A Message from Penyffordd Community Council

Dear Pen-y-ffordd, Penymynydd and Dobshill residents,

It has been a while since I wrote with an update from the Community Council. September is here and the scotching heat is almost forgotten, but COVID-19 remains with us, albeit in smaller numbers.

The children are going back to school at last. I know some will be nervous, but the teachers and local authority having been working hard to make sure they are as safe as they can be. The medical professionals are insistent that the harm from missing school now far outweighs the risk of attending. Children have already returned elsewhere in Scotland and parts of England without issues. 

The greater risk now appears to be from people returning from holiday and not quarantining according to the guidelines.

Back in March and April, we all knew what we had to do - stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. Now it is less clear. We need to return to work and begin to behave as normally as possible, while following social distancing guidelines, avoiding gatherings of people and wearing masks where we are advised to. It is a fine balance and we must all play our part in keeping each other safe and avoiding a second spike.

At the same time we have to use the businesses and shops around us or we risk losing them forever. I am sure many of you have enjoyed an Eat Out to Help Out meal in one of our local eateries!

Beyond COVID-19 there have been other things happening around us. 

For us, one of the most significant was the sad passing of Cllr Edwina Davies. Edwina had served our community for over 40 years and made a huge contribution to the facilities we enjoy today. We, along with the War Memorial Institute, hope to hold a memorial service when it is safe to do so to honour both Edwina and Reith Ingman who had served the community on the War Memorial Institute committee for many years.

VJ Day 75th Anniversary Memorial

A short service to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VJ Day was held outside the Legion with a respectful gathering of residents, veterans and Councillors, led by the rector of St Johns, Emmanuel and Hope Churches, Adam Pawley.

The new Co-operative will open its doors in the coming weeks, we wish them luck, but don’t forget the Spar and our other village shops!

The external building work on the War Memorial Institute has now been completed and the standard of work and approach of the main contractors, Bryn Build, has been exemplary. The project has been funded by Taylor Wimpey with support from the Community Council and War Memorial Institute along with countless buy-a-brick and paint-a-tile contributions from residents.

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in the Scarecrow Competition this year - the standards of entry have been excellent, though the number of entries is disappointing.

Plans are underway for the improvement of the gardens around the Millennium clock along with the continued planting of trees and flower planters around the village.

There is a lot of contention over the way the school transport has been alllocated once again and our Councillors and Community Council have been lobbying on behalf of affected parents.

There is a line being drawn through our community and some residents of Penyffordd are being penalised if they do not select the Elfed School, despite Castell Alun serving our community for decades.

There have many complaints about antisocial behaviour around the Millstone Play Area, particularly with abusive language (some directed at parents of small children and allotment holders), litter and worse. We would ask parents to remind their children that the investment in equipment on the play areas is for the benefit of everyone, we need their help to look after them.

The skate ramps are very popular with children, but have been a noise problem since they were installed. The Community Council are discussing options for how to deal with the problem once and for all - updates to follow.

The application to modernise the site at Dobshill with a new filling station, drive through Costa, Spar and Greggs has been contentious and I have had numerous conversations and meetings with the developers to try and protect our existing businesses, ensure the neighbours have the least impact and protect jobs. Cllr Williams has also been very active, though community councillors are concerned about litter and the loss of the pet shop, which seems unavoidable. The community council was split when voting with a narrow majority recommending refusal. The application remains outstanding.

Flintshire planning department held a committee meeting in August, it was not public and we were not allowed to address the committee, nor were they allowed a site visit - but in those circumstances they have agreed to changes to the Redrow site design which will move one of the larger affordable homes blocks to the land adjacent to St John’s Close and allow for the installation of a permanent waste pumping station. We had requested that more details be sought and a site meeting arranged to check the relative levels between the Redrow houses and the existing houses. Flintshire declined.

There is no news of the Vounog Hill public inquiry date at this time, though we have observed that, as Flintshire’s ever delayed Local Plan nears adoption (probably in 2 years), new applications from housing developments are active in Higher Kinnerton, Drury and Buckley.

After a recess in August, our next Community Council meeting is on the second Wednesday of September. Sadly we have been advised that we are not able to meet in person and therefore it will once again be a meeting by Zoom. We will be holding our AGM and electing a new Chairman and Vice-Chair. I will be standing down but it has been an honour to serve the community and seek to make a positive difference to our village.

We have two vacancies on the council, a youth representative place is free now with Adam Bakewell leaving to continue his education. We are grateful for his excellent contribution. The members vacancy left by Edwina will, at the request of some residents, be by election. The election will be held as soon as Welsh Government allow it, not before February is all likelihood. All elections are overseen by Flintshire County Council.

Please follow the guidance and stay safe, It is beginning to feel like we are past the worst and the end maybe in sight, I certainly hope so!

On behalf of the Community Council, we send our best wishes to everyone suffering in any way as a consequence of this terrible virus. 

Kind regards

Alan Wight
Chair
Penyffordd Community Council

If you know of someone in need or need support yourself, please get in touch with us: 

Sarah Hughes
(Clerk and Responsible Financial Officer) 
Telephone 01244 537032 
Email clerk@penyfforddcouncil.org