Cylchlythyr rhif 7 Communities first newsletter No 7 Posted Monday, July 16, 2007 by penllyn

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Llwybr arfordir Llyn - Llyn coastal path Posted Thursday, May 18, 2006 by penllyn
Mae llwybr 95 milltir o amgylch arfordir Llyˆn wedi cael ei agor yn swyddogol. Drwy ddilyn y llwybr arfordirol gall cerddwyr weld traethau, bryniau a rhostir a bydd cyfle i ymweld â threfi a phentrefi arfordirol yn ogystal â llefydd fel Eglwys Clynnog Fawr, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Eglwys Pistyll, Plas yn Rhiw, Plas Glyn y Weddw a'r Lôn Goed.



Mae'r llwybr yn cael ei hyrwyddo fel ffordd o gadw'n heini ac er ei fod eisoes ar y map ymwelwyr mae Cyngor Gwynedd am weld trigolion lleol yn ei ddefnyddio hefyd. "Mae'r farchnad ar gyfer ymwelwyr sy'n cerdded yn bendant ar gynnydd," meddai Wyn Evans, y swyddog sy'n gyfrifol am y cynllun. "Ond rydyn ni am i bobl leol ei ddefnyddio hefyd i ddod yn heini," meddai. Mae'r llwybr wedi ei sefydlu gan y cyngor a Chyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru ar hyd llwybrau cyhoeddus, ffyrdd tawel a thiroedd lle mae hawl i fynediad.

"Mae cerdded yn cael ei ystyried fel un o'r ffyrdd gorau sydd ar gael o gadw'n heini a dwi'n falch iawn o weld y datblygiad hwn yn symud ymlaen," meddai'r cynghorydd Tomos Evans. "Mae'r llwybr arfordirol arbennig hwn yn adnodd gwerthfawr sy'n cysylltu nifer o safleoedd sydd o ddiddordeb mawr yn ddiwylliannol, hanesyddol ac amgylcheddol, gyda rhan fawr o'r llwybr yn dilyn y fan lle teithiodd pererinion yn ystod eu taith i Ynys Enlli. "Rydyn ni'n gobeithio y bydd agor y llwybr yn swyddogol o fudd i fusnesau lleol oherwydd y cynnydd mewn lleoedd diddorol i bobl i gerdded a mwynhau yn Llyˆn," meddai.

Dywedodd Wyn Evans fod gwaith wedi bod yn cael ei wneud ar y llwybrau ers rhai blynyddoedd ond mai'r hwb olaf oedd prosiect arbennig dros y 12 mis diwethaf. "Yn y dyfodol dwi'n edrych ymlaen at lwybr a fydd yn mynd o gwmpas holl arfordir Cymru," meddai. "Ond am rwan gall y llwybr hwn yn Llyˆn gael ei ddefnyddio i hybu'r ardal."

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The 95 miles of the Llyn coastal path has been officialy opened. The path allows ramblers to take in some of the most outstanding views in wales. It covers some diverse environments from upland heaths, cliffs, villages and sandy beaches. Some of the places en-route incude Clynnog Fawr Church, Nant Gwrtheyrn, Pistyll Church, Plas yn Rhiw, Plas Glyn y Weddw and Lôn Goed.

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Rhwyfo i Iwerddon mewn 11 awr a hanner Posted Sunday, May 14, 2006 by penllyn
Nod y pum aelod o Glwb Rhwyfo Pwllheli ddydd Gwener oedd croesi o Borth Oer i Benrhyn Wicklow - taith o ryw 50 milltir - mewn 12 - 15 awr. Ond llwyddodd i tîm i groesi mewn 11 awr a hanner gan sefydlu amser ar gyfer y croesiad fel bod timau eraill yn gallu ei herio yn y dyfodol.

Cyn y ras dywedodd Eifion Owen, darlithydd yng Ngholeg Meirion-Dwyfor sydd eisoes wedi hwylio a hwylfyrddio dros y Môr Celtaidd, fod yr her "yn cael ei hadnabod fel y Sialens 6°G gan y byddwn yn atal y cloc unwaith ein bod yn croesi y linell meridian 6° Gorllewin sy'n rhedeg i lawr drwy Benrhyn Wicklow".

"Rydym i gyd yn ymarfer yn galed ers rhai wythnosau bellach i wella'n ffitrwydd ac i baratoi'r corff ar gyfer y sialens unigryw hon," meddai.

48 milltir morwrol sy'n gwahanu Porth Oer a Phenrhyn Wicklow ond fe all y daith fod yn hirach na hynny oherwydd effaith gwyntoedd a thonnau. Roedd pedwar ohonyn nhw'n rhwyfo ar unrhyw adeg gydag un yn llywio ac roedd pob aelod o'r criw yn llywio'r cwch yn eu tro.

Roedd y rhwyfwyr yn defnyddio'r sialens i godi arian at wasanaeth ambiwlans awyr Cymru. Hefyd y gobaith oedd sbarduno diddordeb mewn rhwyfo Celtaidd gan ddenu mwy o aelodau i Glwb Rhwyfo Pwllheli gafodd ei sefydlu yn 2001.
"Fe fyddwn ni'n cynnal diwrnod agored yn Nhraeth Glan don Pwllheli ar Fai 20 i'r perwyl yna," meddai Geraint Hughes.(Cadeirydd y clwb)

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Five members of Pwllheli rowing club set off from Portoer on friday morning at five o'clock. Their aim was to make the crossing to Wicklow in a time frame of 12-15 hours. They achieved their goal of rowing the 50 nautical miles in just 11 and a half! This has set a record for future teams from the club to try and beat.

Before the race, Eifion Owen explained that the chalenge was called the 6° challenge. The 'finishing line' was the 6° West meridian line that runs through the Wicklow peninsula. There were 4 members rowing at all times, with the fifth at the tiller. They also managed to raise money for the air ambulance.

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Prif Weithredwr newydd CYTÛN - New Chief Executive of CYTÛN Posted Thursday, May 4, 2006 by penllyn
Y Parchedig Aled Edwards fydd Prif Weithredwr newydd CYTÛN: Eglwysi Ynghyd yng Nghymru.Tros gyfnod o saith mlynedd bu Aled yn Swyddog Cyswllt CYTÛN ar Gyfer y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol.Y mae gan Aled radd mewn Hanes a Diwinyddiaeth o Goleg Prifysgol Cymru, Llanbedr Pont Steffan lle y bu hefyd yn Llywydd Undeb Gristnogol y Coleg.
 
Cafodd Aled ei hyfforddi ar gyfer y weinidogaeth i’r eglwys Anglicanaidd yng Ngholeg y Drindod, Bryste, a chafodd ei ordeinio yn Esgobaeth Bangor yn 1979. Am gyfnod o wyth mlynedd (1985-93) gwasanaethodd fel rheithor prosiect eciwmenaidd lleol rhwng yr Eglwys yng Nghymru ac Eglwys Bresbyteraidd Cymru ym Motwnnog ar Benrhyn Llyˆn, Gwynedd cyn ei sefydlu yn Ficer plwyf allweddol, Cymraeg ei iaith, Eglwys Dewi Sant Caerdydd.
 
Daw Aled i swydd Prif Weithredwr CYTÛN ymrwymiad cryf i eciwmeniaeth ac mae ganddo broffil cyhoeddus yng Nghymru fel ymgyrchydd ar ran ffoaduriaid a cheiswyr lloches. Y mae ganddo hefyd wybodaeth drylwyr o wleidyddiaeth ddatganoledig Cymru. ‘Y mae gennyf argyhoeddiad cryf’ meddai Aled ‘y daw eciwmeniaeth o ewyllys Dduw ar gyfer yr eglwys a’i fyd. Credaf yn angerddol mewn Cymru sy’n fan ar gyfer dwyn pobl at ei gilydd mewn cenedl fyw sy’n meddu ar ymdeimlad newydd o genedligrwydd mewn cymdeithas lle nad oes neb yn cael ei adael ar ôl - yn arbennig y difreintiedig a’r bregus. Edrychaf ymlaen yn fawr at gael adeiladu ar waith da fy rhagflaenydd yn CYTÛN’
 
Y mae Aled yn gadeirydd nifer o gyrff gwirfoddol yn cynnwys Cyngor Ffoaduriaid Cymru a Displaced People in Action.Y mae’n Gymrawd y Sefydliad Materion Cymreig.
 
Bu’n weithgar yn sefydlu Cyngor Aml Ffydd Cymru yn 2001 a Fforwm Cymunedau Ffydd y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol wedi hynny. Ef hefyd fu’n cynhyrchu neu’n cymryd rhan mewn nifer o ddathliadau neu wasanaethau cenedlaethol i ddathlu agor y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol yn 1999, defod Cymru’n Cofio yn 2005 i goffau pasio 60 mlynedd ers diwedd yr Ail Ryfel Byd a’r gwasanaeth coffau cenedlaethol a gafwyd yn Neuadd Dewi Sant, Caerdydd y llynedd.
 
Yn gyfrannydd cyson i raglenni teledu a radio yn Gymraeg a Saesneg y mae hefyd wedi ysgrifennu’n helaeth gan gynnwys Transforming Power - A Christian Reflection on Welsh Devolution ac Ystyried Gwahaniaethau a Gobeithion - Golwg ar Ddatganoli o Safbwynt Ffydd ar y cyd gyda Graham Blount, Swyddog Seneddol Eglwysi’r Alban. Y mae’n ysgrifennu erthyglau wythnosol ar gyfer gwefan BBC Cymru’r Byd.
 
Bydd y Parchedig Aled Edwards yn olynu’r Parchedig Gethin Abraham-Williams, fydd yn ymddeol fel Prif Weithredwr CYTÛN ddiwedd Awst. Gan groesawu apwyntiad Aled, dywedodd Gethin ‘Bendith i CYTÛN fydd cael Prif Weithredwr o’i gefnid a’i brofiad, ac mae’n rhoi boddhad mawr i mi wybod y bydd yn fy olynu yn y weinidogaeth arbennig hon o alluogi’r eglwysi i ddirnad yr hyn sydd ganddyn nhw’n gyffredin a sut y gallant weithio gyda’i gilydd mewn cenhadaeth a gwasanaeth yn y Gymru newydd ac ymhellach.'
 
Mae Aled yn briod i Marie, therapydd iaith a lleferydd. Y mae ganddyn nhw dri o blant sy’n oedolion: Seimon, Meleri a Steffan. Y mae ganddo ddiddordeb angerddol mewn rygbi Cymreig gan gefnogi Scarlets Llanelli. Y mae ei ddiddordebau eraill yn cynnwys gwylio  Star Trek a’r sioe wleidyddol boblogaidd Americanaidd The West Wing.
Rhif Ffôn Symudol: Y Parchedig  Aled Edwards 0775 144 6071

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The Revd Aled Edwards is to be the new Chief Executive of CYTÛN: Churches Together in Wales.For the last seven years Aled has been the CYTÛN National Assembly for Wales Liaison Officer. Aled is a joint honours graduate in History and Theology of the University of Wales, Lampeter, where he served as President of the College’s Christian Union.
 
Aled trained for the Anglican ministry at Trinity College, Bristol, and was ordained in the Diocese of Bangor in 1979. For eight years (1985-93) he served as rector of a joint Anglican/Presbyterian Local Ecumenical Project on the Llyˆn Peninsula in Gwynedd before becoming Vicar of the key Welsh language parish of Eglwys Dewi Sant in the centre of Cardiff.
 
Aled brings to the post of CYTÛN Chief Executive a strong commitment to ecumenism and a public profile in Wales as a campaigner for asylum seekers and refugees. He also has a thorough knowledge of devolved Welsh politics. 'I have a deeply held conviction,' Aled says, 'that ecumenism flows from the very will of God for his church and world. I believe passionately in a Wales where people come together in a vibrant and new sense of nationhood in a society where no-one gets left behind – especially the most vulnerable and excluded.’
 
Aled chairs a number of voluntary bodies including the Welsh Refugee Council and Displaced People in Action. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
 
He helped set up the Inter-Faith Council for Wales in 2001 and subsequently the National Assembly's Faith Communities Forum. Aled has also produced and taken part in a number of services and celebrations to mark national events, including the inauguration of the National Assembly for Wales in 1999, the Wales Remembers event to mark the 60th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War in 2005, and last year's UK Police Federation Memorial Service held in Saint David’s Hall, Cardiff.
 
A regular broadcaster on Welsh and English language radio and TV, Aled has authored a number of works, including Transforming Power - A Christian Reflection on Welsh Devolution and co-wrote  Considering Contrasts and Futures - A Faith Reflection on Devolution with Graham Blount, the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer. He writes weekly articles for BBC Wales’ Welsh language website Cymru’r Byd.
 
The Revd Aled Edwards succeeds the Revd Gethin Abraham-Williams, who retires as CYTÛN Chief Executive at the end of August. Welcoming Aled's appointment, Gethin said, 'CYTÛN is blessed to have a candidate with his background and experience, and it gives me great satisfaction to know that he will succeed me in this wonderful ministry of helping the Churches to discover what they have in common and how they can work together in mission and service in the new Wales and beyond.'
 
Aled is married to Marie, a speech and language therapist. They have three grown-up children: Seimon, Meleri and Steffan.
 
He has a passionate interest in Welsh rugby and supports the Llanelli Scarlets. His other hobbies include watching Star Trek and the hit American political show The West Wing.
 
For further information:
Revd Aled Edwards 0775 144 6071

(Members of CYTÛN: Churches Together in Wales are: Church in Wales, Presbyterian Church of Wales, United Reformed Church, Methodist Church, Covenanted Baptist Churches of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Roman Catholic Church, the Union of Welsh Independents, the Baptist Union of Wales, the Congregational Federation, the German Speaking Lutheran Church, the Salvation Army, and the Religious Society of Friends.)

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Ysgolion yn wynebu Newid Posted Monday, November 14, 2005 by penllyn
Cofiwch i stori flaen y Llanw y mis diwethaf son am gynlluniau Cyngor Gwynedd i newid trefn ysgolion cynradd Llyn - a gweddiil ysgolion gwledig y sir wrth ragweld gostyngiad yn nifer eu disgyblion.

Ers hynny, cynhaliwyd cyfarfod ar gyfer holl lywodraethwyr ysgolion cynradd dalgylch Botwnnog lle cyflwynodd pennaeth ysgolion y sir, Dr Gwynne Jones, adroddiad manwl yn amlinellu gweledigaeth y Cyngor. Y drefn sy'n cael ei ffafrio yw i ffederaleiddio neu glystyru ysgolion (sef, rhannu pennaeth a chorff llwyodraethol rhwng dwy neu ragor o ysgolion). Bu sôn hefyd am y posibiliadau o gau ysgolion gan ganoli'r addysg gynradd mewn ysgol fro, er y dylid nodi nad yw'r Cyngor yn dymuno cau unrhyw ysgol.

Roedd nifer o lywodraethwyr, rhieni ac athrawon yn bryderus iawn wedi'r cyfarfod a gynhaliwyd ym Motwnnog ym mis Hydref. Un a fu yno oedd y Cynghorydd Liz Saville,

'Rhaid cytuno bod gwasanaethu ardal wledig gyda phoblogaeth isel a gwasgaredig, megis LIyn, yn gostus. Mae cynnal pennaeth ym mhob ysgol yn ddrud. Os mai arbedion ariannol yw'r unig ystyriaeth, hawdd dod i'r casgliad mai lleihau nifer y prifathrawon yw'r ateb darbodus. Ond mae ystyriaethau eraill, megis ansawdd addysg em plant ac, i raddau, Cymreictod ein cymunedau. Oes, mae'n rhaid bod yn effro i'r angen i arbed arian, ond ffolineb fyddai neidio I newidiadau heb geisio canfod y canlyniadau.'

I raddau helaeth, mae'r drefn Ffederaleiddio heb ei phrofi. Mae arolygwyr wedi brolio nifer o ysgolion Llyn mewn adroddiadau disglair yn ddiweddar ac mae dylanwad em hathrawon ymroddedig yn mynd tu hwnt i ddysgu ysgrifennu a mathemateg. Mae'n debyg hefyd bod maint ein hysgolion yn Llyn yn cyfrannu at eu llwyddiant wrth gyflwyno'r iaith i ddisgyblion o gartrefi diGymraeg, ac at y Gymraeg a glywir ar wefusau plant yn yr iard chwarae. Beth yn union fydd effaith y drefn newydd ar addysg ein plant?

Mae disgwyl i lywodraethwyr pob ysgol gynradd yn Llyn anfon eu hawgrymiadau am sut bydd eu hysgol yn cyfrannu at yr addrefnu erbyn dechrau Rhagfyr.
o'r Llanw.

Amddiffyn ysgolion Gwynedd 1970
Hanes Ysgol Bryncroes

Gosod Sylfeini Cadarn - Laying strong Foundations Posted Saturday, November 12, 2005 by penllyn
Sawl gwaith da chi 'di clywed pobi yn cwyno nad oes digon o adeiladwyr, seiri, plymars a trydanwyr ar gael pan mae rhywun eu hangen nhw? Wel, mae Partneriaeth Cymunedau'n Gyntaf Pen Llyn am wneud rhywbeth am y peth.

Dros y misoedd diwethaf cynhaliwyd gwaith ymchwil o fewn y diwydiant adeiladu i ddarganfod os oedd modd datblygu cynllun prentisio lleol i sicrhau fod yna gyfleon yn cael eu cynnig i bobl ifanc yr ardal, ac os oedd modd hwyluso'r gwaith o hyfforddi prentis o ochr y cyflogwr.

Mae'r bartneriaeth bellach wedi Iansio cynllun 'Cyswllt Prentisio' fydd yn cynnig gwasanaeth paru er mwyn dod a darpar brentis a chyflogwr at ei gilydd ac mae cynlluniau hefyd i ysgafnhau'r baich gweinyddol sydd ynghlwm a chyflogi prentis. Mae'r bartneriaeth hefyd yn cydweithio yn agos gyda Ysgol Uwchradd Botwnnog, sydd am y tro cyntaf eleni yn cynnig cwrs TGAU mewn Adeiladu. Byddwn hefyd yn cydweithio gyda'r ysgol i gynnig cyrsiau gyda'r nos i rai sydd eisoes yn gweithio o fewn y diwydiant.

Mae cynlluniau eisoes yn cael eu Ilunio i ymestyn y cynliun i gynnwys diwydiannau eraill, gan ystyried y gwersi ddysgwyd hyd yma.

Bydd rhoi cymorth i brentisiaid heddiw yn gofalu fod gwaith parhaol ar gael i'r dyfodol a na fydd yr ardal yn dioddef o brinder crefftwyr.

Hamilton Oil - on the Horizon Posted Friday, September 16, 2005 by penllyn
Now that Oil prices seem to be sky rocketing, it could be just a coincidence, but an oil rig was spotted off the north coast of Llyn on Friday. Are the Hamilton oil fields off this A.O.N.B. about to be re-prospected, or is it just a 'passing' mobile rig?

27% o boblogaeth Dwyfor yn uniaith Saesneg! Posted Wednesday, April 27, 2005 by penllyn
Yn ôl adroddiad iaith diweddar - Erbyn 2001, yr oedd 27% o boblogaeth Dwyfor yn uniaith Saesneg.
Hyd at 1971, allfudo oedd yn bennaf gyfrifol am y dirywiad yn y ganran o siaradwyr Cymraeg, ond ers 1981, gwelwyd mai mewnfudiaeth o bobl ddi-Gymraeg fu’n bennaf gyfrifol am y newid ieithyddol. Rhwng 1981 ac 1991, cynyddodd canran pobl uniaith Saesneg o 19% i 25% o’r boblogaeth gyfan. Erbyn 2001, yr oedd 27% o boblogaeth Dwyfor yn uniaith Saesneg.
Newidiadau ieithyddol yn Nwyfor rhwng 1981-2001
Roedd y mewnlifiad gynyddol o boblogaeth ddi-Gymraeg i Ddwyfor ar ôl 1981 i'w briodoli'n rhannol i economi de ddwyrain Lloegr yn 'gorboethi' gan arwain at gynnydd ym mhrisiau tai a symudiad pobl fwyfwy tua'r gorllewin i chwilio am eiddo rhatach. Roedd eraill am symud i fyw i'r cefn gwlad a chael bywyd symlach. Dengys y tabl isod y newid a fu yng nghanran siaradwyr Cymraeg Dwyfor fesul cymuned rhwng 1981 a 2001:

Felin Uchaf Posted Wednesday, March 30, 2005 by Pete
Mae yna fenter newydd yn y fro, sef - Menter Y Felin Uchaf. Y bwriad ydyw - Creu Canolfan Addysg i ymchwilio i’r ffordd o fyw a Chydweithio Creadigol mewn Partneriaeth a’n Gilydd a’n Amgylchedd.

Tipio anghyfreithlon yn fwy cyffredin nag a feddyliwyd - Fly-tipping more common than thought Posted Thursday, March 3, 2005 by penllyn

'flytip' rhwng Boduan a Mynydd Nefyn wythnos yma

Gwasanaeth post - Rural postal service Posted Friday, February 18, 2005 by penllyn
Bydd yr ail gasgliad post y dydd yn cael ei ddiddymu yn ardal côd post LL, oherwydd ei fod yn costio gormod i'w rhedeg. Bydd amser gwaith y gweithwyr yn cael ei newid. Y bwriad ydyw y bydd hyn yn golygu fod y gwasanaeth yn fwy effeithlon ac yn y pendraw yn sicrhau ei barhad ynghyd a sicrhau swyddi tymor hir.

blwch post ger Hirdre Tudweiliog dechrau wythnos diwaethaf

O Ddrws i Ddrws - Canolfan newydd Posted Wednesday, February 16, 2005 by penllyn
Roedd Stryd y Plas, Nefyn yn fwrlwm o brysurdeb fore Gwener, 4 Chwefror pan agorwyd Drws Agored yn swyddogol gan Hywel Williams A.S. Daeth twr o gefnogwyr yr achos ynghyd i weld penllanw tair blynedd o waith dygn ac yr oedd yn amlwg fod yr hyn a gyflawnwyd yn eu bodloni.
Y mae 0 Ddrws i Ddrws, ers dwy flynedd bellach, wedi bod yn darparu cludiant cymunedol fforddiadwy ym Mhen Llyn ar gyfer y rhai hynny sydd angen cludiant o'r fath oherwydd oedran, afiechyd, anabledd neu oherwydd nad yw cludiant cyhoeddus yn ddigonol. Rhoddir blaenoriaeth i ofal iechyd ond ymgymerir hefyd a theithiau i gwrdd ag anghenion pob dydd er mwyn galluogi pobl i gymdeithasu a gwella ansawdd eu bywydau. Erbyn hyn mae trigolion Llyn yn hen gyfarwydd a gweld y cerbyd aml-bwrpas glas a gwyn gyda John Griffith, ein gyrrwr cyflogedig, yn cludo'r anabl i fannau pell ac agos. Ond dibynna'r fenter yn drwm ar wasanaeth rhwydwaith o wirfoddolwyr sy'n defnyddio eu ceir eu hunain i gwrdd ag anghenion dros ddau gain o gleientau. Er bod y defnyddwyr yn cyfrannu tuag at y costau rhaid i'r elusen ysgwyddo rhan helaeth o'r baich ariannol ac mae'r milltiroedd di-gyswllt - sef y pellter y mae'r gwirfoddolwyr yn ei deithio o'u cartrefi eu hunain i gartref y cwsmer ac yn ôl - yn gostus. Dyna pam mae angen cael gyrwyr ym mhob ardal ac ymroi yn ddi-baid i godi arian. Mae Adran Trafnidiaeth Cyhoeddus Gwynedd a nifer o bobl y penrhyn wedi bod yn haelionus ond nid hawdd yw dod o hyd i ffynonellau ariannol newydd, yn enwedig mewn ardal wledig fel hon ble nad oes ilawer o fusnesau mawr i noddi elusennau lleol.

Hywel Williams AS gyda Elaine Davies, un o sylfaenwyr Drws Agored,
yn ystod agoriad swyddogol eu swyddfa newydd yn Nefyn ddechrau'r mis.

SAFLEOEDD AILGYLCHU SYMUDOL / MOBILE RECYCLING SITES Posted Sunday, February 13, 2005 by penllyn
Bydd sgipiau cymunedol ar gyfer cael gwared ag eitemau o wastraff domestig ar
gael yn y mannau canlynol, ar y dyddiadau a nodir, am gyfnod o wythnos ar y tro (MAWRTH I SADWRN)
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Civic Amenity skips will be provided for the disposal of items of domestic waste (not normal household refuse) at the following locations on the dates listed for a period of one week at a time (TUESDAY TO SATURDAY).

Sunami Posted Thursday, February 10, 2005 by penllyn
Derbyniwyd rhoddion arian i helpu pobl Asia wedi trychineb y Sunami ar ôl y ddaeargryn dros y nadolig. Dyma rhai ymysg llawer o ymdrechion lleol i godi arian;-
Cafwyd apel llwyddiannus faer Pwllheli Elfed Griffiths gyda blychau yn y siopau.
Codwyd £500 gan ddisgyblion ysgol Llanbedrog.
Cynhaliwyd ocsiwn yn Neuadd Goffa Chwilog a gododd £4,069. Trefniwyd yr ocsiwn gan bwyllgor o ardaloedd Y Ffôr, Llwyndyrys, Llangybi a Rhoslan a oedd yn gyfrifol hyd at hyn am godi dros £7,000.
Cynhaliodd disgyblion ysgol Abersoch fore Coffi a gwerthu teganau a gododd £160.
Codwyd digon o arian gan clwb y rotary Pwllheli i anfon 6 blwch acwa (werth £250 yr un) a fydd yn cael ei yrru i'r ardal.
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Local fund raising efforts have helped the people of Asia that were effected due to the devastating Sunami that hit the area following the earthquake at Christmas. Here are some of the local campaigns-
An appeal was made by Pwllheli mayor Elfed Griffiths with collection boxes in Pwllheli shops, and was very successful.
Pupils from Ysgol Llanbedrog also held a non-uniform day and raised £500.
Another team effort resulted in an auction in Chwilog Memorial hall that raised £4,069. This was part of the fund raising activities of a committee in the Y Ffôr, Llwyndyrys, Llangybi and Rhoslan areas that have raised over £7,000.
Pupils from ysgol Abersoch held a coffee morning and sold their unwanted toys to raise £160.
Pwllheli rotarians also raised enough money from the christmas float to purchase 6 blue aqua boxes that will be sent out to the region.

SAFLEOEDD AILGYLCHU SYMUDOL / MOBILE RECYCLING SITES Posted Saturday, November 13, 2004 by penllyn
Bydd sgipiau cymunedol ar gyfer cael gwared ag eitemau o wastraff domestig ar
gael yn y mannau canlynol, ar y dyddiadau a nodir, am gyfnod o wythnos ar y tro (MAWRTH I SADWRN)

Marina PWLLHELI Marina Posted Wednesday, October 20, 2004 by penllyn
Bu'r mudiad pwyso tai Cymuned yn canmol Dafydd Iwan ddoe wrth i arweinydd Plaid Cymru siarad o blaid cynnig i gynnal Astudiaeth Iaith ar gyfer datblygiad arfaethedig Marina Pwllheli. Galwodd Dafydd Iwan nid yn unig am astudiaeth iaith ond hefyd am asesiad ehangach o adnoddau Cyngor Gwynedd yn ardal Pwllheli. Dylai'r Cyngor fod yn gweithio ar brosiectau penodol i leihau effeithiau ieithyddol niweidiol y datblygiad, dwedodd Dafydd Iwan.

£6m for regeneration and redevelopment of coastal areas Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2004 by penllyn
Welsh economic development minister Andrew Davies has announced plans to allocate a further £6m to the regeneration and redevelopment of coastal areas to build economic, social and tourism potential in areas of outstanding natural beauty.
There was also additional funding for social justice and regeneration amounting to £58m over three years. Priorities include rolling out the ‘communities first’ anti-poverty programme across the most deprived areas of Wales.
Both of these measures may impact on Llyn with talk of extending the marina and the two communities first areas in the Llyn AONB area.


This comes as part of the three-year spending plan, which follows chancellor Gordon Brown’s spending review in July, giving Wales an additional £2.5bn a year.
Welsh Local Government Association leader Alex Aldridge said: ‘Local government was seeking a larger increase than 5% and in this climate, pressures on frontline services will continue unabated.’
Plaid Cymru shadow finance minister Dai Lloyd said the settlement was poor compared with England’s 27% rise. He also attacked the absence of funds for rural economies.

The final budget will be announced next month, but if you can't wait, or want to see the draft-Welsh Assembly draft budget
It also includes an £800m capital investment programme to modernise hospitals and revamp social care. Economic development and transport will also receive £800m extra over the three years.
Schemes that encourage healthier lifestyles will get an extra £45m, while new money in the culture budget will include support for community programmes aimed at increasing physical activity.
The budget also includes plans for a £119m crime-fighting fund, with more than half its resources being used to combat substance misuse.
Welsh economic development minister Andrew Davies said- "Wales has already benefited from over £2.5bn of public and private sector match funding through the current round of structural funding. This additional funding will have a real impact on these communities, creating opportunity and ensuring everyone in Wales plays an integral role in generating and benefiting from a prosperous economy."

Source - newstart

strategaeth e-ddysgu ar gyfer Cymru / e-learning strategy for Wales Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2004 by penllyn



E-Ddysgu yng Nghymru: Datblygiadau Cyfredol a Barn Rhanddeiliaid ar Flaenoriaethau i`r Dyfodol
Mae`r ddogfennau yma`n darparu manylion ar gamau gweithredu cyfredol i ddefnyddio technoleg e-ddysgu mewn addysg a hyfforddiant yng Nghymru, a dealltwriaeth fwy eglur ynghylch sut y gallai hynny gyfrannu at hybu perfformiad a chyfrangogiad mewn dysgu. Mae`n cynnwys testun anerchiad cyweirnod gan y Gweinidog dros Addysg a Dysgu Gydol Oes.

Mae hefyd yn darparu dadansoddiad cryno o`r adborth a dderbyniwyd gan ymatebwyr i ymgynghoriad 2003 ar ddogfen 'strategaeth e-ddysgu ar gyfer Cymru‚' a gyhoeddwyd gan ELWa ac uned Cymru Ar-lein Llywodraeth y
Cynulliad.

Gallwch dod o hyd i'r dogfennau yma:Yma

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E-Learning in Wales: Current Developments and Stakeholder Views on Future Priorities.

This document provides details on current action to utilise e-learning technology in education and training in Wales, and understand more clearly how it might contribute to enhancing learning performance and participation. It includes the text of a keynote address by the Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning.

It also provides a summary analysis of feedback provided by respondents to the 2003 consultation on the `e-learning strategy for Wales` document, published by ELWa and the Assembly Government`s Cymru Ar-lein unit.

You can access the documents at this address:Here
Source-Cymru ar lein

Antur Dwyryd-Llyn yn nwylo'r derbynwyr! Posted Thursday, October 7, 2004 by penllyn


Mae 18 o bobl wedi colli eu swyddi yn Antur Dwyryd-Llyn, roedd ar Antur Dwyryd-Llyn arian i hyd at 100 o gwmnïau bach ac unigolion lleol, sefydlwyd Antur Dwyryd-Llyn yn 1988 i roi gwasanaethau hyfforddiant a menter i fusnesau lleol - diolch yn fawr am beidio talu £350 oedd yn dyledus i mi ers dros blwyddyn (sarcasm).

Derbyniwyd y cyfarwyddwyr £36,769 mewn (directors emoluments) y blwyddyn diwaethaf !

Dyma'r rhestr o cyfarwyddwyr ar yr amser-

ELLIS, ALUN TUDOR, MORFA BYCHAN
JONES, DAFYDD WYN , LLAN FFESTINIOG
JONES, GWILYM THOMAS, PORTHMADOG
JONES, GWYN, PWLLHELI
JONES, TREFOR, CHWILOG
LEWIS, DEWI EIRWYN, PENRHYNDEUDRAETH
MORRIS, JAMES OLIVER, SHOTTON
THOMAS, ARTHUR COOKE, BLAENAU FFESTINIOG
SCOTT, ROBERT EDWARD
ANEIRA GEORGE, LLANYMYNECH
JOHN GRIFFITHS, NEFYN
JONES, THOMAS, CAERNARFON


Business eye? more like small local business poke in the eye!

Antur Dwyryd-Llyn are in the hands of the receivers!
The above is a list of the directors who received emoluments of £36,769 last year, and yet couldn't stear the agency towards paying small local business they claimed to be assisting.

What makes this worrying for local business is that these directors hold over 50 directorships between them! The Agency has close ties with the main RDA the WDA, ELWA, the council, Gwynedd economic Partnership and many other organisations.

It was central to the delivery of training and small grants and business advice and the delivery of assembly and european programes. It should never have been allowed to get into this pitifull situation. Not only has it damadged it's own image but, has sevearly damadged the prospects of serious inward investment and set back economic growth locally, GDP and the faith of small local business in the local institutions and those who run them.

Antur Dwyryd was responsible for the Contract shop
This was supposed to promote inter-trading and local sourcing of goods, services and products. (and presumably paying for them!)
and Gwynedd business news

a quarterly publication, Produced by Antur Dwyryd Llyn, the publication tracked key initiatives and current business developments, as well as highlighting funding programs and other schemes available for local companies. (ironic)

The fact that WEFO decided not to fund some schemes had been put forward as a reason for the problems earlier in the year. This echoes calls made in June 2001-
"Dafydd Wyn Jones , managing director of Antur Dwyryd Llyn the local business development agency has added to comments made by others that the underfunding of business development grants in Gwynedd could be detrimental to the local economy.
He blames the Objective 1 National panel, who only agreed to half of the sum asked for in the bid last year. ( £1.4m + matched funding to make £2.8m).His comments come shortly before the Council consider alternative ways of funding business grants later this week. The initial plan was for the project to run for 3 years, but the funding has already run out.
Figures quoted for 2000/1 were- advisors had dealt with £5,751,946 of development project, 182 new jobs were created and 89 new start-ups were created. Up until the end of January this year, 296 new jobs were created, and 107 new start-ups during the 10 month period. 1999/2000 saw 200 new jobs and 66 new start-ups."

The euro cash cow will inevitably run dry, and all businesses should try and keep to their core, and stated business and not take their eye off the ball.

Antur Dwyryd-Llyn was a non-profit making Company, Limited by Guarantee which had a volunteer Board of Directors, the majority of whom were drawn from the private sector.  Representatives from partner organisations in the public sector were also members of the Board.  Antur Dwyryd was originally formed in 1988, North West Wales' first ever Enterprise Agency.

This was the direct result of a Welsh Office initiative and was supported by the Development Board for Rural Wales (DBRW); Welsh Development Agency (WDA),  Gwynedd County Council; and the then District Councils of Meirionydd and Dwyfor, and the private sector, notably ICI, and Nuclear Electric (now Magnox/BNFL). 

A community based initiative, Antur Llyn, was established to cover the Pwllheli area.  In April 1995, with the full support of all partners, the organisations merged to create  Antur Dwyryd Llyn.  The following year, April 1996, Gwynedd Council invited the agency to extend its area to include South Meirionydd including the main settlements of Bala, Dolgellau, Tywyn and Barmouth.

Credudwyr Antur Dwyryd-Llyn Dewch Ynghyd, e-bostiwch - admin@llyn.net neu ewch i fforwm Fforwm Credudwyr

Creditors get in touch at - admin@llyn.net or go to the Creditors Fforum

canolfannau cymunedol i elwa - Community centres to benefit Posted Wednesday, October 6, 2004 by penllyn
Bydd canolfannau cymunedol a phrosiectau lleol ar draws Cymru yn elwa ar werth bron £3.5m o grantiau oddi wrth Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.

Mae'r Gweinidog dros Gyfiawnder Cymdeithasol ac Adfywio, Edwina Hart, wedi rhoi sêl ei bendith ar 48 o wahanol gynlluniau ar draws Cymru. Bydd cyllid gwerth £3.37m yn cael ei rannu dros y tair blynedd nesaf fel rhan o'r cylch diweddaraf o geisiadau o dan Raglen Cyfleusterau a Gweithgareddau Cymunedol Llywodraeth y Cynulliad.


Mae'r cynllun yn cynnig cymorth grantiau i grwpiau gwirfoddol a chymunedol a'i nod yw gwella cyfleusterau a gweithgareddau i bobl o bob oed a gallu.

Meddai Mrs. Hart: "Mae gennym etifeddiaeth gyfoethog o adeiladau cymunedol a chyfleusterau lleol ym mhob rhan o Gymru sydd wedi ein helpu i feithrin cymunedau cryf a gweithgar. Ond mae angen enbyd i gymaint ohonynt gael eu hadnewyddu a'u gwella er mwyn bod yn addas ar gyfer yr 21ain ganrif.

"Gwn fod grwpiau bychain ledled Cymru sy'n gweithio'n anhygoel o galed, fel arfer yn ddi-dâl - ac mae'r rhain yn hanfodol i ysbryd y gymuned. Rwy'n falch bod Llywodraeth y Cynulliad yn gallu eu helpu i ddal ati am flynyddoedd lawer i ddod.

Bydd llawer o'r grantiau a rennir yn y cylch cyllido hwn yn talu am adnewyddu adeiladau cymunedol neu neuaddau pentrefi, ond mae rhai gweithgareddau cymunedol hefyd wedi derbyn cymorth. Mae'r rhain yn cynnwys cynllun cerddoriaeth a drama i bobl ifanc anfoddog, prosiect i wella diogelwch trwy osod cloeon am ddim, a chynnig cyngor ar ddiogeledd i bobl hyglwyf a chyflogau i staff y mae mawr angen amdanynt mewn parc sglefr-fyrddio.

Rhoddwyd cyllid hefyd i sawl canolfan er mwyn creu gwell mynediad i'r anabl neu ystafelloedd newid a thoiledau modern ar gyfer timau chwaraeon lleol.

Ychwanegodd Mrs. Hart: "Bu hwn yn gylch cyllido hynod gystadleuol unwaith eto, a derbyniwyd 119 o geisiadau. Rwy'n falch bod y rhaglen grantiau hon yn dal mor hygyrch a deniadol i grwpiau gwirfoddol a chymunedol ledled Cymru."

======================================

Communities across Wales to benefit from funding boost

Community centres and local projects across Wales are set to benefit from nearly £3.5m worth of grants from the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Minister for Social Justice and Regeneration, Edwina Hart, has given the go-ahead to 48 different schemes across Wales. Funding worth £3.37m will be issued over the next three years as part of the latest round of applications under the Assembly Government’s Community Facilities and Activities Programme (CFAP).

The scheme offers grant support to voluntary and community groups and aims to improve facilities and activities for people of all ages and abilities.

Mrs Hart said: "We have a rich heritage of community buildings and local facilities all over Wales which have helped us build strong and active communities. However, so many are in desperate need of refurbishment and improvement to be fit for the 21st century.

"I know that there are small groups throughout Wales which work incredibly hard, usually unpaid - and these are a vital ingredient to the community spirit. I am proud that the Assembly Government is able to help them carry on for many years to come.

Many of the grants issued in this round of funds will pay for the renovation of community buildings or village halls, but some community activities have also been supported. These include a music and drama scheme for disaffected young people, a project to improve safety by fitting free locks and offering security advice to vulnerable people and salaries for much-needed staff at a skateboard park.

Funding has also been given to several centres that need better disabled access or modernised changing rooms and toilets for local sports teams.

Mrs Hart added: "This has been another highly competitive funding round, with 119 applications received. I am pleased that this grant programme continues to be so accessible and attractive to voluntary and community groups throughout Wales."

Notes
A full list of the bids approved in this round of funding in Gwynedd is-

Building Upgrade Restoration
Upgrade of Sailors institute building for disabled access
£18,475.00

Gwynedd
Darparu Canolfan Gymunedol I Llanwnda ar fro
Build a Community Centre, 160 metres square, including a multipurpose Hall, general meeting room, toilets and kitchen
£72,000.00

Gwynedd
The NW Wales Regional Sports & Leisure Centre
Environmental works and amenity improvements to site of proposed leisure centre
£127,990.00

Gwynedd
Estyniad a Gwellainnau
Extension to hall and improvement of the facilities in the kitchen
£23,403.22

Gwynedd
Canolfan cymunedol - Neuadd y Sarnau
To build an extension which would include a toilet and other suitable facilities for the disabled, the elderly, young people and children
£96,291.25



The Community Facilities and Activities Programme is for voluntary and community groups.

The scheme has a total budget of £7.665m and holds four funding rounds each year.

CFAP can help provide facilities or carry out activities, which will promote the regeneration of communities.

Priorities include ensuring equal access to disabled people, improving the well-being of the community by encouraging active and healthy lifestyles, strengthening cultural and linguistic identity, involving people of all ages and helping reduce poverty, inequality, discrimination and social disadvantage.

Information on future rounds of the Community Facilities and Activities Programme can be obtained from the Regeneration Unit, Communities Directorate, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or by e-mailing-
cfaphelp@wales.gsi.gov.uk

TECHNOLOGY COULD BOOST NEW LOCALISM Posted Wednesday, September 22, 2004 by penllyn

Local councils could use technology to build a new sense of local community by moving away from centralised web services towards smaller local online projects, according to a new report from independent think tank the New Local Government Network- http://www.nlgn.org.uk

"There is a danger that in the next 20 or 30 years, local communities will be so lacking in cohesion that the whole concept of local government gets called into question," says James Crabtree, one of the report's authors and a visiting research fellow at the Institute of Public Policy Research (http://www.ippr.org.uk). "By using technology to support communities, local government can encourage shared interests among people, find out more about their concerns and equip itself to serve them better."

You can get chapter 1 of the the report here-
Invisible Villages - Preface & Chapter 1 (PDF version)

New ADSL limits take effect Posted Monday, September 6, 2004 by penllyn
Shortly before seven o'clock this morning, BT updated their online systems for the new ADSL line limits.
To check if you can now receive broadband, enter your telephone number into the BT.com checker. The checker at samknows.com has alread been updated to use the new limits information
Once again, it is advisable to leave any ADSL orders for at least a few hours (preferably a day or so). This will give BT Wholesale and its associated ISPs a chance to iron out any last minute issues.

It looks as though there is going to be deeper cuts in the war for bb customers this autumn. This is good news for customers with the emphasis on higher bandwidth and lower prices. This will be good news as the new bt line db rules also are about to come into play.
One big example is being shown by Wanadoo, who are getting rid of the baseline 512k offering and bringing in the 1mb connection as the new 'minimum' being offered.
Wanadoo, as part of its price changes earlier in the week has removed the 0.5Mbps from its product portfolio. Now they just sell a 1Mbps service, with three bandwidth allowance options.
Existing 0.5Mbps users will continue, but new customers will only have a 1Mbps option. If a customers line proves to be outside the new specifications for a 1Mbps line (due to change 6th September), then Wanadoo will provision a 0.5Mbps line. The number failing the new 60dB 1Mbps limit should be less than around 10% of lines.
This move to increase line rates while at the same time reducing prices makes some 0.25Mbps services offered by some providers look like antiques. There have also been calls from some service providers for BT Wholesale to widen its product portfolio and allow providers access to full-rate ADSL, i.e. up-to 8Mbps downstream and up-to 1Mbps upstream. The 2Mbps limit that has existed since 2000 on BT Wholesale products is starting to look a bit old.

Plusnet is also dropping the entry level price of its ADSL services with effect from yesterday.-
1Mbps from £14.99, and 2Mbps from £19.99!

Another inovative provider (and my personal favourite) e-mailed this to us today-
Eclipse Internet recently announced that it is making its high speed FLEX Broadband service available to even more users in remote parts of the country. Still the UK's only boostable speed service, FLEX Broadband costs from just £17.99 per month. This announcement comes as a result of news from BT on the success of their extended reach trials in Milton Keynes in which Eclipse has been involved.

Trials have shown that people living and working further than 5.5km from their local exchange can now receive ADSL broadband services when previously they could not. It is a major step forward in the delivery of broadband to the vast majority of the UK population.

Eclipse Internet is now accepting advance orders for its FLEX Broadband 512Kbps services based on the new limits set. Advance orders will be processed when the new range limits come into effect on 6th September. With a five day set up period this means that customers who have previously been too far away from their exchange to get broadband can start benefiting from FLEX as early as 11th September.

Until the end of August* Eclipse is also offering one month's free flexing for new FLEX Broadband users. Customers placing advance orders during this period will benefit from this offer from the date of their line activation.

This is a significant step in the quest for 'Broadband Britain' and will mean that many more people in your community will now be able to benefit from broadband. Please spread the good news to all those frustrated dial-up users who have been denied broadband access until now!

To order FLEX Broadband simply visit www.eclipsebroadband.com

* FLEX Orders placed by the 31st August 2004. Flexing may be limited to 512k depending on the distance from the Exchange.

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Here more info. on the BT trial findings -

Questions and Answers from BT

Q. What exactly is BT announcing? Following trials in Milton Keynes, Dingwall and Fort William delivering ADSL services beyond the previous 60dB (6km) limit, BT is announcing it has done away with the distance limit for its 512kb/secADSL broadband services. This means more than a million additional homes and businesses connected to broadband enabled exchanges should be able to get ADSL service from September 6, 2004, raising the average percentage of households on an enabled exchange that can get broadband from approx 96% to 99.8%. BT is also increasing the range for 1Mb/sec premium ADSL services from 4km to approximately 6km (60dB) – making 1 mb/sec ADSL available to 96 per cent of homes and businesses connected to broadband exchanges.

Q. How is BT doing this? Following the trials we have a much better understanding of the performance of ADSL over longer lines. One of the key issues has been improved clarity on how much impact the internal wiring within customer premises has on performance of long lines. The trial found that for one in five lines over 60 dB [less than 1% off all lines] a visit by a BT engineer was required to get the service working. After an engineer visit just 5% of lines over 60dB were found not to work – this relates to less than 0.2% of all UK lines.

Q. What effect does the internal wiring in a house have on line loss? In the trials it was confirmed that: on long lines the internal wiring within a home or business property has a more significant effect on the overall line performance/line loss that previously understood. This is one of the significant breakthroughs of the trial. The installation of a broadband specific face plate on the main telephone socket and the isolation of internal wiring from the broadband connection has meant many of the trial customers were able to get broadband where it would previously not have been possible.

Q. Can I ask BT to do a line test on my phone line right now, so that I will know if I can get service? Please don’t – from September 6 we will take orders on any line for 500 k ADSL. The broadband availability number checkers will be updated on that date which will include an indication of likelihood of service being possible.

Q. What happens for trialists who want to migrate to full broadband service under the new rules? This will depend on your individual service provider but where SPs have used their normal terms and conditions for this trial we would expect a smooth transition. Where Service Providers offered the trial at a discounted price, some billing adjustments may be required.

Q. Why is this announcement being made when the trial is still under way? It is not due to end until September 30th? The evidence produced by the trials so far is decisive and has enabled us to move quickly on this. Our priority is to bring broadband to as may people as possible, as quickly as possible. Thanks to the trialists we've been able to do that.

Q. Will people beyond the previous limit of 60dB line loss get a poorer quality service? Where service is provided on some of the longest lines there might be some degradation of service resulting in loss of sync. Where this occurs the decision will between the customer and their service provider as to whether they decide to continue with the connection.

Q. What would an engineer do to try to get me broadband service if it doesn’t work when I try to install it? The Service Provider will send you your broadband installation kit after taking your order. Once you have received the kit, follow the self install instructions. The trial results showed that for one in five lines over 60dB an engineer was needed in order to get a broadband connection working. For approximately 5% of customers with lines over 60dB it did not prove possible to provide service even after an engineer visit. The engineer will do one or more of the following to try to get the line working: • Ensure PSTN line is fault free • Swap local loop pair for a shorter or better cable pair (if available) • Isolation of the customer’s phone extension wiring • Check micro-filter at PC and main socket installed correctly (and ask customer to confirm has installed micro-filter at other sockets with telephone equipment) • Check customer’s own equipment is not causing faults • Fitting a new front plate at the master socket

Q. How much will end users be charged for the engineering visit? BT won't be charging for the engineering visit. The engineer visit is part of the new standard repair process for long lines and will not be chargeable. If an engineering visit is required, BT will agree to waive the usual fee for this work, provided we are able to have some flexibility in the delivery date. However, if the customer’s internal wiring is found to be at fault, an offer will be made to the customer to correct this at a cost (as per current process and procedures).

Q. What happens if the engineer fails to get the broadband line working at all? If the BT engineer is unable to get the broadband line working at all the Service Provider will be informed in writing by BT Wholesale that despite all the BT engineers’ efforts it was not possible to get broadband to work and BT Wholesale will recommend ceasing/cancelling the order for broadband service.

Antur Dwyryd Llyn - Paying on time? Posted Friday, August 27, 2004 by penllyn
The WDA's press centre is running a story under the heading of- Selling Online and Paying in Time, (www.wda.co.uk ) I am personally waiting for Antur Dwyryd Llyn to pay a bill for £350 for goods they purchased off me, that they received on 17-8-03!

The fact that my bill says "terms are strictly COD" seem to have been totally ignored, it seems rich therefore that the press release says-

"Terry Williams of Antur Dwyryd Llyn, who are supporting the event alongside Gwynedd Council, commented: “I would strongly recommend that representatives from local organisations come along to one of these sessions as there will be plenty to benefit from.

“The arrival of Broadband in many parts of Gwynedd is opening up new opportunities for local businesses and we are fortunate to have a great team at the ICT centre in Penrhyndeudraeth who are able to help people make the most of these opportunities.”

I thought it was Terry Thomas who was that famouse 'Cad' and comedian (I'm not talking computer aided design here!)
, and not Terry Williams, who'm obviously has a wry if not warped sense of humour.- The benefit we would like is for you'r company to pay it's debts, and beleive it or not we had heard something about broadband coming to many parts of Gwynedd!

If this seems rather obtuse, here are scans from recent letters received by myself, from Antur Dwyryd Llyn-



nice one Dafydd , so within 10 to 14 days I could expect a time frame for payment off Antur Dwyryd-Llyn, nice to see that the local business development agency had stopped playing football in the north of England and had returned to do the work it was supposed to be doing!

then I received this from Antur Dwyryd-Llyn-,



then this-



Well we are still waiting for payment....... we don't doubt that you wrote the cheque on the 4th of may 2004 a full nine months after being invoiced, but - we are still waiting for it to reach us! patience is a virtue, but this is taking the piss! ,
The last time we tried to contact the number in the last letter, the phone was hung up on us because we had the audacity to ask for a Welsh speaker!
After numerouse phonecalls, we will have no other recourse other than take Antur Dwyryd Llyn to the small claims in order to to be paid for goods they received over a year ago!

To make sure that you finally understand what we are saying here we will be forwarding this page to you, and the local press -
so when it says- " small businesses in Caernarfon and the surrounding area will be able to gain free and practical advice" does that mean advice on not paying local small business's bills, or am I just a tad too synical and sarcastic after waiting only a year?

anyone wishing a right of reply can post in the comments! at- http://www.penllyn.com/biz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=146

It is only after many phonecalls to try and resolve this (i.e. get the bill paid) that this matter is being given a public airing.

New Broadband ranges means good news for rural Llyn Posted Thursday, August 26, 2004 by penllyn
Broadband availability to match analogue TV coverage by Summer 2005 Distance limits removed for 512kb/sec ADSL services Range for 1 Mb/sec ADSL extended to reach 6km from the exchange!
BT today announced it was removing the distance related limits for the most popular broadband services, bringing potentially more than a million more UK homes and businesses within reach of broadband.

Following BT Wholesale trials in Milton Keynes and rural areas around Fort William and Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands, BT is confident a 512kb/sec ADSL service can now be provided to the vast majority of people beyond the former limit which was roughly equivalent to 6km distance from the exchange.

From September 6, 2004, the reach limit for the 512kb/sec ADSL services will be removed. BT is also increasing the range for 1 Mb/sec premium services from 4km to approximately 6km - making 1Mb/sec ADSL available to 96 per cent of homes and businesses connected to a broadband exchange.

The trial data indicates that removing the limit means 99.8 per cent of lines connected to a broadband exchange should now be able to get a 512kb/sec ADSL service. To date approximately 96 per cent of homes and businesses connected to broadband enabled exchanges were within range for 512kb/sec ADSL.

Alison Ritchie, BT chief broadband officer, said: "By pushing the boundaries on broadband reach we are building on our exchange upgrade rollout programme which means the remaining gaps in the broadband Britain jigsaw are getting smaller and smaller.
"Today's announcement, together with our exchange upgrade programme means that by next summer we expect the availability of ADSL broadband in the UK to be at 99.4 per cent - on a par with the percentage of homes that can get good quality analogue TV signals for the four main terrestrial channels*.

"The trial data and feedback from the trialists in Milton Keynes and others involved in the trials in Fort William and Dingwall has contributed to bringing broadband within reach of another million homes. Their commitment to work with us has helped bring us all a significant step closer to a truly broadband Britain.
"If you thought you couldn't get broadband - think again. When the new developments come into force in September, place an order with your service provider and in most cases BT will be able to get broadband to you."

The trials revealed that to provide broadband service to approximately one in five people beyond the former limit will require a visit by a BT engineer to make modifications to wiring at the customer premises or to local BT network cabling. BT would not charge the customer for this engineer visit. For a small number of cases it may not be possible to provide reliable broadband service at 512kb/sec, even following a visit by a BT engineer. However, BT will continue to seek a solution as the technologies develop. The trial data indicates that where the exchange is upgraded for broadband, an average of 99.8 per cent of lines should be able to get 512kb/sec ADSL broadband service.

BT's exchange upgrade programme to take broadband coverage to exchanges serving 99.6 per cent of households by summer 2005 makes the UK number one for ADSL availability in the G7 group of leading industrial countries both at the end of this year and 2005. This position was outlined in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report "The development of broadband access in rural and remote areas" which is available at www.oecd.org/sti/telecom.

Notes -
• Previously there was a limit for 512 kb/sec broadband based on 60dB of signal loss on the line (typical line length about 6km). This meant 512 kb/sec services reached approximately 96 per cent of homes and businesses.
• The new line loss limit for 1 Mb/sec ADSL will be 60dB (approximately 6km).
• While the removal of reach limits for 512 kb/sec ADSL will mean the vast majority of people connected to a broadband exchange will be able to get service there will still be some who can not, even following a visit by a BT engineer. The trial data indicates this should only apply to an average of 0.2 per cent of lines connected to broadband enabled exchanges.
• From September 6, 2004, people who previously could not get 512 kb/sec broadband because they were out of reach will be able to order via their chosen service provider. From that date the availability checker at bt.com/broadband will be updated to show the new line status.
• Based on the trial data which indicates a national average of 99.8 per cent availability within enabled exchange areas and BT's rollout programme to upgrade exchanges serving 99.6 per cent of UK homes, BT estimates that 99.4 per cent of UK homes and businesses should be able to get 512kb/sec ADSL service by August 2005.

*Statistics published on the Ofcom website (http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/reception_advice/index.asp.html ) state: "Good analogue TV reception is available to nearly all viewers in the UK from the terrestrial UHF transmitter networks. ITV1, Channel 4, BBC1 and BBC2 reach about 99.4% of the population, while Channel 5 covers 80%."

Cynghorwyr newydd - New Councillors Posted Friday, June 11, 2004 by penllyn
Cynghorwyr newydd yn wardiau / New councillors for these wards-

Nefyn - Meinir Jones -50.5%
Morfa Nefyn - Liz Saville Roberts -53.4%
Llanengan - John Gwilym Jones -66.59%

Dim newid / No change or uncontested (*)-

Aberdaron- William Gareth Roberts -57.73%
Abererch - Richard Parry Hughes (*)
Botwnnog - Evan Hall Griffiths (*)
Efailnewydd/Buan - Tomos Evans (*)
Llanaelhaearn - William Arthur Evans (*)
Llanbedrog - William Penri Jones (*)
Pwllheli (south) - Alan Williams (*)
Pwllheli (North) - Michael Sol Owen -42.7%
Tudweiliog - Seimon Glyn (*)

Pobl leol yn dangos y ffordd - Local people show the way Posted Sunday, May 16, 2004 by penllyn
This is a bilingual message, the English text can be found at the end

Pan osododd BT dargedi bandeang ar gyfer pob cyfnewidfa ym Mhen Llyn roedd criw o bobl leol yn barod i fynd. O fewn ychydig fisoedd, roedd saith o’r wyth cyfnewidfa yn yr ardal – ardal rhifau 01758 – wedi cyrraedd y targed.
“Y peth pwysig oedd ymgyrchu dros yr ardal gyfan,” meddai Seimon Jones, sy’n rhedeg cynllun Penllyn.com,sy’n cynnal wefannau cymunedol ac a oedd yn allweddol i’r broses trwy sefydlu gwefan ddwyieithog i’r ymgyrch, o’r enw Llyn.net.

Chwilog gets 01/09/2004 RFS Broadband date! Posted Friday, May 7, 2004 by penllyn
Da iawn -good news for Chwilog residents and business' BT have given the exchange a switch on date of 1st of September! So if you want broadband, you ought to start looking for an ISP now, there are many different deals being offered so check them out.

Chwilog exchange hits BB trigger level! Posted Saturday, April 17, 2004 by penllyn
This afternoon at about 1.30, BT Wholesale Wales site was showing that the Chwilog exchange has hit the trigger levels for ADSL.
This exchange is the final one in Llyn to reach the trigger level, and could now be expecting ADSL no sooner than September. The Chwilog exchange covers the (01766) 810XXX area and includes Llangybi.

Peledr-x Brynberyl X-ray unit Posted Saturday, February 14, 2004 by penllyn
Wedi disgwyl yn hir am yr uned peledr-x yn Ysbyty Bryn Beryl (gwnewch 'search' am cefndir), mae'r aruwchwylwyr iechyd yn cwyno nad oes digon o ddefnydd yn cael ei gwneud ohono. Dywed aelod o Cyngor Iechyd cymunedol Gwynedd fod y sefyllfa yn gywilyddus. Galwodd arweinydd y tîm Cllr Selwyn Griffiths am i'r uned gael ei defnyddio ai datblygu iw llawn botensial.
Dywedodd prif weithredwr yr Awdurdod iechyd, Keith Thomas fod gwaith ar y fynedfa ar maes parcio anabl ar y gweill dros y tair blynedd nesaf. Er yr honiadau o ddifyg defnydd mae 1000 o gleifion wedi eu gweld yn yr uned ers Ionawr 2004.
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After the long wait for the x-ray unit to be installed at Bryn Beryl (do a search at the top of the page for Bryn Beryl for background info.), health watchdogs now claim that not enough use is being made of it! Gwynedd Community Health Council member Mr Ifor Wyn Davies was reported as describing the underuse as - "disgraceful". Team leader Cllr. Selwyn Griffith called for the unit and the physiotherapy unit at Bryn Beryl to be developed to attain their full potential.
The Chief Executive Keith Thomas said that work on signage, the entrance and disabled parking would be undertaken over the next three years. Despite the underuse claims, since january 2004, 1,000 patients had seen at the unit, with an average of 30 patients seen on Wednesday and Thursdays.

Galw am wasanaeth Band-llydan - Calls for Broadband Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2003 by penllyn
Mewn araeth gan y Cyng. Dafydd Iwan yn Ysgol Botwnnog yr wythnos ddiwethaf galwodd am wasanaeth band-llydan i Lyn. Gwnaeth yr anerchiad agoriadol mewn noson a drefnwyn yn yr ysgol fel rhan o ddiwrnod agored yn ymwneud a gyrfaoedd. Un o brif themau y diwrnod oedd technoleg gwybodaeth. Roedd nifer o fusnesau a sefydliadau yn cymeryd rhan er mwyn gwasgaru gwybodaeth am wahanol yrfaoedd a chyflogaeth yn yr ardal.
Cafwyd cefnogaeth i'r alwad am Fand-llydan gan eraill yn y gynhadledd. Dywed Simon Jones o penllyn.com, fod Llyn un yn rhy ymylol ac mewn perygl o gael ein anghofio un waith eto oni bae ein bod yn mynu ein hawl i'r gwasanaeth rwan.
Danghoswyd yno rai o'r cyfleon a'r posibiliadau y gall y dechnoleg yma ei gynnig i ardal fel Llyn cyn belled ag y mae gwaith yn y cwestiwn, ond heb y gwasanaeth band-llydan sydd ei angen i wneud y defnydd gorau bosib o'r dechnoleg, mae yn berygl y bydd Llyn yn cael ei gadael ar ol. Gall y gwasanaeth band-llydan olygu mwy o fanteision i ardal ddiarffordd wledig fel Llyn nag i unrhyw le arall. Gallai olygu nad ydyw pellder diarffordd Llyn bellach yn rhwystr i gyflogaeth yn yr ardal ag y byddem yn gallu datblygu cyneladwyaeth ar gyfer pobl ifanc, ond i wneud hyn mae yn rhaid i ni gael isadeiliaeth technoleg gwybodaeth ar gyfer band-llydan yma yn Llyn.
Mae penllyn.com wedi bod yn gweithio ar sawl lefel tuag at ofalu fod Llyn yn cael y ddarpariaeth yma. Mae cysylltiadau wedi eu gwneud gyda'r gymuned leol, Cyngor Gwynedd, Coleg Meirion Dwyfor, Y Coleg Digidol a'r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol. Y mae penllyn.com wedi bod yn gweithio ar ddatblygu syniadau a chynal trafodaethau ar sut i gael darperiaeth band-llynan am bris rhesymol i Lyn. Mae safle ar-lein newydd wedi ei gosod - llyn.net ar gyfer datblygu y prosiect ymhellach. Dyma un or datblygiadau sydd yn gofyn i popl leol gymeryd rhan a chyfranu tuag at syniadau a bod yn rhan or datblygiad pwysig yma i Lyn.
Cyfranwch- llyn.net
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Cllr. Dafydd Iwan made a call for broadband for Llyn in a speech at Ysgol Botwnnog last week. The opening speech was made to the public attending the evening session of a careers conference. One of the main themes of the conference was Information technology. Many local companies and Organisations were at the event with guidance on career and employment opportunities.
The call for broadband and a general improvment in information technologies infrastructure and diversification of delivery was echoed by organisations taking part in the event. Simon Jones of penllyn.com said that Llyn was once again on the perifery and that unless there was action taken now, Llyn and it's residents would be left the wrong side of a widening digital divide.
The conference showed some of the possibilities that technology could bring to employment in the area, but unless affordable high speed connections could be made with the rest of the world, other areas would romp ahead. This rural area could reap greater benefit from broadband due to the lack of other infrastructure. The ability of desktop computers opens the doors to home working, re-location and remote networking. Llyn's remotness could finally not be an obstacle to generating local employment and sustainable development for our youth if an information technology infrastructure was put in place.
To this end Penllyn.com has been working at all levels from the grass roots in the communities, Gwynedd county council, Coleg meirion Dwyfor, Y Coleg Digidol and the Welsh Assembly. Penllyn.com have been working about a year now on developing ideas to bring affordable broadband to Llyn. A new website - llyn.net has been set up as an online site for developing the project. This is one aspect of the development of the project that penllyn.com hope local people will actively take part in - visit llyn.net and register to contribute and be part of the development of an important component in llyn's economic future.

£10m o ffordd - New £10m road Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2003 by penllyn
Mae'r cynulliad wedi penderfynnu eu bod am arianu gwella'r ffordd rhwng Abererch a Llanystymdwy. Mae'r cynlluniau ar y gweill ers amser maith tra roedd aros am benderfyniad yn dilyn ymchwil gyhoeddus i mewn i'r mater
Roedd rhai ffermwyr lleol yn gwrthwynebu lleoliad y ffordd newydd. Mae disawyl y bydd y ffordd newydd yn cael ei chwbwlhau erbyn haf 2005. Mae Sue Essex gweinidog yr amgylchedd wedi galw ar i'r cyngor ofalu fod cyn lleiad a ffosib o niwed yn cael ei wneud i'r amgylchedd.
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The Welsh Assembly have finally given the go ahead for a £10million plan for improvements to the road between Abererch and Llanystymdwy. There has been a long wait for this final desision to be made whilst all views were considered following a public enquiery.
There have been objections from farming communities following the details of the proposed route. The new 6.5km road will be expected now to be completed by the summer of 2005. Minister for the environment, Sue Essex is reported to have asked the council to ensure that ther is a minimal environmental impact.

Cynhadledd Gyrfaoedd - careers information conference Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2003 by penllyn
Yr wythnos diwethaf cynhaliwyd diwrnod gyrfaoedd yn Ysgol Botwnnog. Trefnwyd y digwyddiad gan Gwmni Gyrfa Cymru mawn cydweithrediad gyda chwmniau lleol, y Cyngor ac eraill a oedd yn brsenol yn cynnig cyngor gyrfaoedd i'r myfyrwyn ac i'r cyhoedd. Roedd y digwyddiad mewn dau ran agorwyd yr ail ran gyda anerchiad gan y Cyng. Dafydd Iwan.
Dwy brif themau y diwrnod oedd technoleg gwybodaeth a'r diwidiant Morwrol. Roedd Coleg Meirion Dwyfor yno yn cynnig y cyrsiau morwrol newydd sydd ar gael yn y Coleg.
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A careers information conference was held last week at ysgol Botwnnog. The conference was organised by Gyrfa Cymru, working closely with the Council and Others. The event was held in two sessions, with the evening session open to the wider community.
Councillor Mr. Dafydd Iwan opened the evening session where many organisations were offering advice and information to assist school pupils and the wider community on career and employment. Two of the main themes of the event were information technology and the Marine Industry. Coleg Meirion Dwyfor were amongst the exhibitors showing the new marine courses it will be starting this september.

Gwrthryfel lywodraethwyr Ysgolion Posted Saturday, July 20, 2002 by penllyn
Dal i gynyddu mae anfodlonrwydd llywodraethwyr ysgolion LI yn ynglyn A'r galw sydd arnyn nhw bellach i arolygu gwaith penaethiaid yr ysgolion. Mewn nifer o ysgolion mae'r llywodraethwyr yn ystyried gwrthryfela a gwrthod gwneud y gwaith.

Ddiwedd Mehefin derbyniodd corff llywodraethol pob ysgol lythyr yn gofyn iddyn nhw ddewis tri aelod i fynychu cwrs ar ddydd Sadwrn ac yn ystod gyda'r nos ym mis Medi, i'w hyfforddi i adolygu gwaith y penaethiaid. Tebyg fu'r ymateb mewn nifer o ysgolion - mae nhw'n ei gweld hi'n annheg gofyn i leygwyr wneud gwaith o'r fath.

Y cyntaf i gyhoeddi nad ydyn nhw'n fodlon gyrru cynrychiolwyr oedd Ysgol Foel Gron, a bellach mae ysgolion eraill, gan gynnwys Crud y Werin, Sarn Bach ac Abersoch, wedi

sgrifennu at yr Awdurdod Addysg yn nodi eu cwynion. Mae nifer o ysgolion eraill sydd heb gwrdd eto i drafod y sefyllfa.

Ers blynyddoedd bellach mae cyfres o lywodraethau wedi rhoi mwy a mwy o gyfrifoldeb ar ysgwyddau llywodraethwyr ysgolion, a'r 'Rheoli Perfformiad' ydi'r diweddaraf. Mae'n sefyllfa anodd i'r Awdurdod Addysg sy'n cael eu gorfodi i weinyddu'r cynllun. Daeth y cynllun i rym yn Lloegr ddwy flynedd yn ôl, a bellach mae'r llywodraeth yng Nghymru wedi mabwysiadu yr un cynllun.

or Llanw Gorffennaf 2002

Community Council Meetings Posted Friday, April 12, 2002 by penllyn
Community council meetings- the next community council meetings in the area are - Nefyn Town council at Y Ganolfan 9th April. Botwnnog, Y Ganolfan Bryncroes April 15, and Tudweiliog on the same day. The meetings are open to the public and press.

Community Skips Posted Friday, April 12, 2002 by penllyn
Community Skips can be found at - Mynytho, Foel Gron Quarry and Rhoshirwaun, penbryn and Trefor, Maes Gwydur - 15th-19th of April. Nefyn, Ffordd Dewi Sant, 22-26 April.

N.S.P.C.C. Posted Friday, April 12, 2002 by penllyn
Abersoch golf club will host the AGM of the Dwyfor / Eryri branch of the NSPCC on April 15th at 2am. If you think you could contribute to voluntary activities of the NSPCC locally, contact Mrs. Sue Wilson on 01758 740082.

Pwllheli Town Council Posted Wednesday, April 10, 2002 by penllyn
Pwllheli Town Councilor Alan Williams has joined the chorus of calls for urgent action regarding the lack of X-ray facilities locally. The Town council will call on the Health Trust yet again to address the situation.
In a meeting of the Health Trust at the end of March it was found that no timetable had yet been set for the installation of a new unit (As promised last year). The X-ray unit at ala Rd has been out of commission since early January.
He also expressed anger at the lack of action by the council over security improvements to the flats at Y Ddol and Yr Eifl.
The councils Housing Dept., had replied to an earlier letter by saying that they had plans to improve security over the next two or three years. Cllr. Williams is quoted to have said- "This is not good enough". The Town council will be sending another request to the housing dept..

Shelter Cymru Posted Wednesday, April 10, 2002 by penllyn
Shelter Cymru have appointed two independent tenancy advice and support workers to work on behalf of tenants in Gwynedd. The county council have been working with Shelter Cymru and have obtained funding from the assembly for the two new workers and another part-time officer to come. Megan Meeke will be covering this area and hopes she will be able to give tenants practical support and assistance.

Business Rate Cut! Posted Saturday, April 6, 2002 by penllyn
A business rate cut was announced this week by Cllr Thomas Evans. Cllr. Evans who leads the council on economic development announced reductions of between £1,000 and £2,000 to businesses.
This follows the Assembly decision to extend it's rural rate relief scheme from April 2002.

Community Skips Posted Friday, February 22, 2002 by penllyn
On thursday evening the Nefyn Fire Brigade was called out on two occasions to deal with a fire at the community skip on Ffordd Dewi Sant. The site of the skip is less than a molotov's throw from the newly built police station. The site of the skips has again been concerning locals with people dumping fridges and all sorts around the overflowing skips. The whole site was a mess by Friday, by which time the skips taken there on monday were almost lost under a mountain of rubbish.
Community skips can be found this week 25th-1 march near Penbryn Llidiardau, and at Trefor.

Antur Dwyryd-Llyn Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by penllyn
Dafydd Wyn Jones , managing director of Antur Dwyryd Llyn the local business development agency has added to comments made by others that the underfunding of business development grants in Gwynedd could be detrimental to the local economy.
He blames the Objective 1 National panel, who only agreed to half of the sum asked for in the bid last year. ( £1.4m + matched funding to make £2.8m).His comments come shortly before the Council consider alternative ways of funding business grants later this week. The initial plan was for the project to run for 3 years, but the funding has already run out.
Figures quoted for 2000/1 were- advisors had dealt with £5,751,946 of development project, 182 new jobs were created and 89 new start-ups were created. Up until the end of January this year, 296 new jobs were created, and 107 new start-ups during the 10 month period. 1999/2000 saw 200 new jobs and 66 new start-ups.

Community skips Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by penllyn
Community Skips can be found this week 18-22 Feb.- between Sarn Bach and Abersoch. Efailnewydd. Y Ffor. Between Sarn and Botwnnog. Llangybi (troed Y Garn).

Council Tax Rise Posted Monday, February 11, 2002 by penllyn
Comments have been widely spread in the press this week by the council's leader Alun Ffred Jones regarding possible council tax increases of up to 9%. This despite the Assembly's announced increases to the local Government revenue settlement. The increase is more than 8% for the year 2002/3. Edwina Hart the minister responsible said " It will boost public services and improve the quality of life for the people of Wales. The council leader cites Teachers' pay increases and new responsibilities in the area of social services amongst reasons for the envisaged increase. He is quoted as saying "It will be imposible to achieve these and other responsibilities, whilst keeping the tax increase down to the 7% which the Assembly forsees. A decision on various options will be taken on Feb 28th.
The council is yet to decide on their own pay increases that are said to be 100%. This non- performance related increase is set to bring councilors ' pay in line with Assembly guidelines. at present the 83 councillors basic allowance is £4,400 plus £1,000 expenses. The increase would take it to £9,907. Council leaders and portfolio managers allowances are also set to increase dramatically following the restructuring of the Council recently.

Community skips Posted Saturday, February 9, 2002 by penllyn
Pwllheli Town councillors have expressed concerns over the misuse of community skips in the town. Cllr. Evan John Hughes of Pwllheli said that the North Quay area of Pwllheli turned into an eyesore every time the monthly rota results in the skips being there. Cllr, Alan Williams said "we should be ashamed of the mess created. The skips are there for residents of the community. The service is currently being abused by business mainly builders and farmers.
Skips will be found next week (11th-15th) at Ffordd Dewi Sant Nefyn, Y Ganolfan car park Llithfaen, and at Tre'r Ddol Rhydyclafdy.

Steam rally Posted Thursday, February 7, 2002 by penllyn
Plans are underway to expand and develop the Llyn vintage rally. Rally organiser Joy King is now looking for sponsorship for the fourth Llyn vintage rally that is held during August annually at Bodvel Hall Boduan. This years event will be held on August the 16th-18th. Potential sponsers can contact Joy on (01766) 810279.

Bryn Beryl X-Ray Negative Posted Tuesday, February 5, 2002 by penllyn
Rumours that the oldest X-ray machine in Wales was terminally ill have been confirmed. The x-ray machine at ala rd. Pwllheli has been out of action since before christmas. It now appears as though the machine cannot be repaired because parts are no longer available. The machine is believed to have come from the old C & A hospital in Bangor about 20 years ago. Rumours that Marie Curie installed the machine are unfounded.
Patients in some parts of Dwyfor now face a round trip of up to 90 miles to use the nearest machine at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor. The plans for a new X-ray machine at Bryn Beryl, announced by North West Wales Health Trust last year are still a long way down the pipeline. A spokesman said that the trust is yet to find the money needed for the project.

Foot & Mouth Compo. Posted Friday, February 1, 2002 by penllyn
Foot & Mouth compensation payments of £1.8m have been paid out by gwynedd county council to a total of 340 businesses in Gwynedd. A few larger businesses were given the maximum payment of £50,000, but 1/3 of those businesses that actually aplied received nothing. This was the second round of compensation that followed a £1.5m handout last summer.
Gwynedd's business and operations assistant Alun Roberts said that practically all the money had been allocated. Fears that the compensation would not be given to businesses that were affected but not directly linked to farming have been expressed again. This seems to have been rebutted by Mr Roberts who is reported to have said "We have compensated many secondary businesses.... grocers, bakers and those affected indirectly." The fact that 135 less businesses were compensated in the second round was also explained -" Some businesses changed their business plan during the crisis and moved from tourist activity to another form of trade."
The knock-on affect of businesses moving into other areas presumably for the most part occupied by existing business will probably never be quantified. Neither will the loss to those businesses who lacked the resources to apply for compensation, or those businesses that did not show a downturn on their books due to increased activity and expanding business.
Even so Gwynedd Council should be commended for distributing the funds allocated to Gwynedd's businesses by the National Assembly so efficiently. A sum of £300,000 was also allocated to help finance festivals and fairs and other community events. This sum coupled with the 3 strong events comission team should prove a welcome boost to the wider community. Nant Gwrtheyrn are advertising a post for an events co-ordinator.

Local Government Revenue Posted Friday, February 1, 2002 by penllyn
Edwina Hart minister for Local Government and communities has announced increases to the local Government revenue settlement. The increase is more than 8% for the year 2002/3. She said " It will boost public services and improve the quality of life for the people of Wales.
The assembly is also providing an extra £1.3m throughout wales to help local government with e-government projects, and strategic waste disposal projects.

Police fundraising Posted Friday, February 1, 2002 by penllyn
North Wales police commissioner Mr Richard Brunstrom has been leading calls for an increase of 20p a week to the rates (band D), in order to fund more police officers. This would mean an extra 30 officers.
How many new officers would be seen by Dwyfor rate-payers was not announced.

Bin-liner Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2002 by penllyn
Whilst the rest of Gwynedd residents were being given wheelie bins to deal with domestic refuse, Dwyfor ratepayers were given bin bags. Now at least an earmarked 3000 households in Pwllheli will be given special plastic bins as part of a pilot project that will help with re-cycling.The scheme will provide a blue plastic box to each household to collect paper, glass, cans and textiles. (plastic and waste oil are not covered). Cllr., Dafydd Iwan who leads on the county council's environmental matters said " we are aiming to recycle 15% of the county's domestic refuse by 2004." If successfull the project will be rolled out across Gwynedd according to the council.
The 'waste' will be collected once every fortnight as the lorry will only be able to collect from 300 houses a day. untill the 'roll-out' reaches you , you will have to make do with bin bags and using the 'network' of waste paper and bottle banks.
You can obtain more information by phoning Steffan Owen on (01286) 679146 0r e-mail steffanrhodriowen@gwynedd.gov.uk

Objective 1 Objections Posted Tuesday, January 29, 2002 by penllyn
The local Economic Partnership Chaiman has again hit out at the government of the national Assembly. Cllr. Richar Parry Hughes is reported to have critisised the way the assembly seems to concentrate on larger schemes, whereas in his opinion small schemes seem to work better in Gwynedd. Gwynedd distributed £750,000 in business grants last year, but had asked for double that figure from the assembly.
He said " The potential to start new businesses to create work in the region is being smothered by bureaucracy in Cardiff".

The Cist opens again Posted Monday, January 28, 2002 by penllyn
It must be coming to the end of the financial year again because Community organisations and voluntary groups are again being given the chance to apply for grants from the Cist Gwynedd fund. This annual appeal in the press by Gwynedd county council heralds the closing date of March 29th 2002.
Grants are available for- community safety work, land or buildings, children's playing facilities, community halls, creating linguistic, cultural and leisure opportunities, and work that safeguards or protects the environment.
Details and forms are to be had from Cist Gwynedd, Chief executives Dept., Gwynedd Council, Caernarfon. or tel 01286 679613 fax-679488 or e-mail clivej@gwynedd.gov.uk .

Road Works Posted Monday, January 28, 2002 by penllyn
Welsh transport Minister Sue Essex has announced a £12.6m investment in work on the A499, one of the main road links to the area. This scheme will include a bypass for Clynnog. The other main route between Aberech and Llanystymdwy has also been earmarked £10m , but the results of a public inquiry are yet to be announced. It is expected that work will start on both projects during 2003/4.
It has been touted by many local councillors as being vital for job prospects in the area, especially the new land purchased by the council for industrial development at Y Ffôr. As a direct result of the Clynnog By-pass 15 jobs will be lost at the Coach Inn hotel at Clynnog according to the manager Mr. Stephen Williams.

Question your- MEP-AM-MP Posted Thursday, January 17, 2002 by penllyn
Neuadd Sarn will be the venue for local people to ask questions of all their Plaid Cymru elected representatives this friday. The meeting held at 7.30 will be attended by five elected members. Two local county councillors will be present together with - Eurig Wyn M.E.P., Hywel Williams M.P. and Dafydd Wigley A.M., Translation facilities will be available for those who need them.

Alzheimer's help Posted Thursday, January 17, 2002 by penllyn
A new centre is to be opened in Penlan St. Pwllheli. The new drop-in centre for carers and anyone concerned for sufferers of dementia will open at the C.A.B. building on tuesdays and Fridays between 11am and 3pm from the 29th of January. The Alzheimer's Society drop-in centre will be run on a voluntary basis, and will provide help and support.

Dafydd Wigley -leaving politics Posted Wednesday, January 16, 2002 by penllyn
Dafydd Wigley is to leave politics. After 27 years as M.P. for Caernarfon and then as A.S. in Cardiff, he has decided not to stand for the assembly again in May next year. Mr. Wigley who was president of Plaid Cymru between 1981-84 and re-elected seven years later cited health and age as being the factors responsible for his decision. He has justly been described as having made a huge contribution to Politics in Wales and has generally been regarded as an exemplary constituency M.P.
The vacuum created by the retirement of such a gargantuan political thinker will not only be felt locally, but will be made vaster by the re-tierment of Cynnog Davies and Phil Williams from Plaid's ranks at the next elections. Mr. Wigley hopes to be able to devote more time to his work with movements that assist the disabled, and more time for himself to walk and travel.

Small Towns and villages initiative Posted Saturday, January 12, 2002 by penllyn
Nefyn could soon see the creation of a deep water harbour in the near future. At present the nearest anchorage is at Porthdinllaen. This could be one scheme put forward to boost the Fishing and tourist industries around Nefyn.
The area has been accepted as part of the WDA small towns and villages initiative. The outline bid supported by Gwynedd Council in June 2001 included the communities of Nefyn and Morfa Nefyn, Pistyll, Llithfaen, Llanaelhaearn and Trefor. The council Board has now supported a bid to extend the area covered following the Assembly' decision that further funds would now be made available for rural communities from 2001- 2004. The area now encompasses Tudweiliog, Botwnnog, Llanengan, Llanbedrog,, Efailnewydd, Buan and Abererch.
It was expected that the same kind of benefits that have been obtained by the 'Slate valleys initiative' will now take place in the Granite quarry communities- from Trefor to Morfa Nefyn. This wider area may now become eligible to secure W.D.A. business and Environmental grants. These grants require local action plans to be in place.
It was anounced in a recent community council meeting that the deep water harbour was one of a number of ideas that was put forward after consultations in Nefyn. Henry Roberts from the Councils economic development dept. said that they were looking forward to doing a lot of work in the area over the next three years.

Casey Jones Posted Saturday, January 12, 2002 by penllyn
The last through train from Birmingham to Pwllheli will arrive at the platform in Pwllheli on Sunday. The only remaining through rail link will finally be axed this weekend. The strategic rail Authority have succeeded where Beeching failed. Concerns have been raised by both Elfyn Llwyd and local M.P. Hywel Williams who in recent questions in parliament were given assurances that the future of the Cambrian coast line were assured by Transport Ministers. They were told that detailed plans on investment in the infrastructure would be contained in the plans to be unveiled on monday the 14th of january. In answers to the assembly on Jan 16 Rhodri Morgan said that the Strategic Rail initiative was more about consolidating services. Time it would appear will only show the fate of the cannonball express.

Do you want jam on that? Posted Thursday, January 10, 2002 by penllyn
A local Jam factory will soon be expanding and creating up to 11 new jobs in the area. The Welsh lady preserves Factory just outside Y Ffôr is too small to accommodate expansion plans. 58 acres of land that surrounds the factory was bought by Gwynedd Council last year at Brynllangedwydd, and the council has decided to sell three acres in order that the development proceeds.
Earlier last year the Council let a vacant unit on the Nefyn industrial estate to the company to be used as a warehouse. This was the first tenant for these units since they were built last century.

Council Structure Posted Saturday, January 5, 2002 by penllyn
Results from the survey conducted by the council into the opinions of citizens as to the future political structure of the council have been announced.
2,876 people responded to the leaflet distributed throughout Gwynedd by the council, and 64% agreed with the councils much favoured option - that of a council board as the principal forum for decisions.

Cross town traffic Posted Friday, January 4, 2002 by penllyn
In re-newed calls for better road links between Llyn and the rest of Gwynedd, local A.M. Dafydd Wigley has again stressed the importance of improvements to two of the main roads to the area. He is calling for improvements to the roads between Llanaelhaearn and Aberdesach, and also near the Haven (Butlins) holiday camp.
A council spokesman is reported to have said " The construction plans for the locality have been drawn up and submitted to the Assembly." He also said that the process could take years!
(the amber light will turn green, but wait till we put the lights up !)

Arresting healthcare Posted Thursday, December 20, 2001 by penllyn
Northern Llyn could soon see the setting up of a rapid response ambulance service. In a recent meeting of North Gwynedd Community Health Council the matter was rais