For this edition we have a change of editor. Cliff Richmond, who started it off as the first editor
has stood down. So thank you Cliff for the time and effort you
(and your family) put into the early editions.

The Community Association has agreed that for a trial period the
Newsletter will be published on the Community Web site, with a paper
copy being produced and then circulated from the web edition.
Our web master Jamie King will there be the editor. It will mean a
change of style and layout to what we have experienced in the past. At this moment in time we
have no idea how it will turn out. However, we expect to learn from the trial and if you have views
or comments please lets us know before the next edition gets produced.

Next Newsletter will be published in June. Contribution please no later than June 6th.

The big change is, of course, the arrival of broadband. Our local telephone exchange is now "enabled"
which means you should be able to get super fast access to the internet.
So what does this mean to you?

Always engaged?
You may think it's a big fuss over nothing especially if you don't surf. Or you may be a frustrated parent
who finds the phone always engaged because your child is on the net.
Broadband connection costs just keep on dropping. You can now have this super fast service for less
than £5 a week with a minimum commitment of a month depending on which supplier you choose.

You can be connected 24 hours a day seven days a week and it won't cost you any more. And you will
still be able to use your landline telephone or fax. It's like having two lines so you can save money and
get rid of that second telephone line if you have one.
There's an excellent report on broadband in the February 2005 edition of Which? It compares many of
the leading ISPs (Internet Service Providers), has price and service comparisons as well as a beginner's
guide.

Ask the King
If you're new to the internet then it's best to get some independent expert advice from someone who's
already hooked up. Dave and Jamie King are probably two of the most knowledgeable guys in the village.
So what would you use broadband for? Accessing information is around 10 times faster than what you
are probably experiencing at present.

There are already lots of people locally who are using the net for their shopping. Just look how often the
Tesco.net van is delivering in the village. What we don't know - and it's none of our business - is what
the postman and white van man are delivering. I'll leave it to your imagination!
If you have friends or relatives living away then you'll find broadband a real asset.
Web cams allow you to see each other as you communicate over the net and it's even possible
to have free telephone calls to any part of the world.

Broadband makes a huge difference if you are running, or thinking of starting, a business.
You can set up a website so quickly and easily these days (ask Jamie King for details) and start
selling your wares to the world.

Save time and money
It's also a big bonus if you spend many hours every day, as I do, travelling to and from the office.
Now I can be connected to the office while still working from home. Just imagine the amount of time
and money I'll be saving!
There's no doubt that broadband will change economic and social life in the village. It will make the area
more attractive to people who want to combine their businesses (whether part or full time) with the
wonderful quality of life we enjoy locally.
And that's why house prices could rise by a quarter. I'm not saying whether this is a good or a
bad thing especially when you consider how difficult it is for first time buyers to get into the market.

Start a business
On the other hand the internet does give everyone the opportunity to launch an enterprise from home
which, if successful, could give them additional income.
Here's the quote I promised you at the beginning of the article. It comes from David Fursdon, deputy
president of Country Land and Business Association, and appeared in the Sunday Times on 13
February:
"We believe that the provision of affordable broadband could increase some residential property values
by up to 25%. Conversely, lack of broadband could make a home practically impossible to sell."

Instant gossip
And finally, here's another good reason to get connected. You'll be able to access all the village news
and gossip at www.llanfallteg.org at lightening speed. Happy surfing.

John Meander
john@relax-in-comfort.co.uk

1 MEETINGS
At the November meeting Councillors put their minds to completing a tricky questionaire from the county council asking community councils to list the things the county council ought to tackle as high priorities. Our Councillors thought anti-social behaviour; recycling; career opportunities; and primary education the most important. They had a similar form from the police and our Councillors' top three were theft and burglary; anti-social behaviour; and speeding traffic through the village. (Anti-social behaviour must be rife around here).

In January it was decided to keep the precept (the money obtained from the council tax payers) at £1350 the same level as last year. At the expected rate of spending this will leave about £1000 in the kitty at the end of the next financial year. The Council had to fill a casual vacancy caused by the resignation of Wendy Heron who now has a job in the Midlands. It was decided to co-opt Gideon Carpenter who lives at Bridgend House. The draft Community Development Plan was approved and would go out for public consultation in the Newsletter.

For several meetings past Councillors have heard reports that the county council was about to tackle our footpath problems and allow the eager volunteers to re-start work. If any newsletter readers do happen to catch sight of officials checking paths or work being done could they please let the editors know and we'll organise a celebration party.

Fiona Lawson has been elected as Community Council Vice-Chairman.

2 PLANNING APPLICATIONS
As well as the normal meetings your Councillors have been having extra, special meetings to discuss planning applications. Your councillors decided that every application should be considered by the full council and they agreed to meet every Wednesday when applications are outstanding. They now have had three such meetings and looked at eight sets of plans. They recommended approval for most of them, but they did express concern about about the size of one agricultural building and were most unhappy about a tourist development at Hiraeth.

Members of the public are entitled to attend but have no right to speak during the meetings. However it is very likely the chairman will give people a chance to have their say before the meeting starts.

3 CLERK VACANCY
The Council is still struggling along without a clerk with unpaid councillors doing the clerk's work. They want somebody who can write minutes of meetings, write some letters and send out agenda. Once a clerk has gained some experience then he or she would be able to advise councillors on proper procedures etc. The pay is £300 a year plus a token £60 for expenses.

Peter Icke

It is now six months since The Awards for All Wales gave us £5,000. We are limited in the way we can spend this money and within our remit want to make the best use of it.
So far we have bought a Karaoke /DVD machine and had a couple of Karaoke sessions. We have also had two folk dance evenings with Lynn and Ian and have used some to buy craft materials and had some card making sessions with Rachel Calvert's help.
Some of the money was for kiln and pottery equipment and with the help of Jackie Rodea we embarked on a project to create a ceramic scene of Llanfallteg and area as the children see it. This has proved to be a mammoth project and has taken up a lot of Games Night sessions but is now nearly completed and hopefully (if the walls of the Hall are strong enough) will become a permanent fixture on the wall.
Marilyn Scholfield has given Games Night a new dimension by offering the use of her premises for up to four children (whose parents have signed a consent form) to play table tennis. She not only gives her time and the use of her premises but also fetches the children from the Hall and returns them before the end of the session.
Recently some of the older boys, who are working for their Duke of Edinburgh award, have offered their help at the sessions. We could still do with more adult helpers. So if you could spare a bit of time or have
some skills you would like to share you will be welcomed with open arms.

Now that we own a kiln it would be good to make use of it on a regular basis.

If anybody is interested in coming to pottery classes could you contact me on 01994 448324 (leave a message if I'm not there)

If enough people are interested we will try to start a class.

Josie Thomas

For those without an up to date copy of the highway-code it's available in libraries, bookshops and on line at http://www.highwaycode.gov.uk

DK 13/1/2005