Page 6 - Leighton News May 2018
P. 6
-6-
LOCAL SERVICES
SNOW UPDATE The second and third lines of our postal A trivial example: While snow was still causing problems,
address are “Trelystan, Leighton” but our local council our wheelie bin was emptied but not not the recycling
ward is actually Trewern. In this respect we are lucky to boxes. Phoned the council with a simple yes/no question
have Amanda Jenner as our county councillor. She not — should the boxes be left out if they were being collected
later? They could not answer immediately but would email
only obtained up to date details on the present and answer if I set up an account on their web site — bit of
arrangements for snow clearance but worked a rigmarole involving verification, etc. Sure enough, got a
throughout the emergency period checking reply saying no extra collections were planned — but this
progress with the Welshpool Highways arrived weeks later after two more regular collections had
Depot and phoning residents throughout the been completed. Verdict: much room for improvement.
ward to ensure vulnerable people were safe. WATER PROBLEMS There will always be some causes of
complaint about suppliers of important services
The county council responses gave no details on but here’s a really pleasant comparison. We
arrangements for specific areas or how residents could reported last month on our very minor issues
contact operators locally. A Highways seminar is being with a leak causing a drop in water pressure.
held in May which will include winter maintenance – an A temporary fix was organised almost as soon as this was
opportunity to set up improved coordination and avoid reported. Severn Trent returned a few days later to finish the
wasteful duplication of efforts like the contractor sent to job. This meant the water had to be disconnected for a few
clear snow three days after our neighbour had opened the hours. Each of the five affected households were visited to
roads. warn about the cut-off. After work had started, there was an
automated phone call giving us the time when the job would
The online versions this month contain two extra pages be finished.
with Amanda’s very detailed email about our concerns Then a few days ago unexpected icing on the cake —
and also a Facebook link for local updates. letters informing us of two credits to our account:
£30 for the low pressure and £50 for the hours of the
COMMUNICATIONS Well established facilities like email disconnection.
texts should now be an easy way of keeping people
informed. However centralised administration in
Llandrindod hasn’t really benefited from these.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
HcaavnHevaysoseurbeweinthdotohris-stleepapfeldet?byLoaok at POWYS
the conditions below — hard to imagine
anyone who would NOT qualify. We were
told that if any of these conditions
applied to us grants for all the
energy improvements would (MAY) be
available. We checked that this was
genuinely in conjunction with Powys CC
— but the work would be by ZING based
in Cardiff. Local installers don’t get
the opportunity to tender. Previous
initiatives like this created problems
with servicing and warranties…
Over 60 years of age?
Pregnant or have children?
Live in an inefficient property?
CH Heating Boiler over 5 years old?
Fuel bills more than 10% of income?
Suffer from any health issues?
If ANY of these apply to you
call us on 0330 XXX XXX
LOCAL SERVICES
SNOW UPDATE The second and third lines of our postal A trivial example: While snow was still causing problems,
address are “Trelystan, Leighton” but our local council our wheelie bin was emptied but not not the recycling
ward is actually Trewern. In this respect we are lucky to boxes. Phoned the council with a simple yes/no question
have Amanda Jenner as our county councillor. She not — should the boxes be left out if they were being collected
later? They could not answer immediately but would email
only obtained up to date details on the present and answer if I set up an account on their web site — bit of
arrangements for snow clearance but worked a rigmarole involving verification, etc. Sure enough, got a
throughout the emergency period checking reply saying no extra collections were planned — but this
progress with the Welshpool Highways arrived weeks later after two more regular collections had
Depot and phoning residents throughout the been completed. Verdict: much room for improvement.
ward to ensure vulnerable people were safe. WATER PROBLEMS There will always be some causes of
complaint about suppliers of important services
The county council responses gave no details on but here’s a really pleasant comparison. We
arrangements for specific areas or how residents could reported last month on our very minor issues
contact operators locally. A Highways seminar is being with a leak causing a drop in water pressure.
held in May which will include winter maintenance – an A temporary fix was organised almost as soon as this was
opportunity to set up improved coordination and avoid reported. Severn Trent returned a few days later to finish the
wasteful duplication of efforts like the contractor sent to job. This meant the water had to be disconnected for a few
clear snow three days after our neighbour had opened the hours. Each of the five affected households were visited to
roads. warn about the cut-off. After work had started, there was an
automated phone call giving us the time when the job would
The online versions this month contain two extra pages be finished.
with Amanda’s very detailed email about our concerns Then a few days ago unexpected icing on the cake —
and also a Facebook link for local updates. letters informing us of two credits to our account:
£30 for the low pressure and £50 for the hours of the
COMMUNICATIONS Well established facilities like email disconnection.
texts should now be an easy way of keeping people
informed. However centralised administration in
Llandrindod hasn’t really benefited from these.
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?
HcaavnHevaysoseurbeweinthdotohris-stleepapfeldet?byLoaok at POWYS
the conditions below — hard to imagine
anyone who would NOT qualify. We were
told that if any of these conditions
applied to us grants for all the
energy improvements would (MAY) be
available. We checked that this was
genuinely in conjunction with Powys CC
— but the work would be by ZING based
in Cardiff. Local installers don’t get
the opportunity to tender. Previous
initiatives like this created problems
with servicing and warranties…
Over 60 years of age?
Pregnant or have children?
Live in an inefficient property?
CH Heating Boiler over 5 years old?
Fuel bills more than 10% of income?
Suffer from any health issues?
If ANY of these apply to you
call us on 0330 XXX XXX
