www.neathferret.co.uk Looking for Community Problems Contact - News or Comments: news@neathferret.co.uk Weekending 16th August 2008 Version 6 Janice Dudley reports.... to keep you in the picture 
Janice Dudley, the County Borough Councillor for Bryncoch South together with Tony Wyn-Jones, has contacted us to inform our readers about some local issues. Her newsletter is due out shortly and we are told that
every household in the area she covers will receive a hand delivered copy. This will make it more widely read than any local newspaper.Councillor Dudley wishes it to be known that she has had a number of complaints about the state of our town and the state of the bus shelters. When we referred this matter to another source we had the following information:- "The bus shelters outside the railway station in Neath were pulled down a few weeks ago. Instead of the police dealing with the problem and the people concerned, they pulled the shelters down. Apparently the problem has now moved across to the over bridge to the Millands Road carpark from the railway station in Neath and the drunks and drug takers are even more comfortable there." With regard to the carpark in question, Cllr Dudley said she has requested better lighting. Other matters brought to the attention of Cllr Dudley include the lack of signposting in the Waunceirch and Bryncoch areas of Neath. As one resident said: "It's ok for local residents who know the area, but a stranger trying to find Duffryn Church without satellite navigation would be going around in circles and it is simply not good enough, it just reflects very badly on the local authority." Email Janice Dudley: Cllr.Janice Dudley Email Tony Wyn-Jones Cllr. Tony Wyn-Jones Llwyn Helyg - White's Folly at Waunceirch Funded by Welsh Assembly? 
An unconfirmed report stated that this eyesore site is being funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. Apparently there is a 20% funding to developers who are building what is termed "affordable homes." Is this why the developers are rushing to build them, while builders elsewhere are holding back because of the credit crunch?In order to confirm this report, we have asked Dai Lloyd (pictured left), the AM for South West Wales, to make enquiries at the Welsh Assembly. To fund an eyesore such as this borders on disbelief. It is a ridge top scheme endorsed by a Labour controlled council on a site more suitable for bungalows to suit existing adjacent buildings. Three storey houses are scheduled to be built overlooking the playground of a primary school - see version 2 -link below. Dr Dai Lloyd - website Welsh Assembly website Neath Port Talbot Planning Department Email Planning Dept: planning@npt.gov.uk The Cost of Local Newspapers ...available on the Internet? The Evening Post costs 38p and the Neath Guardian costs 53p. However, it is possible to gain access to these papers on the Internet. In the case of the Neath Guardian we investigated the cost of an Internet subscription, which turns out to be 40p for a single issue. This means a saving of 13p over the price at the newsagent. To put it another way, the actual newsprint costs 13p and looking at the paper costs you 40p. Many think that this is expensive for a publication with its news to advertisement ratio. At one time the newspaper was a freebee with a huge circulation - sadly that is not the case today. The South Wales Evening Post has a local suppliment on Tuesdays: 'The Neath Port Talbot Courier', which is included with the newspaper. Will the Internet replace newspapers? We think not, they have survived radio and television - although circulation figures have dropped over the years. The BBC late newsnight programme looks at 'tomorrows' papers and is thought to stimulate sales. We reckon that the same thing could happen in this area if local newspapers highlighted this website and its controversial subjects. However, with the frank report above they will hardly do that - even although it could benefit their circulation in the long run. We also think it would be good thing if our local radio stations mentioned the headlines on our local newspapers - this is most unlikely because of the rivalry factor - with news and advertisements. We hope to corrected on the points made above. More details of Neath Guardian computer versions - and a free sample. South Wales Evening Post website Local Press Afraid of Neath Ferret? This is how it seems. In fact we go a step further and we say it applies to the media in general. It is very rare that a newspaper mentions a rival, or a local radio station mentions a local newspaper. The reason is that they are all treated as rivals - and the Neath Ferret is the latest rival on the scene. Instead of being used to boost their circulation figures, as we think would happen, they just ignore the fact that we are here. We are open to comment with the knowledge that what we report is factual and should be brought to the attention of those who live in Neath. Blaenhonddan Councillors Receive A Copy Letter From Kevin Morgan Neath resident, Kevin Morgan, is a man with a mission. He wants to find out why his letter regarding the conduct of a Labour Councillor is apparently being suppressed and not discussed at Community Council meetings so he has sent a copy of the letter to all Councillors. Mr Morgan also says in his letter, addressed to The Clerk of the Community Council, - "The other annoying fact is that the relevant Labour Councillor can talk to the papers and they will print what ever he says, I have talked to the papers, and even the same reporters as him, but they have never printed my response." It seems that we are not alone regarding press coverage. Community Fact Blaenhonddan Community Council The Council, with its eighteen councillors, covers an area on the West side of the river Neath, which includes Aberdulais to the North to Neath Abbey in the South. To the West it covers two wards in Bryncoch. It represents approximately 11,000 residents and deals with an annual budget of over £170,000. The Council has a full time clerk, Mrs Mavis Hewett, who deals with administrative matters and can be contacted by email Not everyone is aware that Community Councillors do not get paid - and get no expenses. On the other hand, County Borough Councillers get paid, plus expenses, which they have to declare. Coming soon: What it costs to telephone your doctor. How speed retarders (those bumps in the road) effect your car - including a report from a RAC man. How a message in a bottle could save your life. 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 Go to LATEST version 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 paedophiles? Information for this website is accepted in good faith. It is gathered from various sources and may, or may not, reflect the views of the webmaster. No responsibility is accepted for any errors that may occur from time to time. Sources of information must be made known to the webmaster but will not be divulged to any third party We aim to put the community first and make the residents of Neath aware of injustances and wrong doings. 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