councillors have sought the improvement to the Nefyn Pwllheli road in the past and it now appears as though the Council is singing from a similar hymn sheet, saying that the road network is vital if work is to be bought into the area. It is debatable that taking the cheapest option and vandalizing listed structures is truly the way to fill still empty industrial units at Nefyn or to entice visitors to the area. An even cheaper option would be better warning signs for the site of so many accidents caused by motorist, many who were unfamiliar with the road!

The Whitehose Abersoch Posted Wednesday, November 14, 2001 by penllyn
Haven Holidays Ltd., owners of one of Abersoch's most prominent Hotels- The Whitehouse has gone into liquidation. Six employees were sent home today and the liquidators say that the Hotel will be put on the market.

One Ton Inquest Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 by penllyn
Gwynedd Councils officer Sian Jones is still eager to hear the views of locals regarding the effects of the one ton cup. A report is soon to be put before Partneriaeth Pwllheli/ Llyn regarding the event. Discontent rumbles on following the recent letter by the lifeboat coxswain, with councillors and others now entering the 'debate'. The council now talks of long term gain rather than the short term, over optimistic visitor figures it was expecting prior to the event. Whether the council actual read and believed it's own hype is uncertain, but a spokesperson said that publicity lessons had been learnt.
Pwllheli Harbor consultative Committee is being kept busy with the aftermath of the one ton cup, and is also troubled by the sinking of the Pwllheli dredger Nessie. The vessel sank on the 20th of September, at mooring in Fleetwood when another vessel collided with it. The vessel ordered by Gwynedd Council in 1997 from the USA at a cost f £153,000 has had a choppy time of it since it arrived here in the winter of 1999.
After sitting idle for weeks, the dredger was unable to dredge deep enough, press-ganging almost returned in order to crew the vessel, and now faces extensive electrical re-fitting or scrapping. Huw Davies the Group Engineer with Gwynedd Councils coast protection dept., is now awaiting the Insurance assessors report as to repair or scrap Nessie.

Open Government? Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 by penllyn
'Open Government', a phrase that seems not to have reached parts of Gwynedd council yet. Councillors at Dwyfor Areas Committee meeting have raised worries about the Councils re structuring plans. Problems were raised when the Housing department was shuffled around a couple of months back. It now seems as though Council bosses are again not forthcoming with details of their strategy for the Highways dept.
Local councillors have raised many concerns but an all too familiar lack of consultation and openess has again appeared. The draft proposals for change will be put in front of the Councils Board on 18th of December. Dwyfor councillors are rightly concerned after having been told that the board did not have to ask the area commitee what they thought before making a decision anyway.
Amongst the councillors voicing their opinions were Bryan Evans, Gwynfor Hughes and Seimon Glyn.

Bus Shelter Aberdaron Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 by penllyn
After waiting for the bus shelter for ages, some residents are now pressing Aberdaron community council to act with regard to the unsightly pitched roof on the structure. The roof doesn't fit into the environment, and some have said that a shelter like the one in Sarn would have been a better option.

Community skips Posted Monday, November 12, 2001 by penllyn
Community skips can be found next week at- Pwllheli- North Quay, and Abersoch- Sarn Bach.

Second Homes Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
The National Assembly for Wales is to include Llyn as part of the 2000/1 Wales planning research programme. The study will aid the assembly with future planning policies and assist the development of sustainable rural communities. The project will aim to establish the locations and numbers of holiday homes and second homes, improving methods of data collection and establish data on land use and the way planning systems can control new housing development.

Road Works Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
More details are emerging regarding the now £3million investment in roads in the area. Despite this injection of capital in improving the road infrastructure, there are still concerns over the time that it will take to re-open the road at Rhiw. £1,910,000 has been earmarked for the proposed new road that will replace the road damaged by Plas yn Rhiw nearly a year ago. It has remained closed and according to council spokesmen if all goes smoothly it will take abot 18 months for work to begin.
There have already been two public meetings regarding the road in Rhiw but some local residents say that nothing came of them. They say that the public bodies involved are slowing the process down with seven different routes having been proposed. A council spokesperson said that because of the involvement of so many outside bodies the process would be a long one. The 12-mile journey to Pwllheli will remain for now a 21mile journey for the residents of Rhiw.
The slow pace of the findings of a public inquiry into the proposed improvements to the stretch of road between Abererch and Pandy garage were also criticized this week by Pwllheli Town Councilors. A letter is to be sent to the assembly to ask them to announce the findings of the report into the multi-million pound scheme that is believed to have been completed last month.
£874,000 is to be spent on rural road repairs and roads that have suffered damage due to land slippage- £91,000 on the road to Uwchmynydd in Aberdaron, and Y Lôn Gam in Nefyn -£630,000.

Crime figures Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
Two local towns appear on the Gwynedds top 20 cime hotspots list. Areas in Caernarfon and Bangor occupy five out of six of the top positions with Pwllheli coming in at number five. Nefyn comes in at No. 20. Theft damage, assault and damage to motor vehicles account for the majority of crimes. The overall figures are 5.2 crimes per 1000 head of population as compared to 9.8 the national (England and Wales) figure.
The Gwynedd Crime Partnership report has come under fire though by residents of Trefor. Returning fire, Clive James, Gwynedd county councils crime partnership coordinator has asked residents to report crime and to submit their findings to the council.

Trouble in Trefor Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
We have reported here on many occasions about the troubles posed by 'gangs' of youths and anti-social behavior towards the residents of Trefor. Once again the problems are heard in the local press. A recent incident involved breaking into a Clynnog and Trefor bus and releasing the handbrake. Community police liaison Officers have stated that the problems in Trefor are no worse than elsewhere, but some local residents say that the youths disappear when police visit the village only to return later.
Local councilors regularly receive complaints and the problems are heard at most community council meetings. The leader of a Saturday morning club for youngsters has now given up. Cymdeithas Tai Eryri's developments have been criticized and have thought to have aggravated the situation. It now appears as though a regeneration project is being wound up, well before its expected ten-year lifespan. The development of a Play area and establishing a football team are, however, expected to improve on some of the problems.

One Ton Clanger Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
You can't please all the people all the time, and this seems true with regard to the One Ton Cup event held in Pwllheli this year. The event seems to have attracted diametrically opposed views on its 'success'. These views were first expressed on Stondin Silwyn,the Heno TV programme and letters to the local press. The subject has again attracted media coverage, with Wales today airing the views of some disgruntled local business people.
The fresh round of inquests into the event included a letter to the Pwllheli harbor Consultative Committee by lifeboat coxswain Robert Wright. It is reported to have estimated a figure of less than 200 extra visitors to the area. He also said that the public money spent on the event would have been better spent on enhancing the harbor's facilities for locals than promoting a yacht race for millionaires. Many local businesses are claiming to have actually lost money directly as a result of the anticipated thousands of visitors not materializing.
It seems as though people actually believed the spinning and hype before the event!

Square deal Posted Saturday, November 10, 2001 by penllyn
It seems as though we could now be coming towards the beginning of the end of the long Market Square debarckle in Pwllheli. Ever since the square was 'paved' with traditional granite setts, there have been problems. The matter has continuously been raised by the town council and traders, but it appears as though Gwynedd councils stock answer of- 'it would cost to much', has finally worn out. In a shock announcement by Gwynedd council's Highways dept., Bob Daimond has now invited councilors to suggest a better surface.
The last time the Town council sent Bob's dept. a letter they said they had a plan, but it would cost about £50,000. Evidently the plan did not include the surface layer. The Town council proposes to invite a Gwynedd council engineer to the next meeting. Let's hope he won't trip up in market square en route.

The Chips are up! Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
Allports fish and Chips in Pwllheli have already won the award for best chip shop in Wales. Now, as regional winners they could be in line for the best chip shop in Britain. The competition organized by the Sea Fish Industry Federation will take plaice at the cafe royal London next week. The Allport's shop in Porthmadog has won the best shop in Wales award twice before but John Allport is confident of battering the competition this time.
Allports web site- Allports

Warm Welcome Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
Gwynedds Welsh language Initiative officer Iddon Edwards announced this week that estate agents in Gwynedd are supporting a scheme that will issue people moving into Welsh language communities with a welcome pack. The pack produced by the Welsh Language Board includes information on Welsh, it's use in the community, and how people should go about learning the language. This is one of the proposals put forward by speakers on behalf of the pressure group Cymuned and others recently.
In a document put forward by the Independent Wales Party this week it was proposed that houses in Gwynedd would only be sold to people who have lived here for ten years. Both Cymuned and the I.W.P. submitted proposals to the Welsh Assembly's culture committee this week. The welcome packs are, however, a welcomed if tentative step towards informing prospective new homeowners about the continuing existence of one of Europe's oldest surviving languages.

Bin Liner Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
A new scheme will be launched in the New Year that will make it easier for Pwllheli residents
to re-cycle paper, glass, cans and textiles. A pilot scheme will be launched in Pwllheli that is hoped will then be rolled out throughout Gwynedd. The scheme will take the form of issuing residents with plastic refuse boxes that will be collected fortnightly. Dwyfor residents have been green with envy because Arfon and Meirionydd residents have been issued with wheelie bins, whilst in Dwyfor we are issued with bin bags.

Community Skips Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
Community Skips
Will appear this week at - Pen-Y-Bryn Rhoshirwaun and Nefyn.

St. Beuno's Botwnnog Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
Work is underway by local builders Ambrose Griffith on the spire of Botwnnog church. The listed building needs £19,000 of work on repairing the spire. It is hoped that grants will pay for much of the work that needs to be done on this thriving center of worship.

Ysgol Cymerau Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
It appears as though police and fire officers are no closer to ascertaining the cause of the fire that caused such damage last week. Work on repairing the damage will begin next week and it is expected to be completed by March next year.
School headmaster Elfed Griffiths said he was encouraged by the support of the local community. Children have undertaken fundraising, parents are coming in to help re-paint classrooms and soft toys are being made to replace those destroyed in the nursery class.

Dental decay Posted Friday, November 9, 2001 by penllyn
It appears as though the problems facing local people not being able to find dental treatment are once again biting hard in Llyn. This problem occurred a few years back when local dentists stop taking on nhs work. New dentists were attracted to the area and grants of up to £50,000 were given to coax dentists to set up. The grants system is now coming to an end and it now seems that dentists are insisting that patients either pay as a private patient or they have to sign up for Denplan insurance.
Out of 22 dentists in Gwynedd only two of these now accept adults and children under the NHS, neither of these are in Llyn. The practice of Dr. Michael Daly of Llanaelhaearn is the most recent to be criticized by local councilors. Mr. Daly is reported to have said in his defence that- it was a case of people signing the denplan scheme or paying privately, and the former was a better option. Either way it now appears that some patients will now have to pay up to £24 a month for insurance or resort to the door handle and a piece of string.

Community Skips Posted Monday, November 5, 2001 by penllyn
Community skips can be found this week at Llanbedrog, Y Ffôr, Efailnewydd, Trefor and Rhydyclafdy.

Bodfean Hall Posted Sunday, November 4, 2001 by penllyn
Planning permissions has been approved for using a room in the East wing of Bodfean Hall as a Tea room as part of the proposed scheme to open the gardens to the public. Permission was granted by the Dwyfor Area committee to open the tearoom five days a week, and six days during August and September.

Bryn Beryl Posted Saturday, November 3, 2001 by penllyn
The future of Bryn beryl is assured according to the North West Wales NHS Trust. They have finally unveiled plans for the future of the Community hospital and the proposed moving of services from the Ala road clinic. Bryn beryl will take over all the consultation services currently at Ala rd. apart from the Obstetrics and Gynecology. The site at Ala Rd. will either be developed as a Family Center' that might actually be moved to a new building in Pwllheli at a later date.
The mid-wife led home delivery unit will benefit from a telemedicine link (video), to Ysbyty Gwynedd and electronic transfer of X-ray images will mean less of a journey for patients. The Trust has said that 87% of those who responded to the Trusts proposals had been in favour, and that it would continue to consult the local population on future plans.

Ffyrdd newydd ym Mhen Llyn werth £2.4 miliwn Posted Friday, November 2, 2001 by penllyn
Fe fydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn rhoi grant gwerth £1.9m er mwyn adeiladu ffordd newydd i bentref Rhiw ym Mhen Llyn.

Mae'r ffordd ger Porth Neigwl wedi bod ynghau ers Nadolig y llynedd yn sgil tirlithriad.

Fe fydd dros £600,000 hefyd yn mynd tuag at adnewyddu'r ffordd i draeth Nefyn gafodd ei difrodi ar ôl tirlithriad yno ddechrau mis Ionawr.
Hen amser meddwn I.