Chairman’s Opening Remarks

Chairman Roger Evans welcomed all those present including the young Skater group members, Cllr Tudor Davies, Mark Gibbons and June Piper from CCBC.

Apologies:

Dean Tucker, Burt Asbridge, Steve Carter, Richard Jones, Peter Gomer CCBC, Magaret Solerno (Homestart), Irene James AM, Ray Moore, Don Touhig MP, Mike (Penmaen Post Office).

Minutes of Last Meeting

Past as a true record with the exception that the MUGA was not vandalised - but used before things had time to set/dry. The Greengo and Square projects had also been combined as one project instead of two.

Correspondence Received

None received.

Treasurers Report

It has been reported that the balance is £5700 - we banked a payment from the lottery’s Home Front grant for £4300 (included in total).

Report on Commemoration week

It was quite successful - excellent support from local schools. The infant school put on fantastic displays and concert. There was a superb concert on Thursday night from the children of Rhiw Syr Dafydd. Oakdale Comprehensive was very accommodating, allowing use of the complete computer room and big screen. There was also an excellent concert on Friday night. The roll in roll out was well organised, however the support from the actual residents in our community was poor. Our extended thanks go out to especially Granville and David for their extreme hard work and for all others who gave their time and effort into making this a very enjoyable week.

The Remembrance Day March was well organised and there was an attendance of 300+. An excellent and moving speech by Allan Pritchard.

Although we spent over £900 on printing leaflets / programs for the events etc., we still did not manage to deliver to all the residents of Oakdale and Penmaen. Distribution will be addressed at a later date.

We need to start preparations for the 2007 celebrations. Granville announced that he is downsizing his input into the Partnership so others will have to lead on this project.

Skateboard Park:

Money has come through for the Skateboard Park, Youth Shelter and lighting. The project has gone out to tender. The base is already down - the young attendees have been asked to help with their input into the design of the Skateboard park and they will be contacted when the tender has been agreed.

The MUGA is now complete. Allan Pritchard will request that it be opened for use during the school holidays.

Bridleway:

The tender has been received back for the Bridleway. June has asked for opinions on the fact that the Bridleway will surround an area which the Model Flying Club has asked to use. There is a conflict of interests. June will ask other horse riders for their opinion and maybe a trial could be run so that both groups could use the site at the same time. The culvert will be able to take the storm water off the two new estates.

The roads will be monitored to see how many vehicles use it on a daily basis at different times of the day. This information will then be used to decide the best areas to put safety signs up for horse-riders.

The 2011 ruling – paths will not be lost unless you want them to be.

Road Signs/Highways :

Asked advice on Rights of Way because some require sign posting. Mark Gibbons stated that 18 signs will be placed around the village.

There are paths running alongside Rising Sun Close, Redrow and Ivy Bush- Central Avenue that are not accessible to the public. These pathways will be upgraded when the new road has been finished, otherwise at present walkers would be guided towards an unsafe area. When the new road is complete – all pathways will be aimed towards one crossing point. Jeff will ask Costains as to whether a Foot Bridge will be placed over the road or whether it will be an Island crossing.

June has set up a working group to encourage more walking/biking/horse-riding. If anyone has any suggestions to routes that may need to be re-opened could they please let her know. June will also print off a Right of Way map which could be placed in the local library. Copies will be distributed to those who require them.

Mark Gibbons said if anyone has time on their hands they are quite welcome to contact him with the view of helping to clear overgrown paths in the area. ( Tools will be provided)

Questionnaire:

Only 76 responses received. Tina has stressed that she cannot develop local action plans on the views of a minority. We must work together to ensure that at least 150 responses are received, (There are 2000 homes in Oakdale and we only managed to deliver to 1100 - we need more volunteers).

Roger gave forward our point of view - people want to see things done, but they found the questionnaire too long and too personal. It included items that were not relevant to want we want. It was suggested that maybe we distribute them amongst our own groups. We could also state in our next newsletter that the response was poor. The good news is that the meal for 2 was won by Mrs Blake of the Redrow estate who wished to thank the Partnership for all the hard work they have done.

Greengo:

Everything is ready to go, all plants etc. have been ordered. We are just waiting for Highways to mark the area where the planters will go. They should be in place within a couple of weeks.

The Valleys bat group will meet on the 22.9.05 to view sites- provisionally booked for 6.30 in the community centre.

The Square:

We have been awarded between £600-£1000 for Christmas lights for the village. The colour in the square is attracting people back into it. A meeting will be held at a later date to discuss future issues i.e. could we have a gardener for ½ a day a week for June – September?

Woodfieldside Roundabout:

Will be completed by Spring next year. Alan Elliott a local Sculptor has kindly offered to work with the project - we are presently looking for some oak. A committee will be formed to move this project forward. The dress stone will also require moving to somewhere for safe keeping. Costains have issued a new Newsletter today which also been posted on the web site.

14. Rhiw-Syr-Dafydd School

Granville and Roger attended a meeting with cabinet members, but although they put their points across strongly, was unaware that the Partnership was required to provide £250,000 to secure the site. They then approached several Housing Associations with the view to keeping some of the school as a community building to be incorporated within the plans of a new Housing scheme. The school site is now valued at 1 million pounds. Houses can only be built here if it is shown that they are required.

Lighting

Community funding on hold at present. The Safety group must not lose sight of our requests.

Highways

It has been requested that Mark Rhys Williams may be able to give us a general over view of the Highway departments. It is understood that unless we provide questions concerning our Ward well beforehand - then the presentation would only be an over view and not specific to Oakdale.

16. Penmaen Chapel and Jerusalem Church Yard

There is a ‘Lottery Heritage Fund’ that may be available for the type of work carried out. The Partnership and the Male Voice Choir could work together on this project. A letter has been received stating that Phase 1 of the clearing of the yard has taken place, however the area at the moment is unsafe due to unstable Headstones. A new ‘Weed Expert’ has joined the council and can be contacted if advice is required.

17. Other Business

Mike has taken excellent pictures of the construction of the new road and bridge and also all our activities over the past few weeks. Pictures are available for your perusal. There are also 2 discs of pictures.

18. Date Of Next Meeting