Operation launched to cut motorcycle accidents

An operation which is aimed at reducing motorcycle related deaths and serious injuries on the roads of North Wales is being launched this weekend to coincide with its 10^th anniversary.

And one of the roads it will focus on is the A5.

 

Launched in 2003, the annual Operation Focus will run from early April until early autumn and will see police officers out and about stopping and talking to bikers to educate them about the dangers, and to also prosecute those who ride dangerously.

 

 

Historically high numbers of motorcyclists descend on North Wales due to the challenging nature of the roads in areas of outstanding natural beauty such as Snowdonia.

 

Motorcyclists are more at risk of being killed or seriously injured in a road traffic collision than any other road user, representing 1% of road traffic but accounting for 18% of all fatalities.

 

During 2012 there were a total of 63 serious collisions involving motorcyclists with a notable increase in the number of riders from outside the Force area.

 

Officers hope to reduce this figure by encouraging riders to take responsibility for their safety and the safety of other road users.

 

Police will patrol the roads where collisions are most common, which include the A494, A5104, A5, A470 and the A487.

 

Throughout the operation Bikesafe representatives will also be out and about speaking to riders and promoting the Bikesafe initiative, which offer free workshops in North Wales (subject to booking fee).

 

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing, who is in charge of North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “Operation Focus is one of many campaigns and initiatives that we run throughout the year targeting high-risk road users. It is not about alienating the motorcycling community – it is about education and enforcement.

 

“Whilst the vast majority of motorcyclists ride appropriately, some riders choose to use the roads as a racetrack, committing serious breaches of road safety legislation, such as speeding and riding dangerously thereby putting themselves and other road users at risk of death or life changing injury.”

 

“We are committed to keeping people safe on the roads of North Wales. This isn’t about catching bikers out, we want them to enjoy the roads but most of all we want them to ride safely and responsibly.

 

“Responsible riders are welcome to visit the area and take in the stunning scenery and landscape, but even they face risk of death or serious injury by underestimating the risk posed by fatigue brought on by a combination of driving long distances and concentrating on navigating challenging and unfamiliar routes.

 

“I would also urge bikers to take the opportunity to enhance their skills through training and attend the free Bikesafe workshops. Bikesafe is an accredited scheme which is run nationally by police forces which aims to reduce motorcycling casualties.

 

He added: “We will continue to target, with a view to prosecution, all those that ride or drive dangerously, at excess speed, overtake on solid white lines or commit any other road traffic offences.”

 

The operation is expected to run from Easter through to early October.

 

Further details regarding the free Bikesafe workshops are available via the Bikesafe website

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Birch Hill to be closed to through-traffic for three weeks

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water is set to begin survey work on its wastewater network on Birch Hill, Llangollen.

The work will start on Monday 8 April and is set to take three weeks to complete. 

While the work is ongoing it will be necessary to close Birch Hill to through traffic.

However, access will be maintained for residents, according to Denbighshire County Council.

The council has informed residents and visitors that from Monday the alternative route available for traffic is via Birch Hill, the A5 (Queen Street to area boundary) and Maesmawr Road, and will be sign posted accordingly.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the period of closure

Welsh Water Communications Manager Jill Roberts said: “We appreciate the disruption work such as this can cause but these measures are necessary to ensure the safety of road users, pedestrians and our workforce.  We would like to thank people in advance for bearing with us while the work is ongoing.”

Welsh Water is investing heavily and working hard to ensure top quality services to all the communities it serves. The company is investing £1.5 billion in its water and sewerage network between 2010 and 2015.

It is a ‘not-for-profit company’ which has been owned by Glas Cymru since 2001. Welsh Water does not have shareholders, and any financial surpluses are reinvested in the business for the benefit of customers.

Welsh Government help with council tax bills

Council tax reduction schemes are now operating in Wales to assist 330,000 households in paying their bills.

 

The new schemes replace council tax benefit which has been abolished by the UK Government as part of its welfare reform agenda.

The coalition government has also cut the funding available for replacement schemes by at least 10 per cent.

Welsh Ministers have repeatedly challenged this reduction in funding and remain profoundly concerned about the financial implications of the welfare reforms for some of the most vulnerable people in Wales.

The Welsh Government has taken on responsibility for developing new arrangements to support households in Wales in meeting their council tax bills. Extensive work has been undertaken with local government to minimise the impact on claimants and to ensure the new arrangements are viable and affordable.

For 2013/14 the Welsh Government is also providing an extra £22m to support local authorities in providing all eligible claimants with their full entitlement to support, despite the shortfall in funding transferred from the UK Government.

Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Local Government said:"In collaboration with local government, we have introduced schemes to provide vital financial assistance to approximately 330,000 households in Wales. The additional funding we have provided means some of our most vulnerable individuals will be protected from the UK Government’s cut in funding for council tax support."

Trio's charity bike marathon

Denbighshire County Council leisure officer Haydyn Jones, Greg King, leisure attendant at Llangollen Leisure Centre, and Alex Roberts, duty officer at Corwen Leisure Centre will be taking part in a sponsored bike ride in aid of Sport Relief 2013 across all seven of the county's leisure centres on Sunday (April 7).

Starting in Rhyl Leisure Centre at 9am, they aim to finish at Llangollen Leisure Centre at around 1pm after covering a total of 55 miles. 

All three have been training hard for the challenge as this is the first time that they have taken part in such an event.

Donations would be gratefully accepted and anyone can donate either pre or post event by contacting Llangollen Leisure Centre on 01978 861830 or Corwen Leisure Centre on 01490 412600.

Government urged to provide maximum help for snow-hit farmers

Denbighshire County Council is calling on the Welsh Government to ensure that as much support as possible is made available to farmers who have lost animals during the recent severe cold weather.

And the Leader of the Council, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, has invited the Minister to visit Denbighshire to hear of the impact of the losses.

Welsh Government Minister Alun Davies has announced a temporary agreement from midnight on April 3 for farmers in Denbighshire to bury sheep, lambs and calves over the next seven days, if a stock collector cannot access farms.
 
The Government says that farmers will be required to provide evidence that collectors were unable to access the farm.

Any farmers wanting advice or intending to bury their animals must notify the Council's Animal Health Team at County Hall, Ruthin on 01824 706086.

Farmers will be asked to record the burials  in their movement book, with tag numbers if appropriate and the burial site location.

Councillor Evans said: "As a farmer myself, I can truly appreciate the plight of farmers in many parts of Wales that have suffered losses as a result of the severe weather.  The extreme amount of snow that fell in Denbighshire and surrounding counties was unprecedented and for many residents it caused extreme inconvenience.

"For many the snow will eventually thaw and lives will return to normal.  However, there are some farmers that have lost a lot of animals and in the short term their main consideration is disposing of those animals. In the long term, farmers will need to consider the financial loss.

"We welcome the fact that the Welsh Government is to relax rules for seven days which allows farmers to bury their dead animals on their own land if stock collectors cannot access farms,  but unless the snow thaws quickly, the seven days may not be enough time.

"The full extent of the impact on individual farm businesses may not be known for some time and only when the snow has thawed that a full inspection of the holding can be completed. We would like the Minister  to see for himself how farmers and their families in Denbighshire have suffered."

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: "Farmers in Denbighshire and other areas have suffered tremendously as a result of the heavy snow and only over the next days and weeks will the true extent of the issue be known. The Council has worked tirelessly to clear country lanes as quickly as possible, to allow feed to get to farms, but there is only so much we can do.

"Also,  with farming being the backbone of the rural economy, it is essential that farmers also have the best level of assistance possible to try and recoup some of their losses, not only from perished animals but also from damaged fencing that will need to be replaced.

"We hope that the Welsh Government engages with the agricultural sector long after the snow has thawed, to gauge the impact and what assistance may be required."

Pete spreads the word about a good day out

Well-known Llangollen resident Pete Stubbs has contacted llanblogger to spread the word about the “good day out” he and his family enjoyed just down the road in Wrexham earlier this week. 

He writes: “I took my family to the Circus Funtasia at Wrexham on Thursday, just off the A483 on the Mold Road next to the butchers. 

“There was an article about them in the Shropshire newspapers because the lady ringmaster went to Oswestry School. 

“With a flyer 50% off it cost from £3 for children and £4 for me. An absolute bargain at £13. 

“It had cost over £22 earlier in the day when we all went to see the animated film The Groods at the cinema, which was also very good. 

“The circus was great family entertainment, even if I had paid the full price or even £8 and £9 for ringside seats. 

“Live entertainment and fresh popcorn - what more could you ask for? 

“Please inform your readers what they are missing 

“The performance times are:  Friday 5th April: 5.00 pm & 7.30 pm, Saturday 6th: 3.00 pm & 6.00 pm, Sunday 7th: 2.00 pm & 5.00 pm.”

 

Pete now organises the regular antiques fairs at Llangollen Pavilion and has another one there this Sunday.

Milkman's miracle escape as snow crushes van roof

Fall from roof of old brewery also caves in windscreen

* Extensive damage to the exterior of Mr Rogers' van.

* The smashed-in roof of the van.

* The snow-filled interior of the van.

A milkman had a miraculous escape when a huge load of melting snow fell from a roadside building and completely crushed the roof of his delivery van.

Anthony Rogers, 58, had just finished his morning round in Ellesmere Port on the Wirral and was driving his Fiat Scudo home to Glyndyfrdwy along the A5 in Llangollen when the drama began at around 1pm on Tuesday.

Mr Rogers (pictured left) said: “I’d just stopped to fill up the van with fuel at a local garage and was driving along the A5 when I reached a spot where there is a large derelict building, which I think was once a brewery, on the left hand side.

“All of a sudden there was an explosion as if the van had been hit by a wrecking ball.

“The windscreen collapsed inwards and the broken glass cut my hand in about seven or eight places. The cab then filled up with snow.

“I just sat there for a few minutes not knowing what had happened, then I pulled myself together and started scooping away the snow with my hands so I could undo my seat belt.”

Anthony, who has been a milkman for the past 27 years, added: “No-one stopped to help and just went on their merry way. A couple of cars even swerved right around me.

“I eventually managed to get out of the van and go to the nearby garage, Kenrick Motors. They were very helpful.

“The whole roof of the vehicle had collapsed around me due to the weight of the snow that fell on it and the garage tells me it is now a write-off.

“I was just very very lucky to get out of it with just a few cuts on my hand. It could have been a lot worse.

“The amazing part is that I had some stock left in the van and despite what happened not one pint bottle was broken or a single egg smashed.

“Since it happened I haven’t lost a day on deliveries because the van that was damaged was just my back-up one which I was using because it handles better in the snow.”