Sainsbury's profits soar

The Guardian is reporting today that Sainsbury's, Britain's No 3 supermarket, beat forecasts with a 5.4% rise in first-half profit, helped by the development of its online and convenience stores business, the two fastest growing grocery channels in the UK.

The story says that the group, which has permission to build a store in Llangollen and has enjoyed 31 consecutive quarters of underlying sales growth, is continuing to outshine industry leader Tesco, which last month posted a 12.4% fall in first-half UK trading profit. No 2 player Asda is due to update on its third quarter on Thursday.

Sainsbury's said on Wednesday it made profit before tax and one-off items of £373m ($593m) in the 28 weeks to 29 September.

That compares with analysts' consensus forecast of £371m, according to a company poll, and £354m made in the same period last year.

First-half sales rose 4% to £13.37bn as Sainsbury's outperformed the market, increasing its share to 16.7%, the highest for nearly a decade.

Last month, the firm posted better-than-expected second quarter underlying sales growth.

Sainsbury's said online sales grew at over 20% and it opened 49 convenience stores during the period.

+ You can see the story at
The Guardian is reporting today that Sainsbury's, Britain's No 3 supermarket, beat forecasts with a 5.4% rise in first-half profit, helped by the development of its online and convenience stores business, the two fastest growing grocery channels in the UK.

The story says that the group, which has permission to build a store in Llangollen and has enjoyed 31 consecutive quarters of underlying sales growth, is continuing to outshine industry leader Tesco, which last month posted a 12.4% fall in first-half UK trading profit. No 2 player Asda is due to update on its third quarter on Thursday.

Sainsbury's said on Wednesday it made profit before tax and one-off items of £373m ($593m) in the 28 weeks to 29 September.

That compares with analysts' consensus forecast of £371m, according to a company poll, and £354m made in the same period last year.

First-half sales rose 4% to £13.37bn as Sainsbury's outperformed the market, increasing its share to 16.7%, the highest for nearly a decade.

Last month, the firm posted better-than-expected second quarter underlying sales growth.

Sainsbury's said online sales grew at over 20% and it opened 49 convenience stores during the period.

+ You can see the story at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/nov/14/sainsburys-beats-forecasts-profit-tesco

Row over store plan goes to the Minister

Council chiefs have been accused of “overturning” conditions intended to protect small traders from a new superstore planned for Llangollen. 

The charge comes from Martin Crumpton, a researcher for the campaign group Keep Llangollen Special, in a strongly-worded letter he has sent to Denbighshire’s planning committee chairman, Cllr Dewi Owens, Wales’s Environment Minister John Griffiths and the Local Government Ombudsman. 

Mr Crumpton says that at the county’s September planning committee when the new store on the Dobson & Crowther site at Berwyn Street was approved,  a set of conditions were imposed which meant it could not have an in-store butchers or delicatessen in order to protect Llangollen’s high street businesses. 

But he claims these two conditions have since been overturned by planning officials.  

Mr Crumpton said:  “There is no evidence that Sainsbury’s had even asked for these conditions to be lifted. 

“The reason given by planning officers in an e-mail to me was that they would be a ‘wholly unreasonable limitation on the operation of a modern foodstore’. 

“The only conditions remaining are that Sainsbury’s cannot have a third-party butcher or deli counter on its premises, but are free to run their own. “ 

He added:  “Sainsbury’s have since appealed against other conditions, notably the no café restriction, and from the reason given above, it seems likely that planning officers will recommend removing this restriction too when the matter reappears at the next suitable planning committee meeting.  

“Despite being national planning policy to protect high streets from supermarket domination, Denbighshire has not yet adopted the new Local Development Plan, which would incorporate these policies. 

“It still adheres to the 13-year-old Unitary Development Pan, which expired last year, and has no such protections built into it.” 

A spokesperson for the county council said:  “We respect the concerns expressed over the process of drafting conditions on the planning permission for the foodstore on the Dobson and Crowther site, and we have responded directly to the individuals raising them.

“The statement that the conditions have been 'overturned by planning officials' and that there are 'irregularities in the determination of this application' are strongly refuted, and will be dealt with through the appropriate complaints process.

“Officers and both the two local members, who are on the planning committee, have followed the resolution of planning committee in September, which was that the amended conditions would be agreed in consultation with the local members.

 “The new planning application seeking variations to the wording of other conditions on the planning permission is a separate matter, and is currently the subject of a formal consultation exercise.

“This has to be dealt with on its own merits, and will be considered by planning committee in due course - having regard to the policies of the council's Development Plan, national guidance, and any comments which may be received.

·        The new planning application is reference number is 03/2012/1407 and is available for viewing at Llangollen Public Library, or online at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/planning

Fire service seeks public views on its future

If you had to choose, would you keep your nearest fire station open but accept that there may be times when it is not available; or would you opt for a fire station further away but which is always available?

This is one of the tough questions members of the public are likely to be posed as North Wales Fire & Rescue Service works out the priorities for how it will be run over the next few years.

The service continually reviews and improves the service it provides and as part of this process is launching a public consultation on its long-term strategy this week - asking those who rely on its services to voice their opinions on the key issues identified.

The two main priorities up for discussion have been highlighted by the fire authority for the financial years 2012-13 and 2013-14:

+ To help to keep people and communities safe by preventing deaths and injuries from accidental fires in living accommodation. This will include adopting a new all-Wales Dwelling Fire Response Charter that makes seven fundamental commitments to Welsh residents.

+ To find ways of reducing the overall cost of running the Service each year in order to operate within the annual budget.

In the second year of a three-year budget freeze, the authority will be looking for innovative ways of reducing costs without affecting services.

As for 2014-15, the authority is asking people to join in taking a longer term view and send in their ideas about what it should be considering when it drafts its future improvement objectives and financial strategy.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith said: "Today's fire and rescue service delivers a far more sophisticated range of services than just responding to emergencies. At the same time, there is a particular emphasis on public services working together effectively to build strong communities - so more people than just those who have had fires will be interested in what the fire and rescue service does.

"The recent months have not been easy for many in the face of current economic pressures. Our main priority is to achieve the required savings without compromising the levels of service we have provided in the past. Is it not an easy task and we continue to investigate ways of achieving our targets.

"The questions we are asking as part of this consultation are therefore to do with the strategic direction of the service as a whole and how to ensure we provide the best service possible with the money we have available to us.

"The more people get involved, the better our prospects of achieving the right balance of services we provide. The more opinions we receive, the more we can be confident that the detailed action plans we develop, will deliver exactly what the people of North Wales want."

The public can find out more about getting involved by logging on to the website www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk -completed questionnaires must be forwarded by the deadline on January 7, 2013.

Intrepid Louisa takes a tumble on her India ride

* Louisa Jones is riding across India.

The Llangollen Operatic star riding across India as part of a charity challenge has taken her first tumble of the trip, ending up bruised after a trip over rthe handlebars.

Louisa Jones is taking part in a marathon 220-mile trek through the sub-continent as part of the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

She is one of around 90 other intrepid women cyclists from across the UK riding over pothole-strewn roads in 30 degree heat from the city of Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal - through the rural state of Rajasthan in north-west India to the capital, Jaipur.

Louisa is sending back daily reports to keep llanblogger readers updated on her progress.

Her latest e-mail, sent after Day 2 of the challenge, says: “Today has been really tough. We got up 5.30 and were on the road for 7.00 after breakfast and warm up.

“The route was 94km across undulating terrain with very poor quality roads. Added to that, today is Diwali which has meant that the villages and towns have been busier than usual.

“Diwali was brilliant to experience and we greeted people as we passed by with "happy Diwlali" and were able to take in the festive atmosphere but it did make for difficult cycling in those built up areas as it meant we had to negotiate crowds of people in the party mood in addition to the usual cows, pigs, goats, camels and scooters!

“In one such town, I was cut up by a jeep and managed to nose dive over my handle bars and ended up face down in the dirt. When I picked myself up I was surrounded by curious children keen to assist me with my bike. Thankfully I only suffered dented pride and a fist sized bruise on my leg!

“We cycled almost 60km before stopping for lunch at the roadside on an exposed country road surrounded by breathtaking scenery. The temperature at that time was over 30 degrees and some ladies suffered and a few ended up in the support vehicle.

“We reached our destination, a run down but beautiful country palace, around 5pm in time for Diwali celebrations with the local school children. I was even joint first through the gates, which was a real bonus for me!

“More again tomorrow!”

Warning over cold callers goes out from council

Trading standards officers from Denbighshire County Council are urging consumers to be on their guard against ‘cold-callers’selling chainsaws and generators door-to-door. Safety concerns were raised about the products, and that the sellers often have no contact address or telephone number. Ian Millington, of Denbighshire County CouncilTrading Standards Service, said:“Chainsaws are potentially lethal unless used by experienced operators. We are also concerned that equipment like this has been offered for sale around Denbighshire without any safety warnings, user manuals or appropriate instructions for use. “We are urging consumers to stick to trusted suppliers and known outlets and don’t buy them just because they seem like a bargain.”

Trading Standards advice for dealing with door-to-door sales people is to consider the following:
• Who are you buying from? – Do they have paperwork? Are they legitimate?
• Think twice before you buy and if you are made to feel under pressure to make a purchase, have the confidence to say no• Talk to someone you trust for a second opinion• If you spend more than £35 with a trader on the doorstep, you must be provided with a cancellation notice and advised that you have the right to a seven-day cooling off period, in which you can change your mind. Reputable traders do not trade in this way and if you are offered such goods, contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or if the trader is still in your area phone North Wales Police on 101.

Put us in the frame for a new prison, say council chiefs

Council leaders from the region led a delegation to meet Prisons Minister, Jeremy Wright MP, aimed at keeping North Wales on the map for a new prison.

The delegation was made up of Councillor Hugh Evans (Denbighshire), Councillor Dyfed Edwards (Gwynedd) and Neil Rogers (Wrexham) along with representatives of North Wales Police and the Wales Probation Trust.

The meeting was arranged by David Jones MP, Secretary of State for Wales, and Stephen Crabb MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales took the delegation to meet the Prisons Minister.

Hugh Evans said later: "We had a good meeting with Jeremy Wright and he listened to our call for a prison in North Wales. We told him we were open for business and that we would welcome the jobs and regeneration opportunities a prison would bring North Wales.

“A prison in North Wales will reduce the costs of public services and families supporting offenders and improve the rate of rehabilitation of offenders.

“The Minister told us that the Ministry of Justice is negotiating with the Treasury for monies to replace prisons in order to bring the cost of the prison estate down.”

Dyfed Edwards said: “North Wales is the only region in the UK without a prison. Many prisoners from North Wales are imprisoned too far from their families and in an environment where their Welsh culture is not available to them. This increases the risks of re-offending on release and self-harm in custody, particularly for young people.

“We have learnt from the bitter experience of the prison 'pulled' from Caernarfon. We told the Minister we will be flexible. We will meet the selection criteria of the Ministry of Justice for sites and will accommodate prisoners from England in a North Wales prison to do so.

“We demonstrated to the Prisons Minister that local authorities, the police and probation services have developed a strong partnership. We want a prison and we also want to develop innovative schemes that will see more offenders serving their sentences in the community. Dealing with low risk offenders locally will reduce costs to the public purse and maintain contact with professional and family support.”

School choirs sing their way to success

* The Ysgol Dinas Bran choirs.

The Mixed Voice Choir and Senior Girl’s Choir from Ysgol Dinas Bran recently competed in the North Wales Choral Festival staged in the North Wales Theatre, Llandudno.  

It was the first competition for both choirs and they were both placed third.  

This was an outstanding achievement with both choirs receiving wonderful comments from the international adjudicators.  

The choirs were also invited to take part in the evening grand concert where they received further praise from the audience.

The mixed Choir are currently busy preparing for the BBC Songs of Praise Secondary Schools Choir of the Year competition and the Barnados Schools Choir Competition. 

Meanwhile, the Junior Choir has been busy preparing for the school’s Carols by Candlelight Concert which will be held on Wednesday, December 19.