Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Why I oppose selling the land at Brynsadler Mill
Arguments against selling the land at Brynsadler Mill are manifold and I thought I would start a new string of comment to encourage people to state their own reasons as well.
This contribution is a bit of a 'thought piece' to try to provide a possible explanation for what lies behind our recent development experiences.
Drive around the UK motorways and it will be clear that junctions like ours at 34 are a major attraction for development. Some of the development was planned and intended in the original siting of the junctions others have grown like Topsy, attracted to the windfall profits involved. It appears we are very much in the latter category.
Motorways and motorway junctions have been created by community investment from our payment of taxes and rates. However, they also suddenly set in motion a potential increase in value of what was previously relatively isolated agricultural land. The American railroad system was based on the knowledge that this would happen with the state providing railroad investors compensatory grants of wide strips of land either side of the track. Who said US capitalism was not state subsidised!
Around our junction 34 we have seen the community investment provide an opportunity for those who could afford it, to purchase agriculture land. Then starts the garnering of the increase in value by a process of creeping planning gain - bit by bit persuading councils to change the designated use of the land so what then becomes windfall profits fall to the land owners. New housing development, the expansion of an industrial estate south of the railway line are examples of the way this process has affected Pontyclun. And the process will continue until all the value has been squeezed out of the original land purchases and the area is completely developed.
The only people who can say enough is enough are local communities and their local political representatives. Clearly if the two work together a planned and strategic compromise can be achieved where a balance is struck between a sustainable community, sustainable green spaces, a varied habitat and development. The Local Development Plan is one way of doing this, but as we have seen from the experience of the last Strategic Plan, ways can be found to make valuable and profitable adjustments at the margin. Constant vigilance and policing are clearly required to make a plan stick if the community say 'enough is enough, we are now at our sustainable limits'.
That is where we are in Pontyclun and we are saying enough is enough but the majority of our local political representatives on the Community Council and County Council do not see it in this way: effectively leaving us to fight the pressures of profit taking and creeping planning gain with more than one hand tied behind our backs. It is little wonder that these councillors did not mention their intention to sell Community Council assets to developers in their elections addresses; it is little wonder they did not mention their intention in a recent Plaid newsletter whilst at the same time they were preparing to move to sell the land atBrynsadler Mill without given specific notice of their intention before the meeting: they know that the residents believe enough is enough in relation to local development and that they would not have been elected had they been open in their intentions. They do not have a mandate to sell the land.
They are leaving us as a community to fight the developers and knowing what power and pressures we are up against and we rely totally on active local support and unity and our preparedness to use all the tactics available to us, which in the current case isPAG. It is interesting that other local communities have also contacted us to share experiences as they are experiencing the same pressures: Tyle Garw and Talbot Green for example. This is not surprising as it is the same forces at play.
A final comment on the commercial pressures on the local community cannot pass without also mentioning the PontyclunTesco development. It is clear what this multinational company is about and it is the same power game and profit taking. Build a huge store and then build small local ones to close down other businesses forcing people to shop in the original large store; get market dominance - oligopoly if you wish to be posh - and you in a position to dominate consumer choice and price and write your own profit cheque. Tesco already have 31% of the UK market - locally I suspect it is much higher than that.
For me enough is enough means a sustainable community, local economy and conserving the variety of local habitats. In addition, having some understanding of the wider context helps to not only provide a knowledge of what we are up against but also how many other communities are in the same position. It provides the basis of unity and a huge cooperative resource of ideas to draw upon to draw hard and fast boundaries around development, affect the nature of this development and ensure that what was original community investment can be used for community benefit.
This contribution is a bit of a 'thought piece' to try to provide a possible explanation for what lies behind our recent development experiences.
Drive around the UK motorways and it will be clear that junctions like ours at 34 are a major attraction for development. Some of the development was planned and intended in the original siting of the junctions others have grown like Topsy, attracted to the windfall profits involved. It appears we are very much in the latter category.
Motorways and motorway junctions have been created by community investment from our payment of taxes and rates. However, they also suddenly set in motion a potential increase in value of what was previously relatively isolated agricultural land. The American railroad system was based on the knowledge that this would happen with the state providing railroad investors compensatory grants of wide strips of land either side of the track. Who said US capitalism was not state subsidised!
Around our junction 34 we have seen the community investment provide an opportunity for those who could afford it, to purchase agriculture land. Then starts the garnering of the increase in value by a process of creeping planning gain - bit by bit persuading councils to change the designated use of the land so what then becomes windfall profits fall to the land owners. New housing development, the expansion of an industrial estate south of the railway line are examples of the way this process has affected Pontyclun. And the process will continue until all the value has been squeezed out of the original land purchases and the area is completely developed.
The only people who can say enough is enough are local communities and their local political representatives. Clearly if the two work together a planned and strategic compromise can be achieved where a balance is struck between a sustainable community, sustainable green spaces, a varied habitat and development. The Local Development Plan is one way of doing this, but as we have seen from the experience of the last Strategic Plan, ways can be found to make valuable and profitable adjustments at the margin. Constant vigilance and policing are clearly required to make a plan stick if the community say 'enough is enough, we are now at our sustainable limits'.
That is where we are in Pontyclun and we are saying enough is enough but the majority of our local political representatives on the Community Council and County Council do not see it in this way: effectively leaving us to fight the pressures of profit taking and creeping planning gain with more than one hand tied behind our backs. It is little wonder that these councillors did not mention their intention to sell Community Council assets to developers in their elections addresses; it is little wonder they did not mention their intention in a recent Plaid newsletter whilst at the same time they were preparing to move to sell the land atBrynsadler Mill without given specific notice of their intention before the meeting: they know that the residents believe enough is enough in relation to local development and that they would not have been elected had they been open in their intentions. They do not have a mandate to sell the land.
They are leaving us as a community to fight the developers and knowing what power and pressures we are up against and we rely totally on active local support and unity and our preparedness to use all the tactics available to us, which in the current case isPAG. It is interesting that other local communities have also contacted us to share experiences as they are experiencing the same pressures: Tyle Garw and Talbot Green for example. This is not surprising as it is the same forces at play.
A final comment on the commercial pressures on the local community cannot pass without also mentioning the PontyclunTesco development. It is clear what this multinational company is about and it is the same power game and profit taking. Build a huge store and then build small local ones to close down other businesses forcing people to shop in the original large store; get market dominance - oligopoly if you wish to be posh - and you in a position to dominate consumer choice and price and write your own profit cheque. Tesco already have 31% of the UK market - locally I suspect it is much higher than that.
For me enough is enough means a sustainable community, local economy and conserving the variety of local habitats. In addition, having some understanding of the wider context helps to not only provide a knowledge of what we are up against but also how many other communities are in the same position. It provides the basis of unity and a huge cooperative resource of ideas to draw upon to draw hard and fast boundaries around development, affect the nature of this development and ensure that what was original community investment can be used for community benefit.
Public Meeting Report
Over 80 supporters braved the weather and defied holiday mode to attend the PAG public meeting on Monday 10th August at the Pontyclun Community Centre. Democracy reigned and Ken Forsdyke Chaired the meeting and Brendan O'Reilly the PAG Chair gave activity reports.
A short history of why the land at Brynsadler Mill came to be owned by the Community Council was given by Brendan who then went over the reasons why the land should remain publicly owned and stewarded. He then described all the current activities of PAG including the huge attendance of the public at the last Community Council; public petitioning, letter writing and two newsletters; complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman and Wales Audit; initial moves toward a judicial review; and ongoing political discussions.
Conservation of the land was stress in comprehensive detail by John Francis who covered the wide range of birds, insects, fish and mammals, including otters, that live in the habitat. Legal and procedural arguments were updated by Tony Lane who provided important and detailed documentary evidence. Media activities and the newsletter were covered in reports given by Cecil Walker and Ken Forsdyke.
Supportive and friendly banter from the floor kept the meeting lively as well as the questions and discussion that followed the reports. It was clear that in addtion to PAG other residents were doing their thing, such as writing to the press. Speaking from the floor Community Councillor Paul Griffiths explained why he supported the campaign along with two other Community Councillors, Sarah Jenkins and Dan Clayton-Jones, and described the historical connection between some councillors and questionable planning decisions over the last 10 years.
Support was given to the campaign against the car parking charges and suggestions made about how to take it forward together with PAG.
An impassioned appeal for financial support to continue the work of PAG was made by Ann Bennett which resulted in a collection of over £460!: many thanks for all those contributions.
Active public support was called for at the end of the meeting and in particular attendance at the next meeting of the Pontyclun Community Council at 19.00 on Tuesday 22nd September at the chapel in Groes Faen. Put it in your diary and see you all there.
A short history of why the land at Brynsadler Mill came to be owned by the Community Council was given by Brendan who then went over the reasons why the land should remain publicly owned and stewarded. He then described all the current activities of PAG including the huge attendance of the public at the last Community Council; public petitioning, letter writing and two newsletters; complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman and Wales Audit; initial moves toward a judicial review; and ongoing political discussions.
Conservation of the land was stress in comprehensive detail by John Francis who covered the wide range of birds, insects, fish and mammals, including otters, that live in the habitat. Legal and procedural arguments were updated by Tony Lane who provided important and detailed documentary evidence. Media activities and the newsletter were covered in reports given by Cecil Walker and Ken Forsdyke.
Supportive and friendly banter from the floor kept the meeting lively as well as the questions and discussion that followed the reports. It was clear that in addtion to PAG other residents were doing their thing, such as writing to the press. Speaking from the floor Community Councillor Paul Griffiths explained why he supported the campaign along with two other Community Councillors, Sarah Jenkins and Dan Clayton-Jones, and described the historical connection between some councillors and questionable planning decisions over the last 10 years.
Support was given to the campaign against the car parking charges and suggestions made about how to take it forward together with PAG.
An impassioned appeal for financial support to continue the work of PAG was made by Ann Bennett which resulted in a collection of over £460!: many thanks for all those contributions.
Active public support was called for at the end of the meeting and in particular attendance at the next meeting of the Pontyclun Community Council at 19.00 on Tuesday 22nd September at the chapel in Groes Faen. Put it in your diary and see you all there.
Friday, August 7, 2009
PAG Newsletter 2. A PAG posting.
PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP
NEWSLETTER
_____________________________________________________________________________________
ISSUE 2 AUGUST 2009
COUNCIL IGNORES WISHES OF ELECTORATE
At a meeting of Pontyclun Community Council held on Tuesday 14th July, the clear wishes of the residents of Pontyclun were treated with total disdain by the majority of the members of the Council.
The Pontyclun Community Centre was ‘standing room only’ as about 200 members of the public attended a Community Council meeting at which the subject of the sale of the community owned open space land at Brynsadler Mill was to be discussed. However, the result of this strong lobbying was to be the total ignoring of public opinion and the decision by the Council, which, in theory represents those present, to sell the land by public auction.
The Councillors in favour of selling this land are: Cllrs. Jonathan Huish, Merfyn Rae, Ann Cale, Gordon Norman, Graham Davies, Steve Rogers and Carole Willis.
A decision, in principle, to sell the land had been made at the PCC May meeting. This decision had been for the sale to a developer who already owns the adjacent land. However, after strong lobbying against the sale, the Council was to consider the matter in more detail at the July meeting and make a decision as to whether the ‘in principle’ decision should stand. Hence the very large number of people present in an attempt to influence the Council not to sell the land.
The Chair, Cllr. Willis from Groesfaen stated that points would be listened to and questions could be raised in a period of time that she would determine, but the questions would not be answered! Several statements were made by members of the PAG committee, many questions asked and none answered.
It soon became clear that nothing was being listened to and that the decision of the majority
of the Council to sell the land had already been made. A motion to sell by auction was proposed by Cllr Jonathan Huish and this was carried by a vote of seven to two.
COUNCILLORS DELIBERATELY MISLEAD PUBLIC.
When the land adjoining the PCC owned land was sold by the WDA some time ago, a strip, two metres wide and along the whole edge with the community land, was to be made into a footpath with styles from that strip on to the community land as a means of access. Unfortunately there was an oversight or legal muddle at the time as the access across the styles to the community land is for ‘agricultural purposes only’. PCC has obtained no less than three legal opinions on this matter and Councillors Rea and Huish used these legal opinions at the meeting to state that ‘there is no public access to the land’ and hence the land is useless. This is untrue. The Council never asked the question as to access to the land from either Cowbridge Road or from Millfield. A letter from RCT is in the hands of PAG stating that, subject to certain safety considerations such as a kerbside barrier, there is no problem in the creation of such access from Cowbridge Road.
PAG has appointed a solicitor and taken legal advice to act for the community on this matter.
FALSE INFORMATION GIVEN TO LOCAL PRESS BY COUNCILLOR.
Councillor Rea is quoted in the Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer of July 16th repeating the story he used at the Council meeting about access but compounding the inaccuracy by saying that the land ‘can’t be used unless it’s for agricultural purposes’. Furthermore he is reported as stating that, ‘It’s just a strip about 500 yards long and about three foot (sic) wide’. This is incorrect. The land totals about 3 acres including a riverside strip, about 5 metres wide at its narrowest, and an area of woodland. The area described by Rea is about 0.1 acre. Feeding such false information to a newspaper is clearly contrary to the public interest. PAG want him to resign for misleading the public. Such behaviour is intolerable.
PARKING PROBLEMS IN
STATION TERRACE
In the July edition of PAG Newsletter it was stated that matters, other than the land sale, would be followed up on the residents’ behalf and that one of these would be parking in Pontyclun. This has come to a head earlier than expected with PAG and we have had discussions with residents of Station Terrace who complain that they are unable to park outside their own properties. They told PAG that this had become noticeably worse since the ridiculous parking charges were imposed on Pontyclun public car park by RCT. Station Terrace suffers further from the use of the narrow road by heavy goods vehicles accessing the industrial area across the river bridge at the end of the road.
It has also come to our notice that parking charges in other communities in RCT aredifferent with some paying considerably less than Pontyclun and at least one community remaining free of charge.
There are, in fact, a range of matters here, one affecting the other. The whole matter of parking, led by and shown by the problems of Station Terrace, are to be dealt with by a sub-committee of PAG which will include residents directly affected.
Volunteers
PAG needs volunteers to deliver our newsletters. We also need legal and IT advice. If you are legally qualified and would like to help please contact a member of the Committee. Computer / Website expertise would also be most welcome.
PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH PONTYCLUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
PAG is calling a Public Meeting at 7.00 pm on Monday 10th August in the Community Hall Pontyclun to discuss the land issue, parking and other matters that residents of the area may wish to raise. Please make a note of this in your diaries and come along. The more residents that are present the better. We need YOUR support.
DONATIONS
PAG has been approached by several residents wishing to donate to the work we are undertaking on your behalf. We would much appreciate a small standing order to the PAG bank account. Details of how to do this may be obtained from Bruce Chivers on 01443 222904 or jbchivers@aol.com
PAG thanks those who have made donations so far and all those who intend so to do.
COMMITTEE INFORMATION.
Chairman: Brendan O’Reilly,
Tel: Home - 226932
Mobile - 07855 030296
e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Vice-chairman: Bruce Chivers.
Secretaries: Andrew Jones,
Janis Jones.
Treasurer: Bruce Chivers.
Media PRO: Cecil Walker.
Newsletter Editor: Ken L. Forsdyke.
Conservation & Liaison : Ann Bennett.
Area Consultant: Tony Lane.
Members: Glen & John Francis.
Published by Pontyclun Action Group,pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
NEWSLETTER
_____________________________________________________________________________________
ISSUE 2 AUGUST 2009
COUNCIL IGNORES WISHES OF ELECTORATE
At a meeting of Pontyclun Community Council held on Tuesday 14th July, the clear wishes of the residents of Pontyclun were treated with total disdain by the majority of the members of the Council.
The Pontyclun Community Centre was ‘standing room only’ as about 200 members of the public attended a Community Council meeting at which the subject of the sale of the community owned open space land at Brynsadler Mill was to be discussed. However, the result of this strong lobbying was to be the total ignoring of public opinion and the decision by the Council, which, in theory represents those present, to sell the land by public auction.
The Councillors in favour of selling this land are: Cllrs. Jonathan Huish, Merfyn Rae, Ann Cale, Gordon Norman, Graham Davies, Steve Rogers and Carole Willis.
A decision, in principle, to sell the land had been made at the PCC May meeting. This decision had been for the sale to a developer who already owns the adjacent land. However, after strong lobbying against the sale, the Council was to consider the matter in more detail at the July meeting and make a decision as to whether the ‘in principle’ decision should stand. Hence the very large number of people present in an attempt to influence the Council not to sell the land.
The Chair, Cllr. Willis from Groesfaen stated that points would be listened to and questions could be raised in a period of time that she would determine, but the questions would not be answered! Several statements were made by members of the PAG committee, many questions asked and none answered.
It soon became clear that nothing was being listened to and that the decision of the majority
of the Council to sell the land had already been made. A motion to sell by auction was proposed by Cllr Jonathan Huish and this was carried by a vote of seven to two.
COUNCILLORS DELIBERATELY MISLEAD PUBLIC.
When the land adjoining the PCC owned land was sold by the WDA some time ago, a strip, two metres wide and along the whole edge with the community land, was to be made into a footpath with styles from that strip on to the community land as a means of access. Unfortunately there was an oversight or legal muddle at the time as the access across the styles to the community land is for ‘agricultural purposes only’. PCC has obtained no less than three legal opinions on this matter and Councillors Rea and Huish used these legal opinions at the meeting to state that ‘there is no public access to the land’ and hence the land is useless. This is untrue. The Council never asked the question as to access to the land from either Cowbridge Road or from Millfield. A letter from RCT is in the hands of PAG stating that, subject to certain safety considerations such as a kerbside barrier, there is no problem in the creation of such access from Cowbridge Road.
PAG has appointed a solicitor and taken legal advice to act for the community on this matter.
FALSE INFORMATION GIVEN TO LOCAL PRESS BY COUNCILLOR.
Councillor Rea is quoted in the Pontypridd and Llantrisant Observer of July 16th repeating the story he used at the Council meeting about access but compounding the inaccuracy by saying that the land ‘can’t be used unless it’s for agricultural purposes’. Furthermore he is reported as stating that, ‘It’s just a strip about 500 yards long and about three foot (sic) wide’. This is incorrect. The land totals about 3 acres including a riverside strip, about 5 metres wide at its narrowest, and an area of woodland. The area described by Rea is about 0.1 acre. Feeding such false information to a newspaper is clearly contrary to the public interest. PAG want him to resign for misleading the public. Such behaviour is intolerable.
PARKING PROBLEMS IN
STATION TERRACE
In the July edition of PAG Newsletter it was stated that matters, other than the land sale, would be followed up on the residents’ behalf and that one of these would be parking in Pontyclun. This has come to a head earlier than expected with PAG and we have had discussions with residents of Station Terrace who complain that they are unable to park outside their own properties. They told PAG that this had become noticeably worse since the ridiculous parking charges were imposed on Pontyclun public car park by RCT. Station Terrace suffers further from the use of the narrow road by heavy goods vehicles accessing the industrial area across the river bridge at the end of the road.
It has also come to our notice that parking charges in other communities in RCT aredifferent with some paying considerably less than Pontyclun and at least one community remaining free of charge.
There are, in fact, a range of matters here, one affecting the other. The whole matter of parking, led by and shown by the problems of Station Terrace, are to be dealt with by a sub-committee of PAG which will include residents directly affected.
Volunteers
PAG needs volunteers to deliver our newsletters. We also need legal and IT advice. If you are legally qualified and would like to help please contact a member of the Committee. Computer / Website expertise would also be most welcome.
PUBLIC MEETING TO ADDRESS PROBLEMS WITH PONTYCLUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
PAG is calling a Public Meeting at 7.00 pm on Monday 10th August in the Community Hall Pontyclun to discuss the land issue, parking and other matters that residents of the area may wish to raise. Please make a note of this in your diaries and come along. The more residents that are present the better. We need YOUR support.
DONATIONS
PAG has been approached by several residents wishing to donate to the work we are undertaking on your behalf. We would much appreciate a small standing order to the PAG bank account. Details of how to do this may be obtained from Bruce Chivers on 01443 222904 or jbchivers@aol.com
PAG thanks those who have made donations so far and all those who intend so to do.
COMMITTEE INFORMATION.
Chairman: Brendan O’Reilly,
Tel: Home - 226932
Mobile - 07855 030296
e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Vice-chairman: Bruce Chivers.
Secretaries: Andrew Jones,
Janis Jones.
Treasurer: Bruce Chivers.
Media PRO: Cecil Walker.
Newsletter Editor: Ken L. Forsdyke.
Conservation & Liaison : Ann Bennett.
Area Consultant: Tony Lane.
Members: Glen & John Francis.
Published by Pontyclun Action Group,pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
PAG Newsletter 1. A PAG posting.
PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP
NEWSLETTER
_____________________________________________________________________________________
ISSUE 1 JULY 2009
What is the ‘PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP’? Who are the ‘PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP’?
These are the questions that, as a reader of this Newsletter, you are certain to ask, hence, we have started the first issue with the answers. PAG was formed as the outcome of a well attended public meeting, held in the Ivor Arms on 16th June, at which the topic of discussion was the proposal by Pontyclun Community Council to sell the land opposite the houses in Millfield and the river bank joining that land to Cowbridge Road by the bridge to a known developer. This land belongs to the Community Council and was bought by the Council for the benefit of the community. The feeling of the meeting was that action should be taken to prevent the sale for any other purpose and a committee was formed, initially for that purpose. That committee is PAG. There is a list of the members on the reverse of this Newsletter with their contact details should you wish to speak to any of them on any subject that concerns you. The Group represents the whole area covered by the Pontyclun Community Council and not just Pontyclun itself.
The committee held its first meeting on Monday 22nd June and intends to meet weekly for the foreseeable future. There will also be attendance at all Community Council meetings in order to ensure that they do not attempt to push through the sale in an underhand manner. The committee has lost trust in the Community Councillors who have been in favour of the proposed sale of land because it is clear that this sale is not in the best interests of the community that they purport to represent. Furthermore, they have been in possession of this land for several years and have done nothing whatsoever to make it accessible for community use.
THE LAND PROBLEM.
The initial aim of PAG is to do all that is within its power to prevent the sale of the land and its subsequent loss to residents as a local amenity.
We shall be calling on the community to assist in this aim in several ways. Please act as and when we ask for your help. We are a deliberately small committee and will need your assistance from time to time. We may wish to hold a protest at some point in the future and, if this is necessary, we will get word to the community, either by the Newsletter or, if time is short, by word of mouth. The intention is to secure that piece of land for the community in perpetuity. To this aim we ask that you write to your Community and County Councillors and to your AMs and MPs on the matter. To assist with this we are arranging for a letter that can be signed and forwarded to be available in shops in Pontyclun shortly. Look out for them and, if you do not think that you feel able to write an individual letter, please sign and send one of these.
Community Council Land
Map showing area of land which belongs to Pontyclun Community Council.
FUTURE MATTERS FOR PAG.
Once the very urgent matter of the land has been resolved, the group feels that there are many other issues, within the area covered by the Community Council, with which it should be involved.
These issues concern the ‘environment’ of the area in the broadest sense, not just the natural environment, which is included of course, but the whole ambience of ‘Greater Pontyclun’. PAG is there to ensure life in the Pontyclun area remains as pleasant as we who live there know it is. PAG wishes to ensure that nothing is done to spoil Pontyclun and that, where there are existing problems, improvements are made to make our community an even better place to live. PAG would like to hear from you about matters that concern you.
Parking is an obvious candidate for PAG’s attention. The recent introduction of parking charges by RCT is clearly detrimental to the residents and shopkeepers of Pontyclun alike. PAG would like to see the charges removed since they cause an increase in street parking and obstruction to the already over loaded Cowbridge Road.
The state of the railings around the playing fields is another. These very fine examples of very old iron railings are in a poor state of maintenance. The matter needs to be addressed urgently.
FUNDING.
Unfortunately very little in this world comes without cost these days. If any member of the community would like to make a donation to the campaign, it would be greatly appreciated.
It would be very helpful if those concerned with the future quality of life in the area would set up a small standing order (say £2-3 per month) to support the work of PAG. Please contact the Chairman.
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION.
It is intended to publish this Newsletter as frequently as necessary to keep you up to date. However, if anybody wishes to be kept informed more frequently, please send your e-mail address to any committee member and we will include you on the e-mail list.
MEMBERS OF THE PAG COMMITTEE.
The following officers were elected by the committee at its first meeting on Monday 22nd June 2009:
Chairman: Brendan O’Reilly,
Tel: Home - 226932
Mobile - 07855 030296
e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Vice-chairman: Bruce Chivers.
Secretaries: Andrew Jones,
Janice Jones.
Treasurer: Bruce Chivers.
Media PRO: Cecil Walker.
Newsletter Editor: Ken L. Forsdyke.
Conservation & Liaison : Ann Bennett.
Area Consultant: Tony Lane
Community Council Meeting on Tuesday 14th July at Pontyclun Community Centre 7pm. This is the meeting that may decide this issue. Please come. It is essential that as many people as possible turn up.
Published by Pontyclun Action Group,.pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
NEWSLETTER
_____________________________________________________________________________________
ISSUE 1 JULY 2009
What is the ‘PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP’? Who are the ‘PONTYCLUN ACTION GROUP’?
These are the questions that, as a reader of this Newsletter, you are certain to ask, hence, we have started the first issue with the answers. PAG was formed as the outcome of a well attended public meeting, held in the Ivor Arms on 16th June, at which the topic of discussion was the proposal by Pontyclun Community Council to sell the land opposite the houses in Millfield and the river bank joining that land to Cowbridge Road by the bridge to a known developer. This land belongs to the Community Council and was bought by the Council for the benefit of the community. The feeling of the meeting was that action should be taken to prevent the sale for any other purpose and a committee was formed, initially for that purpose. That committee is PAG. There is a list of the members on the reverse of this Newsletter with their contact details should you wish to speak to any of them on any subject that concerns you. The Group represents the whole area covered by the Pontyclun Community Council and not just Pontyclun itself.
The committee held its first meeting on Monday 22nd June and intends to meet weekly for the foreseeable future. There will also be attendance at all Community Council meetings in order to ensure that they do not attempt to push through the sale in an underhand manner. The committee has lost trust in the Community Councillors who have been in favour of the proposed sale of land because it is clear that this sale is not in the best interests of the community that they purport to represent. Furthermore, they have been in possession of this land for several years and have done nothing whatsoever to make it accessible for community use.
THE LAND PROBLEM.
The initial aim of PAG is to do all that is within its power to prevent the sale of the land and its subsequent loss to residents as a local amenity.
We shall be calling on the community to assist in this aim in several ways. Please act as and when we ask for your help. We are a deliberately small committee and will need your assistance from time to time. We may wish to hold a protest at some point in the future and, if this is necessary, we will get word to the community, either by the Newsletter or, if time is short, by word of mouth. The intention is to secure that piece of land for the community in perpetuity. To this aim we ask that you write to your Community and County Councillors and to your AMs and MPs on the matter. To assist with this we are arranging for a letter that can be signed and forwarded to be available in shops in Pontyclun shortly. Look out for them and, if you do not think that you feel able to write an individual letter, please sign and send one of these.
Community Council Land
Map showing area of land which belongs to Pontyclun Community Council.
FUTURE MATTERS FOR PAG.
Once the very urgent matter of the land has been resolved, the group feels that there are many other issues, within the area covered by the Community Council, with which it should be involved.
These issues concern the ‘environment’ of the area in the broadest sense, not just the natural environment, which is included of course, but the whole ambience of ‘Greater Pontyclun’. PAG is there to ensure life in the Pontyclun area remains as pleasant as we who live there know it is. PAG wishes to ensure that nothing is done to spoil Pontyclun and that, where there are existing problems, improvements are made to make our community an even better place to live. PAG would like to hear from you about matters that concern you.
Parking is an obvious candidate for PAG’s attention. The recent introduction of parking charges by RCT is clearly detrimental to the residents and shopkeepers of Pontyclun alike. PAG would like to see the charges removed since they cause an increase in street parking and obstruction to the already over loaded Cowbridge Road.
The state of the railings around the playing fields is another. These very fine examples of very old iron railings are in a poor state of maintenance. The matter needs to be addressed urgently.
FUNDING.
Unfortunately very little in this world comes without cost these days. If any member of the community would like to make a donation to the campaign, it would be greatly appreciated.
It would be very helpful if those concerned with the future quality of life in the area would set up a small standing order (say £2-3 per month) to support the work of PAG. Please contact the Chairman.
INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION.
It is intended to publish this Newsletter as frequently as necessary to keep you up to date. However, if anybody wishes to be kept informed more frequently, please send your e-mail address to any committee member and we will include you on the e-mail list.
MEMBERS OF THE PAG COMMITTEE.
The following officers were elected by the committee at its first meeting on Monday 22nd June 2009:
Chairman: Brendan O’Reilly,
Tel: Home - 226932
Mobile - 07855 030296
e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Vice-chairman: Bruce Chivers.
Secretaries: Andrew Jones,
Janice Jones.
Treasurer: Bruce Chivers.
Media PRO: Cecil Walker.
Newsletter Editor: Ken L. Forsdyke.
Conservation & Liaison : Ann Bennett.
Area Consultant: Tony Lane
Community Council Meeting on Tuesday 14th July at Pontyclun Community Centre 7pm. This is the meeting that may decide this issue. Please come. It is essential that as many people as possible turn up.
Published by Pontyclun Action Group,.pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
4 comments:
Friday, September 25, 2009
PAG News 25th September 2009
This is a short update about the latest developments from PAG and other relevant issues.
Tree Preservation Order:
A Tree Preservation Order has been put on the trees at Millfield. This is on the Community Council land that it was proposed to sell. This Order also covers the trees along the Mill Race beside the stream between the old Mill and the river Ely.
PAG is delighted with this development. We will have some committee members in the village tomorrow (Saturday the 26th September and again on Saturday the 3rd October – weather permitting). We will be able to show you exactly which trees are covered by this Order. As this Order is temporary until the Council meet in November to fully consider it we will have letters of support that you may take away and send to the Council and we will also have a petition. This is great for the fantastic wildlife we have here.
Pontyclun Community Council:
An important development took place at the Pontyclun Community Council Meeting held at the Babell Chapel in Groes Faen last Tuesday (22nd September). It was decided that a sub-committee should be set up between the Community Council and PAG to discuss the issue of the Land at Brynsadler Mill.
We sincerely hope that these discussions will start shortly and that the outcome will be positive for the whole of the Pontyclun area. We will inform you about developments and we will hold a public meeting to discuss it because whatever decisions are made on this issue, they will be for the people of Pontyclun to decide.
PARKING:
It seems that there are always problems – many of which can be avoided – and the latest is that the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council voted on Wednesday night (23rd September) not to remove the parking charges that they have imposed.
PAG is very opposed to parking charges in this area. We are appalled at the insensitivity surrounding these charges. It amazes this author that Councillors, who have been elected by the people to represent them and to govern their resources, can make decisions that are in effect and in reality very damaging to their constituents and to the area.
Businesses are affected. This is bad. This leads to the potential for closures and job losses. It also has the potential for damage to the centre of the village and if any closures do occur, we will lose out in many ways and we will be forced to go further afield.
People living in the adjacent streets are also affected by these ridiculous and unfair parking charges. It is wrong that people are forced to stay away from a perfectly good car park and to use the side streets. It is wrong on the staff and users of the Community Centre.
Frankly these parking charges are WRONG. Are these Councillors deaf and blind?
In view of this latest vote to keep parking charges in Pontyclun, PAG will have to work on this issue. What should we do? Should we go to the Council Offices and tell them to remove these charges? Should we protest in Pontyclun? Do you think that a letter produced by PAG and addressed to the Council and given out to the people of Pontyclun, Miskin and Brynsadler in the first instance would help to kick-start this process?
In Pontyclun these charges HAVE TO GO. It is wrong that people using the Community Centre have to pay to park to go to lunch, to attend the Day Centre, to socialise. Wrong.
Lets kick start this Parking Charge Protest.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council say that they have serious financial difficulty. So charging poor people, mothers and Community Centre staff who cannot afford to pay these charges on top of the Council Tax and other charges they pay is going to help? It won’t and the proof is that a perfectly good facility is empty. The Council should explain to us how much it cost to set up the Pay Machines and how much it costs to monitor and collect this puny amount of money. And they should tell us how much is actually collected each week.
PAG will shortly have another Newsletter out.
Very sincerely,
Brendan O’Reilly
[Chair PAG]
Tree Preservation Order:
A Tree Preservation Order has been put on the trees at Millfield. This is on the Community Council land that it was proposed to sell. This Order also covers the trees along the Mill Race beside the stream between the old Mill and the river Ely.
PAG is delighted with this development. We will have some committee members in the village tomorrow (Saturday the 26th September and again on Saturday the 3rd October – weather permitting). We will be able to show you exactly which trees are covered by this Order. As this Order is temporary until the Council meet in November to fully consider it we will have letters of support that you may take away and send to the Council and we will also have a petition. This is great for the fantastic wildlife we have here.
Pontyclun Community Council:
An important development took place at the Pontyclun Community Council Meeting held at the Babell Chapel in Groes Faen last Tuesday (22nd September). It was decided that a sub-committee should be set up between the Community Council and PAG to discuss the issue of the Land at Brynsadler Mill.
We sincerely hope that these discussions will start shortly and that the outcome will be positive for the whole of the Pontyclun area. We will inform you about developments and we will hold a public meeting to discuss it because whatever decisions are made on this issue, they will be for the people of Pontyclun to decide.
PARKING:
It seems that there are always problems – many of which can be avoided – and the latest is that the Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council voted on Wednesday night (23rd September) not to remove the parking charges that they have imposed.
PAG is very opposed to parking charges in this area. We are appalled at the insensitivity surrounding these charges. It amazes this author that Councillors, who have been elected by the people to represent them and to govern their resources, can make decisions that are in effect and in reality very damaging to their constituents and to the area.
Businesses are affected. This is bad. This leads to the potential for closures and job losses. It also has the potential for damage to the centre of the village and if any closures do occur, we will lose out in many ways and we will be forced to go further afield.
People living in the adjacent streets are also affected by these ridiculous and unfair parking charges. It is wrong that people are forced to stay away from a perfectly good car park and to use the side streets. It is wrong on the staff and users of the Community Centre.
Frankly these parking charges are WRONG. Are these Councillors deaf and blind?
In view of this latest vote to keep parking charges in Pontyclun, PAG will have to work on this issue. What should we do? Should we go to the Council Offices and tell them to remove these charges? Should we protest in Pontyclun? Do you think that a letter produced by PAG and addressed to the Council and given out to the people of Pontyclun, Miskin and Brynsadler in the first instance would help to kick-start this process?
In Pontyclun these charges HAVE TO GO. It is wrong that people using the Community Centre have to pay to park to go to lunch, to attend the Day Centre, to socialise. Wrong.
Lets kick start this Parking Charge Protest.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council say that they have serious financial difficulty. So charging poor people, mothers and Community Centre staff who cannot afford to pay these charges on top of the Council Tax and other charges they pay is going to help? It won’t and the proof is that a perfectly good facility is empty. The Council should explain to us how much it cost to set up the Pay Machines and how much it costs to monitor and collect this puny amount of money. And they should tell us how much is actually collected each week.
PAG will shortly have another Newsletter out.
Very sincerely,
Brendan O’Reilly
[Chair PAG]
Friday, September 18, 2009
Community Council Meeting Tue 22nd Sept & News
Dear Resident
This email is to confirm that the next meeting of the Pontyclun Community Council will be held on Tuesday 22nd September at the Babell Chapel, Groesfaen at 7pm.
The Agenda is now up on the notice boards at the Pontyclun Post Office, the Library, the old Post Office at Brynsadler and at the covered Bus shelter at Brynsadler.
PAG Committee members will be there and we hope that others can also come.
I understand that the room that this meeting is normally held is very small and can only accommodate about twenty people. We'll be there anyway.
No public notice or advertisement has appeared regarding the sale of the land at Brynsadler Mill and we are delighted about this.
___________________
A few days ago a Notice appeared on the fence in Millfield saying that it is proposed to establish a Tree Preservation Order on the trees on the Community Council owned land at Millfield as well as on the trees on the Mill Run (this is the area running from the old Mill to the river and this is on the land next to the community council land).
PAG supports this important development and we hope to have a short letter of support ready shortly that you can sign and forward to the Council. We expect that the final decision will in November. We would also encourage you to write your own letter if you would prefer. I will forward more details about this shortly.
____________________
We are still working on the Car Parking charges at the Community Centre. I believe that the County Council cannot justify keeping these charges any longer.
____________________
PAG is hoping to start up a Website in the coming weeks. If you have any ideas for this please let me know. This could be very interesting for many reasons.
Yours sincerely
Brendan O'Reilly
This email is to confirm that the next meeting of the Pontyclun Community Council will be held on Tuesday 22nd September at the Babell Chapel, Groesfaen at 7pm.
The Agenda is now up on the notice boards at the Pontyclun Post Office, the Library, the old Post Office at Brynsadler and at the covered Bus shelter at Brynsadler.
PAG Committee members will be there and we hope that others can also come.
I understand that the room that this meeting is normally held is very small and can only accommodate about twenty people. We'll be there anyway.
No public notice or advertisement has appeared regarding the sale of the land at Brynsadler Mill and we are delighted about this.
___________________
A few days ago a Notice appeared on the fence in Millfield saying that it is proposed to establish a Tree Preservation Order on the trees on the Community Council owned land at Millfield as well as on the trees on the Mill Run (this is the area running from the old Mill to the river and this is on the land next to the community council land).
PAG supports this important development and we hope to have a short letter of support ready shortly that you can sign and forward to the Council. We expect that the final decision will in November. We would also encourage you to write your own letter if you would prefer. I will forward more details about this shortly.
____________________
We are still working on the Car Parking charges at the Community Centre. I believe that the County Council cannot justify keeping these charges any longer.
____________________
PAG is hoping to start up a Website in the coming weeks. If you have any ideas for this please let me know. This could be very interesting for many reasons.
Yours sincerely
Brendan O'Reilly
No comments: Pontyclun Action Group Newsletter - Issue 3 October 2009
Published by Pontyclun Action Group, 6, Clos Brenin,Brynsadler, Pontyclun, CF72 9GA. pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
PONTYCLUN COMMUNITY COUNCIL
MEETING 22nd SEPTEMBER 2009
Members of the PAG committee and of the community of Pontyclun attended a meeting of the Pontyclun Community Council held in Babell Chapel, Groes Faen on Tuesday 22nd September. The land at Brynsadler Mill was discussed further by the Council and PAG is very pleased to be able to report that substantial progress on this matter was made. The Council agreed to set up a sub-committee along with members of the PAG committee to discuss the future of the land at Brynsadler Mill. High on the options list for discussion is the possible lease of the land to a charitable trust, which would take care of it for the benefit of the community at large.
At the meeting it was stated that one councillor had taken legal advice on the matter of access to the land. Counsel’s opinion had been that, subject to possible change of use permission from the appropriate authority, there was no problem, in principal, with the granting of public access to the land. This clarified a point thatPAG had always believed to be true. Following this legal opinion, the PCC moved to set up the sub-committee, mentioned above, to speak with PAG about the future of the land.
It is fortunate that there is a local precedent for the formation of a charitable body of the type envisaged in the physic garden in Cowbridge, which is now under the control of a charitable trust.
PAG welcomes this move by PCC and will be making every effort to work closely with the Council, via the joint sub-committee, on the future of the Brynsadler Mill land.
PAG also thanks sincerely those members of the Pontyclun community who attended the PCC meeting on another ‘foul weather’ night.
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC MEETING
by Len Arthur
Over 80 supporters braved the weather and defied holiday mode to attend the PAGpublic meeting on Monday 10th August at the Pontyclun Community Centre. Democracy reigned and Ken Forsdyke took the opportunity to Chair as Brendan O'Reilly, the PAG committee Chair, had a lot of activity reports to give.
A short history of why the land at Brynsadler Mill came to be owned by the Community Council was given by Brendan who then went over the reasons why the land should remain publicly owned and stewarded. He described the current activities of PAG including the huge attendance of the public at the last Community Council, public petitioning, letter writing and two newsletters, complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman and Wales Audit; initial moves toward a judicial review and ongoing political discussions.
Conservation of the land was stressed in comprehensive detail by John Francis who covered the wide range of birds, insects, fish and mammals, including otters, which live in the habitat. Legal and procedural arguments were updated byTony Lanewho provided important and detailed documentary evidence. Media activities and the newsletter were covered in reports given by Cecil Walker and Ken Forsdyke.
Supportive and friendly banter from the floor kept the meeting lively along with the questions and discussion that followed the reports. It was clear that, in addition toPAG, other residents were doing their thing, such as writing to the press. Speaking from the floor Community Councillor Paul Griffiths explained why he supported the campaign along with two other Community Councillors, Sarah Jenkins and Dan Clayton-Jones
Support was given to the campaign against the car parking charges, imposed on Pontyclun and other community car parks by Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC and suggestions made as to how PAG should lead the move forward on this issue.
An impassioned appeal for financial support to continue the work of PAG was made by Ann Bennett which resulted in a collection of over £460. Many thanks for all those contributions.
PAG and the NET
PAG has launched a BLOG! There is now a way of communicating with PAG and others with similar interests at http://pontyclunactiongroup.blogspot.com/ By using this BLOG you can keep up to date with these newsletters and the responses of other folk to them. Official PAG postings are clearly indicated so that you can separate them from general comment. If you are a blogger, please use this method to talk to us and others in the Pontyclun area.
We have been very fortunate to have volunteers come forward to enable PAG to set up its own web site also. This is still in the ‘build’ stage but we hope to have more news shortly.
TREE PRESERVATION ORDER ON LAND AT BRYNSADLER MILL
RCTCBC has imposed a temporary tree preservation order on sections of the land at Brynsadler Mill including most of the land owned by PCC and areas of land in other ownership. This move is to be welcomed as a further move to retain the environmental aspects of the area as a whole. It is hoped that the order will be made permanent in November and letters of support for this order would be appreciated. Such letters should be addressed to Gwyn James Esq., Arboriculture Officer, RCTCBC, Development and Environment Department, Llwyncastan, Library Road, Pontypridd, CF37 2YA.
CAR PARKING CHARGES IN PONTYCLUN.
It has been pointed out that Pontyclun Community Hall is the only one, out of 37 in RCT, to have charges on its car park. It is also the only hall which is attached to a Day Centre, making the charges even more draconian. PAG continues to apply pressure on this subject but would be pleased to hear from any member of the community who has ideas as to how the whole parking problem should be tackled.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT PAG IS DOING?
If you would like to be kept up to date more frequently on what PAG is doing, please send you e-mail address to the Chairman and he will add you to those receiving news as it happens. The more people that we can be in regular contact with, the better.
MEMBERS OF THE PAG COMMITTEE.
Chairman: Brendan O’Reilly, Tel: Home - 226932,
Mobile - 07855 030296, e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Mobile - 07855 030296, e-mail: drmbor@aol.com
Vice-chairman: Bruce Chivers.
Secretaries: Andrew Jones,
Janice Jones.
Treasurer: Bruce Chivers.
Media PRO: Cecil Walker.
Newsletter Editor: Ken L. Forsdyke.
Conservation & Liaison: Ann Bennett.
Area Consultant: Tony Lane
Members: Glen & John Francis.
Published by Pontyclun Action Group, 6, Clos Brenin,Brynsadler, Pontyclun, CF72 9GA. pontyclunactiongroup@talktalk.net
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