Among matters considered at the December meeting of Lampeter Velfrey Community Council were the following:

MATTERS ARISING

The clerk contacted Mr. Godfrey Elcock, of Pembs. Association of Local Councils (PALC), regarding the elections next year and was given a brief insight as to what happens.

A letter from the county council was read to the meeting regarding the ongoing speeding issues in the area.

At the November meeting, councillors did not accept the response regarding the readings taken in Lampeter Velfrey or Tavernspite.

The clerk replied to this letter stating that 'if the accident is deemed to be minor it is not always reported, either to the police or Pembs. County Council', and that 'if a vehicle is travelling over 30 mph it is breaking the law'.

On this note, the letter included the point that the clerk's husband had had an accident in September and it was not reported. Mr. Wilson was an experienced driver who had completed advanced driving courses and drives a car transporter for a living.

In reply to this information, Pembs. County Council were 'interested to know if adverse weather or material on the road caused this experienced driver to have difficulty', that 'enforcement is a police matter and would be undertaken within the guidance of the Association of Chief Police Officers', and that the clerk should 'contact Inspector S. Matchett at Haverfordwest Police Station' to discuss the matter further.

The clerk had already sent a letter to Inspector Matchett requesting the 'Minute Man' be placed in each village to enable data to be collected and returned to Lampeter Velfrey Community Council so that they were able to contact the county council for action to be taken in the future.

The clerk was also to send a letter to Inspector L. Clark at Tenby Police Station to invite him to their next meeting to discuss the matter further.

Parking outside Tavernspite School continued to be a problem, despite the letter received from Dyfed-Powys Police stating 'cars parked outside the school are a natural calming measure'.

Recent events highlighted on television regarding accidents involving children on or near school sites only made this a more pressing issue.

The clerk was to send a letter to the Director of Education at Pembs. County Council highlighting the recent accidents and stressing that Lampeter Velfrey Community Council was trying to introduce off-road parking so that this type of accident did not occur in their area.

Councillors had still not received a satisfactory reply from Pembs. County Council regarding their planning application for extra parking facilities outside the school and the clerk had been in contact with the councillor representing Lampeter Velfrey who had also been unable to contact the appropriate member of staff concerning this matter.

The matter of a footpath from Tavernspite Garden Centre to Ash Lane, Tavernspite, was to be 'considered in our bid for funding in the autumn' as per a letter from Pembs. County council dated July 31. The clerk had sent a letter and was awaiting a positive reply.

A letter was sent to Pembs. County Council regarding the broken verges at Princes Gate and a reply was awaited.

A letter had been received from Pembs. County Council regarding visibility at the Glanrhyd crossroads, stating that they were on private property However, if the council could supply them with the name and address of the owner, they would approach them to see what could be done to alleviate the problem. The clerk was to obtain this information and reply in due course.

A letter had been received from Pembs. County Council regarding the Longstone Lane resurfacing which stated that it 'is now included in next year's programme. This work is likely to be carried out in July 2004'.

In the same letter, it stated that 'the disturbance of the verges will be monitored over the coming months'.

The issue at Blaencilgoed Quarry was still ongoing and would be readdressed in January. However, the council were awaiting a reply from Pembs. County Council who were to investigate any concerns they had regarding this matter.

Lampeter Velfrey Community Council had received a letter of 'thanks' for the donation that was made to the Tavernspite Community Garden Project, which was officially opened in December.

A letter was sent to Pembs. County Council requesting a date when the new bus shelter and finger post would be installed at Princes Gate. No reply had been received to date.

There had been no reply from the Water Authority regarding the loss of water pressure in Ludchurch.

Tavernspite Garden Centre had made a request to the WRVS for volunteers to deliver lunches to housebound, elderly residents in Tavernspite. The WRVS had not been in contact with the clerk as was requested, but on behalf of the Garden Centre if there is anyone who has half-an-hour to spare at lunchtimes Monday to Saturday to deliver these lunches, they will be most grateful.

Longstone House, Ludchurch, was causing concern for local residents with regard to its condition and possible pest problem. Pembs. County Council had been contacted regarding this matter and were informed that the community council had spoken to them in the past regarding same.

However, neither the clerk nor Pembs. County Council could find any correspondence. But, they would investigate the problem and keep members informed of the situation.

The matter of more building work in Ludchurch was raised. There is a field behind Eynon Villas that is owned by a local farmer and residents were under the impression that the land was to be sold for development. This was not the case. The clerk spoke with Pembs. County Council and was assured that no further building work on a large scale was to take place in Ludchurch, and that this particular plot of land was 'outside the building plan for the area anyway'.

The matter of the bridleway - White Mill to Llanddewi Velfrey - was raised at the open public meeting in July with regard to its poor state. The clerk sent a letter to Pembs. County Council requesting that work be carried out to make the bridleway passable. She then received a reply stating that the letter was receiving attention and a telephone call to determine exactly where the bridleway was. Having determined this, the site was to be inspected and work to be completed, if necessary, in due course.

PLANNING

New dwelling on land rear of Honeyborough, Ludchurch (no objection).

Proposed demolition of existing cottage and rebuild, including new extension, Kingfisher Cottage, Blackbridge, Whitland (no objection).

Outline planning permission had been given for: Activity complex in centre of park and relocation of five static caravans, South Carvan Holiday Park, Tavernspite; Erection of dwelling and garage at 7a Amroth Road, Ludchurch.

Planning permission has been granted for: Domestic side/rear conservatory for Swn-y-Mor, Ludchurch; Dwelling and garage at plot at Egypt Meadows, Ludchurch; Alter access onto highway at Gelly Deg, Princes Gate; One house adjacent to Plume of Feathers, Tavernspite.

Refusal of planning permission has been given for: Waste transfer station, Princes Gate.

This was an ongoing matter to which there had been fierce objections from local residents for building of any description to take place on this site, even though they did not want the site to remain as it was.

However, an appeal has been made to the National Assembly for Wales by Shanks Waste Services Ltd.

The clerk was to send a letter stating that Lampeter Velfrey Community Council had no objections to a residential dwelling being built on site, as long as visibility on and off site was made more clear.

FINANCE

Letter from Pembs. County Council for precept to be set for 2004. It was agreed that the precept should be set to cover all outgoings for the year, including grass cutting and maintenance of footpaths in Lampeter Velfrey community, the newsletter, subscriptions, donations and audit fees. All agreed.

OTHER BUSINESS

A request was to be made to see what action Pembs. County Council would take to renew the street lamps in Lampeter Velfrey from the old orange ones to new clear ones.