Newsletter. Party In the Park 3 Wet The Baby s Head! Issue 27 Spring Summer 2013

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1 Party In the Park 3 Wet The Baby s Head! Summer is on its way and the PTFA are planning our next Royal celebration. On July 20 th we are hosting the 3 rd Margam Village party, to which you are all officially invited. We plan to have live music, a DJ and as always the very popular Margam s Got Talent competition. The previous parties for the Royal Wedding and the Jubilee have been a huge success, so this year we are using the impending birth of the next Royal as our theme. Events like these are only successful when supported, so we hope to see you all at the park to continue bringing our community together and to be part of another Party in the Park. The PTFA Newsletter Issue 27 Spring Summer 2013 Visit the Gruffalo Trail at the Dean Heritage Centre Inside this issue: Coed Hirwaun Conservation Group Bridgend Miniature Railway 4 8 Dog Fouling 9 What s on in Margam Park 100K Committee update Letters to the Editor Success in the Village Summer Garden Party Registered Charity No: Welcome to the Spring Summer Edition of the CHCA Newsletter The weather has eventually broken and it s great to be able to get out and do some gardening. That said, members of the CHCA and other volunteers have already had a couple of sessions clearing the paths of the conservation area opposite the duck pond. You can read about what is going on and how you can get involved in this fantastic project on page 4. I am incredibly proud to say we have been successful in getting the Grant funding to build our Multi-use Games Area. You can see a picture of the Tonnau Primary School MUGA and get an update on page 11. During the winter we have been talking with the Neighbourhood Watch team with a view to rekindling the project on the Village. You can read about their recent AGM on page 12. There is a Summer Garden Party planned again for 2013 with music and entertainment all in aid of local charities. You can get a taste of this on page 16. Diana has continued her campaign on litter picking around the Village and I even saw her on the A48 near Pyle a couple of weeks ago! Well done Diana and thanks for your efforts. We will be organising a number of weekend litter picks this Summer so why not join Diana and the CHCA to get involved? Dog fouling has again reared its head, please do pick up your dog mess and place in one of the many bins around the Village. There is a letter on page 12 and an

2 article on the possible results of not doing so on page 9. PAGE 2 You probably have noticed that we have ventured into a few colour pages in this edition as a bit of an experiment. Thanks to our advertisers (especially PJC on page 3) who have made this possible. Let us know what you think via the website. Over the past few years of editing the newsletter, I have been amazed at the talent in Coed Hirwaun. In this edition we introduce Jamie Harrowing who has played a part in a Welsh National Opera at age 10! You can read his story on page 15. Thanks to the CHCA members who have worked so hard to get adverts in this edition and thanks to all contributors. When responding to an advert please mention the CHCA newsletter, this will ensure future support for the charity. You can keep abreast of developments via our facebook page, noticeboard or website Kevin Thomas (Chairman) PAGE 15 Success in the Village Hi! My name is Jamie Harrowing and I am 10 years old. I go to Coed Hirwaun Primary School and start Porthcawl Comprehensive School in September. Every Saturday, I go to Welsh National Opera Singing Club. Last Autumn, I was invited by them to audition for a part in one of their main scale operas. At first, I wasn't sure about it but then I decided to take the opportunity. For the audition, I sang Walking In The Air, from The Snowman. I only sang the first few lines and the man told me to stop. I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. I also had to do some acting. I got called back to do some more singing and acting a couple of weeks later, then an e mail was sent, saying that I had been given a part. The opera was called The Cunning Little Vixen, by Leoš Janáček. I was one of eight foxcubs and later, during rehearsals, I was asked by the director to be the cover for the caterpillar. I had to think about it because it had to do a duet which made me feel a bit nervous. I would need to learn this quickly. The foxcubs had to sing a song and come onto the stage in the third act with the vixen, Sophie Bevan and the fox, Sarah Castle. We did three shows in Cardiff at the Wales Millenium Centre. The children were given treats and kind messages from the cast and the stage management. We then went on tour to Birmingham, Llandudno, Southampton, Milton Keynes and Plymouth. I really enjoyed it; I made lots of new friends and I'd love to take part in another opera. For more information go to

3 PAGE 14 PAGE 3 Restaurant and Takeaway

4 PAGE 4 PAGE 13 Coed Hirwaun Conservation Group The CHCA have recently set up a project to enhance the conservation area in the village (i.e. the wooded area opposite the pond) with the aim to make this woodland a more usable amenity. We have been in touch with the Community Wildlife Project Officer of Neath Port Talbot Council and the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WWT) who have sent representatives to meet with us and discuss ideas. They are interested in assisting the CHCA and its supporters. The WWT is willing to help us by holding special tasks days where they can introduce people from the village to features of special interest within the wood. One of the plans is to cut back the rhododendrons that are beginning to take over part of the wood as these will, if allowed to, spread right through the wood destroying the local vegetation. The WWT have suggested that they can help us with this big project and provide us with equipment and trained officers in the near future. Work has already been started by volunteers to clear the paths and open up new ones to previously unseen parts of the wood. These paths need to be maintained on a regular basis. Bramble needs to be cut back to stop them from getting overgrown again. The pond in the middle of this woodland area is now accessible but is quite badly polluted and will need to be cleared. In order to make the most of our woodland Coed Hirwaun Conservation Group has been set up. Residents can get involved in the clearing and maintenance of this conservation area. Anyone interested is welcome to come along on the last Saturday of each month between 9:30am and 11am. Please wear appropriate footwear and gardening gloves and bring secateurs or clippers if you have them.

5 Letters to the Editor PAGE 12 PAGE 5 Parking on Match Days The parking for the football matches (and especially this Saturday 20th April) caused enormous problems entering and leaving the village. The village cannot sustain this number of cars parking at the entrance. Double parking must be stopped. Could you please bring this up at the next general meeting. Name withheld. Dog Fouling I am increasingly disappointed at the amount of dog mess that is left on the pavements and grass verges in the village. With a young child and a baby in a pushchair it's a challenge to negotiate the mess and deliver my child to school without dog mess on their shoes. I appreciate the vast majority of dog walkers clear up the mess and hope that the small minority feel some shame when reading this. New dog bins have been provided around the village so there really isn't any excuse. We have a beautiful village so let's take pride in it! Name and address withheld LETTERS TO THE EDITOR We are more than happy to publish your letters in the Newsletter. However, your name, address and telephone number must be provided; this can be withheld if you so wish. Sorry, but we cannot include matters of a personal nature. PLEASE NOTE The CHCA does not endorse or recommend any specific companies advertised in this newsletter. All letters sent to the editor and included in this newsletter are the views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the CHCA. Neighbourhood Watch AGM John Francis (Vice Chair of the CHCA) attended the Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) AGM on 25th April 2013 and these were the highlights: Overall crime in the area is down by 0.8%, burglaries from houses are down, but thefts from cars are up. They advise never to leave anything visible in your car and always lock it. There is an increase in Rogue Traders calling at houses. So the advice was ask for identification and keep doors locked. If in doubt keep them out. The NHW President, Alun Thomas, said that Margam Village will be the next place the NHW, police and fire service will visit to distribute information packs and carry out security and fire checks. If you are interested in helping spread the NHW message please get in touch via the website. Registered Charity No: CHCA Logo designed by Ben Shawe Please mention the CHCA when responding to an advert and thanks to all the people who advertise in the newsletter and on the noticeboard. All funds raised go towards the activities of the CHCA. In order to make the most of our woodland Coed Hirwaun Conservation Group has been UNIVERSAL ANGEL STAR Alternative Therapy & Self Love Evenings 28th June nd August th October 2013 North Cornelly Community Centre 6pm to 10.30pm Various stalls and therapies including: Reflexology Reiki Indian Head Massage Sound Healing Various Spiritual Readings And lots more For more details contact: Rachel Moore or universalangelstar.com Family Entertainment Centre Dry Ice Rink & Balloon Emporium A happy and welcoming environment where parents can relax while their children play in a safe and secure surrounding. Open everyday 10am to 6pm Unit 14, Milland Road Industrial Estate, Neath SA11 1NJ

6 PAGE 6 PAGE 11 Update from the 100K Committee Pleased to announce that we have been successful in our application for a 90K Grant from the Welsh Assembly. This will be added to our 100K from the Charles Church Section 106 monies and the 20K from Sport Wales to give us enough money to build a Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) on the Village Playing fields (See picture below for an idea of what this might look like). This is an amazing achievement given the massive number of applications for the Grant and the relative wealth on the Village compared to other areas of Neath Port Talbot County Borough. The success has been due to the hard work and dedication of a few members of the Council working closely with the CHCA. We also have to give thanks for support from the School, Football Club, our local Counsellor, MP and Assembly Member. We have now agreed the wording of the lease for part of the playing field and this means that we will shortly be able to go out to tender for the build. In terms of timescales, we have advised the Grant providers that we are hoping to have it built this side of Christmas. That said, there are a number of hurdles yet to be crossed so we are keeping our fingers crossed. MUGA at Tonnau Primary School

7 PAGE 10 PAGE 7 WHAT S ON IN MARGAM PARK Margam Kite Festival Fri 10:00 Margam Model Boat Club Sat 10:00 Craft Fair in the Castle (Entry Fee) Sun 26/05/13 Step Back to the Victorian Days Bank Hol Mon 10:00 Wiggle Dragon Ride Sun 09/06/13 Medieval Knights and Archers Sat 10:00 The Dogs Trust Summer Fete Sun 10:00 Tropical fish Coldwater fish Turtles & Amphibians Aquatic accessories Fish food Pond pumps & Filters Pond Fish food Now open in the NEW CABIN MALL at EWENNY GARDEN CENTRE Ewenny, Bridgend, CF35 5AD Tel :

8 PAGE 8 Dog Fouling PAGE 9 A statement from Neath Port Talbot Council: Allowing your dog to foul in public places is not only dangerous but is a criminal offence. You could be hit with a fine and prosecuted through the courts. Humans can contract the roundworm infection Toxocara canis from dog faeces. Roundworm eggs are also found in dog mess, which can easily be picked up by young children. This causes stomach upsets, sore throats, asthma and in rare cases blindness. The eggs can remain active in the soil for many years, long after the dog mess has weathered away. Freshly deposited faeces are not infectious and you can safely clear up after your dog. Bridgend Miniature Railway, Parc Slip (opposite Nature reserve) Aberkenfig, Bridgend CF32 0EH Set in over four acres of landscaped woodland and open to the public on the following running days in 2013 : Bank Holiday Monday 27 May Saturday 1 June Saturday 6 July Saturday 3 August Bank Holiday Monday 26 August Saturday 7 September Saturday 5 October Saturday 14 December - (Pre-booked only ~ Santa Special) Boxing Day 26 December (12-3 pm) For Party Bookings telephone Dog owners should not allow pets to foul in public areas. You are legally obliged to clear up dog mess under the Dog Act (Registered blind dog owners are exempt from penalties). Please clear up after your dog Use a doggy bag, carrier bag or poop scoop and place in a designated dog bin or take it home for safe disposal. Do not put dog mess in green garden waste bags. Remember: rain does not wash the problem away. Never let your dog out alone to "go to the loo". Waste Enforcement Officers operate and patrol different areas of the County Borough. They issue Fixed Penalty Notices for littering and dog fouling offences so, it is important to clean up at all times. To report dog fouling please contact the council ring: or use the online form on