I enjoyed an afternoon and evening of alcohol fuelled, if subdued, socialising on Saturday before and after the match. It was a good day ending with a curry at the Indian Cottage who fitted us in magnificently despite not booking.
The best bit was waking Sunday morning without a hint of smoke in the air.
The Smoking Ban really is having a very good impact on Wales!
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Plaid announce 2008 candidates
PLAID CWM TAWE BRANCH
NAME ’08 CANDIDATES
The Cwm Tawe Plaid Cymru Branch last night met to decide on its 2008 Local Authority and Community Council elections candidates.
Councillor Huw Evans will be standing again for Pontardawe Town Council alongside sitting Councillors Dyfrig Harris, Jean Bowen and Bob Williams. He will not however be standing for NPT County Council for Pontardawe for conflicting work reasons.
He said “Being a County Councillor in Pontardawe has been a huge honour and one that I’ve relished. However it’s such a large ward with so many demands I don’t feel that I can continue to do the role justice. I have work demands and a young family and look forward to supporting our new candidates in their endeavours. I know that they will be hugely successful locally.
“I will remain a County Councillor until next may when I will stand again as a Town Councillor and look forward to continuing to serve the community to the best of my ability.”
Former Borough Councillor Bob Williams and Linet Purcell, who previously stood as Plaid Assembly Candidate in Aberavon, will now stand in Pontardawe with Cllr Huw Evans’ full support.
Elsewhere other County candidates include Gerald James (Gwaun Cae Gurwen), Cennydd Pugh (Brynaman), Cllr Alun Llewelyn (Ystalyfera) and a number of other seats are yet to be decided.
Branch Chairman, Cllr Bob Williams said: “We’re fortunate to have so many strong candidates throughout the area and look forward to contesting all seats in 2008. There is a real momentum behind Plaid and we’re seeing that through our ongoing weekly campaigning.
“We are knocking on doors, canvassing opinion and dealing with every day issues on a weekly basis and expect our hard work to be reflected in next May’s elections.”
NAME ’08 CANDIDATES
The Cwm Tawe Plaid Cymru Branch last night met to decide on its 2008 Local Authority and Community Council elections candidates.
Councillor Huw Evans will be standing again for Pontardawe Town Council alongside sitting Councillors Dyfrig Harris, Jean Bowen and Bob Williams. He will not however be standing for NPT County Council for Pontardawe for conflicting work reasons.
He said “Being a County Councillor in Pontardawe has been a huge honour and one that I’ve relished. However it’s such a large ward with so many demands I don’t feel that I can continue to do the role justice. I have work demands and a young family and look forward to supporting our new candidates in their endeavours. I know that they will be hugely successful locally.
“I will remain a County Councillor until next may when I will stand again as a Town Councillor and look forward to continuing to serve the community to the best of my ability.”
Former Borough Councillor Bob Williams and Linet Purcell, who previously stood as Plaid Assembly Candidate in Aberavon, will now stand in Pontardawe with Cllr Huw Evans’ full support.
Elsewhere other County candidates include Gerald James (Gwaun Cae Gurwen), Cennydd Pugh (Brynaman), Cllr Alun Llewelyn (Ystalyfera) and a number of other seats are yet to be decided.
Branch Chairman, Cllr Bob Williams said: “We’re fortunate to have so many strong candidates throughout the area and look forward to contesting all seats in 2008. There is a real momentum behind Plaid and we’re seeing that through our ongoing weekly campaigning.
“We are knocking on doors, canvassing opinion and dealing with every day issues on a weekly basis and expect our hard work to be reflected in next May’s elections.”
What the press miss...
Fascinating debate on Tuesday at Planning. It truly was!
How a councillor could declare "I thought we weren't going to vote for windfarms" during the first debate of the day said it all.
To the lay person it's a passing comment. But in reality it meant that either there is a "party line" - illegal according to Planning law; there is a party whip approach - illegal according to Planning law or that the members had had a pre-meeting and therefore pre-disposed to the outcome of the debate in advance - illegal according to the law again.
Instead, while I was sitting in the wings because I could be considered to have a predisposition to the outcome of the debate (unlike all of my colleagues), I listened to the need for a "site visit".
Why visit a mountain to see whether or not a wind farm should be built on it? Surely this is just going to look like umm a mountain!?
Anyway the delay tactic will buy local councillors 3 more weeks. What a waste of time!
How a councillor could declare "I thought we weren't going to vote for windfarms" during the first debate of the day said it all.
To the lay person it's a passing comment. But in reality it meant that either there is a "party line" - illegal according to Planning law; there is a party whip approach - illegal according to Planning law or that the members had had a pre-meeting and therefore pre-disposed to the outcome of the debate in advance - illegal according to the law again.
Instead, while I was sitting in the wings because I could be considered to have a predisposition to the outcome of the debate (unlike all of my colleagues), I listened to the need for a "site visit".
Why visit a mountain to see whether or not a wind farm should be built on it? Surely this is just going to look like umm a mountain!?
Anyway the delay tactic will buy local councillors 3 more weeks. What a waste of time!
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Reason 128 why Ponty's fab
The film club. Why more people don't join I don't know. That fact that they don't eases my stress however as it's a great night out with friendly people, despite being Labour members mostly.
But last night's film "This is England" is everything the film club should be about. Gritty, well acted, challenging and a decent glass of wine to top things off. Utterly accessible and civilised.
This film, based around skin heads in the 1980s should have more period music in though. Otherwise a good night had by all.
But last night's film "This is England" is everything the film club should be about. Gritty, well acted, challenging and a decent glass of wine to top things off. Utterly accessible and civilised.
This film, based around skin heads in the 1980s should have more period music in though. Otherwise a good night had by all.
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Traffic calming. It's not my fault!
Many people have contacted me in regard to the traffic calming measures proposed for the high street in Pontardawe.
As this is happening outside my front door - including permit holder only parking - several have assumed I had something to do with it.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Apparently one resident (unknown) requested a survey and the council duly turned out and performed their duty.
Now we're going to have some yellow lines and some zig-zags (a techincal term) removed and some double yellow lines in their place.
I like other residents are going to have to apply for parking permits. Which I can live with.
The problem is though that we don't have a history of accidents and there doesn't appear to be a consensus of support. Also users of St Peter's Church and Tabernacl Chapel are going to find it increasingly difficult to park - I'm thinking big services, concerts and weddings.
But the deed is done - the survey showed a need for change. Sadly Alltycham Estate at the same time is being ignored as are my continued calls for a car park for Ysgol Gynradd Pontardawe.
This is an interesting take on priorities, and clearly nothing I have any say over.
As this is happening outside my front door - including permit holder only parking - several have assumed I had something to do with it.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
Apparently one resident (unknown) requested a survey and the council duly turned out and performed their duty.
Now we're going to have some yellow lines and some zig-zags (a techincal term) removed and some double yellow lines in their place.
I like other residents are going to have to apply for parking permits. Which I can live with.
The problem is though that we don't have a history of accidents and there doesn't appear to be a consensus of support. Also users of St Peter's Church and Tabernacl Chapel are going to find it increasingly difficult to park - I'm thinking big services, concerts and weddings.
But the deed is done - the survey showed a need for change. Sadly Alltycham Estate at the same time is being ignored as are my continued calls for a car park for Ysgol Gynradd Pontardawe.
This is an interesting take on priorities, and clearly nothing I have any say over.
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