www.neathferret.co.uk Looking for Community Problems Blaenhonddan Edition Contact - News or Comments: news@neathferret.co.uk Weekending 20th September 2008 Version 8 Cllr. Frank Little Leads The Way with his Internet Website 
Frank Little, the Liberal Democrat Councillor for Cadoxton, leads the way when it comes to Internet communications. His
website is supported by the Liberal Party and is an example worth noting. It is in the form of
a blog, an Internet log - another name for an Internet diary. We believe that all councillors should communicate with the people who elected them - and there is no better way of doing this in modern times.It is particularly refreshing to see Plaid Cymru Councillor, Linda Ware, constructively writing on his website in order to clarify something that had taken place at a council meeting. It all contributes to keeping the public informed in the spirit of co-operation. We are all for this interactive reporting - as long as it benefits the community as it does in this case. It is not known if other political parties have websites that support their councillors - but they should certainly think about it if they want to match the Liberal party. You can view Frank's website by clicking on the link below:- Frank Little's website Blaenhonddan Community Council New website being constructed Blaenhonddan is about to catch up with the other community councils in the UK who have their own websites. The new website, currently under construction by Cllr.Cled Griffin, will be listed on the agenda for acceptance by the Council at their October meeting. It was agreed that the development should proceed, subject to some minor amendments to the proof version. The non-political website will contain lots of information for the residents of Blaenhonddan. Mrs Mavis Hewitt, the council's full time clerk, is responsible for all administrative matters and this is taken into consideration. Like all good websites, it will be kept under constant review by the council's clerk and the webmaster. Councillors gave support and advice on the website, which has lead to removing a link to this website. A reciprocating link from this website has also been removed. It was made clear that the website is currently a proof copy for Councillors to view. Community Council Chairperson Airs her views 
Doreen Jones, the Labour Community Councillor for Aberdulais and the Chairperson of the Blaenhonddan Community Council, conducted the September meeting in a refreshing manner after a two month break due to the summer holiday. Cllr.Jones made a comment that politics should not enter into community busines and said that the forthcoming Council website should be run along those lines, a point that all councillors agreed with. She also mentioned that she did not believe anything she read in the papers, probably referring to previous press reports about the Council - or one of its members. Perhaps she may not also believe anything she reads on this website - including our compliment to her for conducting the meeting so well.Cllr. Jones is also a County Borough Councillor for Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Top Item On Google No.1 out of 16,300 in a ferret search We are delighted to report that the number of visitors to this site have shot up beyond our expectations as word gets around about our down to earth reporting of things that matter in the community. This has been highlighted on the most popular Internet search engine - Google, where we now have a number one listing. Click here and see for yourself. We have now organised a webpage extension where visitors can contact us with their views and comments. Click here to see our extended pages and some letters we have received. In this version of the Neath Ferret we are leaving some items on for the benefit of the many new visitors who are joining us each day. To them we say 'welcome' and suggest they tell their family and friends about this website. Peter Hain Helpful to Dentist Who was down in the mouth over target figures 
In our version 4 we reported a dentist leaving the NHS and taking on private patients. We have now followed this up and have had the Dentist's side of the story. It appears that NHS payments to dentists were linked to target figures, which were recently moved to a point that made it unacceptable for some dentists to give patients the attention they deserved. The matter was taken up at the Welsh Assembly Government by Peter Hain MP (pictured left) whom the dentist we spoke to said was very helpful, unlike Brian Gibbons AM - the WAG Health Minister, who allegedly said that dentists have had it too good for far too long and it was now payback time.It must also be said that there is an unconfirmed report of a free dental service coming to Wales. When this was mentioned to the dentist she said that it may apply to future group doctor practices where there would be no guarantee of regular treatment by the same dentist, and that the service may apply to emergency treatment only - it is a case of time will tell. This report highlights our policy of giving both sides of a story. Rhiwlas Neighbourhood Watch - New website coming A new website is being developed for Rhiwlas Neighbourhood Watch. It highlights the aim to care for neighbours and their properties - especially the elderly ones living alone. An approach has been made to a national supermarket to sponsor neighbourhood watch signs in an effort to make everyone more aware of the scheme. The website mentions that residents can save up to 20% on their home insurance by being a registered member of a neighbourhood watch scheme. A message in a bottle could save your life. Details will be given in the news section of the website along with details of the nominated neighbour scheme. A link to the website will be given after it has been completed. Woollen Mill Fire -- £5,000 Reward For information leading to conviction of arsonists This item is being left on from our previous version because of the controversy in the local press about the matter. It appears a community councillor has objected to the Guardian about us publishing the letter below. It should be noted we took care to ensure that the councillor was not named or implied in any way. This naturally puts suspicion on all councillors, which may seem unfair. However they need not worry because the councillor concerned is drawing attention to himself in his quest for publicity in the local newspaper. This comes as a form of relief to all other councillors as it stops the finger of suspicion being pointed at them. This self inflicted indictment is something over which we have no control - and that should be plain for everyone to see. Gail and Kevin Morgan of Neath Abbey are so angry about the fire at the historic Woollen Mill on night of 31st August that they offering a £5,000 reward in connection to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for starting the last major destructive fire The 'last' fire is mentioned because they claim that there has been a series of fires this year. In an email to the Neath Ferret Gail and Kevin Morgan write: "We ARE in the process of purchasing the Old Woollen Mill, which since a certain community councillor decided to mention words of ARSON, FIRES etc this poor building has been subjected to 5 fires. It has remained derelict for a number of years and unharmed, this councillor has conducted a personal vendetta against a grade two listed building, which if the councillor had his way, would be turned into a car park, thus losing a valuable historical building to the community. However, we are going to restore this building to its former glory, and make this building smile again and create a beautiful family home. We are also offering a £5,000.00 reward to the conviction of person(s) who have been responsible for starting the last major destructive fire." Anyone with information should inform the Neath Police (01639 635321) mentioning this report. As is often said: the truth always comes out in the end so anyone concerned about being wrongly accused with the occurance has nothing to worry about. Questions for Dr Dai Lloyd For his forthcoming visit to the Owain Glyndwr 
Dr Dai Lloyd, the AM member for South West Wales, has been asked to find out if the Welsh Assembly Government is partly funding the eye sore development at Waunceirch. This follows a report in the media that developers building affordable homes get a 20% handout.The answers may be given during his visit to the Owain Glyndwr Community Hall at 10:00am onSaturday 4th October - the first Saturday of the month. It will be an opportunity for Dr Lloyd to meet residents and for them to get answers on matters that concern them. Dr Dai Lloyd - website Welsh Assembly website Concern at Rowan Tree Close - Bryncoch Trees, hedgerow and wildlife under threat Residents in a cul-de-sac off Rowen Tree Close in Bryncoch are concerned about a pending planning application for building a house on land that was once an allotment. The development would mean up-rooting mature trees and a hedgerow with its natural wild life. The proposed access would be from the congested 10 house cul-de-sac with the owners having 21 cars between them. In addition to this it has been stated that residents already have to walk on the road because there are no pavements serving the houses. Having said all this, it is interesting to know that there is a long waiting list for allotments at the present time. Janice Dudley's Newletter 
Cllr. Dudley, the County Borough Councillor for Bryncoch South, has asked us to mention that her non-political newspaper will be out shortly.
It mentions the concern of residents about the closure of Post Offices - the one at Neath Abbey included.Changing rooms at the Owain Glyndwr playing fields is something that Cllr.Dudley is pursuing and she hopes to have more information about this very shortly. Cllr.Dudley also mentions a clean-up campaign for the Caewern area of Neath when residents will be able to dispose of items in the temporary rubbish skips to be provided. Cllr Tony Wyn-Jones - Email Address 
Cllr.Wyn-Jones has a new home email address, which is being checked out before being released for use. In the meantime the following address can be used,
cllr.t.wyn-jones@npt.gov.uk New Year's Honours For Blaenhonddan Residents 
Cllr Martyn Peters was pleased that his proposal for Community Achievement Awards was approved in principle by the Council. The details will be worked out in due course in order that it works effectively. It is possible that
residents will be asked to nominate those they think deserve awards, which will be presented to them around Christmas time.There was concern by one councillor who said that it could lead to bad feeling by some not having an award. In reply to this Cllr.Peter's said it was a rolling scheme and over the years would cover many people. Another councillor said that it could be compared the Queen's New Year's Honours List, which has been effective in recognising the efforts of individuals for many years. Conned with Telephone Charges -- Say No To 0870 It costs money to phone your doctor! If you have an 'inclusive landline calls' phone package, then it is very rare that 0844, 0845, 0870, or 0871 numbers are are included in your 'free minutes' allocation, unlike normal numbers. Many mobile phone packages also exclude freephone 0800 and 0808 numbers for your bundled minutes. The above statement comes from the website: www.saynoto0870.com - (say no to 0870) which we suggest you look at. Most doctor surgeries now have 0844 numbers, which means you pay for the call. One Neath resident spent around £4 over a quarterly period phoning his doctor's surgery for one thing and another. We just hope that ministers at the Welsh Assembly Government will see this item and do something about this penny pinching way of extracting money from sick peaple. Community Fact Blaenhonddan Community Council The Council, with its eighteen community 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. Details of what they were paid was reported in the local newspaper on 4.9.08. If you read it, did you observe the members of a certain political party who claimed less than others? We said this --- Our local newspapers never mention us. On reflection, and contrary to our previous thoughts, we are rather pleased about this because, in a way, it makes our website exclusive and perhaps a little secretive. And you know what happens to secrets - everybody likes to share one. When people whisper in corners of pubs and clubs about what's in the Neath Ferret it become a talking point. The fact that we have number one position on the Google search facility is already quite remarkable. Having said all this, we have no objection to the press and media doing follow-up stories on our grass root news items because we are so in touch with people and their feelings. If we are the first with inside news we can quite understand that it is a natural thing for them to carry on accordingly - news is one thing that they cannot ignore. Now we have to say this --- We had a friendly call from Neath Guardian's Chief Reporter, the first call we have ever had from the newspaper. Sadly it was about a relatively unimportant matter highlighted in the item above in red print. We must admit that we are baffled because they have not contacted before about the serious issues we have mentioned. But you never know, this could the start of a fresh approach and could lead somewhere - and even to the circulation of the paper soaring as it listens and hopefully reports on what we have to say about the concerns of the community. We must wait and see how the Guardian responds to this before we decide to reveal more facts in the red print saga - so watch this space. Coming soon: How speed retarders (those bumps in the road) affect your car - including a report from a RAC man. 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 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 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. Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret", Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret",Neath Ferret,Neath Ferret,"Neath Ferret", |