Helping the community spirit flourish

LOOKING back over the past 12 months it is fair to say that it has been a very busy, interesting and exciting period.

The extra law making powers that were devolved in 2011 has certainly seen a major step change in the amount of legislation coming forward for us as Assembly Members to Scrutinise and Challenge.

It has certainly been an enormous privilege to serve you as your elected Assembly Member for Aberconwy over this period and I am really looking forward to the New Year and all that it brings.

I am most grateful for and have particularly enjoyed the very warm welcome received at my Constituency Surgeries, Public Meetings and the Question and Answer sessions. Throughout this time I have also appreciated the many invitations received to attend a whole variety of events and to meet the tremendous army of volunteers involved with our Local Charities and Voluntary Organisations.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Aberconwy, has played host to many wonderful annual fundraising events to include the Victorian Extravaganza, Conwy Honey Fair, Betws-y-Coed Celtic Summer and Christmas Fayre, Rowen Carnival and Tal y Fan Fell race.

The Agricultural shows at Llanrwst and Eglwysbach were very well attended and in fact most of our Communities saw many super events all very well organised by hard working Community Volunteers. The Friends of Queens Park saw another excellent Party in the Park and a Carol singing event. Well Done to those who keep the Community Spirit flourishing here in Aberconwy.

LOCAL DEMOCRACY

This year saw a first when a campaign group, ‘Restore Our Beach’ formed and were extremely successful in organising a public meeting at Venue Cymru.

This meeting saw over 850 people attend to express their own disappointment, anger and frustration with the Local Authority and ‘Those Responsible’ for allowing the dumping of several th sand tons of rock to b deposited on the North Shore Beach.

This has now rendered this part of the beach as inaccessible for our children, the disabled, our older residents and visitors from the promenade and these work were carried out with any consultation whatso ever with affected residents and business owners.

As a result, of the strength of feeling within the town, a new group Tudno Coastal Forum has been constituted to look at ways to mitigate the affects of the said works.

We very much look forward to the forthcoming proposals in the New Year.

SCOTTISH REFERENDUM

One highlight of the year in political terms was the Scottish Referendum and whatever the merits for a Yes or No vote, it was good to see the level of engagement and the numbers registering to vote in what was probably the most important election for many years to come and one with reaching implications for the United Kingdom as a whole.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REORGANISATION

Another one for us locally here are the Williams Commission published recommendations. These have the potential to see the number of Local Authorities in

halved and a major uction of elected ouncillors in Wales.

Currently, only two authorities (Conwy and Denbighshire) have expressed an interest in taking forward the voluntary merger process but here are many discusons to be had as to the nefits, or disadvan, that may occur as a

It is imperative that all stakeholders to include you the residents are allowed to put your own views forward on this matter and I shall continue to ensure that this is the case.

All that remains is for me to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda.