Neath Ferret www.neathferret.co.uk Neath's Private Eye Looking for Community Problems Blaenhonddan / Dyffryn Clydach Edition PRINTS THE NEWS THAT NEWSPAPERS WON'T Contact: News or Comments:   news@neathferret.co.uk or use our new readers letters facility August 2009   Version 21.23 (23rd update this month) Welcome to the website that aims to inform everyone about what is happening in our community and to highlight what needs to be done when an injustice or wrong doing is apparent. Now with more readers than local newspapers in this edition area See our new website extension -- express your views -- have your say Add this page to your favourites Please note that the latest news does not always appear at the top of the page. Updates are constantly being made to existing items, we therefore suggest you make frequent visits to this website for changes and additional news items.   Please note that the version suffix number changes with every update. New Update LDP - Local Development Plan Great concern in Bryncoch & Dyffryn Clydach Following public meetings at Bryncoch and Longford, it must be said there is great concern over the candidate sites highlighted for housing development in a 15 year plan by the county borough council. Readers are urged to click on the link below to see the issues involved and to print off the protest form to sign it and send to the address stated as soon as possible. Petition form to print out and sign New General Election Website For Neath Port Talbot A new website is to be launched shortly with information about the candidates for the Neath Port Talbot area for the General Election due in 2010 - or maybe before. Candidates or their agents are invited to submit particulars for inclusion on the pages dedicated to each political party. It should be noted that it is up to those interested to submit particulars as no effort will be made to canvass information. Already two candidates are listed at this early stage. The website contains an article that discusses the British voting system and the unfairness of it when a candidate can be elected with less than 50% of the votes cast. This is often evident when three or more candidates contest a seat. A discussion page is included on the website for readers views and comments. Although the website is not yet officially launched it can be viewed by clicking on the link below:- www.generalelectionnews.tk Tyre Dump Mystery Old tyres dumped at Old Woollen Mill and in river County Councillor Tony Wyn-Jones took prompt action when over 200 worn tyres were found dumped at the old Woollen Mill near Longford. A BBC camera team and local press reporters were in attendance with the county councillor at the scene of the illegal dump. Some of the tyres were found in the River Clydach that runs adjacent to the mill. Cllr.Wyn-Jones said he feels very frustrated about the matter because no-one appears to taking responsibility for their removal - despite all the services and council being informed. There is serious concern about the environment and we understand that the police are making inquires in an effort to find those responsible. Anyone with information should contact the police on 01639 456999. LDP - Local Development Plan Report - Meeting on 24th August 2009 at Longford Memorial Hall Residents were informed of the candidate sites for development and the issues raised were similar to those at the meeting held at Bryncoch on 15th August (see lower down page). There was much concern that the roads and sewage systems could not support more houses on the highlighted sites. Although the date of objection was said to be extended, residents were advised to put their notices of objection in to the council as soon as possible. The future of the area depends on residents responding promply. Digital News £40 Digital Rip Off? Help charge for OAP's Letters with an offer to help elderly people with the TV digital change over appear to be misleading inasmuch there is no mention of any charge for the help. Those responding to the letters have received telephone calls stating that a charge of £40 will be made towards the help scheme - except to those receiving special benefits. Help is available from many TV retailers and from the numerous websites on the Internet - one is listed below:- Digital TV changeover - Help and advice LATE EXTRA... County Councillor Tony Wyn-Jones, pictured left, has written in (see letter on our letters page) to say that if any elderly person would like help with the digital change over in the Bryncoch area, he will be pleased to help. He requests that anyone who does not know him should ask to see his ID.   This kind thought will be appreciated by many residents as it highlights a good community spirit. Cllr. Tony Wyn-Jones can be contacted on Tel: 01639 645663 (afternoons and evenings) or 07815 908242 (anytime - within reasonable hours). Neath Abbey Floods Dai Dust speaks out on a sore matter Like all residents in the area, Dai Dust is fed up to his teeth over the repeated road flooding near the Ford car dealership at Neath Abbey and writes about it on his website - with some comments about the council. If it wasn't so serious one could look on the funny of it. The dictionary gives the meaning of 'ford' as: "a shallow place where water may be crossed by wading," and there just happens to be a pedestrian crossing where the flooding takes place. Maybe the council have thought of putting up signs: FORD AHEAD to replace the flood signs, except that they may be thought to be an advertisement for the Ford garage of C & M Days! We will say no more about this because Dai Dust has lots more to talk about. Just click on the link below:- Dai Dust speaks out on the flooding issue. FOOTNOTE.... Dai Dust (pictured left) was a former contributor to this website but now has his own in order that he can be totally independent to us. Already questions have been asked at the local community council: "Who is this Dai Dust?" It is only a question of time that the same question will be asked at the county council and again in the House of Commons - just wait and see!     In the meantime you can find out more on what Dai has to say on his own website www.daidust.co.uk The Green Party The Party that cares for the environment After looking at the Pipeline Twitter website (see link below) we were more than pleased to read that The Green Party is very much concerned about the LNG pipeline. In November 2006 the following motion was passed by Wales Green Party: “It is hereby noted that Wales Green Party objects to the construction of the LNG pipeline from Milford Haven to Tirley in Gloucestershire. We object primarily on grounds of Health & Safety, a lack of public consultation and the potential for environmental degradation. Plaid Werdd Cymru calls for a full public enquiry into the pipeline.” They state that a press release was issued at the time, but unfortunately no-one ran the story. That endorses the ostrich attitude of the press that is mentioned elsewhere on this website. Next month (September 2009) we are told that the Wales Green Party will discuss the LNG pipeline issue at their council meeting. At last someone is taking notice about a matter of grave concern - let's hope the media will too. www.pipelinetwitter.co.uk Who wants to be a Millionaire? Here's something different on a similar theme This is based on an actual telephone conversation between two of our contributors. It was coincidental that the conversation took place while the TV programme ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’ was being broadcast and was audible in the background. Perhaps this influenced the way the conversation went. One asked the other: “What word describes a person who seeks publicity by going behind someone’s back to the press, police and acts contrary to the actions of a reasonable man when someone appears to be at fault?” The second person could not think of a suitable word on the spur of the moment – so he said we would pass the question on, as in the TV programme. “Are there four possible answers that I can ask anyone?” said the second person. The reply was to leave it open and see what answers would come up. So there we are, we have a question for you, the audience - our readers. You have the whole of the English dictionary to choose one word to describe the type of person mentioned above. Six of the most appropriate answers will be presented at a later date for you to decide which is best. The outright winner will be given a CD or DVD as a special gift. Use our Entry form on our extension website to submit the word of your choice. Entry Form PS... The laws in this country are said to be based on the actions of a reasonable man. News in brief from other websites Public money to be spent on private property owned by unknown people. See report Council are annoyed with the number of tenants who want to VOTE NO See details Concern about corruption grows - read about "Get Snouts Out of the Trough Party" See details Mobile Phone emergency information added: Click to view Websites Censored by Newspapers? Press fail to tell readers about serious content Our more observant readers will have noticed that newspapers never tell their readers about the addresses of websites (the URLs) or their content - even when the website contains information about what could be a danger to the community: i.e. the LNG Pipeline, and a matter that could affect the future lives of residents, the 'VOTE NO' website. This issue is discussed on another website where those concerned have copied the ostrich we have pictured below, aptly calling the item: "The Ostrich Press." However, this attitude has not precluded a local weekly paper mentioning someone who complained about an alleged racist joke that appeared on this website for a few hours to stimulate a discussion on political correctness. It was on for such a short time that we have had many asking: "What was the joke?" It appears that the whole point of the joke, for which an apology has been made to our readers and to our host, has been overlooked. To us it just seems a pity that the same newspaper does not give the same attention to this website's more serious issues which have concerns for the community. Freedom of the Press? This must be questioned when they avoid certain issues like hot potatoes. For an instance, when a local newspaper was informed that a certain website (not ours) had an environmental link to GREENPEACE to highlight their issue, the communication was promptly returned as if it was written on asbestos paper with the comments: "Rejected for policy reasons." Is it really such a red hot subject? Perhaps the ostrich attitude of the press towards such matters is why websites such as ours are getting more widely read week by week. You will note that we give many links to other websites (some others don't do this) in spite of the fact that we know that readers will switch from this site to look at another one. We don't mind this because we put readers' first - and trust that they will come back to this site after looking at the other. It is just a pity that certain sections of the press have not got the same liberal attitude as ourselves - it would certainly lead to a more open society as well as bigger circulation figures for newspapers. With the foregoing in mind, you are invited to leave our site to look at the following (but please come back later):- Greenpeace Environmental Trust www.pipelinetwitter.co.uk www.voteno.tk Ostrich Press Report A FOLLOW-UP AND A FAIR PLAY ATTITUDE   In the past we have given our local weekly newspaper a fair amount of publicity in good faith in order to create interest and increase their dwindling circulation. However, it has been suggested by many people that we should follow their example, inasmuch, that they don't mention us by name so we shouldn't mention theirs. We are first to say that it all sounds so childish. However, we think it only fair that we should treat them as they treat us - and hopefully in future with some mutual respect now that they have printed a right of reply to some alleged inaccurate statements they made about this 'discussion website.' The fact that they have made no further comment indicates, at least to us, that they have now accepted what we have said in good faith. We have to add that a few words said by them has not fallen on deaf ears either - we listen to all comments with an open mind. We trust that is as fair as anyone can be. Next month we look at the security of councillors emails with a disturbing report from a named third party source. Bryncoch Action Group - Local Development Plan Report - Meeting Saturday 15th August Reason for the meeting   NPTCBC have so far identified 11 candidate sites in Bryncoch that they aim to include on their Local Development Plan (LDP) These sites are to be considered for development over the next 15 years. The Bryncoch Community centre was filled to capacity on 15th August when a well organised presentation was given about candidate sites for possible future development. It was generally acknowledged that the listed areas in Bryncoch were unsuitable for several reasons - and in particular road and traffic access. Details can be seen on the NPT Council's website (see link below). Objections to the candidate sites should be sent to Planning Policy Unit (address on council's website) by 31st August 2009. Main considerations for objections are:- Removal of land from the Green Wedge.   Affects open character, environment and landscape. Traffic   Will add to the present congestion at peak periods at junctions to the A474. Landscape   Some sites are elevated and cannot be hidden - dominating surrounding areas. Agriculture & Protected Land   Loss of agricutultural land would be a short sighted policy for sustainable food production in this country. Wildlife   Loss of wild life and protected species would be contarary to existing laws.Their presence is an integral part of the local environment and their loss would be irrecoverable. Infrastucture / Sevices   Existing Drainage, Sewerage, Schooling and services are major considerations. As it is, we have no doctors' surgery, no dentist, no pharmacy and with the plans there would be no village shops within walking distance. All journeys would add to traffic problems. This is the last chance to object to these plans, as the period of consultation ends on 31st August 2009. Send letters of objection to NPTCBC (see link below) and support your local action group who are depending on residents to support them. It is important for every resident to make an objection in order to make their feelings known to the planners. FOOTNOTE   There is a very large waiting list for garden allotments as the demand to grow your own food increases. NPTCBC address and information on the LDP Plan Areas considered for future development Neath Abbey and District Older Peoples Forum Meeting report Neath Abbey and District Older People's Forum met at Longford Memorial Hall on Thursday, 13th August. Guest speakers included Bleddyn Hancock, General Secretary of NACODS South Wales. He stated that tens of thousands of people across the UK are being wrongly charged for places in nursing homes which should be provided free as 'continuing care' by the NHS. Mr Hancock said: "This is a case where people have been swindled out of their savings, hounded out of their homes and conned out of the free care they deserve." Representatives of Age Concern provided information and energy saving devices to residents which included a large number from adjoining areas. Big difference between two communities Visitors from Bryncoch, Waunceirch and Caewern commentated after the meeting about the facilities at Longford, including the Forum, and said they can see a big difference between two communities. Thoughts from residents - Likely MP? Bleddyn Hancock made such an impression in the way and the manner he spoke without notes, and the way he answered questions, that in private conversations it was later stated that he would make an ideal Member of Parliament for the area. News release from NACODS about nursing care BBC report - Bleddyn Hancock Dyffryn Clydach PACT August Meeting Police And Communities Together - Meeting Report Residents at the PACT meeting at the Longford Memorial Hall on Wednesday, 12th August were shown a short video on Anti Social Behaviour and how the system works. Councillor Martyn Peters praised the efforts of the police in reducing bad behaviour by youngsters over the past few weeks. It was agreed that the priority would continue until the next meeting. A booklet entitled:"Anti-Social Behaviour" was handed out which gave a office telephone number to report anti-social bahaviour: 01639 889709. This is manned during the day with a recording service after hours. Police officers present mentioned the relatively new 101 telephone number which was easier to use and remember than 01792 456999. They reminded everyone that for life threatening crime, or emergency services the number still is: 999 Our Bobby website The Letter the local weekly newpaper did NOT print Was there a good reason not to print? The following letter was sent to the local weekly newpaper and it appears they refused to print it. Read it for yourself and see what you think:- "I am baffled and rather worried because your newspaper has not mentioned anything about the locally produced LNG website, which was officially released on 20th July 2009, when press releases were sent to you and the rest of the media. The website in question: www.pipelinetwitter.co.uk highlights the dangers of LNG pipelines, especially the new one running from Milford Haven to the boundary of Wales with its pressure reduction installation at Cilfrew. The planned pressure for the gas in the pipeline is 94 BAR, that is, 1,345 psi (pounds per square inch) - compare that with 40 psi in a car tyre! To ignore the existence of this documentary and discussion website is like comparing an ostrich burying its head in the sand at the first sign of danger and pretending it does not exist. It seems that you are being unfair to your readers to ignore a website that has no political motive and no hidden agenda - its purely and simply a means to make everyone aware of the issues. As for another locally produced website: www.voteno.tk you may be forgiven if you have protective tendencies for the local council who are promoting a 'vote yes' campaign for the transfer of their council housing stock to a housing association. Have said this, the www.voteno.tk website is prepared to give views on both sides of the subject. It so happens that no-one has yet put forward a reason for voting 'yes' - except one person who cannot vote himself because he has bought his council house and thinks that everyone else should do the same thing. Any newspaper bearing your name should be the defender of what is right and should look after the interests of its readers. I am now beginning to think that you regard websites as a rival form of news media - even although you have your own, which I mention to make this letter fair and balanced: www.walesonline.co.uk I just trust you will do the same thing." The Local Weekly Explains Anthony O'Connell, reporter, explains that they get many requests to mention websites in an effort to get publicity. It is not possible for the newspaper to do this without first making sure that the content is legal and worthy of a mention. Another consideration is that the newspaper must not be seen to favour or endorse any website more than another. Whilst this expalnation is accepted in good faith, it must be said that both websites mentioned above did have a topical news content. LATE NEWS.... LINK TO GREENPEACE We note that the www.pipelinetwitter.co.uk website now has a link to GREENPEACE who state that LNG is nothing but a dangerous dirty fossil fuel. When a news email was sent to the local paper to tell them about the link, it was returned for 'policy reasons'. Read about someone who was banned from writing in another newspaper - see: www.anti-corruption.tk Police mention a complaint (from a third party) to the editorial team - about a joke! It is no big secret that this site is hosted by an individual on behalf of the editorial team - every website has to have a hosting facility. Having said that, we have to be open and above board and say that our host has had a friendly visit from the Police about an alleged racist joke that appeared on this site sometime ago. Because our host was unhappy about the joke, which we say was put on to discuss political correctness, he promply removed it - but not before a copy was sent to the Police who have since mentioned it to him, not as their complaint but one from third parties. The editorial team wishes to aplogise to our host and those the joke may have offended - but we must look at what is behind the matter. We have to say that we are aware of a group of individuals who would like to see this this site removed from the Internet. Who are they you may ask? They are the ones who have been criticized in the past and rather than respond to us on our letter page they prefer to be sneaky and complain to the Police, using the joke as an excuse. Fortunately for us and our democractic society, they are a very small minority of the thousands who read this website. The correspondence on our letters page is considered fair and balanced and supports our efforts in highlighting matters of concern and fair play in our community. As a comparison, we have to say that we did not like what Johathan Ross said on his BBC TV show, and we now say the same for our joke, although it was put on to illustrate and discuss political correctness. It is really a sad state of affairs when much publicity was given to Ross and his show because of this, which in the end led to increased viewing figures. The same can be said for this website and the joke - even although it only appeared for little more than a day or two before our host removed it. The whole episode has increased our viewing figures - so perhaps the sneaks have done us a favour? However, we would rather have had their comments in print on our letter page or on our FEEDBACK facility - because that is what its there for. Johathan Ross PS.... We are not friends with the BNP but it is our guess that they will sit up and take notice of this matter. You may remember that they criticized this website in the past for being a safety valve for the establishment - see for yourself on the link below:- BNP comments about this website EXTRA...We have mentioned this episode to Anthony O'Connell, reporter at the local weekly, in order for him to give a fairly balanced report in his newspaper. We have an open and above board policy and give the right to reply or comment on anything that is written on this website. We feel we must say that those who have stirred up this matter are politically motivated and are using bullying tactics in an attempt to discredit this website, its host and the editorial team. This attitude reflects badly on them - more than it does on us. LATE EXTRA... The report and editorial in a particular edition of the paper referred to above contained what appears to be several inaccurate statements. An effort has been made to put matters in the right prospective and have now been printed in the latest edition. See our code of practice Website Owners and Newspaper Owners Is there a fair comparison? It has been said that owning a website domain name is rather like owning a newpaper, or rather a newpaper title. In the same way as it would be unfair to blame Richard Murdoch for anything appearing in The Sun, News of the World, The Times and the other papers he owns, it would be equally unfair to blame a website host for anything appearing on the website. This comparison of course applies when the website host has an editorial team (like us) - similar to the newspapers. If anyone has a complaint about what appears in a newspaper it only makes sense that they should address it to the editor first and not go by the back door to a third party. All reputable newspapers are keen to put things right - and the same thing applies to this website - that is why we have a FEEDBACK facility. The above item has been added after due consultation with those concerned. We would like your views on our readers letters page. More sneaks at work in Neath - Warning to shop owners Sneak reports shop owner to Performing Right Society (PRS). A Neath Queen Street shop owner tells us that a sneak has reported him to the PRS for listening to his own radio in own his shop. Because the radio can be overheard by customers, he now has to pay the PRS a licence fee of £80.63 (including VAT) per year. Police Stations are exempt, at the discretion of the PRS, and are not charged a licence fee for the public performance of music by recorded means or via TV or radio where these performances take place in police stations or as part of a specific criminal investigation. The same applies to religious and marriage ceremonies. Inmates in prison are exempt from having a licence in their cells and common rooms - but one is needed in areas where the public can hear the music on a communal system. We can't help wondering how many prisons have actually got a PRS licence? For full details see the PRS website:- Do I need a licence? - PRS website Neath Eye Sore Development 4 more houses to be crammed in The ridge top development at Waunceirch, that's really only suitable for bungalows because of its location, is to have an extra four houses jammed in - if the developers get their way. The original planning consent was for a total of 34 dwellings but revised plans now show an extra 4 houses. The site is adjacent to the single storey Waunceirch primary school and the single storey Tesco Express that opened last December. The new houses will tower above these buildings making the development Neath's biggest eye sore. Residents are so incensed with the look of the development, with houses only feet away from the sidewalk - similar to those built around 1905, that they support a website called: "Neath Biggest Eye Sore." Currently there is no provision for a desired footpath from Cloda Avenue / Fernlea Park to the new shopping centre, which means that residents will take a short cut through the new development at the expense of the new tenants' privacy. This has been brought to the attention of the council's Planning Department, who will hopefully look after the interest of existing residents - as well as the ones who will occupy the new properties when the development is completed in 2010. Residents have until 11th August 2009 to send their objections or comments to the Neath Port Talbot Planning Department. The planning application number is P2009/0514 www.neatheyesore.tk More money from the Welsh Assembly?   It has been reported that the Welsh Assembly is paying developers 20% of costs for building affordable homes. If this is correct, does it mean they will have to pay out yet more money for the additional four houses? We are writing to an Assembly Member to clarify this point. New Website Highlights Swine Flu Corruption www.anticorruption.tk A brand new website has been made to highlight corruption in politics and public life. There are links to other associated sites that highlight some of the unjust things that are going on in our society. This is probably yet another website that will not be mentioned by the media. When you look at it you will understand why. Those who view the new website will see the value of free speech and the right to say what is factually the truth. LATEST NEWS Read about the alleged corruption with Swine Flu and how money is being made over it. Details Mobile Phones and free Broadband Savings can be made It pays to check regularly on mobile phone rates. Those on contracts can benefit by having free new phones at lower tariffs. On the Orange network free Broadband is available with contract phones that include hours of free calls with no charge for texts - depending on what tariff is selected. In a recent example, someone had their monthly tariff reduced from £29 to £12, which included an allowance for a disused phone that was lying about the house. Compare the monthly cost of £12 (with 100 minutes of free calls, a free phone and free broadband) to the £19 monthly charge for Orange Broadband on its own. On the other hand, pay-as-you go phones can now be purchased outright for as little as £4.95 - with no recurring charges. It's little to pay for to have a means of communication at home, community centres or anywhere where there is no connection to the telephone exchange. More Mobile Phone User Information FOLLOW-UP.... The above item has created much interest and readers have sent us several tips on the use of mobile phones which we have listed below, so check them out before an emergency arises. As you know, your mobile phone can be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival - we suggest you make a note of the following:- Emergency.... The worldwide emergency number for moble phones is 112.   If you find yourself out of the coverage area of your own mobile network when an emergency arises, dial 112 and the mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly, the number 112 can be dialled even if the keypad is locked. Keys locked in your car?....Does your car have remote keyless entry? This tip may come in handy someday. If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone at home on their mobile phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile phone on their end. Your car will unlock. Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds of miles away, and if you can reach someone who has the other 'remote' for your car, you can unlock the doors (or the boot). Hidden Battery Power.... If your mobile battery is very low its possible to get reserve battery power. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your mobile will restart with this reserve and will show a 50% increase in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your phone next time. How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?.... To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #     A 15 digit code will appear on the screen. This number is unique to your handset. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone get stolen, you can phone your service provider and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset, so even if the thief changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this, there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones. ATM - PIN Number Reversal - Good to Know .... If you should ever be forced by a robber to withdraw money from an ATM machine, you can notify the police by entering your PIN # in reverse. For example, if your pin number is 1234, then you would put in 4321. The ATM system recognizes that your PIN number is backwards from the ATM card you placed in the machine. The machine will still give you the money you requested, but unknown to the robber, the police will be immediately dispatched to the location. This information was recently broadcast on TV by Crime Stoppers, however it is seldom used because people just don't know about it. Please pass the above information along to your family and friends - and tell them where you saw it. Owain Glyndwr Day Dyfryn Clydach to fly flag The flag of Owain Glyndwr will proudly fly on 16th September on the new flagpole at Dyfryn Clydach's Memorial Hall. Planning permission had to be obtained to fly the flag - as only British national flags are exempt from this rather silly law. Sadly no flag will be flown at Blaenhonddan's community centre at Waunceirch - the building that bears the historical name. More information on Owain Glyndwr Looking Back Last month The most read item, nationwide, was Linda Ware and her tomato plants and her ASBO. We were the first to break the story followed by the front page of the local weekly paper and later the Evening Post. The national papers: The Sun and the Independent took up the story as did the BBC on their news programme. It must be said that Linda saw the funny side of the story and never thought her tomato plants would be so controversial. Linda Ware and her tomatoes in the Sun Also in July we had the creation of two new websites with a local interest:- Pipeline Twitter - the LNG Pipeline VOTE NO - the council housing stock transfer View version 20 - July 2009 for full details Our Watchdogs and code of practice YOUR VIEWS Have you written to the press and they have not printed your letter - or have they edited it unfairly? Have you written to your MP or the Prime Minister and have had no reply? If your answer is 'yes' then let us know. Remember we print what newspapers won't. Libel laws must apply - also the right to reply. Watchdogs and our code of practice …and an apology from the editorial team With recent events in mind, we, the editorial team wish to apologise to the host of this website, and its readers, for anything that we have uploaded that may have caused embarrassment or offence. It is our intention to be outspoken and provoke thought about matters in the public domain but sometimes errors or mistakes do occur, after all we are only human. When this happens we want to put matters right – and that is only fair.to everyone. Our watchdogs are our readers – and that is why we have provided a FEEDBACK facility for direct contact to us. It can be honestly said that we have only had one letter of complaint via this source during the past year and action was immediately taken as a result of that. The person who wrote was totally satisfied and there the matter ended. It is only right and reasonable that any complaint should be directed to the source and not underhandedly by the back door to third parties. We should always have the opportunity to put matters right and, if need be, give the right to reply – and we can’t be fairer than that to our readers and our host. Highlights from last month New VOTE NO website www.voteno.tk A website that looks at the forthcoming ballot on council house stock transfer to a housing association Controversial website launched - Pipeline Twitter Highlights grave dangers of LNG at high pressure www.pipelinetwitter.co.uk July 2009 will go down in history as the month the local press (and ourselves) were given notification of a new documentary and discussion website launched for everyone to be aware of the dangers of the jerry built LNG pipeline running from Milford Haven to Cilfrew and beyond to the boundary of Wales. The pipeline will eventually work at the highest pressure of any gas pipeline in the UK: 94 BAR equivalent to 1,345 psi (pounds per square inch). The website contains startling photographs that have never been published before, showing the parlous route and conditions under which the pipeline was laid, in some places close to homes and schools. There is also the pressure reduction installation on the edge of Cilfrew village, which is said to be a potential hazard to the residents. There is video evidence of what happened in the USA when a LNG pipeline blew up - and that was working under a lower pressure! The press release of the new website can be regarded as a test to see how the local press react, as they tend to shy way from websites, regarding them as a rival news media. However, in this case, they must put the health and safety of their readers first, as it only fair and just that they should be made aware of the pending dangers. National Grid, who is responsible for the pipeline installation say that it has been installed to the highest standards. This was said about the Titanic before the unexpected disaster in 1912, and the resulting discovery that second grade rivets had been used in its construction. Perhaps a hundred years later there will be another unexpected disaster - we hope not, but it must be said that experts have predicted that there will be one sooner or later. View the pipeline website and read what the experts say Linda Ware and her Sun tomatoes The Sun newspaper takes the micky out of NPT Council First with the news, we reported last week about Linda Ware's tomato plant in the foyer of her council flat at Cilfrew and the visit of a council official objecting to it. We didn't mention Linda by name - we left that to the Neath Guardian (on their front page) and the Sun newspaper - but not their well known page 3. There was also a follow-up in the Evening Post and the national Independent newspaper as well mentions on BBC news programmes. Linda said: "The whole episode has resulted in the biggest laugh I have had for years and it reflects on Neath Port Talbot Council who are getting their priorites all wrong. I didn't bargain for all this publicity but it has certainly made fools out of the council when it comes to issuing an ASBO warning notice to remove a tomato plant from a window in the foyer of my flat." The actual plant had no tomatoes on it - the ones in the Sun's photogragh, which can be seen from the link below, was a string of vine tomatoes bought at a local supermarket. The whole situation is even more humorous if you consider that Linda is an environmentalist and has a website with the story of how she did not use her refuge bin for over a year. However, we must question the prompt action by the council and their underlying motive. We say this because of Linda's recent campaigns linked to various council issues. One cannot help thinking that if she was a member of the Labour it would have been a different story. The saga has given our local free-lance correspondant, Dai Dust, the laugh of his lifetime and he goes to town to put the council in its place as you will see from his website. www.lindaware.co.uk The Sun report with photograph BBC News report PS..... The Sun editorial on 16th July 2009 compares this trivial event with others, which makes a mockery out of law and order. Linda Ware writes a letter about her tomatoes on our reader's letter page Don't believe rumours! There is no truth in the rumour that a well known coach company is running trips to Cilfrew to see the most famous tomato plants in the UK. The plants in question, photographed left with owner Linda Ware, are now outdoors and are suffering from the British summer weather. They are alleged to be the most photographed plants in the UK and one gardening expert reckons that they are likely to be purchased for a large sum of money for display at Kew gardens. A Sun reporter was heard to say that his editor intends to put the story on the front page of the newspaper after the report has been confirmed. Support Kew Gardens We repeat yet again! What's happening at the Welsh Assembly? Still waiting for answers It is ten months since we asked Dr. Dai Lloyd, the AM for this area, if he could find out if the Welsh Assembly is paying Waterstone Homes (Bridgend) 20% of the delvelopment costs towards the "White's Folly" development at Waunceirch on basis that they are building so called affordable homes. Dr Lloyd assures us that he working on the case. The longer it takes to answer this question will make people wonder what is behind all this? We are confident that Dr Lloyd will come up with the answers to the questions that so many people are now asking before he retires at the end of his term. Link to Dai Lloyd's website Letter Page where you can read what others have to say in the community. You can comment or reply on the above or a new subject - remember your views will be read by those who run your Council, represent you in Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. . Please note that complaints about the Community Council should go directly to the Clerk of the Council - see her address on the Council's website. Any letters that we receive relating to community council complaints will be forwarded for her attention. Tell your friends about this website - or send them a copy by email, our website address is:- www.neathferret.co.uk Email news and comments to: news@neathferret.co.uk or use our readers letter page. Go to LATEST version View version 20 - July 2009 The tomato plant issue. View versions 18/19   LNG Pipeline and its dangers. Back to version 17   Is Health & Safety going over the top? Back to version 16   Neath Ferret v BNP, Environmental award. Back to version 15   Bryncoch Environment Group new website. Back to version 14   BNP insult our MP, Community centre news. Back to version 13   Tesco disappoints, Colourful website for BCC, Chairperson change over at BCC, Peter Hain, MP. offers help. Back to version 12   The Caewern Community Hall issue. Back to version 11   What Tesco wants Tesco gets. NOTE. Issues in version 10 are included in version 11 - including details of the Council's new complaint procedure following our item in version 9. Back to version 9   A Case for Public Services Ombudsman? Back to version 8   Liberal Councillor's website leads the way. Back to version 7   £5,000 reward for information Back to version 6   Councillor put in the picture. Back to version 5   PC Councillors scold Neath Ferret Back to Version 4   Neath Port Talbot dentist leaving NHS Back to Version 3   Anger over Neath Guardian Back to version 2   Planning consent for eye sore? Information for this website is accepted and printed in good faith. 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