Pentref y Flwyddyn Calor Village of the Year

Llansannan Winners of two sections of Calor Village of the Year competition 2005, Young People and the Environment The majority of community activities revolve around the community centre/school. A number of ante-rooms and a main hall are utilised on six evenings a week. Monday evenings, from September to April, the main hall is used for indoor bowls. On the third Monday of the month the Historical Society meets within the building. The Cylch Aled (Aled group) social club is there on the second Monday of the month. Tuesday evenings, in winter the Young Farmers Club have their meetings here. The first and third Wednesday of every month is the turn of the Womens Institute and Merched y Wawr (Welsh Language ladies group), respectively. On the Second Wednesday of every month the Community Council meets. Thursday nights, the Bro Aled Male Voice Choir practice. On alternate Friday evenings the Urdd (Welsh League of Youth) meet for their sessions. Due to the number of anterooms it is feasible to hold several meetings simultaneously and this frequently happens. The main hall is also used for public events including concerts and eisteddfods during the week and at weekends. On Saturday evenings in winter, whist drives and coffee evening are held as fundraising events by local organizations. The facilities are also available for private hire such as children's parties for very reasonable rates. Information is made available through advertisements (posters) in the local shop and post office. A community council notice board is also used for relating information regarding community council activities. A Welsh language community newspaper (Y Gadlas) is produced monthly and contains the latest information on forthcoming local events. Thriving Chapels have a number of activities including Sunday services, a youth club, young wives group and other associated activities including an inter denominational annual eisteddfod and summer B-B Q. For a number of years Llansannan has had an archive society. This organization has worked tirelessly in preserving and cataloguing local documents, photographs and other village related information. The society produces an annual calendar which is always over subscribed. They also provided major input to the literary committee of the Bro Aled Eisteddfod in 1999 in their efforts to produce an eighty-four page document called Bro Aled 2000 celebrating the millennium in Llansannan. Information regarding the The Archive Society can be accessed at website link, (commanet, community archive Wales, Grwp Archif Bro Aled a'r Cylch). The current major issue in the village concerns affordable housing for local people. The community council have organised public meetings to sound out opinion and have conducted an in depth enquiry into local housing needs with assistance from the newly appointed Rural Housing Enabler. New residents in the village are encouraged through personal contact and information leaflets to learn Welsh. Classes for all ages and abilities are organised by local Education Authorities and held in neighbouring villages/towns. Every first and third Saturday of each month learners can attend informal speaking sessions held in the Red Lion Pub. These sessions are organised by volunteers from within the village. Finally, Glan Clwyd Hospital at Bodelwyddan has an industrious League of Friends and this is well supported by ladies living in the village. Business, Recreation and Employment. Llansannan sustains two public houses, a shop, (open daily) and a post office which opens three days a week. There is a steel fabrication factory situated on the outskirts of the village. This plant employs around thirty young local workers. The main activity in the area is agriculture and is at present undergoing extreme hardship. (High fuel costs, low milk price, burden of paperwork and regulations). Another major local employer produces double glazed window and door units, again providing employment for a number of local people. The school is serviced by local labour including teachers caretakers/cleaners, midday meals supervisors and cooks. Additionally, transport for delivering children to and from school is provided by several locally based companies. These hire facilities are also utilized for transporting locals to events such as football matches and other celebrations. Agricultural contractors employ seasonal labour, one for example employs up to seven local operatives during the harvest period. The community council always support and endorse any planning applications from local individuals wishing to set up businesses in the area. A planning appeal is to be heard on April 26th regarding a refusal by the planning authorities to allow a local farmer/contractor to erect an agricultural building for storage of farm machinery. The Community council have written to the planning inspector supporting the applicant. Information leaflets have been produced by the Community Council, and hand distributed to every home within the village. Local Tradesmen (Carpenters, Builders, Electrical Engineers) have their telephone numbers in this publication. The village has in the past, suffered from some vandalism caused by teenagers. We have an ongoing issue with families that have recently moved into the village from cities in the North West of England. The indigenous youngsters show respect to local facilities and join in with all the local activities. However, the non Welsh speakers are at a disadvantage and tend not to participate in cultural activities. The situation improved once a Youth Club was provided. Funding for this club was initially provided by the Community Council and the North Wales Police. A Multi Use Games Area and youth shelter are available on the sports field and provide the youth of the community with additional recreation facilities. A thriving Young Farmers' Club exists in the village, meeting on Tuesday evenings from October to May. Their meetings include quizzes, invited speakers, group activities such as ice skating and ten pin bowling and the organising of the annual agricultural show. The football club encourage local talent and the team consist of youngsters living within the village and outlying areas. Every year a fundraising event is organised by the club and is supported by the entire population. (2005 Fun Day is being held on Saturday 25 June). The funds raised are shared between the Sports Association and the football club. Other Clubs for the youth of the area include C I C (Christian Youth Club) with meetings alternating on Friday evenings with the Urdd (Welsh League of Youth). Pre-school groups are organised and run by volunteers during term time. These are held at the community centre. Other private nursery groups exist within the community. In a building owned by the village, youngsters over the age of 14 can play snooker on two tables and participate in a snooker league sponsored by the local Welsh Language Community Newspaper (Y Gadlas). This building has recently qualified for a WREN financial assistance package for major renovations. Work on re-roofing and electrical rewiringhas been completed, this work undertaken by local tradesmen. Within the Village there are a number of senior citizens residences managed by the local authority. At the time of building, this facility was awarded a Gold medal for Architectural Achievement. These are equipped with fire alarms and personal monitoring systems. Social services provide home help packages and local authority provide a weekly shopping bus service. Meals are provided for senior citizens, twice a week during the school term on Wednesdays (School) and on Thursdays at the Methodist Chapel Vestry. The Red Lion Public House provide a lunchtime menu and will deliver to elderly residents upon receiving an order. On every third Thursday of the month Clwb yr Heulwen (The Sunshine Club) have an afternoon tea at the community centre. This club also organises coach trips. To date visits to North Welsh attractions, e.g. coastal resorts, garden centres and National Trust properties have been arranged. Every December, a pensioner's supper is held, again in the community centre and every senior citizen is invited to attend. During the evening a three course meal and entertainment is provided. Everyone attending also receives a complimentary bottle of wine for consumption at home. A visiting service is provided for elderly residents whether they are at home, in hospital or in care. (Organised by members of the church and chapels) Many older residents are members of the Bowling Club and are able to socialise during home and away matches. From May to September play is outside on the green. From October to April the Village Hall is used for this purpose. Senior citizens are well represented on the community council and therefore are closely involved in local decision-making. Community councillors are in regular contact with local authority tenants for improving the fabric of their homes. This has recently extended to a total replacement of windows and doors by double glazed units in a number of homes. Oil central heating has also been installed in the majority of the pensioner's bungalows. Llansannan is a pretty and vibrant village situated in the unspoilt Aled valley. Yearly the community council organizes a best kept garden competition in which all residents are encouraged to compete for cash prizes and trophies. The Young Farmers Club organize an annual show including competitions of garden produce, flowers and handicrafts (e.g. photography, metalwork and woodwork). Recycling facilities for paper, glass, cans, plastic and clothing are currently available. A major grant aided environmental project has been completed on the sports field. This involved the creation of new paths, all of which are suitable for the disabled, shrub planting and additional playing facilities and equipment for children and young people. In addition to the above, another environmental and educational project is sourcing funding. This aims to utilize a donated piece of land as an outdoor centre of learning for use by the local primary school. This land is situated next to the river Aled and will require the construction of a footbridge for access. When completed, picnic tables (which double as desks) and printed bilingual information boards will be situated at the site. This is to encourage participation in outdoor learning about our environment and wildlife. The local community will be involved with this project and once completed will be managed entirely by the residents. There is great enthusiasm for this scheme and to t date all meetings arranged to discuss this have been well attended. Following local complaints about dog fouling on the sports field, the community council is currently trying to acquire a by-law prohibiting the use of the sports field for exercising dogs. This is proving to be a very difficult situation since a public footpath crosses the field along one boundary. It is hoped that dogs will have to be kept on leads and will not be able to access the playing are. This issue was the main topic of discussion at the Annual Parish Meeting of May 11th 2005!

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