The chairman opened the January meeting of Lampeter Velfrey Community Council by welcoming Police Inspector Les Clark and thanking him for attending.

Inspector Clark began by stating that the crime figures for the Narberth area were encouraging - there were 27 offences recorded and detected.

Some 261 offences were recorded for the area for the year, which gave an average of 53.64 per cent overall.

Continuing, he said Narberth Police Station covered a wide area, including Martletwy, Crymych and Amroth.

One sergeant and six constables work out of the station, which was open from 9 am to 1 am. The area was also covered by the traffic division visiting the area, along with armed officers and the CID.

A police constable from Tenby station had been trained to use the Safety Camera Partnership camera and did visit as many areas as possible. The partnership was funded half by Dyfed-Powys Police and half by Pembs. County Council.

At present, the partnership was only able to visit set areas where there was an accident 'black spot'. They were unable to visit Tavernspite because the council would only allow certain areas to be covered.

If there were no reported accidents, of any description, then the camera was unable to be used in that area.

The £60 penalty was paid to the magistrates clerk and the police received no fines money. Partnership profits went back into the partnership, said Inspector Clark.

The question was asked if the police could write to the county council regarding the state of roads with mud etc. Inspector Clark said that officers did call into HQ and ask for the council to be contacted to clean roads if they were in a poor state.

On the whole, residents of Lampeter Velfrey community were living in a law abiding area and all members present agreed that they were pleased with the figures presented.

Chairman, Clr. Mr. Dennis Lewis, and those attending, thanked Inspector Clark for listening to their concerns, for the information he provided and for his assistance to address matters raised. The clerk was also to send a letter of thanks.

MATTERS ARISING

The matter of speeding in the area had been addressed by Inspector Clark. The clerk did write to Christine Gwyther AM, who in turn wrote to the county council with their concerns.

Pembs. County Council had replied, stating: 'You will be aware that the majority of motorists do not comply with local speed limits. In Tavernspite this is evidenced, but not at speeds which I understand would trigger police prosecution'.

The parking outside Tavernspite School had been pursued by community councillors and basically there were obstacles in the way that needed to be addressed, e.g. the existing trees could be a problem and would need to be replaced; a wooden fence replacement would not be acceptable; the vehicles would be reversing onto a busy highway; the vehicles may be parking too close to the school and exhaust fumes could be a concern for the school children; kerbstones would have to be lowered; too many spaces for the limited space available etc.

The community council could not apply for funding to anyone until plans had been passed. The original plan for 20 parking spaces was submitted to the county council in June 2001. A site meeting took place with community and county councillors in October 2002, and a revised plan for 10 parking spaces was received by the clerk in June 2003.

It was suggested that the clerk should contact the head of construction commissioning at the county council to see if he would be able to help in their plight.

Initially, the clerk was to send a letter to request a site visit, what costs would be involved in drawing up the plans in-house, re-submit the plans to the planning department, and then wait to see what reaction was received. If the plans did go ahead, funding may be sought through the 'Regeneration Scheme'.

A letter was received from the county council regarding the footway from Tavernspite Garden Centre to Ash Lane and quoted, 'a decision on the future capital programme for the 2004/2005 financial year has yet to be finalised. It is hoped that a decision will be made early in the new year'.

The clerk supplied the county council with the necessary details regarding the poor visibility at Glanrhyd crossroads and it was agreed she should contact them again stressing that there had been yet another accident there, where a vehicle had gone into the newly-erected fence. This was the second time in less than a month.

The community council was aware that there were road signs stating that 'crossroads' and a 'bend' were imminent here, but these had still not deterred drivers from slowing down to manoeuvre round the bend more carefully. Perhaps chevrons might let drivers know that the bend was more severe than expected.

It was claimed that lorries leaving Blaencilgoed Quarry with their haul were not being covered with the necessary tarpaulin and they were losing their load as they were driving along the road. Letters should be sent to the haulage company and the environment department at Pembs. County Council stating same and that this practice should not continue. It was dangerous to other road users.

A letter was also be sent to the Ministry of Transport, adding that the council had grave concerns regarding HGVs moving in the area and asking:

Is there legislation regulating sheeting of vehicles, the weight they can carry and what they can haul without causing danger to other road users? Is there a weighbridge in Pembrokeshire, and where?

The speed at which vehicles drive along Lime Road, Tavernspite (the back road), had also been brought to the attention of the community council. A letter was to be sent to Pembs. County Council requesting that the road be made suitable for the traffic that it now had to carry.

Would it also be possible to have a footpath laid along the same road from Ash Lane to Tavernspite School? This was now a busy stretch of road with the HGVs using it and children from the Tair Ffynnon, Lime Grove and Nursery Close were in danger when these vehicles passed them while they were walking to school.

Letters were sent to Nick Ainger MP/AS and Christine Gwyther AM regarding the Dyfed-Powys Police Authority budget outlook for 2004/05. They both duly replied and Mr. Ainger did raise the matter during his visit to Parliament on December 3, 2003. Ms. Gwyther was to arrange a meeting with the police authority where she would also raise the matter for discussion.

PLANNING

Extension to residential dwelling - dining room and utility room - Cilrhiw Corner, Princes Gate (no objection).

Planning permission granted for: one dwelling - land rear of Alpha Inn, Tavernspite; alteration to existing vehicular access - The Croft, Ludchurch.

OTHER MATTERS

The clerk made a list of all anticipated outgoings for the precept for the year 2004/05.

She also suggested to the meeting that the purchase of a 'lap top' computer could make life easier with regard to taking minutes. Instead of scribbling notes and having to decipher them the next day, they could be typed straight into the machine and edited. All agreed.

The clerk was obliged to tell the meeting that she had also taken on the role of clerk to Amroth Community Council with effect from January 1. She hoped to work the two roles alongside each other, but if she felt that it affected her work for Lampeter Velfrey Community Council she would obviously reconsider her position. The clerk thanked all present for their support and help over the last 15 months and looked forward to a continued professional working relationship.

Residents of Ludchurch were concerned about the new development at Egypt Meadow and a footway that should pass through the site. It could not be found. Or, if it could, it was very overgrown and impassable. The original plans were made available to determine where the path should be.

If footways/paths/bridleways were sited on owned land then the owner was responsible for its maintenance, not the county council.

The clerk was to send a letter to the transport department at Pembs. County Council regarding the extra levy/tax on goods being hauled from Gelli-Halog and Blaencilgoed Quarries - where does the money go? From the community council's understanding, it should be going towards costs for regeneration of local areas, or areas that were inconvenienced by heavy haulage etc.