Darpar Ymgeisydd Cynulliad LLAIS GWYNEDD Dwyfor/Meirionnydd Prospective Assembly Candidate - Cynghorydd Sir a Thref/ County & Town Councillor, Blaenau Ffestiniog
Dyma ddiwrnod olaf bodolaeth Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Gwynedd a teimladau cymysg sydd gen i am hynny. Yn gyntaf dyliwn i nodi'n gryf nad wyf yn ffan o Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Gwynedd am y ffordd ddaru nhw "ymgynghori" ar ddyfodol Ysbyty Coffa Ffestiniog ac yn groes i ddymuniad y gymuned leol, bygwth ei chau. Diolch i brotestiadau'r gymuned ac ymdrechion y Pwyllgor Amddiffyn mae hi dal ar agor ac bydd adolygiad annibynol sydd wedi ei gomisynu gan y Gweinidog Iechyd ar ddyfodol yr Ysbyty yn cael ei gynnal mis Ebrill nesaf. Pam y teimladau cymysg felly? Wel mae llawer yn teimlo fod ffurfio Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr (enw sydd yn llifo oddi ar y dafod!) yn mynd a penderfyniadau ymhellach oddi wrth y cymunedau mae nhw yn effeithio arnynt - wedi dweud hynny dwi wedi clywed o sawl cyfeiriad fod penneithiaid y Bwrdd newydd yn gweld gwerth mawr i ysbytai cymunedol fel sydd yma yn Blaenau, ffaith os yn wir fydd i'w croesawu. Gwynt teg felly ar ol Bwrdd Iechyd Lleol Gwynedd a gobeithio bydd criw Betsi yn gwrando, yn gwarchod ac yn datblygu ein Ysbyty Coffa ni yma yn y Blaenau ac pan fydd yr adolygiad yn digwydd yn mis Ebrill y byddent yn ymrwymo i wneud hynny.
Today is the last day in the life of Gwynedd Local Health Board and I have mixed feelings about that. Firstly I should add that I am no fan of Gwynedd LHB given the way that they ignored the view of this community when they "consulted" on the local Memorial Hospital's future a few years ago by recommending that the Hospital should be closed. Thanks to the protests by the community and the campaigning by the Hospital Defence Committee the hospital is still open although an independant review regarding its future has been commissioned by the Assembly's Health Minister and is due to proceed in April 2010. Why the mixed feelings then? Well, many believe that the establishment of the Betsi Cadwalader University Local Health Board (a name that flows freely off the tounge!) will take decisions away from the communities that they effect - having said that I have been told by various sources that some of the heads of the new Board see a lot of value in local community hospitals like we've got here in Blaenau, a fact that if it's true I warmly welcome. So long! then Gwynedd LHB is what I say and I hope that the crew at Betsi LHB will listen, preserve and develope Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital and when the review to the hospital's future begins in April that they commit to do excactly that.
Mae Croeso Cymru a Phartneriaeth Twristiaeth Canolbarth Cymru wedi dod at ei gilydd i drefnu diwrnod llawn o wybodaeth ddefnyddiol i fusnesau yn y Canolbarth i’w helpu i dyfu yn 2010. Eleni mae gennych gyfle i fynychu digwyddiad ar gyfer y Diwydiant Twristiaeth sydd wedi’i anelu’n benodol at eich ardal chi. Bydd 3 digwyddiad yn cael eu cynnal mewn trefi ar draws y Canolbarth. Bydd y digwyddiadau yn cychwyn am 10.00am gyda lluniaeth.
• Dydd Mercher 7fed Hydref – Theatr y Ddraig, Y Bermo • Dydd Mercher 14eg Hydref – Ty Glyn, Ciliau Aeron • Dydd Mercher 21ain Hydref – Gwesty’r Metropole, Llandrindod
Bydd llefydd ar gael drwy e-bostio info@tpmw.co.uk neu drwy lenwi eich slip ymateb a ddaw drwy’r post ichi cyn bo hir. Mae’r digwyddiad yn rhad ac am ddim. Rydym yn disgwyl y bydd galw am lefydd yn uchel unwaith eto eleni, felly archebwch heddiw i gadw lle ac i osgoi cael eich siomi. Pwy sy’n cael mynychu? Unrhyw un sy’n gweithio yn neu’n cefnogi’r diwydiant twristiaeth yn y Canolbarth. Pwy fydd yn cael y Sylw? CHI ! Yn y Canolbarth, credwn ei bod yn bwysig gweithio gyda’n busnesau i ddatblygu economi dwristiaeth ffyniannus. Trefnwyd pob digwyddiad i sicrhau y bydd digon o ryngweithio, lle bydd gan fusnesau gyfle i ddysgu a thrafod beth y mae Croeso Cymru, y Bartneriaeth Dwristiaeth a mudiadau cymorth lleol eraill yn ei wneud i helpu Twristiaeth. Bydd cyfle hefyd i edrych ar ddatblygu eich busnes drwy sesiynau marchnata a chymorth busnes – mae’r digwyddiadau wedi cael eu datblygu gyda CHI mewn golwg. Mae’r digwyddiadau yn cynnig cyfle gwych i ryngweithio, a chyfle hefyd i ddal i fyny â’r holl bethau newydd sy’n digwydd yn y diwydiant. Bydd yr arddangosfa eleni yn cynnwys cynrychiolwyr o amryw o wahanol fusnesau a mudiadau sy’n gallu cynnig cymorth, arweiniad a chyngor ar dwristiaeth.
Edrychwn ymlaen at eich gweld.
Agenda
10.00 Cofrestru Te & Choffi 10.30 Croeso PTCC / Croeso Cymru 11.00 Seminarau
1.Persbectif Cenedlaethol - Beth mae Croeso Cymru yn wneud a chynlluniau at y dyfodol 2.Persbectif Rhanbarthol - PTCC beth sydd yn digwydd yn y Rhanbarth – cynnyrch newydd a chynlluniau i’r Dyfodol 3.Persbectif Lleol – Cynghorau Lleol / Parciau Cendlaethol - yn cydweithio i hybu beth maent yn ei wneud, a thrafod eitemau eraill a fyddai o ddiddordeb i’r gynulleidfa 13.00 Cinio Lleol & cyfle i Rhwydweithio 14.00 Seminarau
1.Beth sy’n arbennig amdanoch chi ? Sut i ddefnyddio technegau marchnata i hyrwyddo eich busnes gan ddefnyddio asedau sydd gennych yn barod
2.Marketing - E-Gyfathrebu a Guestlink Cymru
3.Aildrefnu eich busnes - archwilio’r Cymorth Busnes gwahanol sydd ar gael trwy Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru
16.00 Gorffen
Visit Wales and Tourism Partnership Mid Wales have teamed up to bring businesses in Mid Wales a full day of useful information that will assist your business develop in 2010. This year you have the opportunity to attend a Tourism Industry event specifically aimed at your area. 3 events are being held in locations across Mid Wales. These events will start at 10.00am with refreshments.
• Wednesday 7th October – Dragon Theatre, Barmouth • Wednesday 14th October – Ty Glyn, Ciliau Aeron • Wednesday 21st October – The Metropole, Llandrindod Wells
Places will be available by emailing info@tpmw.co.uk or completing your reply slip you will be getting through the post very soon. The events are free of charge. We anticipate that demand will be high again this year, so book today to secure your place, to avoid disappointment. Who can attend? Anybody working or supporting the tourism industry in Mid Wales
What is it all about? YOU !
In Mid Wales we think it is important to work with our businesses to develop a prosperous tourism economy. Each event has been planned to ensure plenty of interaction, where businesses will have the opportunity to learn and discuss what Visit Wales, Tourism Partnership and other local support organisations are doing to assist Tourism. There will also be an opportunity to look at developing your business through marketing and business support sessions – the events have been developed with YOU in mind. The events offer excellent networking opportunities, and a chance to catch up with the latest industry developments. This year's exhibition will feature representatives from a range of businesses and organisations who can offer support, guidance and advice on tourism.
1.National Perspective. What VW is doing, and plans/priorities for the future
2.Regional Perspective TPMW what is going on in the region – new products, plans for future
3.Local perspective Local Council / National Parks working together –to promote what they are doing, and discuss any other items that would be of interest to the audience
13.00 Local Lunch & Networking 14.00 Seminars 1.What is special about you? How to use marketing techniques to promote their business using assets that they already have.
2.Marketing Focusing on E-Communication and Guest Link Cymru.
3.Realigning your business Exploring different Business Support that is available through WAG
Nos 'fory rhwng 6yh-7yh byddaf yn mynychu sesiwn holi ac ateb gyda pobl ifanc yn y Siop Wybodaeth Pobl Ifanc ar y Stryd Fawr yma yn y Blaenau. Yn ymuno a mi yn y sesiwn bydd y Cyng. Dylan Richards, Cadeirydd y Cyngor Tref. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen i gyafrfod a'r pobl ifanc ac i ateb eu cwestiynau.
Tommorrow evening between 6pm and 7pm I'm attending a question and answer session with young people at the Young People's Information Shop on the High Street here in Blaenau. Joining me in t the session will be Cllr.Dylan Richards, Chairman of Ffestiniog Town Council. I'm looking forward to meeting the young people and to answering their questions.
Mae'r stori am y ferch 14 mlwydd oed, Natalie Morton yn marw ychydig wedi iddi dderbyn brechiad yn erbyn cancr y cervix yn ysgwyd dyn. Fel tad i ferch 13 oed sydd wedi cael 2 allan o'r 3 brechiad sydd ei angen, fedrai ddim dychmygu beth allai wedi mynd o'i le yn yr achos yma. Mae gennyf hefyd berthynas agos iawn i mi sydd wedi cael cancr y cervix a diolch i Dduw wedi ei oresgyn felly dwi yn gwerthfawrogi ac yn cefnogi y rhesymau tu cefn i'r brechiad. Efallai cawn wybod maes o law beth oedd rhesymau dros marwolaeth Natalie - gall geiriau ddim cysuro ei rhieni yn ei trallod ond gallai ddim ond gobeithio na fydd yr achos unigryw yma yn arwain at ferched ifanc yn peidio a cymryd y brechiad. Mae cancr y cervix yn un o brif achosion am farwolaeth merched a gwragedd ifanc ac amlygwyd hynny yn ddiweddar yn achos Jade Goody.
The story about the tragic death of 14 year old Natalie Morton just after she had received a cervical cancer vaccine shook me to the core. As a father to a 13 year old daughter who has already had 2 out of the 3 required vaccine jabs, I cannot understand what might have gone wrong in this case. I also have a very close relative who was diagnosed with cervical cancer, but thankfully, with God's will she overcame it so I can fully appreciate and support the reasons for vaccinating young women once they hit their teenage years. I 'm sure that we will eventually learn the reasons behind Natalie's tragic death - words cannot console her parents at present in their loss, but I can only hope that this rare incident will not lead to young women not coming forward to have the vaccine. Cervical cancer is one of the highest killers of young women a fact that was highlighted recently following the death of reality TV star Jade Goody.
Gordon Brown and his bedraggled Party start their Annual Conference today in Brighton. He was less than convincing on the Andrew Marr Show and given Alastair Darling's take on the whole situation, quite clearly this is a party devoid of ideas, devoid of any soul and devoid of conviction...how therefore can a party in such a state of malaise govern effectively and get the Country out of its worst economic crisis in a lifetime. We will all bear the brunt of New Labour's failure, many across the Country have already done so, lost jobs, lost homes and very little hope that things will get better. How ironic that song ,which heralded Tony Blair's successful campaign to get to No.10 must sound now. The Tories look odds on to win the General Election, I've no doubt that things will be tougher still for some time, particularly when it comes to cuts in the public sector - however people are ready for a change, one can only hope that David Cameron has some good ideas up his sleeve cos as yet, he's not been forward in presenting many of them. Once that all the parties have had their Conferences out of the way, rather than re-opening Parliament for 8 months of pointless pre-election guffawing, I believe that Gordon Brown should do the right thing and call the General Election this Autumn rather than delaying the inevitable and let a bad situation get much, much worse.
Fel arfer bydd y Cyng.Dafydd Hughes a mi yn cynnal ein cymorthfa misol ar y Sadwrn cyntaf o pob mis. Ond dim ond am mis Hydref bydd yn rhaid i ni symud y gymorthfa i'r ail dydd Sadwrn 10fed o Hydref gan y byddwn yn mynychu cyfarfod bore Sadwrn nesaf pan fydd Llais Gwynedd yn dewis eu ymgeiswyr ar gyfer Etholiadau'r Cynulliad 2011. Ymddiheurwn am unrhyw anhawster ac edrychwn ymlaen i'ch gweld ar y 10fed os gallwn fod o gymorth mewn unrhyw ffordd. Byddwn yn dychwelyd i'r drefn arferol o Tachwedd ymlaen, sef Sadwrn cynta'r mis.
Councillor Dafydd Hughes and I usually hold our monthly surgery on the first Saturday of the month. However, only for October, we've had to reschedule our surgery to the second Saturday, October 10th as we will both be attending a Llais Gwynedd meeting next Saturday morning at which our candidates for the Welsh Assembly Elections 2011 will be selected. We apologise for any inconvenience and we look forward to seeing you on the 10th if we can be of assistance in any way. We will be return to the usual date (first Saturday of the month) from November onwards.
Dwirnod da i'r Blaenau heddiw ar y meusydd chwarae...es i weld y gem rygbi yn Dolawel lle'r oedd Bro yn croesawu Llandudno. Er fod hi'n gem digon bler ar adegau, ac er iddynt fod ar ei hol hi o 8-7 gyda deg munud i fynd, mi carlamodd Bro yn y diwedd i ennill eu gem gyntaf yng Nghygrair 1 Y Gogledd o 24 -8. Da iawn hogia! Yr wythnos nesaf mae Bro i ffwrdd yn y Wyddgrug. Yn y pel-droed, roedd yr Amaturiaid oddi cartref yn Amlwch yng Nghwpan Cookson ac mi ddaru nhw gael buddigoliaeth ysgubol o 5-0! Mae'r hogia yn dychwelyd yno eto'r wythnos nesaf yn y gynghrair y tro yma ac byddent yn gobeithio am fuddigoliaeth arall er mwyn cael thri phwynt gwerthfawr. A good day for Blaenau today on the sporting front....I went to Dolawel to watch the rugby as Bro were entertaining Llandudno. Although the majority of the match was a scrappy affair and even though they were trailing by 8-7 with ten minutes to go, Bro ran out comfortable winners eventually by 24-8. Well done lads! Nest week Bro are away to Mold. In the football. the Amatures were away to Amlwch in the Cookson Cup and they made very light work of the trip to Anglesey as they thumped the home team 5-0! They have to go back again next week for a league encounter and a similar scoreline would bring a welcome 3 points to the indifferent league form.
Yn ol Vaughan a Betsan, mae'r nonsens ynglyn a chyfiethu'r cofnod yn dal i rygnu 'mlaen i lawr yn y Bae. Mae'n ymddangos fod pawb heblaw aelodau Comisiwn y Cynulliad yn gytun ynglyn a'r ffordd ymlaen. Mae rhaid gofyn o ddifri be ydi crebwyll gwleidyddol y Comisiwn ac y Llywydd, mae ei ymddygiad nhw yn dwyn anfri ar y Senedd ac os na fyddent wedi gallu datrys hyn erbyn yr adeg yma wythnos nesaf yna mae'n rhaid gofyn o ddifri a ddylai'r Cynulliad gymryd pleidlais o ddifyg hyder yn y Comisiwn? Mae Cymru yn haeddu gwell!
According to Vaughan and Betsan, the nonsense regarding the translation of the minutes at the Assembly is still ongoing down in the Bay. It appears that everyone is agreed on the way forward appart from the members of the Assembly Comission. One has to ask some serious questions about the political intelligence of the Comission and the Presiding Officer as their behaviour in relation to this matter has brought the Assembly into disrepute, and if they cannot bring this matter to a satisfactory conclusion by this time next week then maybe it may be high time for the Assembly to hold a vote of no confidence in the Comission? Wales deserves better!
Can hyfryd ar gyfer y penwythnos "Wake Up Everybody" gan Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes gyda Teddy Pendergrass ar y prif lais. Can syml, gyda neges i ni i gyd yn y geiriau. Mwynhewch!
A lovely song for the weekend, Wake Up Everybody by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes, featuring Teddy Pendergrass on lead vocals. A simple song, with a message to us all in the lyrics. Enjoy!
Heno bu Panel Adolygu Addysg Dalgylch Tywyn yn cyfarfod er mwyn clywed argymhellion Arweinnydd Portffolio Addysg Cyngor Gwynedd ar gyfer adrefnu addysg gynradd yn nalgylch Tywyn. Dyma'r argymhellion: Ysgol Corris a Pennal i aros ar agor ac i gydweithio. Ysgol Aberdyfi i gau a plant y pentref i fynychu Ysgol Penbryn, Tywyn. Ysgolion Llanegryn, Llwyngwril, Abergynolwyn a Bryncrug i GAU a bydd Ysgol Ardal newydd yn cael ei adeiladu ar safle ym Mryncrug. Yn ei hanfod dyma oedd argymhellion gwreiddiol Cyngor Gwynedd dwy flynedd yn ol ac felly nid oes DIM wedi newid ac nid oes DIM sylw wedi ei roi i farn athrawon, llywodraethwyr a rhieni mwyfrif o'r ysgolion yn y dalgylch - sydd felly yn cyfiawnhau yn llwyr penderfyniad Llais Gwynedd i dynnu allan o'r broses pan ddaru ni sylweddoli beth yn union oedd bwriad y Cyngor. Unwaith eto gweler dystiolaeth di-gamsyniol dim ond sham ydi "ymgynghoriad" gan Gyngor Gwynedd. Yn naturiol fe fyddwn ni fel Plaid yn dwys ystyried ein camau nesaf cyn eu cyhoeddi o fewn yr wythnos i ddeng diwrnod nesaf, ond fedrwch fentro un peth yn glir os ydych yn bennaeth, rhiant neu lywodraethwr ar ysgol gynradd yng Ngwynedd mae gennych le wirioneddol i bryderu am dryloywder a thegwch y broses ad-drefnu os a phan y daw hi i'ch dalgylch chi. Rhaid pwysleisio mai argymhellion yn unig yw rhain ac byddent yn mynd drwy sawl pwyllgor o fewn y Cyngor cyn bydd penderfyniad terfynol yn cael ei wneud 'chydig cyn y Nadolig. Mi allwch chi fod yn sicir bydd Llais Gwynedd yn sefyll ysgwydd yn ysgwydd gyda'r popl yn y pentrefi yma i wrthwynebu'r cynigion hyn sydd ar y wyneb yn mynd yn gwbwl groes i ddymuniadau llawer ohonynt. O gofio cynlluniau gwreiddiol y Cyngor ar gyfer ardal Stiniog, os fyddai hyn yn cael ei ail adrodd yma, byddai Ysgolion Manod a Maenofferen yn cau ac ysgol ardal newydd yn cael ei adeiladu (yn ble yn union!?) ac byddai Tanygrisiau,Llan,Gellilydan a Traws yn uno ar pedair safle gwahanol!
Tonight the School Re-organisation Panel for the Tywyn catchment area met to hear the recommendations of Gwynedd Council's Education Portfolio Leader for the proposed re-organisation of primary education in the Tywyn area. The recommendations are: Corris and Pennal schools to stay open and to collaborate. Aberdyfi school to CLOSE and children to attend Penbryn school, Tywyn. Llanegryn,Llwyngwril,Abergynolwyn and Bryncrug schools all to CLOSE and one area school to be built at a site in Bryncrug. In essence these were the original recommendations of Gwynedd Council two years ago and therefore NOTHING has changed and NO notice whatsoever has ben taken of the view of the parents, headteachers and governors from the majority of the schools in the area - which totally vindicates Llais Gwynedd's decision to withdraw from the whole process once we realised what the Council's intentions were. Once again we see overwhelming evidence that "consultation" Gwynedd Council style is nothing more than a sham. Naturally, we as a Party will consider carefully what steps to take next before making any further announcements on the matter within the next week to ten days,however one thing is clear, if you are a headteacher, governor or parent at any primary school in Gwynedd you have serious cause to be concerned about the transparency and fairness of the current re-organisation process if and when it comes to your catchment area. I must emphasise that these are only recommendations at present and they will now have to go through a number of Committees within the Council before a final decision is reached just before Christmas. You can be assured that Llais Gwynedd will stand shoulder to shoulder with the people in these villages to oppose these recommendations which on the face of it goes against the wishes of many of them. If what has happened in Tywyn was replicated here in Blaenau,the Council's original proposals would see Manod and Maenofferen schools would close and a new area school would be built (where excactly!?) and Tanygrisiau,Llan,Gellilydan and Traws would become one school operating on 4 different sites!
Arolwg Cymunedol ac Anghenion Tai Ffestiniog â’r Cylch.
Mae Strategaeth Pobl Hŷn Cyngor Gwynedd, Age Concern a Chymdeithas Tai Eryri wedi dod at ei gilydd i adolygu’r ddarpariaeth sydd ar gael i bobl hŷn yn ardal Ffestiniog. Y bwriad yw gwneud arolwg i asesu’r ddarpariaeth dai presennol â’r adnoddau cymunedol. Bydd y wybodaeth yma hefyd o fydd i’n Hwylusydd Tai Gwledig ar gyfer asesu anghenion tai cyffredinol yr ardal. O fewn yr wythnosau nesaf bydd holiadur yn cael ei anfon at sampl uchel o gartrefi. Byddwn yn dadansoddi’r canlyniadau ac yn cynnal cyfarfod cyhoeddus i adrodd yn ôl ar y canlyniadau.
Os hoffech chi dderbyn holiadur yna cysylltwch a: Iwan Gethin Jones – Swyddog Strategaeth ar GyferPobl Hyn ar (01286) 679731 Darpariaeth Newydd…
Mae Cymdeithas Tai Eryri ar hyn o bryd yn gweithio ar Gynllun Gofal Ychwanegol, darpariaeth lletya newydd ar gyfer pobl hŷn yn ardal Llan Ffestiniog fel rhan o Brosiect Adeiladu i’r Dyfodol Cyngor Gwynedd.
‘Rydym yn bwriadu cynnal cyfarfodydd agored ddechrau Tachwedd i roi mwy o wybodaeth am y cynllun arfaethedig a chyfle i ofyn cwestiynau dros baned a bisged.
Dydd Mawrth3ydd o Dachwedd 2009 Neuadd Penrhyndeudraeth 9:00 – 12:00 o’r gloch Canolfan Maenofferen, Blaenau Ffestiniog 2.00 -4.00 o'r gloch
Dydd Gwener 6ed o Dachwedd 2009 Neuadd Trawsfynydd 9:00 - 12:00 o’r gloch Neuadd Llan Ffestiniog 2:00 – 4:00 o’r gloch
COMMUNITY AND HOUSING NEED SURVEY FFESTINIOG AREA Gwynedd’s Strategy for Older People, Age Concern and Cymdeithas Tai Eryri have come together to reveiw the provision available for older people in the Ffestiniog area. A questionnaire will be distributed over the next few weeks. We ask kindly for your cooperation in completing these questionnaires. If you want to receive a copy of the questionnaire or for more information contact:
Iwan Gethin Jones – Strategy for Older People Officer on (01286) 679731 COME TO HEAR ABOUT A POSSIBLE NEW SCHEME
Cymdeithas Tai Eryri is presently working on an Extra Care Scheme for the Llan Ffestiniog area that will offer a new additional resource for the housing needs of older people. We want to offer a new lifestyle for older people, with the emphasis on the quality of life.
Come to hear more our Open Meetings...
A chance to discuss and see the initial plans over a ‘cuppa’ and biscuits
Tuesday 3rd Novemeber 2009 Penrhyndeudraeth Village Hall 9 – 12:00 o’clock Maenofferen Centre, Blaenau Ffestiniog 2 – 4:00 o’clock
Friday6th November 2009 Trawsfynydd Village Hall 9 - 12:00 o’clock Llan Ffestiniog Village Hall 2 – 4:00 o’clock
Neithiwr yn nghyfarfod Llywodraethwyr Ysgol Maenofferen cefais fy ethol yn Gadeirydd y corff llywodraethol gyda Mr Keith Davies yn cael ei ethol yn Is-Gadeirydd. Hoffwn fanteisio ar y cyfle hwn i ddiolch i'r cyn Gadeirydd, Mr Hefin Kirkman am ei waith dros y blynyddoedd diwethaf cyn iddo sefyll lawr fel Cadeirydd diwedd y tymor diwethaf. Fel sawl ysgol ar hyd a lled y wlad, mae Maenofferen yn gwynebu sawl her. Dwi'n edrych ymlaen i gydweithio gyda'r prifathrawes, Mrs Meri Jones, ei staff a fy nghyd lywodraethwyr wrth wynebu'r heriau hynny.
Last night at a meeting of the Maenofferen School Board of Governors, I was elected as Chairman of the Board and Mr Keith Davies as Vice-Chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous Chairman, Mr Hefin Kirkman for his work and dedication over the last few years before he stood down from the position at the end of the last term. Like many other schools across the length and breadth of the country Maenofferen faces a number of challenges. I look forward to working with the headmistress, Mrs Mary Jones and her staff and my fellow governors to face those challenges head on.
Cofiwch mae bore coffi McMillan yn cael ei gynnal bore dydd Gwener yma rhwng 10.30y.b a 2.30y.p. yn Bistro Moelwyn, Stryd Fawr y Blaenau. Bydd elw o'r digwyddiad hwn yn mynd i Elusen Gancr McMillan. Dwi mewn cyfarfod yng Nghaernarfon yn y bore ond dwi'n gobeithio bod yn ol am baned cyn i'r digwyddiad ddod i ben - 'fallai welai chi yno?
Don't forget the McMillian Coffee Morning this Friday morning between 10.30a.m and 2.30p.m. at Bistro Moelwyn, High Street, Blaenau. All proceeds will be going towards the McMillan Cancer Charity. I'm at a meeting in Caernarfon in the morning but hope to be back for a cuppa before the event ends - maybe I'll see you there?
Dros yr wythnosau diwethaf dwi wedi gweld un ffilm yn y sinema The Hurt Locker a dwy DVD, Marley and Me a The Boat That Rocked. The Hurt Locker : 7 allan o 10- Ffilm drawiadol iawn yn dilyn tim difa bomiau Americanaidd yn Baghdad. Tydi hi ddim yn ffilm sydd yn uchafu rhyfel...yn wir mae hi'n dangos sefyllfa bregys milwyr yn gorfforol ac yn feddyliol. Sawl golygfa erchyll o fobl yn cael eu lladd felly dim i'r rhai sydd yn cael eu dychrun gan golygfeydd o'r fath. Marley and Me: 8 allan o 10- Ffilm deuluol neis yn dilyn hanes ci, Marley a'r teulu sydd o'i gwmpas. Mi ddaru mi grio ar ddiwedd y ffilm yma...dwi ddim wedi cyfarfod a neb sydd ddim hyd yma! The Boat That Rocked: 7 allan o 10 - Ffilm yn dilyn hanes criw gorsaf radio "Pirate" ddiwedd y 60'au. Mae'r soundtrack i'r ffilm yma yn wych, ambell i olygfa doniol iawn a "one liners" da.
Dyna ni, gyda'r Gaeaf yn agosau, mi all un o rhain basio gyda'r nos i chi...Potel o win dda a bar o siocled a ffwrdd a chi.
Over the last few weeks I've seen one film at the cinema, The Hurt Locker and two DVD's, Marley and Me and The Boat That Rocked. The Hurt Locker: 7 out of 10 - A striking movie following a team of US bomb disposal experts in Baghdad. This fil doesn't glorify war...in fact it debicts the physical and mental strain faced by the soliders in conflict and due to the number of scenes in which people are blown up, not for the faint hearted. Marley and Me: 8 out of 10- A nice family fim following the trials and tribulations of a dog called Marley and his owners and their family. I cried at the end of this film and as yet, I've not anyone else who hasn't either! The Boat That Rocked: 7out of 10 - This film follows the crew of a pirate radio ship during the late 60's. Plenty of one liners and a brilliant soundtrack.
There you are, with Winter approaching, one of the above could pass an evening for you...bottle of nice wine, bar of chocolate and off you go.
Dwi mwy na neb wedi beirniadu'r Cynghorydd Dyfrig Jones (Plaid Cymru,Gerlan) ar y blog hwn o bryd i'w gilydd ond myn diawl i, chwarae teg iddo fo, mae o yn gwneud safiad cryf a chadarn iawn yn y fan yma fydd yn sicir o rhoi trwyn un neu ddau o arweinwyr Plaid Cymru allan o'u lle. Mae Plaid Cymru wedi ymddangos fel dim mwy na "bag carriers" i'r Blaid Lafur ym Mae Caerdydd, ac i'r rhai ohonom sydd yn edrych o'r tu allan ar yr holl beth, mae o bron ar adegau yn fater o embaras ac yn eitha ych a fi. Rwan fel mae'n amlwg bod Llafur a'r ei ffordd allan yn San Steffan, ydi Dyfrig yn awgrymu'n groes i Adam Price ac eraill fod hi'n hen bryd siarad efo'r Toriaid a'r Llip Dems. ta be? Mae'r holl beth yn sicir yn ddifyr ac unwaith eto, dwi'n codi'n nghap iddo am fod digon o foi i ddeud yr hyn mae o wedi ei ddweud.
I more than anyone have been critical of Councillor Dyfrig Jones (Plaid Cymru,Gerlan) on this blog from time to time, but fair play, his latest posting on his blog has made me think he may not be that bad after all. In it, Dyfrig, quite clearly is angered by a number of issues relating to the One Wales agreement and Labour's failure to keep their side of the bargain at Cardiff Bay due to contsant undermining by their colleagues in Westminster culminating in today's announcement regarding the scrapping of the prison at Caernarfon. He has now called on Plaid to look for alternative ways to govern Wales until the 2011 Assembly Elections - a call that will certainly put a few of Plaid's leaders at the Assembly's noses out of joint. At times it has appeared quite cringe worthy that Plaid has lost a little dignity in this agreement and are happy to be Labour's "bag carriers". Now that it is blatently obvious that the Labour Government in Westminster will be sent packing next May, is Dyfrig now advocating against the wishes of Adam Price for example that Plaid speak to the Tories and Glib.Dems about a Rainbow Coalition in Cardiff Bay? If so,it will be interesting to see what support he will get and the reaction of fellow Plaid politicians both locally and across Wales. One thing is sure, for coming out so strongly against the One Wales agreement Dyfrig can no longer be called a Plaid poodle and for that I tip my hat to him.
Gyda'r cyhoeddiad p'nawn ma na fydd carchar bellach yn cael ei adeiladu yng Nghaernarfon (Cofi Loc fel yr adnabyddir yn lleol) mae rhaid gofyn amryw o gwestiynau i'r Weinyddiaeth Cyfiawnder ynglyn a pham yn union mae nhw wedi newid ei meddyliau ac sut mae'r holl ffiasgo wedi cymryd mor hir i arwain at hyn. Tydi'r penderfyniad ddim yn sioc i mi gan fy mod wedi sylwi rhai wythnosau'n ol fod drwg yn y caws yn rhywle. I fod yn deg a swyddogion Cyngor Gwynedd mae nhw wedi gweithio'n galed iawn ar y "prosiect" yma i'w weld yn diwedd i ddod i ddim. Mae angen carchar yma yn y Gogledd mae angen carchar ar gyfer Cymry Cymraeg - lle felly fydd y Winyddiaeth Gyfiawnder yn lleoli carchar o'r fath rwan os o gwbwl? Byddai datblygu'r carchar yng Nghaernarfon wedi creu 700 o swyddi yma yng Ngwynedd yn ogystal a £10m yn flynyddol i'r economi leol. Mae un peth yn saff mae ganddynt lawer o gwestiynau i'w ateb a braf oedd clywed "Arweinydd" Cyngor Gwynedd yn siarad efo tan yn ei fol am unwaith ar y radio yn gynharach ac yn mynnu atebion am y ffars yma.
With the announcement this afternoon that the Ministry of Justice has decided that they are not going to build a new prison in Caernarfon as originaly announced in February, I think it is only fair that they answer the many questions arising from this whole episode which naturally many people are asking tonight. I must say, I had smelt a rat some weeks ago so the announcement dose not come as a complete shock, however now that the prospects of 700 new jobs and £10m into the local economy annualy has disappeared, Cofi Lock as it was affectionatly known in the Caernarfon area has proven to be a cruel joke for the officers of Gwynedd Council who worked tirelessly to secure the prison for the County. One thing is for certain we must press for answers from the Ministry of Jokers, sorry Justice! I was glad to hear the "Leader" of Gwynedd Council also speaking on the radio earlier with a bit of fire in his belly for a change pressing for answers to what can only be described as an absolute farce.
Felly mae Panel Comisiwn "Arbenigwyr" Cynghorwyr Cymru wedi cyhoeddi eu adroddiad hwy ar sut ddylid datblygu rol ni Gynghorwyr - eich aelodau etholdig chi. Peth gyntaf sydd yn taro rhywun ydi'r ffaith nad yw unrhyw ardal, unigolyn na fudiad i'r Gogledd o Aberystwyth yn cael ei gynrychioli ar y Panel...mater sydd yn gydnaws gyda'r Cynulliad dyddiau yma dybiwn i? Dau beth sydd yn fy nharo i ydi fod y panel am geisio'n troi ni gynghorwyr i fod yn clones sydd yn debyg i'n gilydd, yn bihafio yr un fath ac yn llawn ideoleg wleidyddol gywir drwy'r adeg. Mae na elfenau nawddoglyd iawn hefyd yn yr adroddiad sydd yn arwain i ddyn feddwl fod yr "arbennigwyr" yn meddwl ein bod ni i gyd yn dwp! Dwi'n falch o ddeud mod i eisioes yn gwneud rhai o'r pethau mae nhw'n argymell e.e. defnyddio technoleg gwybodaeth er mwyn cysylltu a fy etholwyr...y blog hwn ydi'r cyfrwng hynny - cofiwch dwi ddim am un funud yn dweud mod be dwi'n ei wneud yn ddelfrydol i pawb nac yn fy ngwneud yn well na unrhyw un o'm cyd aelodau ar y Cyngor. Dwi wedi cynhyrchu a dosbarthu adroddiad blynyddol i pob ty yn fy Ward ar gost fi fy hunain, mae gan pob etholwr fy rhif symudol, cyfeiriad e-bost, cyfeiriad cartref ac dwi'n cynnal cymorthfa ar fore Sadwrn gynta' pob mis - doedd dim angen "arbennigwyr" i egluro'r rol arnaf! Mae rhai o'r argymhellion sydd yn yr adroddiad gyda chost sylweddol iddynt a gyda Llywodraeth leol yn gwynebu torriadau fel nas welwyd ers amser maith, credaf mai da o beth fyddai defnyddio'r arian yna ar wasanaethau i'r cyhoedd yn hytrach na gwario fo ar gimics i gynghorwyr dylai wneud y pethau yma'n naturiol. Hoffwn wybod wrth gloi faint gostiodd yr adroddiad yma i dynnu at ei gilydd...atebion mewn e-bost plis.
So the Report of the Councillor Commission "Expert" Panel Wales has been published along with 35 recommendations as to how we, your elected Councillors could and should serve you better. Firstly what struck me was that the "Experts" as far as I am aware are based and represent bodies that are based no further North than Aberystwyth...very representative geographically...well done WAG! A few things that struck me from a quick scan of the report is that the panel are pretty keen to clone us all into politically correct lapdogs who are willing to skip and jump to officers or WAG's whistles! Secondly they appear to assume that the majority of us are thick! I'm glad to say that I'm personaly doing some of the things that they recommend that an elected member should do - however, I'm not saying that what I'm doing is better than anything that other members may or may not be doing. I use ICT to communicate with electors through this blog and e-mails. I have also published and distributed an annual report at my own expense to every household in my Ward and will continue to do so whilst I am a member of Gwynedd Council. Every elector in my Ward has my mobile number, e-mail address and home address, I also hold a surgery on the first Saturday of every month so I didn't need an "expert" to explain my role, my duties or responsibilities to me! Some of the recommendations in the report have a severe cost connected to them. Money in my view which would be far better spent on frontline services for the public,rather than gimmicks for Councillors, particularly now that public sector budgets are going to be slashed. To close, I'd be very interested to learn how much this report has cost to compile? - Answers via e-mail please.
Dwi erioed wedi deallt na gweld unrhyw bwrpas i'r Democratiaid Rhyddfrydol. Gwleidyddiaeth eistedd ar y ffens un munud ac yna fflip fflop y funud arall...fel salad cynnes di-flas wedi bod allan yn yr haul ar ddiwrnod craspoeth. Mae rhai o'u penderfyniadau o'u cynhadledd i mi yn ymddangos fel eu bod nhw am chwarae "Russian Roulette" gwleidyddol. Dwi'n credu y byddent yn ffodus iawn i gadw ei seddau Seneddol yma yng Nghymru wedi'r Etholiad Cyffredinol gyda'r un fyddech yn meddwl fyddai'r mwya diogel sef Jenny Willott yng Nghanol Caerdydd nawr yn y fantol yn sgil y cyhoeddiad yn ymwneud a ffioedd myfyrwyr. Fydd 'na golled ar eu holau? Dwi ddim yn meddwl rhywsut.
I've never seen or understood any point to the Liberal Democrats. Politics that sits on the fence one minute and then flip flopping the next...they're like a warm tasteless salad left out in the sun on a hot summers day...quite unapitising. Some of their policy announcements at their Bournemouth conference appear to me as if they're playing a political version of "Russian Roulette". I personaly think that they will be lucky to hold on to their Westminster seats here in Wales at the next General Election, with the one that you'd most expect them to keep, Jenny Willott in Cardiff Central becoming increasingly under threat due to today's announcement regarding student tuition fees. Will they be missed? Somehow I don't think so.
Cynhaliwyd cyfarfod o'r Cyngor Tref heno i drafod plismona yn y dref. Yno i ateb cwestiynau gan y Cynghorwyr oedd yr Uwch Arolygydd Geraint Anwyl a Chadeirydd Awdurdod Heddlu y Gogledd, Y Cyng. Ian Roberts. Mi gafwyd cyfarfod agored iawn ac fe leiswyd aneddigrwydd ar mwy nac un achlysur o'r adnoddau sydd yn cael ei roi tuag at blismona yr ardal hon. Roedd y Cynghorwyr o'r farn fod yr heddlu sydd yma yn gwneud eu gorau glas o dan amgylchiadau anheg ar adegau ac fod diffyg o fewn yr uwch reolaeth yr heddlu wrth adnabod anghenion plismona trefi bychan a chefngwlad - faith nad oedd y gwesteion yn cytuno a hwy fedrwch chi ddisgwyl. Dwi ddim yn meddwl fod fawr ddim wedi dod o'r cyfarfod yn anffodus heblaw am y ffaith ein bod ni wedi cael deialog agored ac fod yr Uwch Arolygydd a Chadeirydd yr Awdurdod Heddlu yn gwybod mai barn mawyafrif ohonom ma yn y Blaenau ydi "Nid da lle gellir gwell".
An extraordinary meeting of the Town Council was held tonight to discuss the policing of the town and surrounding area. There to answer Councillor's questions were Chief Superintendant Geraint Anwyl and Chairman of North Wales Police Authority, Cllr.Ian Roberts. We had a full and frank debate and a number of members raised their disatisfaction regarding a range of issues but more tha anything, it is the lack of resources and manpower for small towns like Blaenau and rural areas in general that was the main cause of concern. As I have stated on many occassions previously on this blog, the police men and women that serve this community do a very good job on the whole - however it seems that their superiors and the Police Authority are pushing them to their limits and for that reason there are times when there is as little as one policeman responsible for a population of nearly 5,000! I don't think that much was achieved from tonights meeting, which quite frankly I was dissapointed about. Both our guests will have left knowing that we as locally elected members who hear the complaints of our electors on a daily basis were far from happy. Will we see any changes? Time will tell however one thing is clear,we expect better.
Dydd Iau yr wythnos hon bydd gweithgor adrefnu addysg y Cyngor yn ardal Dysynni yn cyhoeddi eu argymhellion hwy ar ddyfodol addysg yn ran yno o Wynedd. Yn ol yr hyn dwi wedi glywed o'r holl broses hyd yma, tydi pethau ddim yn edrych yn dda iawn gyda'r Cyngor yn debygol o argymell rhywbeth na fydd ddim wrth ddant y rhan helyw o'r cymunedau yn yr ardal. Fe gofiwch chi pan ddaru'r holl broses yma ddechrau dros dwy flynedd yn ol mai ysgol ardal oedd yr hyn oedd y Cyngor yn ei ffafrio... a hynny'n groes i farn y mwyafrif o'r gymuned. Pa ods fyddai dyn yn ei gael gan y bwci lleol ar hynny yn cael ei gynnig eto..amser a ddengys os bydd y Cyngor wedi gwrando ar farn y gymuned y tro hwn.
On Thursday this week, the schools re-organisation panel for the Dysynni area will announce their reccomendations on the future of primary education in that part of Gwynedd. According to what I have heard regarding the whole process so far, things do not look good as the Council is likely to reccomend something that will not be to the liking of the local community. You'll remember that when this whole process started in the area two years ago, the Council favoured the establishment of an area school...something that was not favoured by many locally. What odds would you get therefore at the local bookmakers that an area school is what will be recommended again....time will tell whether or not the Council have listened to the community this time.
Staying on the theme of reality TV show's, this years "Britain's Got Talent" Runner-up Susan Boyle has just appeared on the final of America's Got Talent singing this, her new single, Wild Horses which is a cover version of the Rolling Stones track. I think its stunning and her debut album which is released on November 23rd (just in time for Christmas) is sure to go to Number 1 (You can just see the £ signs going round and round in Simon Cowell's eyes). Anyway, like I said, I thing this is really good, and although this isn't the official video it goes well with the song. Enjoy!
Lots of bits and pieces in the paper today about Strictly Come Dancing. I must say that I think that Joe Calzaghe is very lucky to have got enough votes to stay in this week. His performance was shocking! I remember on holiday in Sicily about 5 years ago entering a ballroom dancing competition with Mrs Euros at the hotel we were staying at...I was even worse than Joe(and that takes some doing!)...but I just couldn't stop laughing due to the fact that other guests mainly German and Austrian were taking it all so seriously. I reckon if the judges would have seen me that night they would have struggled to give me more than a 2! One thing I believe is for the first time in a very long time unless there is a dramatic improvement, Joe will not be a champion. Seeing is believing, the music is bad, the dancing is worse...priceless, enjoy, this is TV Gold!
Albwm diweddara' David Gray ydi "Draw The Line" ac ar ol dwy wrandawiad, mae hon yn wych yn fy marn i. Pob un o'r unarddeg can yn dda yn ei ffyrdd bach eu hunain. Mae hon yn sicir werth gwrandawiad. Dyma'r sengl gynta' oddi ar yr albwm - "Fugitive"
The latest offering from David Gray is Draw The Line and after just two listens I think this is an excellent album. Not a bad track out of the 11 that's on this album and it's very rare that a man can say that. Well worth a listen.Here's the first single off the album -"Fugitive"
Mae tudalennau blaen y Daily Post a'r Western Mail y bore 'ma yn olrain hanes y twyll yng Nghwmni Llechi Alfred Mc Alpine yma yn y Blaenau ac yn Chwarel y Penrhyn. Ddoe mi garcharwyd 3 o gyn gyfarwyddwyr y Cwmni - yn naturiol mae hyn yn newyddion trist i hwy a'u teuluoedd, gan mae'n ymddangos nad oedd run o'r rhai gafodd ei dedfrydu wedi elwa'n bersonnol o'r hyn y wnaethant. Serch hynny, twyll ydi twyll ac yn yr achos yma y rhai ddioddefodd fwya o'r holl bennod anffodus hon oedd y 126 o weithwyr yma yn y Blaenau ac yn Nyffryn Ogwen collodd eu swyddi yn sgil gwallgofrwydd y cyfarwyddwyr anghyfrifol ac iddyn nhw, y gweithwyr a'u teuluoedd mae fy nghydymdeimlad i heddiw.
The front pages of this morning's Daily Post and Western Mail reports that three former directors at the Alfred Mc Alpine Slate Company her in Blaenau and Penrhyn Quarry have been jailed for fraud. Naturally this is a personal tragedy for them and their families as it appears that none of them benefited directly from their dishonest actions. However, fraud is fraud and as a result of the actions of the three men that were jailed yesterday, 126 workers here in Blaenau and in the Ogwen Valley lost their jobs. It is with those workers and their families that my sympathy lies today.
Gadael y swyddfa 'chydig yn gynnar p'nawn 'ma er mwyn mynd am dro i Cwmorthin yna troi i fynnu i'r dde i fod uwchben y dref a'r Gloddfa Ganol. Does dim byd gwell am glirio pen a rhoi rhywun mewn hwyliau da am y penwythnos.
Welsh boxing legend Joe Calzaghe makes his debut on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing tonight. This I have to see! I'm more of an X-Factor fan myself, however as long as Joe is in the competition, it will be on series link in my SKY+ planner. When I watched him give the best performance by a Welsh boxer in the ring against Jeff Lacey at 2a.m in the morning at the MEN Arena, Manchester...never would I imagine that 4 years later I'd be watching him ballroom dancing on prime-time TV...what ever is this world coming too!? Good luck to Joe and his partner Kristina Rihanoff.
Dyma oedd newyddion annisgwyl...Adam Price A.S. ddim yn sefyll ar gyfer yr Etholiad Cyffredinol. Er i mi roi 'chydig bach o chwip din eiriol iddo ar y blog 'ma chydig ddyddiau yn ol, does gennai ddim byd personnol yn erbyn Adam. Mae o'n amlwg yn wr galluog ac yn un o asedau mawr Plaid Cymru. Bydd ei golli fel Aelod Seneddol nid yn unig yn golled i'r Blaid ond yn golled i Gymru yn San Steffan. Mae ei benderfyniad yn un dewr ac yn un metrus ac bydd hi'n ddiddorol i weld be wneith o os a pan ddaw o'n ei ol o'r America..ac os felly ym mhle fydd o'n sefyll ar gyfer Etholiadau'r Cynulliad yn 2011. Yn y cyfamser pob lwc iddo gyda'i astudiaethau. Llongyfarchiadau i Vaughan am y scwp
Now, this was unexpected news...Adam Price M.P. is to stand down at the next General Election. Even though I gave him a bit of stick on this blog earlier this week, I have nothing personnal against Adam. He is clearly a very able man and he is one of Plaid Cymru's assets. Losing him as an M.P. is not only a major blow for Plaid Cymru, it is a blow for Wales at Westminster. His decision is both brave and ambitious and it will be very interesting to see what he will do if and when he returns from the USA...and even more interesting will be the constituancy that he will choose to stand in for the Assembly Elections in 2011 if he decides to do so. In the meantime, I wish him well with his studies. Congratulations to Vaughan for the scoop
Nawr ac yn y man mae rhywun yn darllen rhywbeth ar flogiau pobl eraill sydd yn gwneud i rhywun feddwl "oh na"! Teimlad felly cefais wrth ddarllen yr edefyn hynod unlleigediog hwn gan Cai Larsen. Mae Llais Gwynedd weid bod yn gyson wrth gynnig ffyrdd amgenach o weithio o fewn Cyngor Gwynedd, cynnig syniadau ar sut i wneud arbedion a bod mwy effeithiol er mwyn gwarchod gwasanaethau rheng flaen fel ysgolion, cartrefi gofal, cymorth i fudiadau gwirfoddol, pecynnau gofal i uniogolion gyda anabledd dysgu a thoiledau cyhoeddus. Wrth ddarllen y frawddog hon "Wedi'r cwbl mae pawb angen toiled, ond dim ond plant sydd angen ysgol, dim ond yr hen a'r methedig sydd angen gofal a dim ond pobl sydd a phroblemau dwys sydd angen cymorth gwasanaethau cymdeithasol" yn edefyn y prifathro pigog, mi all rhywun feddwl fod Plaid Cymru am warchod y pethau yma i gyd hefyd. Ond - na! Y gwir plaen fel wyr bron pawb ond Cai a rhai o'i gyfeillion o fewn y Blaid ydi mai yn ystod y 2 flynedd diwethaf, Plaid Cymru sydd wedi ceiso cau 25 o ysgolion cynnradd o fewn y sir, Plaid Cymru gauodd cartref Bryn Llywelyn, Plaid Cymru sydd am gau toiledau cyhoeddus, Plaid Cymru dynodd pecyn grantaiu oddiwrth mudiadau gwirfoddol ac ie....Plaid Cymru sydd yn cynnig torriadau i gyllidebau gofal ar gyfer unigolion gyda anabledd dysgu - mi wneith Cai ddadlau yn wahanol ond mae gennyf dystiolaeth i pob un o'r ffeithiau yma i gynnig i unrhyw un hoffai ei weld, hyd yn oed Cai os fedr o stumogi'r fath beth. Gwyn y gwel yntau teurngarwch dall?
Bore 'ma, mi es i draw i Ysgol Maenofferen i ddweud diolch yn fawr iawn wrth wraig go arbennig, ei enw hi ydi Mrs Vera Gray, neu Anti Vera i plant y dre. Pam mae Vera yn ddynes arbennig? Wel, bron i 36 mlynedd yn ol, mi ddaru Vera gytuno i fod yn ddynes lolipop am fythefnos tra roedd ffrind iddi hi yn mynd ar ei gwyliau. Dyma ni, 36 mlynedd yn ddiweddarach, mae Vera dal yn ddynes lolipop ond yfory bydd hi'n ymddeol ar ol sicrhau fod miloedd o blant y Blaenau wedi gallu croesi'r ffordd yn ddiogel er mwyn mynd i'r ysgol a hynny ym mhob tywydd. Mae ymroddiad Vera fel y cannoedd o weithwyr eraill rheng flaen y Cyngor yn ysbrydoledig, does genai ddim ond diolch iddynt am yr hyn mae nhw yn ei wneud yn ddi-lol o ddydd i ddydd ond heno mae rhaid dweud diolch arbennig i Vera. Yn y llun gyda Vera a fi mae Mrs Paula Owen o Uned Diogelwch Ffyrdd Cyngor Gwynedd. Diolch yn fawr iawn i Alwyn o Stiniog.com am y caniatad i'w ddefnyddio.
This morning, I went to Maenofferen School to say thank you very much to a special lady, her name is Mrs Vera Gray or as she is affectionatly known by the children of Blaenau, Auntie Vera. Why is Vera so special? Well, nearly 36 years ago, she became a lollipop lady for two weeks whilst her friend was away on holiday. Nearly 36 years later, she's still a lollipop lady but tomorrow she is retiring after ensuring that thousands of Blaenau children have crossed the road safely to get to and from school in every weather. The conviction and committment that Vera and hundreds of other frontline staff within the Council is truly inspirational, I have nothing but my sincerest thanks to them for all that they do, without fuss, day in day out, but tonight an extra special thank you goes out to Vera. In the photograph with Vera and I is Mrs Paula Owen from Gwynedd Council's Road Safety Unit. A special thanks to Alwyn from Stiniog.com for hi permission to use it.
A ddylai Blaenau Ffestiniog gael ei gynnwys o fewn ffinnau Awdurdod Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri? Dwi'n bersonnol yn teimlo fod hi'n hen amser i'r Blaenau fod yn y Parc. Dywedais hynny ym mis Gorffennaf ac rwyf wedi cyflwyno cynnig ger bron y Cyngor Tref i'r perwyl hynny. Yn amlwg mae dwy farn ar y mater, fel ac y glowyd ar Taro Post, BBC Radio Cymru yn gynharach heddiw. Yn amlwg bydd rhaid cael barn eahangach y gymuned cyn symud ymlaen ond oleiaf mae'r gwch ddiddorol hon wedi ei gwthio i'r dwr ac bydd hi'n ddiddorol clywed y ddwy ochr i'r ddadl.
Should Blaenau Ffestiniog be included in the Snowdonia National Park? I personaly feel that the time is right for the town to be included in the Park. I said that in July and my notice of motion calling for the Town Council to support such a move will be discussed at next months meeting. Naturaly there are two sides to the argument as was heard this lunchtime on BBC Radio Cymru's Taro Post. Its important that the community engages in the debate and I can see various opportunities to do so over the coming months via public meetings and online forums possibly - at least this interseting boat has now been pushed on to the water and I for one look forward to hearing both sides of the argument.
Heddiw mi ddaru'r Cyng.Louise Hughes deithio y 63 milltir o Lanegryn i Gaernarfon ar gefn feic i gyflwyno desiseb gyda dros 1500 o enwau arni yn gofyn ar i Gyngor Gwynedd ail ystyried eu penderfyniad i gau amryw o doeiledau ar draws y Sir. Llongyfarchiadau Louise am ddwyn sylw i'r mater yma sydd wedi codi gwrychyn amryw o drigolion yn eu mysg yr henoed, mamau ifanc, gyrrwyr loris a'r rhai sydd yn dioddef anhwylder.
Today, Councillor Louise Hughes cycled the 63 miles from Llanegryn to Caernarfon on her bicycle to present a petition with over 1500 signatures on it asking Gwynedd Council to re-consider its propsals regarding the closure of public toilets across the County. Well done Louise for keeping the matter on the political agenda, a matter which has angered many, including young mums, the elderly, lorry drivers and those suffering ill health.
Mae hi wedi bod yn wythnos brysur o gyfarfodydd yn ymwneud a Blaenau Ymlaen. Bore dydd Llun, cyfarfod difyr o'r Grwp Twristiaeth ac yna neithiwr yn dilyn tri cyfarfod yng Nghaernarfon, cyfarfod o Bartneriaeth Blaenau Ymlaen. Mae yna ysbryd da a phositif yn y cyfarfodydd yma a pawb yn cydweithio er gwella'r ardal yn economiadd, cymdeithasol ac amgylcheddol. Mae gennym ni raglen waith uchelgesiol ond drwy gydweithio mewn partneriaeth dwi'n teimlo nad yw'n hir nes fydd yr ardal a phawb sydd yn byw yma yn gweld ffrwyth ein llafur.
Its been a busy week of meetings regarding Blaenau Ymlaen. Monday morning we had a very productive meeting of the Tourism Sub-group and then last night following three meetings in Caernarfon, I atended a meeting of the Blaenau Ymlaen Partnership. There is a very good and positive atmosphere at these meetings and everyone is working together towards improving the area, economically, socially and environmentaly. We have an ambitious programme of work, however by working together as a team I am convinced that it will not be long until those living in the area will see the fruits of our labour.
I feddwl mai ychydig o flynyddoedd yn ol roedd Gordon Brown yn cael ei ddisgrifio fel y Canghellor gorau yn hanes y Senedd...myn diawl i, spiwch ar lle 'da ni heddiw ac i fod yn berffaith onest tydi'r dyn yn edrych dim mwy na rhywun reidiodd ei lwc am flynyddoedd. Mae ei araith heddiw i Gyngres yr Undebau yn cadarnhau hynny...mae o'n som am beidio a neud toriadau i wasnanethau rheng flaen ac mai arbedion effeithlonrwydd fydd yn digwydd! Mae'r dyn yn amlwg wedi colli'r plot! Yma yng Ngwynedd mae'r Cyngor yn gwynebu gwneud torriadau o £6.7m mewn Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol a dros £8m mewn addysg...torriadau wneith effeithio'n uniongyrchol ar y rhai mwya' bregys yn ein plith ni ac ar plant a phobl ifanc. Tydi Plaid Cymru ddim yn ddi-lychwyn yn hyn i gyd chwaith gan fod nhw wedi cynnal Llywodraeth y clown yma ym Mae Caerdydd ac mae'r Llwyodraeth yn y fan honno wedi rhoi'r setliad ariannol gwaethaf erioed i ni yma yng Ngwynedd, oes mae gan Gordon Brown lawer i ateb drosto heno ond nid y fo ydi'r unig un chwaith yn nace Rhodri Morgan a Ieuan Wyn Jones?
To imagine that a few years ago, Gordon Brown was being touted as being the best Chancellor ever to grace the corridors of Westminster...well to be perfectly blunt that looks like utter bu*****t when you look at the mess we're in today wouldn't you agree? His speech to the TUC today goes some way to confirming that.. he talks about "cutting costs, cutting inefficiencies, cutting unnecessary programmes and cutting lower priority budgets". How the hell is it then that thanks to the worst settlement ever that Gwynedd Council has received that Social Services faces a cut of £6.7m and Education faces a cut of over £8m...these are cuts that will have a direct impact on frontline services for the most vulnerable people in our communities as well as our children and young people. Gordon Brown is nothing more than a confidence trickster and a very poor one at that! He's not the only one to blame here, Plaid Cymru are not completely blameless in this, oh no, they kept this conman's crowd in power in Cardiff Bay and by doing so, they have passed on some savage cuts onto Local Authorities in Wales and Gwynedd received the worst of those. Yes Gordon Brown has a lot to answer for tonight, but so do Rhodri Morgan and Ieuan Wyn Jones.
Ddoe yng Nghynadledd Blynyddol Plaid Cymru mi rhoddodd Adam Price A.S. araith oedd yn ymosod yn hallt ar y Toriaid ac yn arddel llawer o'r hyn mae Plaid Cymru yn sefyll drosto (yn dibynnu yn union pa ardal 'da chi'n byw ynddo cofiwch....cau ysgolion yng Ngwynedd, am eu cadw ar agor ym Mynwy a Wrecsam). Rwan dwi ddim yn amau am funud mae'n debyg fod peth o feirnadiaeth Adam yn deg, serch hynny mae'n amlwg nad yw hyn yn gyson fel mae'r edefyn yma yn nodi - oleiaf mae'r Blaid yn gyson o anghyson. Be dwi'n cael hi'n anodd i'w ddeallt ydi'r ffaith fod Adam yn amlwg yn anwybyddu'n llwyr methianau ei Blaid ei hun a'u partneriaid sydd yn gwneud eu gorau glas i chwalu gwasnaethau cyhoeddus ar draws Cymru gyda un o'r setliadau ariannol gwaethaf i Lywodraeth Leol ers cyn cof. Yn hytrach na bod yn bartner effeithiol o fewn Llywodraeth y Cynulliad, mae Plaid Cymru fel cwn bach gwasaidd yn ysgwyd ei penau ac yn symud i pob gorchymun a dymuniad eu meistri Llafur. Mae'r ardaloedd gwledig yn dioddef yn waeth 'na unman arall ac yma yng Ngwynedd mae Arweinyddiaeth y Blaid ar y Cyngor yr un mor aneffeithiol ac anobeithiol a'r pwdls sydd ganddynt yn y Cynulliad. Does dim ond rhaid i chi ddarllen papurau Bwrdd y Cyngor dydd Mawrth i weld pa mor ddrwg ydi'r sefyllfa...ac nid ar y Toriaid mae'r bai am hynny o gwbwl ond ar Llafur a Phlaid Cymru...sydd wedi eu cadw mewn grym ym Mae Caerdydd ac hynny ar drael yr ardaloedd sydd wedi bod yn ffyddlon i'r Blaid ers blynyddoedd - diolch haeddianol yntau brad o'r radd flaenaf? Mi all rhywun bryderu am ddyfodol o dan y Toriaid, yn dilyn llanast Llafur a thalu'r banciau allan yna mae'n debyg bydd dim dewis ganddynt ond torri mwy ar wasanaethau cyhoeddus - trueni na fyddai Adam a'i gyfeillion yn y Blaid wedi codi eu lleisiau mor groch wrth i ni suddo i'r pydew yma o anobaith...ond na, byddai hynny wedi gwylltio eu meistri yn y Blaid Lafur ac felly peryglu y Llywodraeth llipa yng Nghaerdydd. Felly Adam, cyn i ti barhau i fod yn gyson o anghyson, edrycha adra a cymera air bach efo Ieuan Wyn Jones, Dyfed Edwards a Dafydd Iwan a dorwch eich ty eich hunain mewn trefn ac er mwyn gwneud hynny, dwi'n amau y byddi di angen ychydig o ysbrydoliaeth, fedrai ddim ond gobeithio y cei di o yn rhywle gwell na'r creadur yma.
Yesterday at Plaid Cymru's Annual Conference, Adam Price M.P. delivered a speech that was scathing of the Tory Party and advocating much of what Plaid stands for (depending where excactly you live of course...close schools in Gwynedd, keep 'em open in Monmouthshire and Wrexham). Now I don't suspect for one minute that some of Adam's criticism is justified, however it appears that it isn't consistent as this posting clearly highlights - At least Plaid are consistantly inconsistent. What I find difficult to understand is that Adam clearly ignores his own Party's failings along with their partners who are determined to decimate the public services across Wales with one of the worst Local Government settlements in living memory. Rather than being an effective partner in the Welsh Assembly Government, Plaid Cymru are mear lapdogs, willing to move obediently to the demands and commands of their Labour masters. The rural areas are suffering more than any other and here in Gwynedd the Plaid Leadership is as woefully inept and inadequate as that shown by the poodles that they have in the Assembly. You only need to read the papers for Tuesday's Council Board Meeting to see how bad the situation is....and you cannot blame the Tories for that, the blame falls fairly and squarely with Labour and Plaid Cymru...who have been kept in power in Cardiff Bay to the detriment of the areas which have been faithful to Plaid over so many years - a deserved thanks or an act of pure betrayal? One can rightfully be concerned about the future under a Tory Government however following Labour's mess and the bailout of the banks it appears that they will have little choice but to make further public sector cuts - Pity that Adam and his Plaid colleagues would not have raised their voices as we sank into this pool of dispair, but no, that would have upset their Labour masters and that would have jeapordised the limp government that they have formed together in Cardiff Bay. So Adam before you carry on being consistantly inconsistant, take a closer look and speak to Ieuan Wyn Jones, Dyfed Edwards and Dafydd Iwan and put your own house in order. If you're to do this, I don't doubt that you'll need some inspiration, one can only hope that you'll find it from somehwere better than this poor chap.
Last night's X-Factor had two very different stand out performances and I think that both these contestants will be there or there abouts when the winner is crowned just before Christmas. Is it me, but I think that the standard is higher this year,wouldn't you agree? Olly Murs
Dros y blynyddoedd mae Ystad Penygwndwn yma yn y Blaenau wedi cael tipyn o sylw negyddol yn y wasg, peth ohonno yn haeddianol a llawer ohonno yn gwbwl anheg. Dros y dyddiau diwethaf dwi wedi gweld a chlywed am drigolion y Stad yn gwneud pethau gwych. Dydd Gwener, roedd angladd un o drigolion y stad, be wnaeth y cymdogion ond dod at ei gilydd a pharatoi llyniaeth ar gyfer y galarwyr yn y Ty Cymunedol sydd wedi ei leoli ar y Stad. Ddoe, mi fues i mewn diwrnod hwyl oedd wedi ei drefnu gan aelodau Cymdeithas Tenantiaid y Stad yn y Parc yma yn y Blaenau. Roedd llawer o fobl yno ac roedd elw o'r diwrnod yn cael ei ranu rhnwg y Cymdeithas a Chronfa Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru. Dyma ddau engraifft o'r ysbryd cymunedol gwych sydd yn bodoli ym Mhenygwndwn, dwi'n mawr obeithio bydd rhai gohebwyr y Wasg yn barod i rhoi sylw i hynny yn yr un modd a roeddynt yn barod i ladd ar y lle yn y gorffenol.
Over the years, the Penygwndwn Estate in Blaenau has had a fair bit of negative attention in the press, some of it deservedly, but most of it unfair and unjustified. Over the last few days I have seen and heard of the residents of the Estate doing some great things. On Friday, a resident from the Estate was buried, following his funeral, his neighbours had prpared food for the mourners following the funeral at the Community House which is located on the Estate. Yesterday, the Penygwndwn Tenants Association had organised a fund day at the Park in Blaenau Ffestiniog with the proceeds being shared between the Association and The Wales Air Ambulance Fund - the day was a resounding success. These are two brilliant examples of the great community spirit that excists at Penygwndwn and I sincerely hope that some reporters in the Press who have been ready to highlight the negative things about the Estate in the past will be just as ready to highlight the good things that have happened over the last few days.
Yn ol y BBC a blog Betsan, mae'r Blaid sydd eisiau cau dros 25 o ysgolion yma yng Ngwynedd rwan yn cefnogi y penderfyniad i rhyddau terfysgwr o Libya laddodd 270 o fobl diniwed yn Lockerbie. Ydych chi o ddifri yn meddwl fod rhain yn haeddu eich cefnogaeth!?
According to the BBC and Betsan, the Party that wants to close over 25 primary schools here in Gwynedd now openly support the decision to release a terrorist who killed 270 innocent people by blowing a plane out of the sky above Lockerbie. Do you really think that they deserve your support?
P'nawn godidog yma yn y Blaenau, yr Amaturiaid adra yn y Maracana ger y Moelwyn (Cae Clyd)yn erbyn Treffynon - byddai buddigoliaeth heddiw yn mynd a'r hogia' i'r 4ydd safle yn y gynghrair. Ar Gae Dolawel mi fydd clwb rygbi Bro Ffestiniog yn chwarae eu gem cartref gynta yng Nghyngrair 1 Y Gogledd yn erbyn Caernarfon. Cafodd yr hogia dechrau drwg wythnos diwethaf ym Mhwllheli gan golli o 66-21, felly fyddent yn gobeithio am well hwyl ar tomen eu hunain. Dwi felly am dreilio'r hanner cynta' yn gwylio'r Amaturiaid a'r llal yn gwylio Bro gan obeithio fydd y ddau yn ennill, dyna be fyddai coron ar ddiwrnod braf yn y Blaenau!
A glorious afternoon here in beautiful Blaenau, the Amatures are home at the Maracana of the Moelwyn (Cae Clyd) against Holywell - a victory will take the lads up to 4th in the league. Meanwhile at Dolawel, Bro Ffestiniog Rugby Club entertain Caernarfon in the Division 1 North clash. Bro were hammered last week in a bruising encounter at Pwllheli by 66-21 and they will be hoping for a better result on ther home turf. I'm therefoe going to watch the first half of the football and Second half at the rugby and I hope that both teams win, as that would crown a lovely day in Blaenau!
Wythnos i nos Lun, Medi'r 21ain am 6y.h. yn Neuadd y W.I. bydd Cyfarfod Anarferol o'r Cyngor Tref yn cael ei gynnal gyda'r Uwch Arolygydd Geraint Annwyl a Chadeirydd Awdurdod Heddlu'r Gogledd, Cyng.Ian Roberts. Bwriad y cyfarfod ydi trafod diffyg adnoddau ar gyfer plismona'r ardal hon. Rwan er bod croeso cynnes i aelodau'rcyhoedd fynychu'r cyfarfod, cheith nhw ddim siarad gan mai dyna yw rheolau'r Cyngor. Serch hynny, os oes gennych chi gwestiwn hoffech chi i mi ofyn ar eich rhan, byddaf yn barod iawn i wneud hynny. Mae croeso i chi e-bostio eich cwestiynau i gwilym@llaisgwynedd.com erbyn nos Wener 18fed o Fedi os yn bosib.
A week on Monday,September 21st at 6pm in the W.I. Hall an Extraordinary Meeting of Ffestiniog Town Council will be held to discuss the lack of resources for policing this area, which is a concern to many local residents. Chief Superintendent Geraint Annwyl and Councillor Ian Roberts, Chair of the North Wales Police Authority will be attending the meeting which is open to the public. However, Council rules do not allow the public to speak, so if you have any questions you'd like to put to the Police representatives I am more than willing to ask them on your behalf. Please feel free to e-mail any questions to me by Friday 18th September my address is gwilym@llaisgwynedd.com
This letter by Councillor Liz Saville Roberts appeared in this weeks Cambrian News, if ever more proof was needed that she and her colleagues in the Plaid Cymru group on Gwynedd Council have already decided the fate of at least 25 of our small primary schools then this is it. Now before I go any further, I like Liz, she's an intelligent woman who is trying her best in a tough portfolio....however I think that she is wrong on this issue and the coldness and startegically calculated manner of this letter is not becoming of her and its saddens me. To write such a letter before such a crucial meeting to me seems unfair and unwise as it could be seen by some as intimidatory. She highlights the fact that Llais Gwynedd withdrew from the process, this very letter confirms that we were right to do so as she and her officers have already made up their minds as to what they want to see happening. She also states that Llais are irresponsible! We have held a public meeting in the area where it became abundently clear that at least 3 of the six primary schools in the area want to keep the status quo a position that we wholeheartedly support in all three cases...she and her officers have so far ignored that opinion, not very fair or responsible is it? It is the peoples best interests that we have at heart in everything that we do....she has not organised or attended any public meetings appart from the Council Staged Forums to ascertain any views...not exactly balanced or a fair representation of the wider community's view is it? Llais' stand does not serve Plaids motives or the Council's long term aim and that is why she attacks us within the letter. In the Dysynni area as in other areas within Dwyfor and Meirionnydd, the main reason for there being a drop in child numbers are due to the failure of Gwynedd Council under Plaid rule and the Welsh Assembly to draw in work and invest in these areas. Only last year, Gwynedd Council lept like lemmings to the tune of WAG and supported the Wales Spacial Plan that centred economic growth around the Caernarfon/Bangor area! She makes such sweeping statements as these with no evidence at all to back up her argument, where sociologists and other organisations such as the National Association for Small Schools can offer concrete evidence and fact to counter her flawed retoric "If we refuse to recognise how Gwynedd is changing and insist upon planning for the future on the basis of nostalgia and wishful thinking, our actions – or inactions – will haunt future generations. We know that the status quo is unsustainable: three schools have closed in the past year. Our expectations for education in the 21st century have evolved, along with the ways in which we interact within and across communities". She states that Councillors should engage with those affected etc...a sentiment that I agree with totally, the difference between myself and Liz and my Llais colleagues and her colleagues in Plaid is that we will listen and we will do our utmost to deliver the people's wishes not the wishes of those who have their own agendas to meet the flawed strategy as set out by the unelected manderins that have so poorly advised the most mediocre government in any Western democracy that is intent on destroing public services as we know them - a government that Plaid happens to be a partner in. Failure to listen to parents, teachers and the pupils will lead to the further withdrawl of vital services within our rural communities as well as having a long term negative impact on educational standards in Gwynedd. Bravery needed as school closure decision time looms Madam, The panel considering primary school reorganisation in Tywyn will come to the conclusion of its discussions this month. I hope the panel members – headteachers, school governors and councillors – will be brave in their recommendations and that the democratic representatives of Gwynedd appreciate the gravity of the decisions facing them. One group of councillors, in Llais Gwynedd, chose to announce in the middle of the summer that they’d seen fit to pull out of discussions. Their refusal to participate in the primary schools reorganisation dialogue is irresponsible, and does not serve the best interests of their constituents or the people of Gwynedd as a whole. Surely what is needed now is a mature discussion of our priorities: how best to balance the needs of rural and urban communities fairly, how to accommodate a long-term decrease in the number of children accompanied by an increasingly ageing population across the county as a whole? If we refuse to recognise how Gwynedd is changing and insist upon planning for the future on the basis of nostalgia and wishful thinking, our actions – or inactions – will haunt future generations. We know that the status quo is unsustainable: three schools have closed in the past year. Our expectations for education in the 21st century have evolved, along with the ways in which we interact within and across communities. Change is challenging, but our vision for excellence in schools and the way we make best use of the money available must address this. Councillors are elected to deal with such challenges. They should actively seek the contributions of local people, experts and those most likely to be affected. Nonetheless, councillors are honoured by the electorate to be in a position of power; in this instance, they have the power to make decisions about schools – their location, the quality of buildings and the learning environment, their resilience for the future in terms of teacher numbers, class sizes and leadership potential. Failure to make decisions will be disastrous for the future quality of education.
Liz Saville Roberts, Councillor for Morfa Nefyn and portfolio holder for education 10 September 2009
Driving back through the heart of Wales this afternoon in glorious weather and this song came on the radio and on first listen I thought it was brilliant. I love Sam Sparro's voice and this video made me giggle. Here's Basement Jaxx featuring Sam Sparro and Feelings Gone....enjoy!
Newydd ddychwelyd o Gasnewydd a'r Gynhadledd Buddsoddi yr LGC. Fel deilydd portffolio Adnoddau Dynol dwi'n cymryd cryn ddiddordeb yn y byd pensiynau ac dwi yn digwydd bod yn aelod o Bwyllgor Pensiynau. Gyda chefnogaeth Cyfarwyddwr Strategol Adnoddau a'r Cyfarwyddwr Cyllid a'u staff yn ogystal a chwmni Hymans Robertson rydym fel Pwyllgor yn gyfrifol am y Gronfa Bensiwn. Yn y gynhadledd hon cafwyd cyflwyniadau diddorol yn amlinellu'r bygythiadau 'r heriau sydd yn gwynebu Awdurdodau Lleol yn y blynyddoedd i ddod wrth ddelio gyda buddsoddiadu ar gyfer y cronfeydd pensiwn. Yn sicir mae digon o faterion i gnoi cil drostynt ac un peth ddaru fy nharo oedd y ffaith pa mor hir fedr y sector gyhoeddus gynnal cynlluniau penswin cylog terfynol? Amser a ddengus.
I've just returned from Newport from the LGC Investment Summit. As the Human Resources Portfolio Leader I take a firm interest in pensions and investments as I also happen to be a member of the Pensions Committee. With the support of the Strategic Director for Resources and Head of Finance along with Hymans Robertson, we as a Committee are responsible for the Pension Fund. At the summit, there were a number of interesting presentations by eminent economists outlining thethreats and challenge's facing Local Government over the coming years as the deal with investments for their pension funds. Certainly there is plenty of food for thought and what struck me most was the fact that for how much longer can the public sector sustain a final salary pension scheme? Time will tell.
Alistair Darling yn dweud fod gwariant cyhoeddus yn mynd i gael ei dorri mewn araith yng Nghaerdydd. "Arweinnydd" Cyngor Gwynedd am dorri £8m o'r gyliddeb Addysg a £6.2m o Wasanaethau Cymdeithasol a mae'r darogan gan y Gymdeithas Llywodraeth Leol yn ddu iawn! Mae'r holl beth yn llanast! Byddwn ni fel Llais Gwynedd yn ceisio gwarchod gwasnaethau cyn gorau a medrwn ni o dan yr amgylchiadau annodd yma. Yn y cyfamser mae angen ail edrych ar unwaith ar y Fformiwla Barnett sydd yn dynodi arian i Gymru o San Steffan ac mae'n hen bryd y Lywodraeth y Cynulliad ariannu Llywodraeth Leol yn gywir a pheidio a gwneud popeth yn ei allu i danseilio ymdrechion yr Awdurdodau Lleol i gynnig gwasnaethau o safon i ddinasyddion Cymru o Fon i Fynwy.
Alstair Draling saying that public sector spending will be cut in a speech in Cardiff. Gwynedd Council's "Leader" wants tocut £8m from education and £6.2m from Social Services and the WLGA predicts that thinks are going to get much worse! This is an absolute mess!We as Llais Gwynedd will do everything within our powers to protect services as best we can under such difficult circumstances. In the meantime, Westminster need to re-look at the Barnett Formula so that Wales get a larger slice of the Westminster cake and WAG needs to finance the public sector properly and do all that is possible, not undermineLocal Governmnt so that we the Councils of Wales can serve our citizens effectively.
Yn gynharch yr Haf 'ma mi gyflwynodd Cyngor Gwynedd gais cynllunio i sefydlu canolfan ailgylchu ar Barc Busnes Porthmadog ble roedd cwmni Gelert yn arfer ei ddefnyddio fel warws. Pan aeth y cais ger bron Pwyllgor Ardal Dwyfor er mwyn gael ei ystyried, roedd yr aelod lleol, Selwyn Griffiths (Plaid) yn erbyn gan fod amryw o drigolion lleol yn bryderus am y cynllun. Mi ddaru'r Pwyllgor gefnogi Selwyn a phleidleisio yn erbyn y cais...pawb ond un, Cyng.Gareth Roberts, Aberdaron (Uwch Arweinydd Portffolio Amgylchedd). Gwrthodwyd y cais. Ond nid dyna ddiwedd y mater, mi gyfeiriodd y swyddogion y mater i fynnu at y Pwyllgor Cynllunio Canolog ac bu i'r Pwyllgor gyfarfod ddoe i drafod y mater. Be ddigwyddodd?..Mi ddaru Selwyn siarad yn gryf yn erbyn y cynnig ond mi ddaru amryw o aelodau Plaid Cymru..wrthod ei ddadl ac anwybyddu yn llwyr y penderfyniad democrataidd a chadarn Dwyfor yn ogysatlac anwybyddu barn pobl Port a chaniatau y bwriad! Be sydd gan hynny i neud efo ni yn y Blaenau? Wel, fel mae rhai ohonoch yn gwybod, mae'r Cyngor yn awyddus i sefydlu cynllun tebyg ar Gaeau'r Ddol yn Tangrisiau. Mi fydd y Cynllun yn dod ger bron y Pwyllgor Ardal rhwng rwan a'r Nadolig ac eisioes mae dros 100 o fobl yn gwrthwynebu'r bwriad. Cawn weld maes o law os bydd Plaid yn troi ei chefn ar pobol Tanygrisiau yn union fel y gwnaeth nhw heddiw i Selwyn a phobl Port!
Earlier this summer, a planning application by Gwynedd Council to establish a recycling unit on Porthmadog Business Park was presented for consideration to the Dwyfor Area Committee. At that commottee, local member, Selwyn Griffiths spoke against the development as many people within his Ward were opposed to the proposal. The committee were fully supportive of Selwyn and the community's view and all but one member, Gareth Roberts (Aberdaron), Senior Portfolio Leader for Enivironment, voted against it and the application was refused. The officers were unhappy about this and they referred it up to the Central Planning Committee, which met yesterday and Selwyn again spoke on behalf of Porthmadog residents and asked that Dwyfor's decision on the matter was respected and that permission be refused. This appeal fell on deaf ears as all but one of the Plaid members on the committee refused to support Selwyn and the people of Port and the application was granted. So much for democracy? So much for decency? and so much for listening to the people? Once again, the arrogance and contempt that certain Plaid Councillors have towards the people is all to apparent - shame on them! Why should this bother us in Blaenau? There is a similar application for a recycling plant on Y Ddol in Tanygrisiau and already there are over 100 objections to the proposal - time will tell whether or not Plaid will take notice of these or not?
Fory - Cyfarfod i drafod y gwasanaeth iechyd yn ardal Stiniog yn y bore. Cyfarfod efo'm gwaith ym Mhwllheli yn y prynhawn ac yna Pwyllgor Rheoli y Ganolfan Gymdeithasol gyda'r nos ac yna pacio am dri noson oddi adra. dydd Mawrth - Llanelwedd erbyn 9.30a.m. ar gyfer Seminar Cyllid Cymdeithas Lywodraeth Leol Cymru ac yna ymlaen i Gasnewydd at gyda'r nos. dydd Mercher - Diwrnod o waith a dal i fynnu gyda ymholiadau a gwaith papur, ebyst etholwyr yn ystod y dydd. Gyda'r nos cyfarfod gyda BGI, un o fuddsoddwyr Cronfa Pensiwn Gwynedd. Dydd Iau a Dydd Gwener - Mynychu'r LGC Investment Summit yng Nghasnewydd gyda Trysorydd y Sir a'r Cyng. Tudor Owen sydd yn un o'm cyd aelodau ar y Pwyllgor Pensiynau. Yn anffodus dwi'n methu'r Cyngor Tref nos Iau ond yn sicir o ddal i fynnu gyda be ddigwyddodd dros y ffon cyn mynd i'r gwely.
Tomorrow - Meeting to discuss the health service locally in the morning. Pwllheli in the afternoon for a work related meeting. Y Ganolfan Management Committee in the evening and then home to pack as I am away until Friday. Tuesday - Builth Wells by 9.30a.m. for the Welsh Local Government Association's Finance Seminar and then on to Newport by early evening. Wednesday - Day working catching up with electors e-mails, calls and paperwork. Evening meeting with BGI one of the investors for the Gwynedd Pension Fund. Thursday and Friday - Attend the LGC Investment Summit in Newport along with the County Treasurer and Cllr.Tudor Owen who's one of my colleague's on the Council Pensions Committee. Unfortunately I'm missing Thursday evenings Town Council meeting however I'll catch up with proceedings over the phone before going to bed.
