MP warns over "nasty scam"

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is urging constituents to be alert to "a particularly nasty scam" that she says ends up costing people hundreds of pounds for just making a telephone call.

She has also written to the Secretary of State of the relevant Government department urging him to act fast to bust the scam operation.

Ms Jones said: "A constituent brought this scam to my attention so naturally I wanted to inform as many constituents as possible and get the Government to act. This is not the usual 'get rich quick' scam. In this case, many people could lose hundreds of pounds by making what looks like a simple phone call to collect a parcel." 

According to the MP, the "scam" is as follows:

 

A card is posted through your door purporting to come from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).
If you do call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

Ms Jones added: "Anyone receiving a card with these sort of details should call Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655 and Crime Stoppers. UK. on  0800 555 111.

"It's also really important that people are aware that the premium rate number may change so please do not call any number stated on a card from PDS

 

"Constituents are of course always welcome to contact me if they feel they have been the victim of a scam or have any other problem I can help with." 

 

County to run free parking scheme again

Denbighshire County Council has announced that its "Free after 3" parking scheme will again be in operation this year to help support town centres in the run-up to Christmas.

The scheme provides free parking in all council operated pay & display car parks after 3pm on a daily basis.

The scheme will operate until December 31.

Christmas Quiz to be staged at The Hand

Holy Cross Catholic Church in Llangollen has asked llanblogger to display the poster below giving details of a forthcoming local event ...

MP back Small Business Saturday

 

* Outside Marchwiel Store: Ruth Davies, Megan Lewis, Peter

Lewis and Susan Elan Jones MP

 

Susan Elan Jones MP is urging constituents to give special support to village and small town shops on Small Business Saturday which this year will be held on December 6.

The Clwyd South member made her comments after a recent visit to Marchwiel Store, a shop which this year has undergone a major refurbishment.

Ms Jones said: "It was great to meet up with store-keepers Megan and Peter Lewis who have traded here for 30 years and their store manageress Ruth Davies. This store provides the village of Marchwiel with a fantastic one-stop shop for everything from newspapers and hot snacks to fresh bread and Lottery purchases.

"Small businesses are vital in all of our villages and towns. Right across the Clwyd South constituency, from the energetic Cefn Traders' organisation that has done so much to regenerate the main street in Cefn Mawr to the Cittaslow movement in Llangollen and dynamic individual shops like Marchwiel Stores, we are seeing many people doing all they can to promote small businesses.

 

"But for the future of these businesses to be guaranteed in our villages and small towns, it's crucial we give them our custom. I hope residents will support local shops on Small Business Saturday and throughout the rest of the year." 

Latest picture of Chain Bridge work

George Jones of Llangollen Railway has sent in his latest picture of the scaffolding around the Chain Bridge.

Taken last Saturday, it shows work proceeding on the northern bank of the River Dee as part of the major restoration of the historic bridge.

Steam film to be screened at RAFA Club

Denbigh Film Club has asked llanblogger to display the poster below about one of its forthcoming events, which will be held in Llangollen.

Art and craft fair at Town Hall tomorrow

An art and craft fair will be held in Llangollen Town Hall tomorrow, Saturday, November 22, from 10am-4pm.

One of the organisers said: "There will be lots of wonderful crafts from a group of local people. "

AM calls for help with railway extension

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Transport Minister for Wales to support Phase 2 of the new extension of Llangollen Railway.

 

Last month the first passenger train ran into Dwyrain, Corwen East,  completing Phase 1 of the Corwen Extension Project. Funding is now required for Phase 2.

 

Raising the matter in the Assembly Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood said: “High passenger demand has been welcomed on the Llangollen Railway. In its first 10-day season 4,000 passengers travelled on the new extension to Corwen.

 

“Of course, Welsh Government grant aid was provided for that. Originally, the Welsh Government looked at this on the basis of wider regeneration potential for Corwen as well as Llangollen and the wider area. Now, Phase 2 has to be funded because the original grant funding could not be provided in full.

 

“What consideration can you and your colleagues give to supporting Phase 2 for the delivery of a station in Corwen and the wider infrastructure to go with it?”

 

The Minister, Edwina Hart AM,  Edwina Hart, said she could not provide “an absolutely positive answer on this issue” because “there are budgetary considerations for all of this.”

 

She added: “I can assure you that if the funds become available and we see successful operations we will be able to give further consideration to make them even more successful.”

 

Mr Isherwood added: “I am hugely impressed by the achievement of Llangollen Railway and its volunteers on the track extension to  Corwen. They now deserve support for stage two and the region deserves the wider regeneration which this could bring.”

* Watch the question on Senedd TV: http://www.senedd.tv/Meeting/Archive/35764a19-6abe-4e5f-ad7b-969dd154e19a?startPos=3099&autostart=True
 

Joanna gets the chance to speak in Parliament

* Joanna Stallard, front row right, in Parliament with the rest of the group involved in the Westminster Debate. 

A Llangollen sixth former who may be heading for Cambridge has just been on a memorable visit to Westminster.

Joanna Stallard, 18, daughter of the vicar of the town’s parish church of St Collen’s, journeyed to London to take part in the UK Youth Parliament’s Westminster Youth Debate, organised by the British Youth Council, after winning the privilege of being able to give the commemorative WW1 speech at the dispatch box in Parliament.

Joanna, a pupil at Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen, stood up on live TV to give a talk, in English and Welsh, about the soldier and poet Elis Humphrey Evans, known as Hedd Wyn.

She also had the chance to meet former Foreign Secretary William Hague and House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, even managing to get a selfie picture with him (pictured below left).

No stranger to public performance, Joanna has appeared a number of times in amateur productions in her home town.

She is also a budding politician and is currently receiving university offers, including Cambridge where she has an interview next month.

Joanne became involved in political events when she was 15 by joining the Denbighshire Youth Council and the former Welsh Youth Parliament (Funky Dragon).

Speaking of her big day in London, she said:  “I had the honour of being one of 24 young people in Wales to attend the UK Youth Parliament's annual Westminster Debate organised by Mr Speaker John Bercow in conjunction with the British Youth Council.

“Along with four other young people from North Wales, I went down on the train to London where we met the group from the south for a meal and catch-up - all expenses paid by the BYC -  before getting a good night's sleep in a central hotel, ready for an early start the following morning.

“After a hearty breakfast we set off promptly to register in Parliament at 9am. There some of our group had the chance to grab a second breakfast, however myself and Avery - who had the prestigious role of being our lead speaker in the Living Wage debate - were quickly swept away to a formal reception with the Rt Hon William Hague MP, Richard Benyon MP and the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.

“There we had a photo opportunity and were able to engage briefly in conversation with these notable figures.

“We then made our way to the chamber, I  felt daunted but equally inspired after that unexpected exchange.

“Luckily, the commemorative speech was first on the agenda, after the parliamentary welcome, so I didn't have enough time to allow fear to completely consume me.

“As John Bercow called out each name I could feel myself shaking as nerves began to build up, I was very aware of what an honour it was to be sat in the hallowed chamber at all, let alone on the front bench meters away from the dispatch box, where so many of my heroes had stood to make iconic speeches previously.”

Joanna added: “This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and a privilege, I knew I could not let myself or my family down. This determination took over as I heard my name called and I made my way over to the dispatch box where I would deliver my message.

“As I arrived there, I felt all of my worries disintegrate, my dream was becoming a reality, I was in awe and loved every second of it. Across from me I could see William Hague, former Secretary of State for Wales, nodding with encouragement as I relayed a story he was clearly familiar with, the story of  a soldier, Elis Humphrey Evans aka Hedd Wyn.

“I tried to incorporate a few sentences in Welsh, as it was important  – it being my mother tongue - to have it incorporated in the Welsh contribution.

“The positive response my story received left me feeling elated and inspired. It confirmed my prior beliefs that politics might be a career I'd like to pursue in the future. I wanted to do it again, to say more, but of course, the time people had to speak was limited, I had been lucky to be among the few who did have the chance to speak and I knew the majority of those who'd wanted to speak had not been fortunate enough, so I was grateful that I had been able to do so thanks to the Welsh competition.

“It is thanks to my school council and the former Welsh Youth Parliament (Funky Dragon) that I was able to get involved in this event.

“I am sad that the funding for the Funky Dragon has been cut and I hope this decision may be overturned. I cannot thank those who helped me enough for having catalysed what I hope will be a successful career in politics in the future.”

PCC welcomes crime recording success

North Wales Police is one of the top five forces for recording crime figures accurately, it's been revealed.

 

A new report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary showed that 94 per cent of crimes in the region were recorded properly.

 

The news was welcomed by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC (pictured left).

 

But the Commissioner stressed there was "no room for complacency" and pledged to push for further improvements.

 

Mr Roddick said: "The integrity of crime figures is vitally important for a whole host of reasons, not least to provide reassurance to the public in general and victims in particular that the police are doing their job properly.

 

"Recording crimes reliably is important as it not only enables me to set policing strategy for North Wales, it also gives people confidence in the policing service they receive.

 

"The report shows that North Wales Police is among the best five forces in England and Wales in relation to the accurate recording of crime statistics.

 

"HMIC found that out of 78 cases where a crime should have been recorded that 73 were recorded by the Force and this is the fifth best compliance rate in this part of the report which means the force has a compliance rate of 94 per cent.

 

"Whilst, overall, the figures for North Wales Police are positive  there is certainly no room for complacency and there is always room for improvement.

"I take my responsibilities in this regard very seriously and scrutiny arrangements have been put in place in relation to the way North Wales Police records crime.

 

"The scrutiny process has included ensuring the force has the right leadership in place to ensure that crimes are recorded properly.

"Quite deliberately, my Police and Crime Plan for North Wales does not include specific targets other than the overall reduction of crime.

"Specific targets can lead to a target culture which puts pressure on police to keep their crime figures down."

Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: “I welcome sight of the full report although HMIC provided North Wales Police with its interim findings earlier this year in May.  

"The full report endorses the interim account and confirms we have a very high compliance rate in how we record crime, i.e. 94 per cent which I understand is the fifth highest in England and Wales and very encouraging.”

“Following the interim report we have an action plan and Governance Group chaired by a Chief Superintendent on which I also sit and our focus is to improve our crime recording processes further still.”

“Since May we have strengthened our procedures by reviewing and reducing the number of decision makers and so a small cadre of experienced and highly trained staff in the field of Home Office Crime Recording rules can now focus on achieving uniformity and accuracy across the force.”

“However, we won’t rest on our laurels and will look to see from the reports overall conclusions lessons learned and best practice to tighten further our crime recording procedures.   It is important the public of north Wales have full confidence in the way we record, as well as investigate crime, and I am reassured that HMIC concur.”

EE mobile signal lost again

For the second time within a few days the centre of Llangollen has been left without an EE mobile phone signal.

The first loss of signal took place last Friday and Saturday and lasted for a number of hours on both occasions.

Latest blackout came this morning (Tuesday) at around 9.30am.

Responding to the first signal loss, EE's press office told llanblogger: "An electrical fault resulted in some disruption to service in the Llangollen are on Friday and Saturday.

"The mast was fixed on Saturday night, and normal service was resumed. We apologise to any customers affected."

An EE spokesman said engineers were currently looking into the second problem.

Llan councillor opposes merger with Conwy

Llangollen councillor Stuart Davies has voted against the possibility of a voluntary merger between Denbighshire County Council and neighbouring Conwy.

A deadline of the end of November has been set for councils across Wales to consider expressing an interest in a voluntary merger.

Councillors in both counties met separately in September and agreed to investigate the potential of merger, providing doing so voluntarily would offer substantial financial advantages.

They met again yesterday (Monday) and agreed to a positive response to the expressions of interest request.

But during a debate on the issue at County Hall in Denbighshire, Cllr Davies argued against the idea.

He said: “My people in Llangollen are talking to me and saying, `what is the point of going to Conwy’. They don’t like the idea and don’t see the point. It’s over the other side of the mountain, and I tend to agree. I tend to look the other way towards Wrexham.

“I’m the guy who fought the fight to keep Llangollen in Denbighshire in 1999.

“I think there is still too much uncertainty in this for me and in my view we should be staying where we are.

“I’m not going to be voting for this recommendation myself.

“Like Wrexham, we should stand up and say no. I’m fed up with the Welsh Government telling us what to do.

“We should keep the status quo and for a few little bits and pieces go to Wrexham.”

Subject to the Welsh Government's response to the Expression of Interest, which is expected in January 2015, work will start on preparing a full business case for merger, to be considered by both councils in summer 2015.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: "We were the first councils in Wales to publicly declare an interest in the potential of a merger with a neighbouring authority, but we must make it clear that this is an expression of interest and not a full business case for merger. We have agreed to formally explore the options, with a view to consider submitting a full business case in the summer. We believe there are a number of important reasons to proceed to develop a full business case.”

Leader of Conwy, Cllr Dilwyn Roberts, said: "There are similarities between the local authority areas - cost savings could be made. There is early encouraging support from the Welsh Government and there are advantages to voluntary merger over a compulsory move, but there are also risks to managing the merger process and the outcome. All this will be taken into account when a full business case is drawn up.”

During their discussions today, councillors in both Conwy and Denbighshire acknowledged that the impact on residents and local communities would be a key consideration.

To see a webcast of the debate go to: http://www.denbighshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/155310
Cllr Davies appears at 1.21.

Hosting Wales Rally brings "massive" opportunities to region

* The rally was at Chirk Castle on Saturday.

According to a story on the BBC news website, organisers of the event say hosting the Wales Rally GB in north and mid Wales gives businesses "massive" commercial and promotional opportunities".

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-30074197

* The champagne finish of the rally.

Trio of stars to shine at eisteddfod concert

A TRIO of Welsh musical stars will top the bill at a Christmas concert which aims to raise cash to help bring competitors from abroad to next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Rhys Meirion, one of the world famous Three Welsh Tenors, will appear alongside pianist Annette Bryn Parri and 14-year-old schoolboy sensation Dewi Wykes, who sang alongside opera legend Bryn Terfel in the production of Sweeney Todd at this year’s eisteddfod, at the concert on Sunday, December 14 in Llangollen Pavilion.

Masterminded by the eisteddfod’s Music and Staging Committee, proceeds from the big seasonal show will go towards the overseas competitor bursary fund which supports competitors from developing countries.           

Rhys Meirion, who was born in Porthmadog, Gwynedd, worked as a primary school headteacher at Ysgol Pentrecelyn near Ruhtin before leaving in 1997 to study opera at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

Together with Aled Hall and Alun Rhys-Jenkins, he is one of the inconic Three Welsh Tenors and his album with Bryn Terfel, Benedictus, was nominated for a Classical Brit Award in 2006.

He has sung the part of Rodolfo with Frankfurst Orchestra, West Australian Opera and Opera Australia and took the title role in Gounod’s Faust in Hong Kong.

He joined English National Opera in 1999 and later became company principal from 2001 to 2004.

There he sang most of the leading tenor roles including Rodolfo in La Boheme and Pinkerton in Madam Butterfly.

He has also played the role of Alfredo in La Traviata, Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore, Nadir in The Pearl Fishers, Marcello in Leoncavallo's La Boheme, Duke in Rigoletto, Tebaldo in Capuletti e Montecchi, Tamino in The Magic Flute, title role in Ernani, Sailor in Tristan und Isolde, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Italian Singer in Der Rosenkavalier, Froh in Das Rheingold and Zinovy in Lady Macbeth of Mtzensk.

Rhys was in Llangollen back in July when he stopped off in the town during his 200-mile sponsored walk to raise £250,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance of which he is official ambassador.

Annette Bryn Parri is a Welsh pianist, best known as an accompanist to opera stars such as Bryn Terfel, Rebecca Evans and Jason Howard.

She appears regularly on the Llangollen International Eisteddfod stage and also at the National Eisteddfod.

Born in Deiniolen, she studied piano with Rhiannon Gabrielson and graduated in 1984 from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester after studying under Marjorie Clementi.

Whilst at Manchester, she specialized in lieder, oratorio and opera, but her particular interest was in the Romantic composers.

In 1982, she won the Grace Williams Medal for composition at the Urdd Gobaith Cymru Eisteddfod in Pwllheli.

Schoolboy Dewi Wykes caused a critical stir when he appeared on stage with Bryn Terfel in the production of the musical Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street which was the curtain raiser to this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod.  

He was hand-picked for the role of the young Tobias Ragg alongside the great bass-baritone in the of Stephen Sondheim masterpiece, bringing the house down with his stunning performance.

Also appearing at the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are Ysgol Mogan Llwyd who were winners of this year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod Show Choir Competition, Mountain Lane Primary School and Llangollen Silver Band.

Tickets are available from the eisteddfod offices at the Pavilion, www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/tickets (10978 862000), Glyn Davies the Butchers in Castle Street and Jades Hair and Beauty in Oak Street, both in Llangollen. 

Sounds of Africa come to Llan tonight

 

* HAJAmadagascar & The Groovy People play the Pavilion tonight. 

Following their acclaimed performance at the Africa Oyé festival this summer, HAJAmadagascar & The Groovy People are appearing at Llangollen Pavilion tonight (Sunday) as part of their current UK tour.

 

Haja and his band, who all hail from the African island of Madagascar, are traveling across England and Wales this November to bring their unique Afro-Trance grooves to brand new audiences.

“Our music reflects our being”, Haja says.

 

“We love our traditions, but we live in big cities at the same time. Tradition and modernity can live well together. Afro-grooves are endless.”

Paul Duhaney, Artistic Director of Africa Oyé, said: "We are delighted to be touring one of the standout acts from lasts year's festival."

 

HAJAmadagascar & The Groovy People
Sunday 16th November, 2014
Llangollen Pavilion, Llangollen
£10 / 7:30pm
Tickets via skiddle.com

Limelight stages a Dickens of a good play

IF there was anything Charles Dickens relished more than writing his stories it was either reading them aloud in public or acting them out with family and friends.

And this is the basis of the current presentation by Limelight Productions at Llangollen Town Hall, A Dickens of an Evening, written and directed by Peter Read, which sees action from some of the great man's tales cleverly interwoven with aspects of his own life.

Not all Dickens’s tales had a happy ending and this is the case with some of those portrayed on stage by a fine cast of players.

Because, despite the massive fame and prosperity his writings helped him achieve in his own lifetime, Dickens was apparently not a happy man, we discover.

His difficult and strained relationship with his wife Catherine comes painfully across as does his relationship, considered scandalous at the time, with young actress Ellen Ternan.

Pete Darby gives a powerful and masterful portrayal of Dickens and thanks to his magnificent home-grown whiskers manages to look quite a bit like him too.

A sensitive interpretation of put-upon wife Catherine comes from Eiri Jones and there’s a neat cameo of Dickens’s close friend and fellow playwright and novelist Wilkie Collins by young Limelight star Joseph John Scatley.

Equally at home in his role as Dickens’s agent John Forster is Christopher Bawden, and Hannah Lilly Baker makes a believable Ellen Ternan, while Ellen’s mother, Mrs Ternan, is skilfully played by Fiona Bassett.

Each of the performers takes on secondary roles and, in the case of Christopher Bawden and Joseph John Scatley this deftly includes some of the toys from Dicken’s childhood as he reflects back on his own early Christmases.

The two-act play  includes some marvellous sequences from Dickens’s work such as his trademark Christmas Carol and his seasonally-themed short stories A Christmas Tree and The Haunted Man.

There’s still one performance of a Dickens of an Evening to run at the Town Hall, which starts at 7.30pm this evening (Saturday).

Llan's Shop Local drive joins national campaign

The Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) community group is arranging to have its next regular Buy Local Day coincide with the national Small Business Saturday to be held on December 6.

Small Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-political, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

The day itself takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

Mike Edwards, of KLS, said: “We have asked Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism and Cittaslow Llangollen to join us in promoting this event and we would like to appeal to all
Llangollen and Dee Valley businesses to become fully involved.

“We will be preparing and distributing posters and promotion material and I am the lead
KLS committee member on this initiative and I would be grateful if business owners would contact me at: BuyLocalLlangollen@keepllangollenspecial.org.uk.”

He added: “I would strongly urge businesses and residents to fully back Small Business
Saturday which keeps money recirculating in our Local Economy to everyone's benefit.

“We are fortunate to have numerous and diverse local businesses run by hard-working local people which keeps Llangollen vibrant and viable, and we are asking residents to use those business or face lose them due to the difficult economic circumstances."

* For more information on Small Business Saturday, go to: https://smallbusinesssaturdayuk.com/

Trains through to Corwen "exceed expectations"

At the end of a short season for passenger trains on its new extension to Corwen, Llangollen Railway has hailed the operation a "great success which exceeded expectations".

In the first 10 days of operations after the first trains for supporters ran on October 22, nearly 4,000 passengers sampled a ride on the 2.2 mile extension beyond Carrog.

 

For seven days of the half term holiday the trains operated as one steam locomotive with four coaches for the scheduled three trains a day, when the engine ran with a special headboard, The Corwen Revival.

 

The trains early in each day were fully loaded with visitors eager to experience the journey to the new temporary terminus, known by the bilingual name as Dwyrain Corwen East.

 

* Black Five 45337 with The Remembrance as viewed from the access ramp at Dwyrain Corwen East on November 9.

Kevin Gooding, general manager of Llangollen Railway, said: "We are delighted with the public response to the Corwen train services. Visitors have come from near and far to sample the extended line.

"As well as those who travelled by train from Llangollen, others joined the train at Corwen to sample the reverse journey option.

 

"This is a passenger flow we wish to develop next year when a full season of operations will commence following an official opening for the station at Dwyrain Corwen East on March 1."
 

Ken Skates, Welsh Assembly member for Clwyd South, who was on the first public train on October 27, said: "It is fantastic to see this Welsh Government-supported project going full steam ahead after decades of incredible hard work and dedication by an amazing team of volunteers.
 

"While this restoration project has been a genuine labour of love for those involved, the unbelievable amount of blood, sweat and tear that’s gone into this fantastic achievement cannot be over estimated.
 

"They have turned a mission impossible into a reality and created something we can all be exceptionally proud of."
 

During the final weekend of trains, on November 8 and 9, the locomotive, Black Five, No.45337, ran with a special headboard, The Remembrance, to mark the national commemoration of the centenary of the First World War.

 

In addition, the owners of the locomotive, the 26B Loco Company, arranged for the nameplate Ayrshire Yeomanry to be fixed to the running plate, as formerly carried by long lost class mate No.45156.

The railway says that whilst the train operations were successful, some lessons have been learned about passenger expectations and that their needs will be incorporated into the procedures for the next series of trains to Corwen during the Mince Pie Special season from December 26.

 

In the meantime work will continue with the fitting out of the facilities at the temporary station which requires, amongst other things, the provision of electric power with a link up to the mains supply and the completion of a footpath to the entrance.

 

George Jones, for Llangollen Railway, said: "Everyone is pleased with the success of the trains on the extended line.

 

"However, the operation has demonstrated the limitations of terminating at the phase 1 station which is without facilities to run an engine around the train.

 

"This emphasises the need to proceed to the phase 2 terminal station nearer the town centre directly funding can be secured for this final stage of the extension project. Only then will all the advantages of serving Corwen be realised."

Share your views on local issues at World Cafe

Would you like the opportunity to discuss local issues that concern you?

If so, Cittaslow Llangollen is hosting a 'World Cafe' event this Saturday, 15th November, in the Town Hall between 1:00pm and 4:00pm (drop in at a time to suit you).

A Cittaslow spokesperson said: "A World Cafe is a way for anyone and everyone who cares to take part in a wider discussion about what matters to them, sharing ideas and perspectives.

"If you're not feeling chatty don't worry, you are welcome to write your thoughts down - we'd prefer that you share them any way you can.

"By learning about what people feel is important, we can create links to connect ideas and people, and take projects forward.

"Everyone is welcome to come along and get involved, young or old. Refreshments are available.

"Please share with your friends and help get as many people as possible to come along and share their thoughts."

Vote for schemes to support with collared villains' cash

* Winston Roddick, North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, with Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki and Dave Evans, P.A.C.T project manager.

 

Voting lines are open for people across North Wales to choose which local community group they want to support - using cash seized from criminals.

A total pot of £42,000 is up for grabs as part of a new scheme set up by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick to reward groups which help tackle anti-social behaviour and combat crime and disorder.

 

The Your Community, Your Choice initiative is being supported by North Wales Police and the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT).

 

Two groups in each of the six counties will get £3,000 apiece and a £6,000 prize will go to the winning  organisation that operates across North Wales.

 

People will be able to vote via the websites of the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and North Wales Police from November 10 to December 12.

 

The prize money includes cash confiscated from criminals through the Proceeds of Crime Act, with the rest coming from the Police Commissioner.

 

Mr Roddick said: "This scheme has been designed to benefit community groups across North Wales and at the same time hit villains where it hurts them most - in the pocket.

 

"This is a first class scheme which brings the police and the community closer together and  gives an opportunity for the community to decide how they would like to see the funds we’ve confiscated from criminals spent in their community.

 

"The message to criminals is abundantly clear - we will seize their ill-gotten gains and use the money for the benefit of the communities from which the money was taken in the first place.

 

"We have had some fantastic entries which underlines how much excellent work is happening across North Wales in terms of reducing crime and disorder and making  North Wales an even safer place to live, work and visit."

 

Assistant Chief Constable Richard Debicki was equally enthusiastic.

 

He said: “This is an excellent scheme which allows members of the public and local organisations right in the heart of communities to bid into a fund and to be part of the solutions to crime and disorder in their area.

 

"It is deeply satisfying that money taken out of the hands of criminals is being put back into the community in this way.

 

"Our aim is to drive home the message that crime doesn't pay and that the Police and the Commissioner are listening to people's concerns and then acting on them.

 

"This is about the local community and local organisations working together and working with the police to put things in place at a local level in order to tackle the issues which matter to the public most."

 

PACT manager Dave Evans explained "We want to see as many people as possible voting for the schemes they would like us to support.

 

"We are delighted that we have had some particularly high quality applications from across North Wales.

 

“The Your Community, Your Choice initiative gives us the opportunity to engage with a wide variety of community groups and also importantly gives our local neighbourhood policing teams the opportunity to engage with those groups and support them with those projects that they want to run."

 

Details about how to vote for your chosen community group can be found at www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or www.north-wales.police.uk
 

Finalists        

 

Locally

 

The Plas Madoc Association of Volunteers want to run a  three month pilot project, Social Inclusion Futsal League, at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre for teams across the Wrexham area. This will comprise of a weekly competition, the aims and objectives of the league are to reduce crime, engage local young people, offer opportunities for training and C.V. building as well as an overall sense health and well-being.

 

North Wales

 

DangerPoint is a safety education and life-skills charity based in Talacre, Flintshire. Working regionally DangerPoint was set up via a public and private partnership to improve safety health and wellbeing of children and young people across North Wales and to encourage them to make positive life choices and not become involved in crime and antisocial behaviour. The Prevent project will build on the Key Stage Three programme aimed at young people in secondary schools, and will target specific groups of young people from youth justice teams and pupil referral units across north Wales.

 

The Flick Project is part of the VI-Ability Educational Programme which aims to use to use the motivational power of hockey to create safer, stronger and more respectful communities across six local authorities in North Wales through the development of young people’s potential. The activities will include late night rush hockey coaching and wellbeing sessions in targeted areas. Rush hockey is a new and exclusive product of Hockey Wales, and is a new way to play the game that is faster, more intense and focused.

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North Wales Deaf Association has been working with the Deaf community and with people with hearing loss since 1994. They wish to run five crime prevention workshops in three locations across North Wales. These workshops will be designed to be easily accessible to people with hearing loss and will be designed to cove crime prevention topics which have been identified from feedback received whilst working in the community. 

AM aims to save commuter trains service

At a meeting this week between Arriva Trains Wales and Aled Roberts AM, the local Assembly Member called for the withdrawal of proposals to cut the 7.47 commuter train service from Wrexham to Birmingham which also serves Chirk and Ruabon in May next year.

 

Regular meetings are to be arranged between Arriva Trains Wales and the Lib Dem Assembly Member for North Wales which he hopes will ensure that local people have plenty of time to make their views known on any proposed changes to timetables next May.

 

“I met with Arriva Trains Wales today to voice local concerns that Wrexham will lose a commuter service when we should be getting more direct commuting services,” said Mr Roberts.

 

“We need transport priorities that get people to work.

 

 “Following the loss of a direct commuting train service that linked Llandudno and Manchester, I am concerned that North East Wales is being ignored by Cardiff-based planners in the Welsh Government and Arriva Trains Wales.

 

“The 07.47 train which provides a direct link without any changes between Wrexham and Birmingham is one of our busiest commuter trains serving Telford, Wolverhampton and Birmingham in time for the working day. Its likely replacement will leave about 15 minutes earlier and then wait at Shrewsbury which makes it very inconvenient for those who want to commute using public transport.

 

“I understand that the train which forms the current 07.47 service to Birmingham is to be transferred to the Cambrian line so that there is a new hourly service from May 2015 linking Aberystwyth and Shrewsbury.” 

Town marks Armistice Day

* Standards are lowered during the Armistice Day ceremony.

Llangollen town centre briefly came to a standstill this morning (Tuesday) as people gathered for a short Armistice Day ceremony, marking the point at which the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War at 11am on November 11, 1918.

At the Town Hall clock struck 11, John Lawton of Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion read out the Ode of Remembrance followed by the Kohima Prayer, which says: "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say,  For Their Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today."

British Legion standards were lowered as the ceremony, which was attended by the Town Mayor Cllr Bob Lube, took place.

* John Lawton of Llangollen Royal British Legion during the ceremony.