The Weekly News and Visitors' Chronicle for Colwyn Bay Colwyn Llandrillo Conway Deganwy and Neighbourhood

Plain Speaking to Old Colwyn. What Separation Means. Who Signed the Petition? Allegations of Forgery Made. Before Llysfaen begins to rejoice in its new- found independence, the urban powers recently granted by the Carnarvonshire County Council, perhaps it would be just as well if all concerned would consider what that independence means. The matter was very ably thrashed out on Thurs- day at a meeting of the Colwyn Bay and Colwyn District Council, when there was a full attend- ance of members, Mr George Bevan, J.P. (Chair- man) presiding. The startling incident of the meeting was the repudiation by the Rev John Griffiths and Mr Robert Evans of their alleged signatures to the petition presented to the Den- bighshire County Council on behalf of Eirias. Quite apart from the authenticity or otherwise of these petitions, it would be wise on the part of Eirias to fully digest the facts and figures presen- ted by the Chairman at Thursday's meeting. The business laid before the meeting was that, "owing to the difficulties which ari,e between this authority and the parish authorities of Llys- faen on the important question relating to educa- tion, water supply facilities, sewerage and sewage disposal, &c., and also the present unsatisfactory boundary line, this Council considers the time has arrived to promote in the next session of Parliament a bill for the extension of this urban district so as to include the watershed of part of h je parish of Llysfaen, or otherwise take whatever steps that may be necessary to carry out such extension." Mr William Davies, in moving the adoption of the suggestion contained in the above, said it was quite clear from what had already happened that they could expect no assistance from the Carnar- von County Council, where there had been a good deal of backstairs work [hear, hear]. In the matter of education, for example, the education of the children of Llysfaen in the Board School at that end of the district cost the ratepayers of Colwyn Bay, under the present system, 165 per head. Again, with the regard to the water mains, when that Council applied to Llysfaen for payment for the use of the mains from Sarn Mynach to the borders of Llysfaen, they were treated with contempt. The sewerage question was another source of trouble between the two authorities. The same thing had to be said of the present boundary line. In connection with with the recent inquiry into the application of Llysfaen for urban powers, the County Council had been grossly misled on all these grounds, and he held that it would be better to have the district included, and the way to do that was by Act of Parliament, or provi- sional order. He moved the adoption of the resolution. Mr Robert Evans seconded. Mr John Roberts, whilst in favour of the reso- lution, did not like the idea of going in for an Act of Parliament to secure the objects aimed at. Mr Thomas Parry agreed with much in the resolution, but for his part both Llysfaen and Eirias were welcome to go on on their own account. In fact, the matter was not worth fighting about. He produced and referred to a petition for urban powers for Eirias parish" which had been submitted to the Denbighshire County Council, signed by two members of the Colwyn Bay District Council. Mr Robert Evans, one of the members alluded to, here rose, and warmly asserted that though his name appeared as a signatory to the petition, he had neither signed it nor authorised anyone to attach his name to it. Neither had the other member, the Rev John Griffith. Mr Thomas Roberts Then this petition is a forgery ? Mr Parry Yes. Has Mr Griffith anything to say on this point ? The Rev John Griffith (warmly).—Yes, I never signed the document. The secretary brought it to me, and asked me to sign it. I told him I would look into it. In the meantime I saw Mr Robert Evans, and he asked me what I thought of the petition. I told him that I did not like it, and that I did not intend to sign it. Mr Evans rep.ied, Neither do I like it, and I am not going to sign it." Mr Evans says he did not sign it. and I am certain that I never signed it [applause]. Mr Thomas Parry was glad that the two gentle- men whose names had appeared on the petition had not signed it nor authorised anyone to sign it on their behalf. He regretted, however, that those two gentlemen had not instantly and publicly repudiated the petition, which was entirely a pack of lies. As for the proposed division, if Eirias and Llys- faen wished to separate from Colwyn Bay let them go, and his blessing would go with them. He was ashamed of the Eirias people, who suffered themselves to be led by a man whose name was attached to the petition, but who was not a ratepayer. Mr Robert Evans thought if the Council would extend the promenade to Old Colwyn, and remove the apprehension that they were opposed to the interests of that end of the district they would have little trouble in the matter. Mr Hugh Davies warmly supported the resolu- tion. It would be far better to have one great compact district than three small ones for ever nagging at each other instead of all working together for the interests of the whole [hear, hear]. The Rev John Griffiths said that the report that the Council had passed a resolution that they would never extend the promenade to Old Colwyn was the cause of the feeling at Old Colwyn in '11 lavour of separation. Mr Thomas Parry No, no, no. This Council has never passed any-resolution of the sort. The Chairman on Old Colwyn's Position. The Chairman The difficulty of deciding what to do with regard to the position of Llysfaen within the watershed of this district has been much increased by the application for separate urban powers by Eirias (Old Colwyn). If that application represents the feeling of the majority of ratepayers in Eirias, I agree with Mr Parry that the best thing we can do is to let them go. The Eirias stream is a well-defined boundary for us, free from all complications and uncertainties so let Eirias solve for herself the innumerable difficulties between themselves and Llysfaen. But I look upon this desire of Eirias to separate as social and financial suicide for them. Take the financial position of the two places in 1887, when they were first joined in the Local Board. The late improvement rate collected by the Conway authorities was 6d. in Colwyn Bay, 3'. in Eirias. The assessable value of Colwyn Bay was 214655 Eirias, ^3055. To-day the assessable-value of Colwyn Bay is £ 40000, whilst Eirias is only £ 5715- Eirias has receded fiom a position of something less than a fourth to less than a seventh, yet they have the advantage of retaining a fourth of the representation—three members—whereas they are entitled to only a man and a half-say a man and a boy. [Laughter]. Rev John Griffiths: I am the boy. [Renewed laughter]. The Chairman: For every Lioo increase in their rateable value, Colwyn Bay has added £ 1,000. How can they hope to compete with Colwyn Bay in the race for popularity, or to carry out the numerous and expensive improvements which go to make up a modern watering-place ? They must inevitably be overwhelmed with debt or left hopelessly behind, for their erea is a little smaller than Colwyn Bay and their income will less than one-seventh. Take the new sewerage scheme. One-fourth of the works will be in Eirias, yet they will only contribute one-seventh of the cost to begin with, and gradually go less and less. It is said that they wish to separate because the promenade has not been carried down opposite Old Colwyn station. The promenade was not carried further because the district could not afford it, but no member objects to the princi- ple of extending it, no member but will agree that our promenade is incomplete. The idea is to carry the promenade right round the bay to Rhos and Old Colwyn. My own opinion is that the portion between the station and the Colwyn Bay hotel should be first done, and that the portion of Llysfaen which will benefit most by the extension to Colwyn should come in or agree to contribute to the expense before the Old Colwyn end is done. But Eirias people think that separation will help them to get it done sooner. How can it ? They will certainly have a debt greater than their rateable value to take with them, so where are their borrowing powers to get the £7,000 or £ ,10,000 necessary to carry out the work? But we are now informed that the signatures of the District Councillors to this application are forgeries, and that Eirias does not want separation. If that is so it is necessary that some steps should be taken to solve the difficulties and complications of the boundary between them and Llysfaen. But I don't think we should go to the expense of an Act of Parliament. It will be an advantage to all parties if the whole of the bay is welded together in one harmonious whole. I look upon an Act of Parliament as a last resort, and think that when Llysfaen people realise the awkward position in which they will be placed when Colwyn Bay and Eirias insist upon strict financial justice between them, that portion affected will cast in their lot with us before we proceed to so desperate a remedy. If Mr Davies will alter his resolution to apply for a Provisional Order only, and make it wide enough so that we may try every other means in our power before that is done, I shall be glad to give it my support and to advise the Council to adopt it Ultimately Mr Davies modified his resolution to read ''to obtain a Provisional Order," instead "to promote a bill," and in this form it was adopted. The Chairman then gave notice that at the next Council he would move that the Local Gov- ernment Board be petitioned not to grant urban powers to Llysfaen without a full inquiry into the whole subject. On the motion of the Chairman, the clerk was instructed to write to the clerks of the County Councils of Denbighshire and Carnarvonshire, informing them that the petition presented to those bodies in favour of urban powers for Eirias were forgeries to the extent that two of the names attached to it were forgeries. Mr Frank Booth Surprised.—Who Wrote the Councillors' Names ? The following appeared in Monday's Daily Despatch:- For some years the parishes of Old Colwyn and Llysfaen, situated at the Penmaen side of the bay of Colwyn, have been anxious to sever themselves from the Urban District of Colwyn Bay on the ground that they, as outlying parishes, are obliged to contribute towards the heavy rates levied by the Colwyn Bay Council, and for which they receive no benefit. Some time ago a Ratepayers' Association was formed in Old Colwyn, to secure from the County Councils of Carnarvonshire and Denbighshire orders for the transformation of the parishes in question into Urban Districts whereby they could control their own improvements. Among the prominent members of this body were the Rev John Griffith, Vicar of Old Colwyn, and Mr Robert Evans, and at the recent municipal election the former gentleman was elected a member of the Colwyn Bay Urban District Council, receiving the support of the said Ratepayer's Association. A petition was drawn up and presented by Mr Frank Booth and Mr Thomas, the chairman and secretary respectively, at the recent meeting of the Denbighshire County Council. Printed copies of the petition were also forwarded to each mem- ber of the council, and they contained, in addition to those of the chairman and secretary, the signatures of the Rev John Griffith and Mr Robert Evans. At the last meeting of the Colwyn Bay Urban