Councillor Chris Dolphin

Hello, Helo - Daffodils, Bluebells, Swallows and Housemartins........ In that order - Summers here!

General Election

Local stats: Carmel Polling Station 70% turnout on the day.

Whitford Polling Station 76.3% turnout on the day.

The above figures do not include postal voters. The Delyn constituency - 69.32% turnout, locally no change, nationally, now.....that is........rather different!!! Not to be too political, call if you would like a chat?

Singing Kettle

Yes the fast food cafe and garage near Crown Estate is still officially the Singing Kettle and not anything else. The Singing Kettle primarily services the A55 which is designated part of Euroroute E22. Holyhead to European destinations such as Amsterdam, Hamburg and Moscow, oh and Ireland etc...

The Singing Kettle site is successful, too successful. Parking is a major issue which led to the installation of double yellow lines on the A5026 fronting the site. At the latest meeting that took place today at the time of writing [28/05/2010] it has been agreed that the double yellow lines will be extended to the woodland [Pen-y-Gelli] in the east. The meeting was attended by Chief Highways Officer, Senior Engineer Traffic Management and our local resident AM Sandy Mewies. The county's engineer will forward the recommendation but this will take approximately 3-4 months to implement due to legislation.

The fast food cafe is to be urged to place double yellow lines to its entrance which is a private road, but may still be used for unloading purposes. The Police are to be contacted and encouraged to prohibit parking on all double yellow lines. The Welsh Assembly Government AM will contact the appropriate Minister for help and guidance on how to solve the matter of parking and gain any finance available.

The E22 [A55] is a very busy trunk road, it is a national and European problem and WAG and Europe need to be fully involved not just to solve the problems at the Singing Kettle but also improve facilities in other areas. The Singing Kettle is basically just a cafe and a fuel station, just two buildings. This site has had previous planning refusals from the County Council and appeals refused by WAG. The site is privately owned. It would seem at the present time the Singing Kettle is the service area of choice for the majority.

Play Areas

The County Council have brought forward a scheme of match funding for play areas. This would be a rolling programme hopefully spanning at least three years County wide. The County Council have requested all Town and Community Councils put forward their bids, so schemes can be assessed. An independent assessment should be available any time now [June]. Whitford and Carmel play areas may be successful, if so work will be completed in early summer and £20,000 for a play area would be a noticeable improvement. It is hoped at least one play area from our 5 Villages will benefit this summer.

Food Waste

A pilot Food Waste Collection Scheme began in April and will cover certain areas of the County, here in the 5 Villages parts of Carmel Road, Gorsedd and Lloc are taking part. The scheme consists of two green caddies and biodegradable bags. The smaller caddy and compostable sack is for storing food waste scraps from the kitchen.

The waste can then be transferred into the larger caddy with a lockable lid, for residents to place outside their homes for collection.

The pilot will run for approx 6 months and if successful [early analysis shows it is a great success] will be introduced on a phased basis to the remaining domestic properties in Flintshire. This may be early 2011. Barely 2% contamination was being detected at the time of writing, this is impressive.

The collection of food waste is an integral part of our waste strategy and that of the Welsh Assembly Government. The food waste is collected every week on the same day as refuse collection. The Welsh Assembly Government has tasked all Councils in Wales to reduce the amount of organic waste to landfill.

Any unwanted food waste can be placed in the caddy. No packaging whatsoever. Oil, fat, liquids cannot be placed in the biodegradable bags. The best place to take this type of waste is the local recycling park and emptied into the oil bank. Do not pour fat down the drains. No paper towels in the caddy. The biodegradable bags are made from corn starch so breaks down naturally into harmless substances.

I hope the above paragraph is helpful, life changes and we will have to make it work together. In time to come all residents nationally will have to do their bit.

Roads & Footways

The Carmel Road footway is to have a SLURRY SEAL!!! This does not sound too good, but it is excellent news. The footway will receive a good power hosing and a smooth topping. Hey Presto, a new smooth, clean footway. As Tommy Cooper would say 'just like that'!

Plas Ucha Hill, near the large Horse Chestnut tree, west of Tre-Mostyn and road from near Maen Achwyfan to Trelogan are to be resurfaced soon. Other roads in the area will be patched which gives a smooth finish to a small area.

Road dressing has taken place in Gorsedd, Pant-y-Wacco and Lloc. These works are remedial due to the failure of the binding process of 2009. This was a national problem and effected many areas. Having walked these roads during the work and in the days following it is noticeable that few drivers were anywhere near the recommended 10mph. On these roads when newly dressed the grit can be loose and will fly for some distance. Hopefully all is well.

Neighbourhood Wardens - 701818 or e-mail neighbourhood_wardens@flintshire.gov.uk.

Graffiti tags were plastered in various areas of Gorsedd and Lloc recently. Pen-y-Gelli nature reserve, Pant-y-Wacco, village name plates, phone boxes and invariably the red dog bins are and were a target.

These were all removed promptly once reported by the Neighbourhood Wardens. Due to the amount of 'tags' Police took photos and so have a record for future use. If you see any graffiti in the 5 Villages or Holywell let me know ASAP or contact the wardens. This leads me on to............

Pride of the Patch

Pride - we have it here, yes we do. Where do you live, Carmel - proud to say it. Where do you live, Gorsedd - core of the 5 Villages. Where do you live, Lloc - rural idyll. Where do you live, Pantasaph - still a tranquil retreat. Where do you live, Whitford - true Pennant country! Where is your favourite part of the 5 Villages? Is it a view? Is it a picnic area? Is it a hill? Is it the bowling green? Is it the cricket club? Is it a Chapel? Is it a Church? Is it a meeting place? Is it a house? Let's keep the 5 Villages as we want it?

Pride of the patch - we have it here, yes we do, 'big style'.

Contact

If you need to contact your 5 villages Whitford Ward County Councillor contact Chris Dolphin on 01352 713415 or 0784 945 9568, e-mail chris_dolphin@hotmail.co.uk or write to me at 11 Ffordd Aelwyd, Carmel, CH8 8SH.

Cyngor Cynghorydd

Er gwybodaeth rhif cyswllt cynghorydd sir ardal Chwitffordd a'r pum pentref yw Chris Dolphin, 01352 713415, 0784 945 9568, ebost chris_dolphin@hotmail.co.uk neu pe dymunwch ysgrifennu llythyr fy nghyfeiriad yw, 11 Ffordd Aelwyd, Carmel, CH8 8SH.

Peidiwch byth rhoir ffidil yn to a digalonni!!!

Never, never, ever ever give up!!!