Doorstepping (2)

Another day, another commercial collecting company, this time "Mantas Capital Ltd", who are masquerading in charitable rhetoric. Once again, I would advise residents to avoid these companies - if only for the reason that there are several mainstream charity shops in Llanelli town centre who would be well served from clothing donations.

Harbour swimmers "taking life into their own hands"

Since the schools broke up for the holidays, I have witnessed groups of young people swimming in Burry Port Harbour.

One group were swimming near to the sluice gates which open and close to allow boats to pass, depending on the tide. There are multiple dangers of swimming in this area, namely the sluice gates, the boats and the rapid flow of water through the gates.

Another group were cajoling each other into jumping into the harbour. I distinctly heard one person shout "but I can't swim!", as if protesting against other members of his group. It doesn't take a great leap of imagination to think of the horrors that could ensue if this hi-jinx was taken any further - especially if alchohol had been involved.

As a parent myself, I feel moved to draw the attention of other parents to this problem. There are plenty of warning signs around the harbour that make it clear that swimming is not allowed in the harbour. I'm not sure there is much that the authorities can do on this matter. We as parents need to take responsibility for the safety of our children with regard to the harbour.

So farewell then, Llanelli Journal

I was surprised to see the following statement by "Ryan", author of the political blog "Llanelli Political Journal".

Although Ryan was a Labour supporter, I had no problem in commending his blog as it was his always very well written and provided an alternative slant on politics, society and media in Llanelli. It was refreshing to see a Labour supporter who was not afraid to take an independent stance on a range of issues, including the future of his own party. I regard Ryan as an example of the Labour party we used to know. Here is his final post:

"I can't contain my disappointment, which has on occasions turned to anger, with what is happening to the town. But it is with regret that I have decided to bring an end to my blogging on Llanelli and district. Having spent so little time in Llanelli recently I simply don't think that I can continue to comment on the issues and events in the way I have done. This blog has been a great way in which I can order and express my thoughts. I'd like to thank all of you that have read and commented on this blog over the last 15 months. My hope is that the strengthening of party politics will continue and in four years time there will be a decent debate over local government. I'd like there to be a strong, vibrant Llanelli to return to."

Pob hwyl, Ryan, and I hope you'll be blogging again before long.

Glasgow East

You wait ages for one, then four turn up at once. No, not the X11 to Carmarthen, but by-elections.

After a run of Conservative-dominated by-elections in England, attention turned to Glasgow East.

This by-election was very close to my heart. I studied at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. As a young child, I had made several trips to the East End of Glasgow to support my boyhood football team, Celtic.

Even as a 9-year-old, I remember vividly, trapsing past the delapidated "housing schemes" in the area, and my father reminding me that I had a lot to be grateful for as I observed the glaring poverty around the place.

Later, as a student of politics, I was active on the margins of the SNP in Glasgow. My first campaign was at a local by-eleciton in the East End: trapsing up and down high-rise blocks. As I recall, the SNP had to tussle with the neo-Marxist Scottish Socialist Party for a distant second to Labour, with the SNP receiving around 13% in that particular contest.

Make no mistake: Glasgow East is no ordinary by-election result. It is a tough area that has little time for the niceties of constitutional or identity politics. It is a harder seat even than Rhondda, Islwyn or Llanelli, which were won by Plaid in 1999.

Supporters of Plaid and the SNP have traditionally joshed about who is ahead in the quest for independence. Plaid took Carmarthen in 1966, one year ahead of the SNP taking Hamilton in '67. In 1992, the SNP were boasting about being "Free by '93" but it was Plaid who ended up with more seats (4 to the SNP's 3).

On this occasion, we Pleidwyr have to acknowledge that in winning Glasgow East, the SNP really have raised the qualitative bar. To match the SNP's social reach, Plaid Cymru now needs to gain Swansea East.

Doorstepping

I would like to remind residents in my ward to be aware of unsolicited doorstepping from charities.

This leaflet which came through the door from Byronswell, a "Commercial Collecting Company", seeking unwanted clothes.

Byronswell cite "Company No. 05270797".

The long number is obviously designed to leave the impression that the company is a registered charity.

The company claims that it will donate £50 towards "Union Chernobyl of Ukraine" for every ton of clothing. It ends with the plea that "God will reward your good heart".

At best, Byronswell is a highly cynical organisation, preying on the good nature of (elderly) residents.

Bogus tradespeople are likely to take advantage of the uncertain economic climate. The theft of metals is one such issue which has hit Pembrey and Burry Port.

My advice to residents is to be aware of potential charity scams. There are plenty of ways to donate to charity. Take time to think about it. You do not have to give in to the bully-boy tactics of the doorstep.

Fferm y Cwrt / Cwrt Farm

Ces i'r fraint y mis hon o fynychu cyfarfod o Ffrindiau'r Cwrt. Ceir holl manylion Fferm y Cwrt ar wefan y Ffrindiau. Efallai bod rhai ohonoch yn gwybod am hanes y plasdy wedi i'r safle ymddangos ar rhaglen y BBC, Restoration yn 2006. Ond, erbyn hyn, mae sefyllfa'r plasdy mewn peryg, oherwydd diffyg cydweithrediad y tirfeddianwyr presenol. Yn y cyfarfod, dywedodd swyddogion Ffrindiau'r Cwrt mae'r unig opsiwn ar ol bellach yw sicrhau Gorchymyn Prynnu Gorfodol oddi wrth Cyngor Sir Garfyrddin parthed y safle.

Rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at y pedwar Aelod Cynulliad dros Rhanbarth y Canolbarth a'r Gorllewin, yn gofyn iddynt rhoi pwysau ar y Cyngor Sir yn hyn o beth. Mae'r fferm eisioes yn mwynhau cefnogaeth lleol ar draws ffiniau plaid.

I was privileged this month to attend a meeting of the Friends of Court Farm. All the details about this mansion ar available on the Friends website. Some of you may know a little of this site after the 2006 BBC programme, Restoration. Two years later, however, and the manor is in a precarious situation, due to the intransigence of the current landowners. In the meeting, the Friends told us that the only realistic option is for Carmarthenshire County Council to serve a Compulsory Purchase Order on the site.

I have written to the four Assembly Members for the regoin of Mid and West Wales, asking them to put pressure on the County Council on this matter. Cwrt already enjoys local support across party political boundaries.

O'r Cyngor: Rhif 3

Roedd dau brif fster o gonsyrn i mi yng nghyfarfod y mis hon. Yn gyntaf, cynnig gan BT i gau tri ciosg ffon ym Mhen-bre. Mae'r Cyngor Tref wedi ymateb i'r cynnig, gan apelio yn erbyn cau'r ciosgau. Fe wnes i siarad am yr angen am ffon ym Mharc Gwledig Pen-bre.

Ar y man lleiaf, mae angen cyfleustra "999" yn y parc, wrth ystyried yr ystod eang o weithgareddau sydd yn digwydd yno, a gweithgareddau sydd yn cynnwys plant. Nid pawb sydd gyda ffon symudol. Ac mae signal ffon symudol yn gallu amrywio'n arw, hefyd. Mae cael gwasanaeth ciosg ffon wrth gefn mewn argyfwng yn hanfodol.

Codwyd mater jet-skis unwaith yn rhagor heno, wedi adroddiadau am ddefnydd anghyfrifol o'r teclynnau dros y penwythnos. Roeddwn yn hapus i gyd-fynd a galwad y cynghorydd Llafur, Pat Jones, bod angen gwahardd jet-skis o Borth Tywyn os yw'r problem yn barhau.