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Off to Ireland for the ‘Craic’
Try the new ferry!
Good news, once again you can be off to the Emerald Isle on board the new Swansea to Cork ferry which commences its service again out of Swansea Docks during March 2010.
The new service is due to a partnership between the West Cork Tourism Co- op and Finnish Bank Akitia and supported by its finance company,Akitia Yritysrahoitus Oy.
The ferry, the 'Julia' was built in 1982 and has been in service around the Scandinavian coast.
There are 340 cabins with a total capacity of 1,860 passengers, 440 cars and 30 freight vehicles.per trip. It has several restaurants and bars as well as a childrens play area that will serve overnight travellers well.
The previous ferry service that finished in 2007 brought many advantages to both Cork and Swansea and it was sad to see it go. We wish this new enterprise the best of luck and don’t forget to book your ticket as soon as they are available, I've heard there is some beautiful scenary in Cork and that's only the shops!
(submitted by Cllr. Jane Griffths)
30 YOBS ATTACK TRAIN CARRYING YOUNG FAMILIES?
So ran the headline in the Evening Post (23/09/09). The article reported that a group of drunken people attending a competition on the skateboard ramp at West Cross had stopped the Swansea Bay Rider that runs along the promenade and hung onto the sides with some of them reportedly jumping on the roof at about 4pm last Sunday. This had intimidated one young family who said that they could not get off the train and that there were children as young as twelve drinking from beer cans. In the end the mother had called the police who spoke to the young people and the train went on its way and no one was hurt.
However, the next day in the Talk Online section of the Evening Post a different point of view came to light. Two respondents who had attended at the skateboard ramp with their children denied it had been anything other than a harmless bit of fun where the reports of banging and jumping on the roof were greatly exaggerated and it was hardly a police matter. Another respondent wrote that the group was still there at 7.45pm and they had to cut short their walk to avoid them only it didn’t appear that they were approached.
It is well known that a large group of young people can be intimidating to others but it doesn’t mean that they will be aggressive. Young people often don’t consider that they can appear a threat when in large groups.
I think that skateboard ramp has been a brilliant provision for young people in the area and it is not often you pass it without seeing anyone on it or groups of young people socialising around it. Maybe an event needs to be better organised but what do you think, use the skateboard ramp or lose it?
Why not have your say on this matter! Send us your emails.
(submitted by Cllr. Jane Griffiths)
Meet Your Local Community Police Support Officer
PCSO Patrick Dunbar is due to knock on your door if you live on his Mumbles beat area. You may have already met him while he had a stand in the Co-op or Somerfield during the summer. If not you soon will, PCSO Dunbar has decided that if the residents don't come to him he will go to them. A lot of people don't telephone the police if they have a problem and don't attend the local PACT (Police and Communities) meetings. His plan to cover all the houses in his beat area is to be welcomed and will give residents an opportunity to discuss any concerns or problems they may have while he can tell them about community policing.
The response has been terrific PCSO Dunbar told the Evening Post and if every PCSO did the same there is a potential to meet with those residents they might otherwise never meet.
One of the residents that has already met him in Castle Street was quoted in the Evening Post saying, " I think its a great scheme. Patrick is a very pleasant chap and it is nice to know someone is around." It is great to think that PCSO Dunbar has taken the initiative, soon no one will be able to say they never see a police community support officer. So remember if Patrick knocks on your door, put the kettle on, invite him in and have a chat.
(Article submitted by Cllr. J. Griffiths. See the full report in the South Wales Evening Post)
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YOUR POLICE - YOUR COMMUNITY
Have you read the latest publication produced by the South Wales Police?
They state that crime has fallen by 6,700 in one year, equal to 5.5% less crimes in 2 months, meaning 6771 less victims.
Locally, in Swansea, crimes have fallen by 2.3%, or 526, between 2007/8 and 2008/09.
The biggest drop was in violent crimes, so they claim. Serious crimes fell by 17.2%, or 37 less victims.
This document does not however, tell us how much money is spent keeping crime down, or how many crimes are not solved.
The new Chief Constable of South Wales Police, Peter Vaughan is taking over from Miss Barbara Wilding (current Chief Constable) on the 1st January 2010.
In and emergency
P Phone 999 only if...
O Offenders are nearby:
L Life is at risk/road traffic injury:
I Injury is caused or threatened:
C Crime or disorder are in progress:
E Everything else, dial the non-emergency number 101
To contact the Police Authority phone 01656 869366 or
email swansea@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
MUMBLES STREET CLEANING CONTRACT RENEWED
Mumbles Community Council have agreed to continue the additional street cleaning contract with the City & County of Swansea for another 12 months until November 2010.
The aim of the contract is to provide extra cleaning, litter and debris removal over and above the service in Mumbles provided by the C&CS routine cleaning regime.
The Council has received positive verbal and written comments from residents over the past year on the operation of the contract to date. Members of the public are encouraged to inform MCC via the Clerk of any litter problems (phone 01792 363598), these details are passed on to the operative for inclusion in the weekly schedule of works.
Work can be undertaken on private land, but only with permission of the owner. The Council hopes that this extra cleansing effort will enhance the street scene in Mumbles, to the benefit of the community as a whole.
SOLVING UNDERHILL PARK’S DRAINAGE PROBLEMS
Mumbles Community Council has agreed to co-fund the first phase of a study to try to solve the increasing problem of flooding in Underhill Park.
More frequent flooding is resulting in cancellations of rugby, soccer and even cricket matches in the park, which is the only multi-use public sports facility in the Council’s area.
In co-operation with the Underhill Community Association (formerly Underhill 2000), which is providing £2,000 towards the total cost of £4,250, the Mumbles Community Council are granting £2,250 to enable Phase 1 of a hydrological study of the problem to be undertaken by the consultants Earth Science Partnership of Cardiff.
It is hoped that following the findings of the first Phase, funds can be obtained to undertake the second Phase, estimated to cost a further £3,500, and which will propose engineering solutions to moderate the flooding impact in future.
To this end the City & County of Swansea, who own and operate the Park, has been approached for assistance with the funding of Phase 2.
ST PETER’S CHURCH HALL
Mumbles Community Council is concerned that its reasons for making the decision that it was unable to make a grant as requested by the (St Peter’s Church) Hall Committee, in respect to the replacement hall does not seem to be known by large numbers of St Peter’s Church Members and others in the Newton Area.
A full explanation was give to the Hall Committee in the Council’s letter of the 19 February 2009.
Every consideration was given to the application by the Council and the final decision was made by the full Council, not by a Committee, nor any individual.
The application was received as the Council was about to fix its budget for the 2009/10 financial year. A time constraint applied as there was a cut-off date by which the amount of the Council precept had to be transmitted to Swansea Council.
To enable the application to be considered, the fixing of the budget was delayed and special meeting called.
The problems, in short, which led to the Council’s final decision, were that the Hall Committee was an unincorporated body and therefore had no legal standing and the replacement Hall would remain in the ownership of the Church. Those requiring financial support were doing so in respect of a building in which they had no legal interest.
Advice was sought by the Council from their independent solicitor and also from One Voice Wales, the umbrella organisation for Town and Community Councils in Wales. Both advised that it was not possible for any grant to be made. The Council solicitor advised that a loan could be made to the Hall Committee, but each member would have to agree to be jointly and severally liable for the repayment of the loan.
The Council informed the Hall Committee that a loan of £20,000 could be made upon the above mentioned terms. The loan would be interest-free; repayments would be delayed for five years and thereafter repaid within a further five years. The offer of a loan was declined.
It should be added that the Council is governed by the Local Government Acts, statutory and internal financial regulations and standing orders. The Council’s accounts are subject to internal audit by accountants appointed by the District Auditor. All Council decisions are made at a full Council Meeting.
AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER AND PUPILS
Trees Delivered Safely
On a gloriously sunny morning in October, Mr. Davis, from Dolau-hirion Fruit
Trees, Llandeilo brought the "rare variety" apple trees to Swansea.
Mr. Davis together with Cllr. Linda Tyler Lloyd set off from Blackpill to deliver the trees to the Schools in the Mumbles Community where members of the Mumbles Community Council, together with the Head Teachers, were waiting to receive them.
The children from two of the schools were also waiting anxiously to plant them
immediately and wanted to know when they could expect apples!
Mr. Davis predicts a small crop in two years time and plenty for everyone thereafter.
The apples we have chosen are: Afal Pig aderyn; Afal Pren Glas: Bakers
Delicious: Channel Beauty (eater from Mumbles); St. Cecilia; Landore
(mentioned in Kilvert's diary)
We on the Mumbles Community Council look forward, with the
children to seeing the trees grow to maturity.
 (Article submitted by Cllr. Linda Tyler Lloyd, Chairman, Development Committee)
(photo by Cllr. John Beach)
MUMBLES TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE
Mumbles Tourist Information Centre is to remain open this winter and next spring, thanks to a grant from Mumbles Community Council.
At their monthly meeting in October, Mumbles Community Council approved an application for grant aid for £2,750 from Mumbles Tourist Association (MTA), the voluntary management group that run the Mumbles Tourist Information Centre.
In a statement after the meeting, Arthur Hinton, Treasurer of MTA said, “We are delighted that the Community Council has approved our application, for without it we faced possible closure of the TIC and we are grateful for this very practical support of our work. In fact, we have been fortunate to have received their help several times before; the first time was when the Tourist Information Centre operated from the old Mumbles railway hut in Oystermouth Square when the building itself was in danger of collapsing and the Council rallied to our call and provided the means for us to soldier on, so we are pleased to be able to say that they have come to our rescue again.”
Jean Bunce, Secretary of MTA added: “We believe that the TIC is an important part of the local community offering a wide variety of information services, not only for visitors to the area but also for local residents. In fact a recent market survey carried out in the village questioned 101 residents and 98% of those interviewed expressed the view that the TIC was good use of public money. The Centre also works closely with other local groups and businesses in publicising community events and promoting tourism in general. For the past 5 years the MTA has organised the Gower Walking Festival, which also incorporates the many delights of Mumbles, to develop healthy enjoyment of our beautiful surroundings and at the same time encouraging sustainable green tourism.”
THE REVEREND NIGEL JOHN
ANGLICAN CHAPLAIN AT SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
CHAIR OF INTERFAITH SWANSEA
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SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
THEOLOGY PUBLIC LECTURE SERIES
MONTGOMERY TRUST LECTURE
"INTERFAITH DIALOGUE"
BY
ELIZABETH TEMPLETON
Writer and Freelance Theologian
AT 7.00p.m.
ON THURSDAY, 26th NOVEMBER 2009
IN THE JAMES CALLAGHAN LECTURE THEATRE
JAMES CALLAGHAN BUILDING
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY
SINGLETON PARK
SWANSEA
THIS LECTURE WILL BE DELIVERED IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
EVERYONE WELCOME
ADMISSION FREE
For further information please contact:-
The Reverend Nigel John, Anglican Chaplain at Swansea University
Telephone: 01792 205678 Ex.4442
E-Mail: n.john@swansea.ac.uk
LOCAL PACT MEETING (ourbobby.com)
The next meeting for the Newton and Oystermouth Wards will take palce on Wednesday 4th November 7.00 pm at the Mumbles Conservative club, Mumbles Road,
Meeting priorities. 1. Criminal damage to motor vehicles at Langland Bay Rd and other Mumbles areas.
2. Parking issues in and around Mumbles and Newton.
Please do come along as this is for your benefit
Contact is PC Phil Wlaker, 0780530161 email phil.walker@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Non emergency calls to 101
In an emergency, call 999
Central Police Station phone 01792 456999 email swansea@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
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