THE latest community news from Ganllwyd.

Community Council

GANLLWYD Community Council has had to make a number of difficult decisions last year and this year, following further cuts to Gwynedd County Council’s budget. Gwynedd Council will not provide salt bins now, and they are asking Ganllwyd Community Council to pay £800 for the 2016-17 winter to keep the bins full. The community council has decided to keep all the bins currently in the parish and pay out of money in reserve, so there will be no need to increase the precept next year. If parishioners find roads that are dangerous because of ice, contact Gwynedd Council directly.Also, Gwynedd Council has asked the community council to pay £500 towards keeping the toilets at the National Trust car park in the village open and possibly more in the future. Gwynedd Council owns the toilets but the Trust owns the land and car park. The community council has asked the Trust to contribute but they have refused.The community council does not think that it is fair to expect the parishioners to pay for the toilet when users of the A470 and visitors are the main users. So the community council has offered a contribution of £250 to Gwynedd Council to keep the toilets open for another year to create an opportunity for further discussion and Gwynedd Council have accepted this offer. But the community council does not intend to pay more money in the future, so the toilets will be closed. If parishioners have ideas or opinions, please contact the community council.In the past, Gwynedd Council has paid for clearing paths in the Parish, but again the cuts will affect the work and at the moment the council does not know how much money will be available for next year. The condition of some of the footpaths and footbridges in the Parish are poor and the community council is looking for other ways to carry out the work that is required. If Parishioners find footpaths or footbridges that are dangerous please contact Gwynedd Council directly and let the community council know as well.Through careful financial management, Ganllwyd Community Council has been able to pay the extra money for 2017-18. But Gwynedd Council’s council tax will increase anyway. Ganllwyd Community Council does not want to add to that, so, it has been possible to reduce their Precept a little for 2017-18.Is very likely that the cuts will continue and more will be on the way over the next few years, so if parishioners have any ideas or suggestions, such as adopting a salt bin for example, Ganllwyd Community Council would be pleased to hear about them. Please, contact the community council clerk on [email protected] or 01341 421128. There will be County, Town and Community Council elections this year and Ganllwyd Community Council would like more people to stand. So if you are interested, you can get nomination papers from the deputy returning officer, Meirionnydd Area Office, Cae Penarlag, Dolgellau who will at the request of any elector prepare a nomination paper for signing. Nomination papers must be delivered to the same office, between 9.30am and 4.30pm on any working day but not later than 4pm on Tuesday, 4 April.