Dr Chris’ Monthly Blog - October 09
This is my first blog, which Ruth is typing for me as my very fine secretary. Not done this before so haven’t a clue what to do, but here goes… It is 1 year and 5 months since I became our County Councillor, it is a curate’s egg of a job, good in parts. I get immensely frustrated at times, however when projects and local issues are sorted and disputes resolved, my job is immensely rewarding.
The biggest problems over the last few months have been highways issues. The hedge and verge cutting has necessitated 3 or 4 emails or phone calls a week from myself and others to the Highways Department at Denbighshire County Council. Even still the back road in Llanarmon and the road towards Lot Farm near the Sun Inn in Eryrys have not been cut and of course the verges etc are now growing back. This lack of activity by the council is said to be due to protection of birds in the spring and flowers in the summer. But basically it is due to financial cutbacks. I am not alone amongst the rural County Councillors in being incensed by this lack of verge cutting as it is dangerous to drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders, along the back country roads. Due to the number of complaints this year, I don’t think the same situation will happen next year….watch this space.
On the other hand, a magnificent re-tarring of the roads in our area has occurred whilst I was away in Malawi. I won’t claim credit for it, except that I did nag Highways repeatedly, and women do nagging well.
The re-opening of the Raven Inn in Llanarmon-yn-Ial has given me great joy and I want to praise the committee, led by Lord Kitchener (Chris Lees) and all the numerous volunteers. Ruth did her first waitressing stint for Sunday lunch last week and I will be throwing myself behind the bar shortly. The renewed spirit of co-operation has given an uplift to Llanarmon and people are talking and meeting each other again after many years of avoidance….and this is great.
This lovely spirit has overflowed to St Garmon’s church as I attended (and sang in my out of tune singing voice in Ruth’s village choir) at the Harvest Festival on Sunday 4th Oct. It was a very well attended and happy bilingual service with all ages present.
At the moment I am on youth training courses, run through the council, to become a certified youth worker. I can almost promise that the new mobile youth centre will be here this year, in the Raven Inn car park, once a week, for the 10-16 year olds, with the use of the pool room in the Raven for overflow. I hope the youth service will be well used by the youth of Graianrhyd and Eryrys as well. The launch of the mobile youth centre is the 24th October in Bodelwydden, the start date for the mobile to come to Llanarmon-yn-Ial will be decided.
Have a good October and I will write again at the start of November. See you in the pub!! Christine
Your Comments ...
- Tony
- January 12, 2010
- Christine darling. so nice keeping up with what you say...You know I always loved Listening to what you gotta say, Miss you x