Minister visits oustanding beauty zone

Environment Minister John Griffiths has visited Wales' newest Area of Outstanding Beauty (AONB) , to see how it is faring nearly a year after its gaining its new status.

The Minister was in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, which includes Llangollen,  to meet members of the area’s Joint Advisory Committee and to be updated on how the area is progressing.

In November 2011 the Minister agreed that an area of approximately 230 square kilometres situated in the counties of Wrexham and Denbighshire would be made an AONB.

This resulted in the boundary of the existing Clwydian Range AONB being significantly extended.

Speaking ahead of his meeting, the Minister (pictured left) said: “Here in Wales we are blessed with an amazing natural environment. It is crucial to our economy and a big driver behind Wales’ thriving tourism industry.

"My decision nearly one year ago to approve the designation of this area as an AONB is proof of the Welsh Government’s commitment to managing the area as effectively and efficiently as possible in order to ensure the best and most sustainable outcomes for Wales.

“We are optimistic that the ‘AONB’ brand will bring in a significant number of new visitors to the area, to drive up tourism and to extend the enjoyment of the area’s natural beauty to a wider audience, but of course we are also mindful of the need to protect the area and to maintain its beauty.

“Today’s visit is an excellent opportunity for me to speak to the Joint Advisory Committee about how their management of the area is progressing.

"Both the Committee and I are committed to ensuring that the area delivers the very best outcomes for Wales, and that its beauty, varied landscapes and rich mix of wildlife and habitats are maintained.”

The outstanding landscape of the original Clwydian Range AONB is a major factor in attracting tourists to the area.

In 2006 rural Denbighshire enjoyed 1.58 million day visitors and 365,000 overnight visits.

Total revenue from tourism in Denbighshire is more than £91 million, with the rural visitor economy supporting 1,770 jobs.

Voting today for Police and Crime Commisioners

 

 

 

VOTING began at 7am today (Thursday) in the polls to elect the first ever police and crime commissioners for England and Wales.

The elections are taking place in 41 police force areas - except in London - and voting closes at 10pm.

The new PCCs, who are set to replace police authorities, will set spending plans and have the power to "hire and fire" chief constables.

The results are expected to be announced on Friday, with elected PCCs assuming office from November 22.

The government set up the commissioner role in what it describes as an effort to make police more accountable, with a single "figurehead" monitoring and ensuring performance.

Candidates in North Wales are:

* Richard Hibbs - Independent * Colm McCabe - Conservative * Tal Michael - Labour * Warwick Nicholson - UKIP * Winston Roddick - Independent

Response to Sainsbury's planning story

Martin Crumpton, researcher for the group Keep Llangollen Special, has sent in this response to our story posted yesterday (Wednesday) about the row surrounding conditions on the Sainsbury's planning permission to build a new store in Llangollen:

 

What an amendment is:

a·mend (-mnd)

v. a·mend·ed, a·mend·ing, a·mends

v.tr.

1. To change for the better; improve: amended the earlier proposal so as to make it more comprehensive.

2. To remove the faults or errors in; correct. See Synonyms at correct.

3. To alter (a legislative measure, for example) formally by adding, deleting, or rephrasing.

4. To enrich (soil), especially by mixing in organic matter or sand.

v.intr.

To better one's conduct; reform.

Examples of amendments, in this case, would be:

· No in-store butcher except on Bank Holidays

· No in-store butcher except for lamb chops

· No in-store butcher except for Kosher and Halal meats

Examples which are NOT amendments would be:

· Oh, go on, then – have an in-store butcher

· Have an in-store butcher but it can’t be run by a family of inuits without UK work permits

· Go ahead and have an in-store butcher but it must not provide Internet access to customers

#

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.”

 

I have received no such response, but I’m intrigued to see others have raised similar complaints. I am also pleased – but not entirely hopeful – to see this is now subject to a complaints procedure.

 

I look forward to the next Planning Committee meeting when this is brought up.

 

Martin Crumpton

Police warn over fuel thefts

Police are urging people in rural communities to be vigilant following a number of thefts of fuel and quad bikes.

The latest in a spate of incidents happened between the 4^th and 7^th of November when two quad bikes, one green and one red, were stolen from farms in the Glyndyfrdwy area, just off the A5 near Corwen.

Inspector Siobhan Edwards said: “Over the last few weeks we have experienced an increase in the number of quad bikes being stolen in the Corwen and Glyndyfrdwy areas and we urge people to ensure these vehicles are kept secure.”

Insp Edwards also highlighted the fact that reports have been received of heating oil and red diesel being stolen over the last month, from the Llandegla, Corwen, Betws y Coed, Llangollen, Cerrigydrudion, Llandegla ,Eglwys Bach, Llannefydd and Groersffordd Marli areas.

“Thousands of litres of red diesel and heating oil have been stolen during the past month and we are asking the public to be vigilant in looking after the security of their containers and storage tanks where they are keeping fuel.”

She added: “We urge anyone who sees any person acting suspiciously in their area to contact police on 101.”

Having trouble with you telly today?

People having trouble picking up some Freeview station on their TV today might be interested in this story on the BBC North East Wales website ...

"Users of Freeview in most of north Wales will need to retune their equipment as changes are made to enable the spread of faster mobile internet access.

Television services will be disrupted as channels are moved to free up frequencies for the introduction of fourth generation (4G) mobile services.

Work at the main Moel-y-Parc and Llanddona transmitters was expected to be completed early on Wednesday.

Viewers can retune any time after this.

Services at local relay transmitters may be off air until late afternoon.

Under 4G, those using the internet on laptops, tablets and mobile phones should get browsing speeds comparable to those at home on fixed lines."

For the full story see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20323122

Going gets tougher for Louisa in India

The going is getting tougher for Louisa Jones of Llangollen Operatic as she tackles increasing difficult terrain on her charity bike ride through India.

Louisa 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 (pictured right) is sending back daily reports to keep llanblogger readers updated on her progress.

In her latest report she says: "Today has been really challenging both physically and mentally.

"We set off at 7am again and started our 84km journey along a highway.

"This was hard going. We were all tired from a long day yesterday plus saddle soreness and aches and pains had started to set in.

"The terrain had been quite varied; at the start of today we rode through a fairly lush area but by mid morning this had turned arid and undulating with some sections off road and rocky.

"Setting off after lunch we faced a 2km uphill climb on a winding mountain road.

"We were all elated to reach the summit and people were visibly emotional to have achieved something they never believed they could. I

"In addition to raising money for charity, this is a huge personal journey for a lot of us.

"Tonight we camp on the edge of a tiger reserve. I am just hoping they are well fed...."

Keep reading llanblogger for her daily updates.

More "painful" health changes on cards, says AM

* Closure-threatened Llangollen Cottage Hospital.

 

The Leader is reporting today that a health board has been accused of trying to cover up plans for a second round of NHS service reforms in North Wales.

An initial public consultation into the changes was recently closed by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Under those proposals, Llangollen Community Hospital is also facing the axe, as is the MIU at Chirk Community Hospital.

Now Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar, AM, has said that correspondence he received from the National Clinical Forum shows a second round of consultations for the region is also in the pipeline.

In addition Mr Millar accused the forum of re-writing a report on a previous round of changes following private discussions it held with Betsi Cadwaladr’s chief executive, Mary Burrows.

The forum warned the board that its proposals were “unsustainable” in the long term, but their assessment was later rewritten reportedly following Mrs Burrows’ intervention.

Mr Millar said: “I am absolutely baffled to hear a second consultation is already being planned by the health board.

“Despite all the opposition to the controversial and dangerous proposals already brought forward, we now know there’s more pain to come.”

+ See the full report at http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/117595/am-claims-second-round-of-health-cuts-to-come.aspx