New sign for name change hall

A NEW sign is to go up outside a Neath community centre after its name was controversially changed.

Last year Blaenhonddan Community Council voted to rename the Owain Glyndwr Community Centre.

It decided to call it the Waunceirch Community Centre, despite petition signed by more than 200 people against the move.

Now Blaenhonddan Community Council has been given permission to put up a new sign reflecting the newly-changed name.

Officers in Neath Port Talbot Council acknowledged there had been a change of name, but said that was not a material planning consideration.

Development control manager Nicola Pearce said the restricted size of the sign meant it was in proportion to the building.

When it was pointed out the sign was in English**** only, Ms Pearce said: "We cannot force them to put a bilingual sign there."

Permission was granted, subject to conditions.

NOTE ****  The reporter who submitted the above item has reported that Carmarthenshire Council has taken on extra staff to balance the number of Welsh speaking residents in their area.  It describes how the council will treat the Welsh and English languages equally in providing services and communicating with the public. The report aims to reflect that some councils give more consideration to the Welsh language than others.

Police Follow up
It should be noted that the Police have been asked to pursue the vandals who ripped the original sign down.   Questions at PACT meetings have been raised about how the crime was reported and the crime number given to the case.   The subject will be raised again at the next PACT meeting scheduled for 25th July at the Owain Glyndwr Waunceirch Community Centre.

Cost ?
We feel sure our readers would like to know the cost of changing the name - including the cost of postage and administration for sending a letter with 36p. postage to every household who use the centre as a polling station during elections.