Vision for former Ysgol Penyffordd site

A vision has been set out which could see shops, bungalows and an events area created in place of an old school building in Flintshire.

Local councillor David Williams said he would like to see businesses, housing and an open space where events could be held.

http://www.deeside.com/vision-for-former-ysgol-penyffordd-site-could-see-shops-bungalows-and-events-area-created-in-its-place/

Dog Stealing News

postcript: Still happening today ( Friday) . A male in a white van approached two lady walkers ( separate incidents ) with dogs, one lady ran in somebody's garden. NWP are aware.

A women walking her dog in Penyffordd ( source Penyffordd FB )  was stopped by a male in a white van yesterday. Registration number given to North Wales Police. One lady resident is frightened to take her dog for a walk.

What are Penyffordd County Cllrs and and Community Cllrs doing about this?

What are local media saying?

Apparently NWP are on the case. But shit show comments say otherwise"Police have warned people not to take the law into their own hands after "unfounded allegations" were spread on social media about alleged dog snatch attempts in Wrexham."https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/police-respond-reports-alleged-dog-20280993

Instant liason between residents and NWP via Facebook would help.

postscript: The following have been emailed this blog: Daily Post, The Leader, Mark Tami MP, Jack Sargeant MS, Mark Isherwood MS, Cllr David Williams, Cllr Cindy Hinds, Penyffordd  Community Council, North Wales Police.

Green Barrier Petition - Cllr David Williams

Green Barrier Petition and LDP - Additional Information

In relation to the petition that was launched the other day to try to stop further building on the outskirts of the village, including protecting the Vounog Hill sledging field, the information and map below will hopefully provide you with additional information that you may find useful.

The County are due to have their Local Development Plan (LDP 2015 to 2030) scrutinised by Welsh Governments Planning Inspectors by means of a public inquiry that starts on 16th March. Because the County have not had their plan in place, that should have been completed five years ago, we have been vulnerable to speculative development applications, where five have been approved for the village by the Planning Inspectors that are outside the currently agreed UDP boundary. The approval of this LDP plan asap therefore is essential to protect us from further speculative applications.

Attached are two maps, the first one shows the current boundary of the village in black that was created following the Unitary Development Plan (UDP 2019 to 2015). The added blue boundaries are the sites that were approved on appeal by the Inspector for outside the agreed UDP boundary that County have now included in their LDP. The second map shows the proposed amended new boundary where I have identified where we want Green barrier and the new village boundary until at least 2030. I have also noted the play areas on this map that I am looking to have protected.

Unfortunately, County would not agree to the proposals for the green barrier that I am seeking, which is why I am appealing to the Inspector to add this to the plan for the village. The amount of Green barrier I am looking for is quite ambitions, but if we can get at least the West of Vounog hill, that will be an achievement!

The intention of the petition is to give weight to our argument for this green barrier when we put our case to the Inspector when we are called on or after the 16th March, so please promote it as much as you can.

I hope this is clear for you and that you will do your best to promote this petition, and paper copies for those who do not do this kind of IT will be circulated, (allowing for Covid protection) next week.

Thank you for your support, and please feel free to contact me if you have any further queries – but not through social media!

dwillderw@yahoo.co.uk. or 01978762486 or 07928493862.

David Williams.

https://www.cognitoforms.com/CascadeProductionsIntlLtd/VillagePetitionSupportForTheRepresentationByPenyfforddCommunityCouncil?fbclid=IwAR23bpdbaQ2dCLgSkkQbwbsa4sZgN4-cjKwC8P4SNwrnZC8Z5rUWzqS9eu4

 

Vounog Sledging Field - Cllr David Williams

After such an enjoyable day that many of you have had on the Vounog, I just want to update you on the future of this natural and brilliant village amenity.

Most of you will be aware that there is a planning application for housing from the top of the field to the public footpath opposite Park lane by the conker tree. This has been turned down by Flintshire, but has gone to appeal that is to be considered at a public inquiry with the Planning Inspectorate. This was due to have been heard last April, but delayed due to Covid where we are still waiting for a new date.

As councillors and many residents, we have all put our representations in to oppose this development, and on this occasion, Flintshires planning department are fighting this appeal as well.
Mr & Mrs Wrench and their families, who are the former land owners and now lease holders, have been fantastic for well over fifty years that I know about in allowing residents to use this field during the snow, and have also been very supportive in ensuring the public rights of way are well maintained. They have been a real credit to this village for many many years.
It is therefore extremely important that we do not lose this land to more housing, and with your support, we will fight all the way to resist any housing development on there.

Very Important info on Planning.
Many of you will also be aware that there is a Local Development Plan (LDP) being put together for the County, and my representation compiled with the Community Council is for land to the East of Vounog Hill, including the sledging field, and land West of the bypass be re-categorised as green barrier.
There is to be a inquiry run by the Inspectorate that starts on 22nd February, and in support of our case for this request, I am trying to organise an online and written petition to present to the inquiry when we are called.

The purpose of this petition is to demonstrate the general discontent of most village residents, about the amount of houses that have been built in the village, and that we have provide more than our fair share of housing for Flintshire over the past five to ten years. This concern is also shared by many who have just moved here!

It is now broadly felt that we deserve to remain an established village where our country surroundings and important farm land is protected long term. We also want to demonstrate what an important amenity the land on the edge of the village is as a winter recreation on the Vounog, and retain what is left of our country setting that is important for the health and well being of residents.

I hope to have details of this petition ready early this week, so please keep checking social media, the Council website and village notice boards and businesses for details.

I will also do my best to keep you informed on all matters to do with the above, but please feel free to contact me if you have any queries.

Cllr David Williams.

Community and County.

Cllr David Williams in The Leader

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18797392.flintshire-councillors-defend-plans-buy-laptops-politicians-need-extra-screen-follow-virtual-meetings/

On a separate note it will be interesting to see where all the money comes from to makeup the shortfall in council tax revenue when the dust settles with regards covid lockdowns, circuit breakers etc. Wonder what they're going to call the next stupid lockdown?

A New Years Day walk around the secret lake

It's not really a secret lake but not many people in Penyffordd know about it. We accessed it from Stryt Isa. Not much parking, room for about 3 cars near the footpath. You walk over the field, over the official railway crossing to get to the lake. Part of the walk is on FCC footpath, the other part on a permissive footpath courtesy of the owner. Takes about 45 mins to walk around, a bit muddy in places.

Met the owner on the way around. Had a chat about the lake etc.

Also met Klaus Armstrong Braun former county councillor.  Had a chat with Klaus for half an hour or more. He was armed with a camera and binoculars. I asked if he was a twitcher lol. He says no.

He still keeps an interest in environment, in this case the wet lands around the lake.

Klaus of course ruffled a few feathers in the village over footpaths and in many other wards. Telling me about landowners, crossbows and guns lol.

http://www.parkinthepast.org.uk

The main entrance in Hope has better parking facilities

Development Onslaught Continues

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/18046115.developers-launch-appeal-refusal-proposals-almost-40-new-homes-penyfordd/

Alan's ( Penyffordd Councillor) comment at the bottom of the article which sums up the situation at WAG.

The problem we have is that the Welsh Minister is out of touch with reality. Speaking on ITV recently, she said that people should get involved in the development plan process and stop complaining when there is a housing development in their community! In Penyffordd there were 2 developments (235+85 houses) approved by the Inspectorate in the last local plan in 2011, then we had 40 more, followed by 186, followed by 32 - all refused by Flintshire and approved on Appeal. In all of these there was strong village representation. The village infrastructure is broken, the last 186 houses haven't worked out what to do with their drains yet, there is no water pressure in half the village, drains overflow, the internet is practically stopped at times. There is a Local Plan in consultation and it is an absolutely pointless process as long as appeals like this are allowed to get nodded through. It is time the Welsh Government took the time to REVIEW the consequences of decisions already made BEFORE allowing another appeal to be approved. But the Minister won't meet with us at Penyffordd Community Council - she suggested we make comments via a questionnaire instead. Something is very wrong with the system and the people in charge of it.

Penyffordd Bus Services to be withdrawn

http://www.deeside.com/penyffordd-residents-left-dismayed-by-loss-of-only-remaining-commercial-bus-service/

Penyffordd Planning Matters

http://www.deeside.com/plans-for-36-retirement-apartments-in-penyffordd-look-set-to-be-rejected-again/


Penyffordd councillor David Williams said: “The ward has accepted over and above the required housing allocation under the life of the developing local development plan.

“These approvals have already resulted in approximately 30 per cent growth of the village.

“The current application is for retirement homes that may appear appropriate, but there is no binding assurance that this will actually happen.

“The road infrastructure of the village is inadequate to accept further development and the proposed site access will add to the dangers in this location.”

The proposals will be decided at a meeting being held at County Hall in Mold next Wednesday.

More Yellow Line News

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17783759.flintshire-council-remove-yellow-lines-hawarden-road/

Youth Centre Community Take Over.

There is another meeting over the efforts for a community take over of the youth club on Wednesday 3rd July at 7-00. Anybody who has an interest in helping preserve this important village building should try to come along.


The aim now is to try to form a management committee to run the Centre, but anybody who has any ideas for activities to run from there will be very welcome.


Hopefully this latest meeting will help move the venture forward, and if you want any more information, please feel free to call David Williams on 01978762486 or email on dwillderw@yahoo.co.uk.


Thank you for your interest.

David Williams.

David and the Scouts do good.

https://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/17609938.flintshire-scouts-celebrate-st-georges-day-by-helping-out-at-community-projects/

Cllr David Williams in local news

http://www.deeside.com/flintshire-councillor-who-received-a-barrage-of-social-media-criticism-considered-quitting/

Vounog Hill Development Update

The above development no different to the Chester Rd 190 houses.
Not that I'm in favour of either.

http://www.deeside.com/penyffordd-new-homes-plan-set-for-refusal/

postscript:
I'm hearing off Facebook that Rhos Rd development (left hand side near roundabout going out of village) is also going to be recommended for refusal.

IMO Penyffordd district should have very little expansion for the next 5 years. If ever.....

Further postscript: http://www.deeside.com/plans-for-36-retirement-homes-in-flintshire-village-look-set-to-be-rejected/

Concern over cement firm's plan to remove air monitoring station in Penyffordd

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16409312.concern-over-cement-firms-plan-to-remove-air-monitoring-station-in-penyffordd/

Quote: However, Penyfford councillor David Williams said that residents deserve to know that air quality is being closely monitored in the area .

Large Housing Development - Village Sentiment Expressed

http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/16385825.penyffordd-protest-banners-hung-at-site-of-controversial-major-housing-development/

David Williams, County Councillor for Penyffordd, said: ''The anger in the village is immense at the moment, where we have not only been let down by Lesley Griffiths (Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Planning and Rural Affairs), but in my opinion, by Welsh Government as a whole, the Planning Inspectors and our own Local Authority who I consider to have all failed us in various ways.''

Well said David.

Penyfford Youth Club - A Plea from Cllr David Williams

Save our Youth club and Old School!

We do not know what Flintshire County Council have in mind for the building so we need to keep pressure on to make sure that it is not lost. There is an open evening on Tuesday 28th November at 7-00, for ex pupils and former youth club members to have a look around and share memories and old photos. Anybody interested in the building or preserving one of the few heritage features of the village are also welcome to attend. Please contact David Williams if you need any further information.

Email: David Williams dwillderw@yahoo.co.uk

192 Redrow Proposed Development Public Enquiry starts Wednesday

For 3 days

Venue Penyffordd British Legion
Time 10am

Last enquiry I attended went something like this.

Welsh Assembly Government Inspector on the top table
On the left side Planning Officers for the local authority
On the right side agents for the planning application

The Inspector lays out how the enquiry will be carried out.
Including procedures for those who wish to speak.

Residents sit at the back.
Your support at the enquiry is a must.

Details here
http://www.penyfforddcommunity.org/redrow/

Update: Cllr David Williams says " You need to register on the first day to speak.

If you or anybody you know wants to speak and can not make it on the first day, somebody else can put the name down for them to speak on the Thursday or Friday.

192 Redrow houses update

Just an update on Redrow appeal.

The planning inspectorate are carrying out further investigations regarding the application, and on completion of these, residents and those who put objections in will be notified of a start date for the appeal.

Cllr David Williams

Penyffordd Community Council seeking help

Cllr Jeff Priddin wrote this elsewhere. I'm bringing it to the top.
------------------------------------------------
The new community council met last Wednesday night and three new councilor's joined us.

The new chairman of the council is David Williams, and the vice chair is Jeff Priddin.

We are looking for some more people to join us and to be Co-opted onto the council if you are interested please contact any one of us.

Cllr Jeff Priddin
jepriddin@btinternet.com

Cllr David Williams
dwillderw@yahoo.co.uk

Congratulations to David on becoming Penyffordd Community Council Chairman