Dear electors,

Make sure that Arfon returns Hywel as our MP by voting tomorrow between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. at the School or Church Hall. Let me know if you would like a lift.

For more information Click here.

It's great to know that so may people appreciate community life in their villages: I am also one of those people. I know that the rural communities are vitally important to the unique character of Gwynedd and are vital to the survival of the Welsh language – in Gwynedd and in Wales as whole. I also know that many communities are under threat as young people leave the rural areas in search of better job prospects. I think that we have to change in the face of this sad reality. I know that change can be daunting and frightening, but I also know that not changing, that is staying the same, is not the answer if we are to maintain and strengthen our rural communities.
“We have to change in order to stay the same” is a saying that I find particularly appropriate.
I think that if we keep all the schools open and do nothing, apart from some minor tweeking here and there, that we are not facing up to the situation in a responsible way. Unless we do something positive, the schools will close themselves because parents will move their children to schools that have a more secure future in terms of pupil numbers. This happened in Llawr y Betws near Bala. The school numbers had dwindled and in September 2008, the parents moved the children to other schools in the area. Is it fair to children, parents and teachers to just let schools close of their own accord? Surely it is better to plan, to create new systems and a more secure future? My worry is that if we do nothing that there will be a slow drift of children to Tywyn and there will be nothing left in the rural area.
This is why I shall be supporting the restructuring of schools in the Dysynni/Tywyn area. I think that there is a great opportunity here to bring four schools together in a new area school. The new school will be “small” by most standards (in England a school is “small” if it has less than 90 pupils; in Northern Ireland the figure is 105). The new school facilities will be a great boost to the area. Parents can feel secure about their children’s education and the rural communities it will serve can benefit from an investment of confidence in the area from the Council. If we didn’t care about the area, we’d just leave it alone and not worry about the consequences.
The governors at the new school will be the ones to decide how to involve the surrounding communities in school life. I hope that many of those who have shown a genuine concern about the future of their communities will take an active part in the decisions that will need to be taken about the running of the new school. Villagers say that the children of Llwyngwril play an active part in the life of the Church in the village. There is no reason why this cannot continue. The new school can still conduct activities in the Church – if that is the wish of the new governors. And the children will be in the village after 3.30 o’clock each day – plenty of time to take part in all the other activities that the community can organize and plan. I heard a resident from Abergynolwyn talking on the radio about all the activities that happen in that village: most of them happening after school hours and not involving the school in a formal way.
Community life is a plethora of different activities. I think it is misinformed to think that closing a school kills a community. “ Cau ysgol = lladd cymuned” is a slogan we often hear in this context. But there is much more to community life than the school – much of it happening at the weekend and evenings and centred around the pub, community centre, chapel, church or village hall. A school is a structure of bricks and mortar where children are taught from 9 to 3. Obviously, in some communities this structure is also the hub of community life and the building plays a vital part in community life. In these cases, the Council can work with the communities so that they can take over the facilities should the schooling element be moved elsewhere. But in many communities this is not the case. Community life continues beyond the school building and beyond the school gates. And dare I say it, community life is as good as the community itself wishes it to be. Is it fair to forecast doom and gloom all the time? Shouldn’t we as leaders in our community work proactively and positively to encourage new community activities if we feel strongly about their future?
As for the point about larger schools being detrimental to the Welsh language, I don’t think that evidence in other parts of the county supports this. Gwynedd Council is proud of its robust language policy. This is the driving force: the size of the school is irrelevant.
I agree that protecting the environment is very important. By closing 5 buildings, the energy saved by not running and maintaining those buildings will far out-weigh the additional costs of transporting to school. The new school will comply with new “greener” ways of building – the new school at Cae Top in Bangor is a shining example of this.
I sympathise with the fears about transport. I’m sure that as the plans for the new school mature that there will be opportunities to discuss the best possible options that will work locally in this respect.It is early days and I'm confident that the Council can work with local people and teachers to establish safe methods of transport.
I have tried to answer the points in 4 letter to me form the area. As a County Councillor, I have a duty to think about the future of ALL our communities – and ALL the children of Gwynedd. We only have one budget that has to work across the county. We have to re-structure so that the resources are spread in a fairer way. I believe that this re-structuring presents positive opportunities for rural areas like Dysynni – opportunities that can help protect their future – something that is important both of all.

At a meeting of the Community Council, we had a long discussion about Felin's parking problems. Until now the Council and myself have concentrated on improving SAFETY for pedestrians and drivers. Now, parking problems will be a priority matter.

Its obvious that more long term parking areas are needed. WHERE is the operative question. Closing the car park by the Surjery has made matters worse although the Church Hall is available for staff and patients and chapel goers - thanks!

I have asked Gwynedd Council to cost a scheme to build a new parking lay by in front of Augusta Place. If anyone has any other ideas - bring them on! Two or three places here and there .... or what about a permit system for locals to park on the street?

The village was built before cars. Now many families have not one but two or three cars. In future, there are likely to be less cars around as petrol prices increase and with climate change policies. In the meantime, mid-village parking is a problem! What can we do? Send your ideas to siangwenllian@yahoo.com