Direct trains from Gobowen to London planned

Direct trains from Gobowen to London have been promised by the new operator of the West Coast Main Line. 

First Trenitalia has today (Wednesday) been announced as the successful bidder to operate the West Coast Partnership.

The Department for Transport says this will mean that from December 2022 passengers will benefit from 263 extra train services every week and that destinations including Gobowen and Llandudno will now be served by direct trains to and from London.

Subject to approval from the Office of Rail and Road, two trains per hour will run between Liverpool and London.  

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "This award is positive news for passengers, with more services, more direct connections and ambitious plans for a cleaner, greener railway, and also represents a decisive shift towards a new model for rail."

Keith Williams, Chair of the Rail Review, said: "The railway needs reform that prioritises the customers and communities it serves, with an absolute focus on delivering benefits for passengers. I have also been clear that my review must not stop or delay investment and innovation.

"This West Coast Partnership delivers for passengers. It is a step forward that is firmly in line with the review, introducing benefits for passengers today and capable of incorporating the reforms needed for the future."

First Trenitalia will oversee the introduction of new environmentally-friendly trains, entirely replacing the diesel-only fleet and reducing CO2 emissions by 61%. 

It will also invest £117 million in a major refurbishment of the current Pendolino fleet, providing more comfortable seats and additional luggage space.

Obituary of distinguished Llangollen-born diplomat

The Guardian has carried the obituary of Sir Wynn Hugh-Jones (pictured) who was born in Llangollen and died recently at the age 95 after a distinguished career as a diplomat and general secretary of the Liberal Party.

You can see this at: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/11/sir-wynn-hugh-jones-obituary

Petrol Honda CR-V is a strong family market contender

* The Honda CR-V. 

* The CR-V cockpit.

Honda CR-V road test by Steve Rogers

CARAVANERS have always loved the Honda CR-V. The SUV offered a huge amount of space and effortless towing but has the Japanese company shot itself in the foot by dropping diesel from the latest model?

Honda would say not because diesel sales have fallen off the cliff and are unlikely to recover as car companies plough resources into petrol hybrid and electric power. Catering for towing is hardly top of the priority list but pulling a caravan or trailer with a petrol engine is always going to be second choice.

So here's a challenge for CR-V. Towing my four berth 7.2 metre caravan 340 miles to Redruth in Cornwall. The car's 1.5 VTEC turbo engine seems an unlikely match and more importantly what is it going to do to the gallon? My last petrol experience was 1989 when I got 20mpg from a 2-litre Mazda 626. Painful on the pocket.

With 170bhp under the bonnet I had no worries about CR-Vs ability to pull my van. It has a capacity of 2000kg, way more than I need. No, my concern was the 220Nm of torque, a lot less than a diesel. The six speed gear box was going to be busy.

How did CR-V do? I was right about having plenty of gear change practice but as long as the right gear was chosen the car felt very comfortable and pulled strongly uphill. The downside is engine noise. The VTEC likes its revs and tends to shout and scream once passed 3000rpm.

I kept a close eye on the computer readout for fuel consumption and was pleasantly surprised. The CR-V never fell below 25mpg and even reached 30mpg for the long cruise down the M5. The average at journeys end was 27.2mpg and it was much the same for the return trip, not a a bad return and not much worse than a Mazda CX-5 with similar power to CR-V from a 2.2 diesel which I used to tow a few weeks earlier.

Given the choice I would still opt for diesel but those choosing CR-V for towing are not going to be too disappointed.

But what of CR-V as an everyday family car? It has been the people's choice since it was launched 24 years ago and according to Honda is the world's best selling SUV. I drove it at the launch and wrote that it was a game changer with driving characteristics much closer to a car than the cumbersome 4x4s of the time.

Honda has done such a lot to improve CR-V down the years and the fifth generation is the best yet, as it should be, and is built on the same global platform as the Civic. It doesn't look a lot different from the previous model until you get close up and see all the new body creases and bulging wheel arches, all intended to give CR-V more kerb appeal.

A spacious cabin has been a big strongpoint and has got even better thanks to the longer wheelbase. Back seat legroom has to be the best in its class, there is even room for a seven seater version, a first for CR-V, while the boot is massive with the back seats dropped.

A couple of adults could sleep in it and it took my two adult bikes without any trouble. The sill is about as low as it will go and the tailgate aperture nice and wide for easy loading.

The SUV/crossover market is crowded, some would say overcrowded, so Honda has tried to distance itself from the pack with a combination of greater cabin space and more upmarket trim. It is not premium, but is knocking on the door.

Dashboard layout is clean and simple with the gearstick perched high in the centre console. This leaves a lot of space for stowage between the seats with the central box large enough to take a litre bottle of water with room to spare.

Honda has chosen Garmin for the navigation system which isn't my favourite. The graphics are not detailed enough and look more suited as illustrations for a child's book. At least reaction time for the touchscreen is good although I was none too impressed by the advanced traffic warning that twice wanted to send us on a wild goose chase.

We ignored the first report of a big delay and found there wasn't any, but took the second alternative route because of an apparent delay which also turned out to be out of date.

That apart, CR-V continues to be a strong contender. Driven solo the 1.5 VTEC is a bit of a flyer with 40mpg plus economy and commendably low emissions, and while the handling is not as dynamic as the Mazda CX-5 or the new Seat Tarraco, it has a more comfortable ride which is more in tune with the needs of a family.

Key facts

CR-V SE 6sp manual

£28,405

1.5 VTEC turbo; 170bhp

0-62mph 9.3secs; 130mph

44.8mpg combined

143g/km. 1st year tax £210

Boot: 1756 litres max

Insurance group 24

Gardening club's summer open show this Saturday

Llangollen & District Gardening Club has its Open Summer Show at the RAFA Club this Saturday, August 17.

A copy of the show

 schedule can be picked up from Watkins & Williams, the Library, Tourist Information, Zingibers and Courtyard Books. 

Chance to get an inside look at Glyndwr University

* The Gallery, a new facility at the university.

* Vice Chancellor Maria Hinfelaar. 

An exclusive opportunity to see the elite Colliers Park football training facility is among the experiences on offer at Wrexham Glyndwr University’s next open day.

The event takes place on Saturday, August 17 and transport will be available from Glyndwr’s main Plas Coch campus in Wrexham to take interested students on the behind-the-scenes tour.

During the tour, sports academics at the university will be on hand to show visitors around the newly-redeveloped site, which is operated by the Football Association of Wales (FAW), in partnership with Wrexham Glyndwr University.

The tour will be held at 11.30am (with transport leaving Plas Coch at 11.15am.) It will also feature a session looking at body composition and an overview of the sports programmes on offer at Wrexham Glyndwr University.

The new facilities at Colliers Park are among the latest upgrades students at Glyndwr can expect to see, with series of recently-opened social learning spaces and upgraded teaching rooms and lecture theatres on show which have been completed under the university’s ongoing Campus 2025 estates renewal strategy. 

In one of the recently opened spaces, The Gallery, prospective students and their family will get the chance to chat with Glyndwr’s Vice Chancellor Maria Hinfelaar face-to-face over coffee. The session, at 10.30am, is designed to offer the chance to ask questions about the university, its courses and what it’s like to study at Glyndwr in an informal manner.

There are also a host of other, subject-specific talks, demonstrations and activities on hand throughout the day.

Wrexham Glyndŵr University Admissions Manager, Andy Phillips, said: “We’ve got lots of activities and talks taking place this open day, including ‘Criminology: Your Route into Public Services,’ ‘Psychology Café – the Psychology of Love Island,’ ‘Stop & Search Knife Crime,’ an interactive physiotherapy session - and much more.

“There’s also the chance to get your hands of some of the amazing high-tech equipment our academics and students use in a PlaySpace arena – with an opportunity to explore everything from Virtual Reality headsets to 3D printing, ethical hacking and the internet of things. ”

The August open day is designed to give prospective 2019 entry students a taste of what it's like to study at Glyndwr, to let them learn more about the wide variety of degree programmes available and to show them what each of Glyndwr’s campuses has to offer -  as well as being giving them the chance to meet with course staff and current students.

The university has a wide range of courses available at foundation, undergraduate and post graduate level, many of which can also be studied part-time. More than half of current Wrexham Glyndwr students study part-time and includes a wide-variety of age groups.

A number of the university’s supporting services will also be on hand on the day to speak to prospective students, including the award-winning careers team - whose work supporting students has been recognised with a national accolade from AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service.)

There is also the opportunity to speak to the admissions team about course entry requirements and the application process, and the student funding and money advice team for information on funding and fees.

The open day runs from 10am – 2pm with last entry at 1pm. You can drop in throughout the day but don’t forget to check the list of talks and events so you don’t miss something that’s important to you. 

* For more information or to book to attend the Open Day visit: wgu.ac.uk/openday.

Llangollen has county's highest earning car park

* Llangollen's Market Street car park.

A car park in Llangollen is the top earner for Denbighshire County Council.

The Daily Post put in Freedom of Information requests to local authorities across north Wales to discover exactly how much their car parks made in fees during 2018/19. The total was £4.3 million.

And the reply from Denbighshire showed that Martket Street in Llangollen was its highest earner, bringing in £137,244.03 during the period.

Two other car parks in the town also made it into the county’s top ten.

East Street came in at number eight by notching up £42,723 and the tally for Mill Street was just a little less at £41,036 which brought it in at number 10.

Denbighshire’s full top ten is:

Market Street, Llangollen £137,244.03
Rhyl Promenade £108,677.23
Sky Tower, Rhyl £65,078.84
Nova, Rhyl £61,507.72
Factory Ward, Denbigh £54,818.91
Market Street, Ruthin £47,489.88
Morley Road, Rhyl £43,891.30
East Street, Llangollen £42,723.93
Underground, Rhyl £42,224.55
Mill Street, Llangollen £41,036.60

* See the full story at: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/parking-cash-cows-netted-north-16733201

Oak Street Gallery to host John Peacock exhibition

* John Peacock's work entitled Marigolds.

Artist John Peacock is to stage an exhibition at the Oak Street Gallery in Llangollen.

His medium is stitched collage, with the use of fabrics, stained and oiled brown paper, colour papers and newspaper.

His work is often enhanced with coloured inks, dye, paint and/or bleach. 

Much of his inspiration comes from the countryside, particularly trees and woodlands. Antique embroidery and patchwork, Oriental carpets and rugs often influence the colour pallet used in his work.

There will be an opening event on the evening of Saturday August 17, from 7pm to 9pm.

The exhibition will run from August 18 until September 14, and the gallery will be open Wednesday – Sunday, 10am-4pm.

 * Orchard by John Peacock. 

New campaign will celebrate best in local produce

* The Launch of Taste North East Wales at Llangollen’s Horseshoe Falls with, from left, Pip Gale, of Gales Wine Bar, in Llangollen, rafters from SAS Outdoors, Robyn Lovelock, Donna Hughes, Cadwyn Clwyd; Janet Monshin Dallolio, Joe Bickerton, Wrexham County Borough Council; Emma Cornes and Jane Clough. Picture: Mandy Jones.

Taste, a 40-day fiesta of food-filled experiences, will this autumn celebrate the fantastic range of produce available from the north east corner of Wales.

Taste North East Wales will run through September, October and into November with 30 events showcasing ways for visitors and local residents to savour the region’s rich culinary tradition.

So if tastes run to black-tie catered rafting on the River Dee at Llangollen, afternoon tea in a prime ministerial library at Hawarden in Flintshire or a costumed medieval feast at Wrexham museum they and many others can be catered for.

The programme is backed by rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd along with the Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB and the Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham local authorities.

The money is from a pot of almost £8 million of funding administered by Corwen-based Cadwyn Clwyd from the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government as part of a six-year plan to revitalise rural communities and their economies.

Taste North East Wales is being supported by Cadwyn Clwyd for its first two years but is then intended to become an annual and self-sustaining event which will include dining experiences, production tours, demonstrations, tastings, workshops and masterclasses and also incorporate the established food festivals at Llangollen, Mold and Wrexham. 

Emma Cornes, the campaign's co-ordinator, said: “What we are doing is showcasing this whole area through the medium of its fabulous food.

“We have put together a programme of unique food-based experiences and we want as many people as possible to explore, experience and eat the best of what North East Wales has to offer.

“If you want to go rafting, work in a community garden, attend a medieval banquet, visit an egg farm or go foraging you can do it and experience the unique flavours of the area through each opportunity.”

Pip Gale, of Gales Wine Bar in Llangollen, is part of the Ravenous Rafting experience which will include canapes made from locally sourced ingredients ahead of a white water trip down the River Dee followed by Sunday lunch at Gales, again profiling key local ingredients.

He said: “We live in an amazing place with amazing food and we are now working together to put North East Wales on the food map.

“The produce from this area is particularly good. Everyone knows the lamb is fantastic but we have so many other food producers making lots of lovely products that deserve to be better known, from craft beers and ciders to chocolate, honey and ice cream.”

* For more information on Taste North East Wales, go to: www.tastenortheastwales.org

Friends of Pengwern are going stargazing

Friends of Pengwern is hosting a stargazing session next Tuesday evening.

Spokesperson Emma Davies said: "Come and join us to gaze at the night sky and spot some meteorites and shooting stars.

"We will be walking up to the meadow so please wear suitable footwear, bring a torch and maybe bring a blanket and a flask."

She added: "This is part of the ongoing Nature for Health project, with many more events coming soon.

"The project is a collaboration between Denbighshire Countryside Service - Gwasanaeth Cefn Gwlad Sir Ddinbych and Denbighshire Housing Services."

The session takes place on Tuesday August 13, from 9-11pm, and those interested in taking part are asked to meet at Pengwern Community Centre, LL20 8BB.

Rescue team called to incident near Llangollen

NEWSAR - North East Wales Search and Rescue - have given details of an incident they were called to in the Llangollen area early this morning (Friday).

On their website they says: "North Wales Police called the team in the early hours of this morning after a couple got into difficulty walking near Llangollen. 

"The incident site was not completely clear so, in cooperation with the casualty group, we used some phone technology to get a precise location.

"We were then able to direct Police Officers to the site while we started team members moving to assist. Shortly afterwards the group was located by Police Officers and assisted to safety and we stood down. "

More details about town council by-election

A by-election will be held for one member to represent the vacant seat on Llangollen Town Council following the resignation of Cllr Karen Edwards.

Any person wishing to stand as a candidate at the by-election should contact the Returning Officer at Denbighshire County Council on 01824 706114 (email elections@denbighshire.gov.uk) to obtain nomination papers.

Completed nomination papers must be presented in person to the Returning Officer or her Deputy at County Hall, Ruthin by 4pm Friday, 6 September 2019.

Should the election be contested it will take place on Thursday, 3 October 2019 with polling taking place at the Council Chamber at Llangollen Town Hall. 

Medieval re-enactment at Valle Crucis this weekend

As part of the Kids' History Festival organised by CADW,  the Prince's Retinue will be in residence at Valle Crucis Abbey transporting visitors back in time with a range of exciting living history displays tomorrow and Sunday.

Vicar recruits task force to help preserve historic St Collen's

* St Collen's parish church should become more of a tourist
attraction/experience, believes the vicar. 

Llangollen’s go-ahead vicar is putting together a special task force to help preserve a vital part of the town’s heritage.

Father Lee Taylor (pictured below) has made an appeal for volunteers from Llangollen to form a steering group to make the historic parish church of St Collen’s more of a tourist attraction or experience.

Father Lee, who took over at the church late last year and has since introduced a number of new ideas, said: “I am hoping that the group will bring together a diverse group of people - of all faiths or none - who have experience in grant applications, tourism, history, architecture, electrical work and so on.

“They will work on fundraising, making bids to Heritage Lottery and other charities. 

“I am looking for people to contribute their time, not money. There are no other expectations.

“It is really voluntary work – not necessarily for the church – but for preserving a crucial part of history for this town.

“Our carved oak ceiling is one of the wonders of Wales. It dates back to 1450, before Michelangelo began work on painting the Sistine Chapel. It has many intricate figures and characters that tell fascinating stories.” 

Father Lee, who recently organised a colourful parade through the town and service of dedication to St Collen as patron saint and the man the town is named after, added: “Our hope is to get a better lighting system that brings out all these details, bringing the stories to life and giving a real impact on all who come through our doors.

“We are a dynamic, bustling town here In Llangollen - a tourist destination for people from all over the world who come here to experience the steam railway, the canal and aqueduct, the many festivals, the abbey and castle ruins, the famous walking routes and of course the International Eisteddfod. 

“I believe that the church should always reflect the community in which it is placed.

“As part of a tourist town, St Collen's needs to play its role in engaging with those who delight in history and architecture.”

* Anyone interested in joining Father Lee’s steering group can email him at: frleetaylor@hotmail.co.uk 

Audi plays numbers game with its new A1 Sportback

* The new Audi A1 Sportback, outside and in.

Audi A1 Sportback road test by Steve Rogers

They are playing a new numbers game at Audi and it got a friend very excited.

He was admiring my A1 Sportback and noticed 35 in front of TFSI on the tailgate. He could hardly contain himself thinking the little A1 had a 3.5 litre under the bonnet. A reasonable assumption.

I could have led him on offering a very fast spin but decided to burst his bubble revealing the Sportback was powered by a modest 1.5 litre petrol.

So what is the numbering all about? Not sure anyone will be interested but I will explain anyway. In the near future we will be switching from horse power to kilowatts to denote power output. It is because electric cars, of which there will be many, have outputs expressed in kilowatts so Audi are preparing the ground.

Audi has come up with a numbering system ranging from 30 to 55. The 35 on my 1.5 litre Sportback tells us it has 110-120kw or 150-163bhp. Glad to have cleared the air with that one!

If my friend was intrigued by the numbering he nearly fell over when I revealed the price. All but £29,000.

Yes this is a load of money for a supermini - you could buy four Dacia Sanderos and still have a grand to spare - but the Dacia is bargain basement while the A1 is premier league so you get almost the same quality and specification of a £70,000 A8 but in a much smaller car.

Sort of takes the pain out of downsizing. Interestingly hardly anyone goes for a basic model, customers packing the car to the roofline with the many extras on offer.

Probably best to distinguish Sportback from A1 which is a two or four door hatchback while this one is more of an estate car and is roomier than you might think. It is also prettier than the lacklustre A1 taking its styling from the trendier Q2 SUV.

And on the subject of SUVs Audi is about to add the citycarver to the Sportback range. More of a baby SUV it is blinged up with fatter wheel arches, new sills in a contrasting colour, stainless steel finish and raised ride height.

Regardless of the cost A1 Sportback is an appealing motor, great to drive, a comfortable four seater, five at a pinch, with a decent sized boot. It took a set of golf clubs which is always a good test.

All A1 models drive well but the S Line tested here is more for the enthusiast, the firmer suspension encouraging the driver to push because it drives as if it is on rails.

Inside is what you expect from Audi - classy. The trim is largely top grade with plenty of leather, and while the dashboard isn't eye catching it is functional with a 10 inch touchscreen controlling most functions. Significantly the heating controls are separate, operated by switches which is far less distracting for the driver. If only all cars were the same.

The driver's binnacle is changeable, just as it is in larger Audi models, so you can select full width Google mapping when using the navigation.

Earlier I described the 1.5 litre engine as modest which it is compared to the fictional 3.5 litre but in reality this is a tremendous performer for its size. It fairly buzzes along with good throttle response at low revs and never shouts and screams near the limit. Gear ratios are well chosen as well.

Performance aside the engine's greatest asset is economy - it shuts down two of its four cylinders to save petrol. Over 500 odd miles it never fell below 45mpg and on a four up 100 mile Sunday stroll the Sportback returned 60.4mpg. That is just brilliant.

The Sportback's heady price is always going to raise eyebrows but customers are happy to pay whatever it takes to spec up the car. If your budget is tight then look elsewhere but if you want a small car without compromise then look no further.

Key facts

A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S-Line

£24,805/£28,800 tested (starts £17,570)

1.5 litre; 147bhp

0-62mph 7.7secs; 137mph

44.8-45.6mpg combined

120g/km. 1st year road tax £170

Insurance group 26

Boot: 335 litres

Town Council looks to fill vacancy

Art club puts its work on show at museum

* Above and below, guests at the preview of the art exhibition in the upper gallery of the museum.

Llangollen Art Club previewed its annual exhibition at the museum in Parade Street yesterday evening.

The colourful display, which continues until September 2, features a wide variety of members' pictures in various media.

The club meets every Tuesday evening, from 7.30-9.30pm, in the Memorial Hall in Market Street and welcomes artists of all abilities.

Some of the pictures on display ...

The museum has just launched its latest annual art competition, details of which are below:

MP gives full marks to cut-price school uniform scheme

* At the Llangollen launch of the scheme are, from left, Deputy Mayor Cllr Issy Richards, Susan Elan Jones MP, Emma Davies from the Pengwern Community and Graham Kendall of Citizens Advice Denbighshire/South Denbighshire Community Partnership.

A successful school uniform recycling scheme has been spread to Llangollen.

The scheme, run by a partnership between Citizens Advice Denbighshire and the county council, was launched in Denbigh, Prestatyn and Rhyl late last month.

And so far 460 children there have received items of clean, pressed school uniform, donated by families across the county.

From this Monday the scheme, which is also supported by Community Foundation Wales, is now also operating from Pengwern Community Centre in Llangollen.  

Lesley Powell, chief officer of Citizens Advice Denbighshire, said: “We are so pleased to be able to extend the scheme across all the county this year, we could not have done this without the support of the staff, volunteers, community, schools, town councils and Denbighshire County Council. 

“All the families attending the scheme will be offered a follow-up advice session to make sure everyone is claiming all their benefits, credits and grants.  

"We would encourage all families to check if they are eligible for the School Uniform Grant, free school meals and to come to our pop-up shops.”

Susan Elan Jones MP, who attended the Llangollen launch, said: "I am delighted to be here as this is a fantastic project." 

* For more information on the location and opening times of the pop-up shops, visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/school-uniform-recycle-scheme

Art club previews latest exhibition tonight

Eisteddfod stars perform at Berwyn Prison

* Real Folk International Academy appeared at Berwyn Pirson. 

As part of the Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod, international performers were invited to entertain audiences at a number of outreach events including the HM Prison Berwyn.

The prison event, details of which have just been revealed, was a culmination of workshops and competitions organised by the collaborative efforts between the eisteddfod, Coleg Berwyn, Berywn residents, Reducing Re-offending and Welsh Lead for Equalities.

Throughout the months of May and June residents were encouraged to engage their imagination with creative writing and performance. 

Themes for the Berwyn Eisteddfod included Welsh culture and Hope & Friendship where residents produced art, short stories, poetry and song.

The final took place on July 4 when each performance category was judged by a panel of judges including the HR Manager at Berwyn Jason Kelsall, Rachel James, Head of Business Assurance at Berwyn, and eisteddfod representative John Gambles.

The event concluded in a colourful display by special guests Real Folk International Academy from the Panjab performing in the prison. 

They received a standing ovation from the audience as they performed a vibrant and traditional dance. 

The Real Folk International Academy then shared a multicultural buffet with the residents.

Other outreach events took place throughout North Wales during the week of the festival. 

These included special appearances by international performers from Columbia and Malaysia at the Pendine Park and Abby Dingle care homes.

John Gambles, who is the eisteddfod's Town and Outreach Coordinator: “The mini eisteddfod has been a huge success at Berwyn Prison and I am honoured to have been on the judging panel.

“The key message of Llangollen Musical Eisteddfod is to promote peace and harmony within communities. These outreach schemes offer people who do not have the opportunity to attend the festival a chance to enjoy performances from international guests.”

Police boss welcomes MPs’ call to decriminalise cannabis

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner has welcomed a report from a group of cross-party MPs who predict the UK will fully legalise cannabis within five to 10 years.

Arfon Jones, a former police inspector, is a long-time advocate of drugs reform and says the conclusions of the MPs’ fact-finding trip to Canada are a step in the right direction.

Last year Canada became the first G7 country to allow recreational use of cannabis which is designated as a Class B drug in the UK and anyone caught with it could face up to five years in prison.

There has already been some change in the UK with a shift in approach towards medicinal cannabis products, which can now be legally prescribed to some patients.

According to the MPs, they would like to see cannabis being decriminalised and regulated so that it cuts out the drugs gangs.

Mr Jones said: “I very much welcome this report and an important contribution to the debate about our antiquated drugs legislation which is not fit for purpose.

“We lost the war against drugs a long time ago and it is time we recognised this and tried a new approach.

“I also sense the tide of public opinion is turning in favour of doing things differently.

“It’s clear the current method of tackling organised crime through the Criminal Justice System is not effective.

“Once one group has been removed, another replaces it within days, which inevitably leads to further violence and exploitation.

Trying to arrest our way out of the distribution and cultivation of drugs is not working and quite frankly hasn’t been working for a long, long time - so we clearly need to look at other ways we can remove organised crime from our communities.

“It is a nonsense to criminalise people who take cannabis for recreational use and cause no harm to anybody else.

Cannabis should be regulated just like alcohol and tobacco – which actually cause more harm to individuals and to society in general.

“We should introduce a licencing system so that cannabis can be sold through pharmacies and in shops as happens in Canada, Uruguay and certain states in America.

“The best way to reduce the role of organised crime in the supply of drugs is to put it in commercial hands and to price it appropriately so people don't need to go to the illegal market.

“Commercial organisations have taken over the medicinal cannabis market and are selling prescriptions at a vast cost even though it is cheap to grow.  That’s just exploitation in my book.

“My view is that people should be allowed to grow a limited number of cannabis plants for their own use.

“Let’s face it there are probably hundreds of thousands of people in this country who grow cannabis in their own homes now.

“They're not harming anybody else and there is no reason why they should be punished through the criminal justice system.

“It would be sensible to follow the example of Spanish cannabis clubs where people are allowed to grow seven or eight cannabis plants in the club.

“If you were starting from scratch, I think cannabis would be more lightly regulated than alcohol is now because I think everybody agrees that alcohol is far more harmful to individuals than cannabis is.

“Just like alcohol, you should have age restrictions on the purchase and consumption of cannabis is a regulated market.

“In the autumn I will be launching a new scheme called Checkpoint in North Wales – after it was developed by Cambridge University and successfully trialled in Durham - which is designed to divert low level offenders away from criminality.

“We need to recognise that 90 per cent of drug consumption including cannabis is recreational use and non-problematic.

"In those cases, people should be given some educational information and that would be the end of the matter.

"Meanwhile, the legal position in relation to medicinal cannabis has been well and truly fudged as a matter of political expediency to avoid a PR disaster caused by the heart-rending cases of several children like the chronically ill Billy Caldwell who needs cannabis oil to ward off life-threatening fits.

“It is also unjust and cruel that people living with conditions like multiple sclerosis who use cannabis are putting themselves at risk of being prosecuted.”