The Lake Vyrnwy Estate

November 24, 2010

My role as an Assembly Candidate has taken me to every corner of Montgomeryshire, I have recently attended a number of meetings in Llanwddyn. Earlier this year Severn Trent Water decided to put up for sale the Lake Vyrnwy Estate, which includes 12,000 acres of farmland.

Local Residents understandably feel unsure about what the future is going to bring not knowing who the new owner(s) will be. The RSPB and Mid Wales Housing have submitted a joint bid for the estate, and a local bidder Rees Jones has submitted a bid for lots one and two.

I’ve been working closely with Simon Baynes, local County Councillor for  Llanwddyn. We both believe that the community’s views need to be heard. A public meeting last week revealed the results of the community survey which highlighted the creation of opportunities for local employment as the most important issue for Llanwddyn residents.

100 people attended last night meetings and each known bidder, The RSPB, Mid Wales Housing and Rees Jones each spoke and answered questions from the audience. Rees Jones had not attended previous meetings, but he gave a very good presentation which was well received.

Comments revealed heavy opposition against the RSPB purchasing the estate, both in the meeting and in the survey.

The full results are below:

94 survey forms were returned (the Electoral Role of the Llanwddyn Community is 206 voters so this is a very high response rate.

Collating the responses, the community’s order of priority of the issues mentioned were summarized as follows:

Create opportunities for local employment 68
Improve communication between all parties associated with the estate 67
Improve the maintenance of existing properties 67
Adequately maintain public areas 62
Work to maintain the rural ethos of the estate and community 53
Create opportunities for new businesses in the area 51
Offer affordable properties to rent 50
Promote Lake Vyrnwy and local tourism 43
Protect and enhance conservation and the flora and fauna of the estate 34
Provide provisions for new homes and local facilities 24

2 Comments | environment, Farming | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Wind farm traffic to go through Evans Shed Yard

October 13, 2010

I’ve been to a public meeting tonight organised by renewable energy developer RES. The meeting was about the transport route and traffic for the proposed Garreg Lwyd Hill wind farm. Turn out was very poor, in part due to poor communication of the meeting and in part due to public apathy.

The Welsh Assembly government has targeted an area which includes Montgomeryshire to be the home to about 1000 extra wind turbines. RES are responding to the Assembly Government’s policy and have proposals for a wind farm at Garreg Lwyd Hill, which is beyond Dolfor.

The meeting tonight concerned the proposed route. It is proposed that turbine components will travel from Ellesmere Port, passing Welshpool into Newtown. A temporary access road through Evans Shed Yard is proposed to avoid the difficulties and the time constraints’ of navigating around Newtown’s chaotic new set of traffic lights, up towards the Vastre, then along the minor road to Dolfor.

I went to the same public meeting in Kerry on Saturday, not many turned out, but the main contention there was the widening work which would have to be carried out on the Kerry/Dolfor minor road.

The issue in the tonight’s meeting was about the level of disruption of the abnormal loads coming into Newtown. It is proposed that for a period of four months, an average of three abnormal loads in convoy travel this route on average every other day. My opinion is that no wind farm traffic should come into Newtown until we have a bypass.

However, I would like the possibility explored of a roundabout being reinstated using extra space from the Evans shed yard. I shall be making some inquiries on this.

On a side issue, the Deputy first minister will make an announcement on the Newtown Bypass today! I expect I will blog on this latter.

Leave a Comment » | Bypass, environment, highways, newtown | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Keeping Montgomeryshire Tidy

August 23, 2010

Part of the team that took part in the litter pick

Keep Wales Tidy has just released the results of their latest inspection of the standards of cleanliness of Powys streets. The latest inspection revealed no litter at all or predominantly free of litter. Tidy town funding is used to support  local community groups with activities such as litter picking days, area clean ups, clearing of overgrown areas etc.

I started to get involved in this scheme in Newtown this year. Last month I was part of a team that spent a morning collecting litter on the Vaynor estate, and this Saturday I organized a litter pick and clean up on the Trehafren estate.

Other than the rain (which started half way though this Saturday’s litter pick) I have  enjoyed being involved in this project; it gives a real sense of achievement and encourages community spirit. I have also been really pleased with the amount of people that turned out at the events we have organized.

I have also been concerned that fly tipping was becoming a problem in some areas, so we had organized a skip for the day that was freely available to all residents to make use off – On both occasions the skip was full within just a few hours.

Interestingly, in advertizing the scheme, one resident text me – “Regarding your recent mailshot about tidy and litter pick, surely this is what taxes are paid for!?”  My own view is that the person that text me missed the point. This is about people pulling together to make our communities better places to live, not just expecting authorities and others to do everything for us. We are increasingly becoming a selfish society, looking for people to blame and not wanting to take responsibility ourselves. I would be interested to know what other people’s views are.

Leave a Comment » | council tax, environment, leisure, newtown | Tagged: , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown traffic – this is beyond belief!

August 19, 2010

cameras never switched on

Bellow is a letter I sent yesterday to the man and department responsible for approving the removal of the roundabout and for the layout and design of the new traffic system.

We just keep being let down, an early start date for the Newtown Bypass is vital to people’s sanity and the local economy.

After last Saturday’s gridlock situation in Newtown around lunchtime, I asked questions. What I found out was beyond belief!

Earlier this year a new traffic management system went into operation in Newtown following the removal of the Kerry road roundabout. Like most local people, I had little confidence in this new system when it was being promoted. We were told that this system would link back to a remote centre to monitor and control traffic flow in the town. Despite these cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all!

This traffic light and camera system together cost £100,000, I will be interested in what the Minister for transport has to say. If the cameras are not working why not, this is the busiest time of the year for traffic in Mid Wales. If we are being told it’s not going to help or make a difference, why was the system put in place at a huge cost in the first place.

Below the letter in full –  But if you want the shortened version its this:

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones – Can you please make your announcement on the Newtown Bypass, start work ASAP, and in the meantime make changes to improve traffic flow:

County Councillor R.I. George
Fuze Ltd
Broad Street
Newtown
Powys
SY16 2LS

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA

18th August 2010

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Newtown Traffic Chaos & the Announcement on the Newtown Bypass

I wrote to you on 26th February setting out Newtown’s traffic problems. When I received your reply on the 30th April, you informed me that you intended to make an announcement on the preferred option before the Summer. As I have received no further communication from you, and we are now nearing the end of the Summer period, I hope you can appreciate my disappointment that no announcement has been made.

As I hope you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and the problems have become significantly worse over the past 12 months. I have been inundated with complaints from people expressing their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown.

The Kerry road (McDonalds) traffic lights continue to cause serious problems. It’s your Department that approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic system. Your department gave various assurances in February that the new traffic light system would be working to its optimum performance within 3 weeks of “going live”. Your department also confirmed that the new system would be monitored remotely by “Traffic Wales”. I understand that despite cameras being installed, they have never actually been activated and indeed Newtown Traffic has not been monitored remotely at all. Can you please confirm when Newtown traffic will be monitored; as your department had advised would be the case?

People in Mid Wales where advised that the new traffic light system and removal of the Kerry road roundabout would not create further congestion or cause significantly more delay. As this is clearly not the case, can you please detail what considerations have been giving to restoring the roundabout and what considerations have been given to purchasing adjoining land in order that a roundabout with duel lanes can be put in place?

In the meantime I would ask that you urgently review the design and layout of the trunk road though Newtown and most especially the new set of traffic lights. I should further be grateful if you could ask your department to support the following small changes to help improve traffic flow on the new layout immediately:-

  • Move the central island on the southbound arm of the A483 closer to Cambrian Bridge, this will allow the right turning lane to be moved over slightly with the addition of the hatch markings to separate the 2 lanes.  This should improve visibility for the A483 North bound lane traffic wishing to turn right into Kerry Road.
  • Altering the kerb-line from the crossroads to the lane next to the Indian restaurant would also improve traffic flow as it is noted that traffic is mounting the kerb to go round the inside of the waiting right turning vehicles.
  • Introduction of a loop just after the stop line for South bound vehicles. The loop will mean that the traffic will determine if the right turn phase needs calling or not and if so for how long (I am sure this terminology will be familiar to staff within your Department). At present the right turn arrow is demanded automatically for a set period regardless of traffic flow so it is not as efficient as it could be. Once the loop is installed it will be interactive and the signals will proportion what it thinks is the optimum times for the right turn filter.
  • The current settings seem to be disproportionately balanced towards the trunk road. Please revise the current settings as a number of residents have contacted me who have been in long queues towards Kerry and, at certain times of the day, people have to wait whilst the light changes 5 times before they can eventually travel over the trunk road towards Cambrian Bridge.
  • Can you further confirm that the software that synchronizes the signals through Newtown is now operating at optimum performance?

The current chaos is causing significant damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most. Newtown is a central point in Wales, but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth are being affected by this mess. Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already. I believe there is a serious safety issue with HGVs and other vehicles diverted and taking short cuts though residential areas. This in turn compromises the safety of local residents, and in particular school children. Examples of this can be seen on the estates of Treowen and Garth Owen and Canal Road.

When I wrote to you in February, I requested an urgent reply from you seeking your assurances and your commitment to resolving the traffic problems in Newtown. After several calls to your office, I eventually received a reply 8 weeks later. I understand there is a procedure that Ministers must respond to correspondence within a set period, and your reply to me clearly failed to comply. Your Department does not seem to be taking the traffic problems in Newtown seriously and does not seem to be in touch with what is happening. We need urgent action.

At the Newtown Traffic Study Exhibition last September, which revealed three possible routes for a By-Pass, your Department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. Given that the second date has now also passed, can you confirm when an announcement on the Newtown Bypass and the preferred route may be expected?

I have discussed the issue with Powys County Council’s executive management board, and I understand that the Chairman of the board has also written to you seeking assurances on the timing of the announcement on the Newtown Bypass.

As a local Councillor, I will be relaying your answer to many concerned people throughout Mid Wales. I would appreciate not just your decision on the preferred route but a detailed timetable for construction works though to completion of the project. An early start date is vital to the local economy.

Yours sincerely,

Russell George
Cynghorydd Sir / County Councillor – Newtown Central
Office: 01686 626500
Mobile: 07867782727

1 Comment | business, Bypass, environment, highways, newtown, retail, safety, shopping, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Letter to Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM regarding Newtown traffic chaos

February 26, 2010

26 February 2010

Mr Ieuan Wyn Jones AM
Deputy First Minister and Minister for Economy and Transport
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
Cardiff
CF99 1NA

Dear Deputy First Minister,

Traffic chaos

As I am sure you are aware, Newtown has experienced huge traffic problems for many years and, with the opening of Newtown’s Tesco Store on Monday, the problems have become significantly worse. I have been inundated with comments from people talking about their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown. Police have also received numerous complaints.

There are two issues here: Firstly, the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout. The second issue concerns the failure to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights through the town as was proposed.

To most motorists a green light means ‘go’ and the current layout is causing confusion on priority. There has already been a number of minor bumps and this must now be considered as a major accident waiting to happen. I’ve never before seen a four-way junction without filter lanes. I am now calling on you to undertake an urgent independent road safety audit.

Your Department is responsible for this trunk road. It’s your Department that approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic lights.

I was told today that the Assembly’s experiences elsewhere indicates that traffic flows will improve as drivers become familiar with the new layout and that Welsh Assembly Government does not intend therefore to make any fundamental changes immediately. I accept that flow will improve a little as drivers get used to the layout, but do not accept that the people of Newtown will have to wait to see if the problems fix themselves; we need action now. Your department does not seem in touch with what is happening here in Newtown.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, and your department is anticipating that flows will be further improved as signal operation is optimised during the week. Unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of confidence.

The current chaos is causing huge damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most. Newtown is a central point in Wales but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth may be affected by this mess. Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already. The last thing we need is a new traffic layout which makes things a whole lot worse. It’s just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, it should be fixed now. Your Department is responsible and accountable for this completely unacceptable situation.

I would therefore request an urgent reply from you, setting out your plans to resolve the unacceptable layout at the new set of traffic lights and your assurances that the new synchronised signals system through Newtown will be an improvement on traffic flow from 12 months ago.

At the Newtown Traffic Study exhibition last September, which revealed three options for a Newtown By-Pass, your department informed me that you would be revealing the preferred route in January. This has not happened. I have submitted my response to the consultation in which I gave my support for the Orange Route Variant 1.

I should be further grateful if you could now confirm which option is the preferred route and set out the timetable for works to begin on the By-Pass through to completion of the project.

Yours faithfully,

Russell George
Cynghorydd Sir / County Councillor – Newtown Central
Office: 01686 626500
Mobile: 07867782727

5 Comments | councillors, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, retail, shopping, transport | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Newtown traffic chaos

February 25, 2010

As you can imagine I’ve been inundated with comments from people talking about their deep concerns over the traffic chaos in Newtown. Police have also received numerous complaints.

There are two issues here, the first is the unacceptable design of the new traffic lights system that replaced the Pool Road roundabout, and the second is the failure to date to synchronise the new system with other traffic lights thought the town as was proposed.

To most motorists a green light means go and the current layout is causing confusion on priority. There has already been a number of minor bumps and this must now be considered as a major accident waiting to happen. I’ve never before seen a four way junction without filter lanes. Along with other Newtown Councillors I demanded that an independent road safety audit be carried out urgently.

The County Times has reported that the Council are blaming Tesco.  Planning conditions required that before the store can open, all the traffic works must be completed and tested to the Planning Authority’s satisfaction.

Personally, although I think a degree of blame should be placed with Tesco, I believe the major part  should to directed towards WAG, after all, they are responsible for the trunk road, the Assembly department approved the removal of the roundabout and the layout and design of the new traffic lights.

I was told today that the Assembly’s experiences elsewhere  indicates that traffic flows will improve as drivers become familiar with the new layout and that WAG does not intend therefore to make any fundamental changes immediately. I accept that flow will improve a little as drivers get used to the layout, but WAG are just not in touch with what is happening here in Newtown and are making excuses.

I also understand that the software that will synchronise the signals through Newtown will be installed at the beginning of next week, the WAG are anticipating that flows will be further improved as signal operation is optimised during the week, unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of confidence .

The current chaos is causing huge damage to the local economy and the wider Mid Wales community. Businesses to the West of Newtown are suffering the most.  Newtown is a central point in Wales but even businesses as far away as Aberystwyth may be effected by this mess.  Running a business in Mid Wales is tough enough already.  The last thing we need is a new traffic layout which makes things a whole lot worse. Its just not good enough to say that the problems may be fixed in two or three weeks, It should be fixed now. WAG must be held accountable for this completely unacceptable situation. Tesco consultants and the WAG will have to come up with better solutions and fast.

5 Comments | business, environment, highways, newtown, powys county council, safety, transport, welsh assembly | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Dark days: streetlighting update

September 28, 2008

The council has already started the big ‘switch off’ across the county, where in most areas, two out of three streetlights are being switched off.

This has all come about as a result of a massive increase in the cost of energy, as the council attempts to manage its budget. The policy will also cut the council’s carbon footprint by over 1,000 tonnes a year, although let’s make no mistake, this is a cost-saving exercise.

The expected date for the Newtown switch off to commence is October 29th, one of the last areas across the county.

I am against turning off streetlights in areas where there are known problems. It also frustrates me to think of streetlights being purchased and installed, then not being used.

However, I also believe that across the country there are areas with more streetlighting than is always necessary.

According to the original plan, some streetlights will not be turned off. These include those in sensitive areas covered by CCTV, pedestrian crossings, areas near hospitals, sheltered housing and where there are known problems.

On this basis I am supportive of the decision as I fear the alternative would have been to pass the increased cost onto the council tax payer which I could not support.

Last month, the electricity contract for my business came to an end. The increase in cost in my new contract was huge; I had not anticipated the extra charges or budgeted for them at the beginning of the year.

I do believe that it is wrong that some are choosing to scaremonger about the crime and safety issues. My other concern is regarding the identification of areas where there are known problems.

In my ward there are a number of known crime hot spots. I met with the neighbourhood police unit on Friday and although they were able to indicate areas of known crime to me, the information they could offer me was limited.

I now intend to talk to the council’s safety officer to find out exactly how, as a council, we are identifying the ‘known problems’ areas across the county.

The streetlights policy is a correct one, as long as it carried out sensitively and according to the original agreement.

1 Comment | council tax, councillors, environment, issues, newtown, street lighting, taxes | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

Dark days for Powys street lighting?

April 24, 2008

Our local authority has put off a decision to switch off a third of Powys’ 14,000 street lights for a year to save money and energy until next month.

In a few weeks I may be one of the councillors asked to consider this proposal. If councillors vote in favour of the project next month then 5,000 lights will be switched off in June.

The lighting bill is around £500,000 per year and is set to rise by £175,000 with rising costs and a tight budget.

After chatting to people in Trehafren last night, I could be mistaken for thinking the scheme was already underway, as a number of residents told me about lights around their homes not coming on.

Of course I knew that the scheme hadn’t really started, and wondered if it was it worth reporting the problem, given that they may be left turned off anyway in a few weeks!

I’m in favour of finding ways to save electricity, and I’m making this a priority in my shop. However, I’m also in favour of having good street lighting, particularly to increase public security and safety.

I’m not sure how much it costs to install one lamppost and light, but I expect the cost is fairly high. Surely, it doesn’t make any sense to spend money installing street lights, only to then introduce a policy not to turn them on?

3 Comments | councillors, elections, environment, issues, powys county council, public services, safety, street lighting | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by russellgeorge

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