THE latest community news from Blaenau Ffestiniog

Services

Holy Cross – Mass at 6pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday with Fr Shaji Punnati;

Manod Orthodox – Third and Sixth Canonical Hours at 10am followed by the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom;

St Michael’s – Morning service at 9.30am;

St David’s – Holy Communion service with the Rev Roland Barnes at 11am;

Bowydd – United chapels service of Llith and Carols;

Bethel, Ffestiniog – Carol service;

St David’s – Midnight Mass at 11.30pm on Christmas Eve.

Moreia, Trawsfynydd – Service taken by the Sunday School members at 5.30pm;

Moreia – Christmas Day at 10.30am a Christmas Communion service

Safety

Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of those walking the pedestrian crossing near the Manod Playing Field.

Recently a child could have been seriously hurt when a car pulled out to pass a stationary bus when the child was on the crossing and now the town council is to discuss this topic with the North Wales Trunk Road Agency.

Buses

There have been meetings between the Dolwyddelen Community Council and representatives of the Ffestiniog Town Council regarding the cuts in the X19 bus service between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno.

It has been causing great concerns to both areas and at present there is no news of the service being restored to its former schedule.

However a notice of motion by Cllr Annwen Daniels put before the Ffestiniog Town Council asked the town council to contact the Welsh Assembly again to look and do something about the poor transport services on the A470 which connects this town and the Llandudno area and it was agreed to write to Ken Skates AM and Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas AM about the issue and also to send a copy of the letter to Gwynedd Council as they are involved in financing part of this bus route.

Also Cllr Annwen Daniels has attended a meeting at Dolgellau to discuss these cuts in the X19 bus service and she reported that it is hoped that there will be co-operation between all concerned to try and solve this problem as this could affect the UNESCO Heritage application and have a detrimental effect on tourism in the area.

Y Dref Werdd

Gwydion ap Wynne has recently discussed the work of the locally based Y Dref Werdd.

He stated that their lottery project had expired since June and that they have gone through a period of learning about the Bro Ffestiniog community and what projects to aim for in the future.

An application has been made for its funding towards the next four years with four staff being employed.

They are looking forward to a Resource and Information Centre back at 11 High Street where they will try and answer all kinds of questions from the public.

The Dref Werdd hopes to establish a first point of contact with the GPs and they aim to help people get back to work.

They will also work with the town council to establish a community orchard at Tan y Manod.

They will also look at other sources of funding but the Lottery is their main grant application source.

Land

It has been reported that the land transfer at Pen Bryn, Cae Baltic has now been completed from Gwynedd Council which means the town council now owns the land.

Parking

It is reported that the 10 per cent plan regarding the fee charged on local car parks is still underway and it is hoped will be completed shortly which will mean the town council will get money for the parking fees.

There soon could be a change at the Diffwys Car Park so part of it will be short stay car park.

Choirs

The Rhiannedd y Moelwyn ladies choir conducted by Sylvia Ann Jones and accompanist Awen Roberts entertained the staff and residents of the Bryn Blodau home on Monday evening of last week and this Monday evening they were carol singing at the Pengwern Arms, Ffestiniog with soloist Geraint Roberts.

On Friday evening Sylvia will take the baton as the Moelwyn choir end their yearly engagements at Betws y Coed with carol singing concert with Wenna Francis Jones the accompanist.

Lights

Gwynedd Council has been informed by the town council that several street lighting lamps are out of order in the Manod area and by the roundabout near the Commercial.

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