County council clamps down on rogue traders

As part of National Rogue Trader week Denbighshire Trading Standards Officers and North Wales Police have been out patrolling the county on the look out for rogue traders operating in the area. 

Officers were looking for offences relating to consumers’ cancellation rights and aggressive selling techniques linked to “cold calling”.

Traders were also given advice as to their legal obligations.

The two organisations also teamed up with Neighbourhood Watch to get out and about and advise the public on dealing with cold callers.

One of the major issues identified by officers is that many residents do not report the activities of “Rogue Traders”.

David Smith, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Trading Standards is urging  residents to be aware and to tell the authorities if rogue traders cold call in their area offering to do gardening, tree cutting, tarmacing, roof repairs and general odd jobs. 

He said: "These traders can do a poor job and subsequently charge over the odds for that work, ask for cash and then simply disappear. They are usually untraceable when things go wrong as they give false names, addresses and phone numbers.

"Whilst not all doorstep traders are ‘rogues’, many are completely legitimate and provide a good level of service, there are some who prey on the elderly or vulnerable members of society."

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire's Public Protection Manager said: "Officers from each of the organisations teamed up and have been speaking to people in the county.  We hope that those individuals will not only follow the simple rules when dealing with cold callers but also spread the message to their neighbours and family.  Whilst we did not find any issues during our patrols we will continue to be on the look out for any activity which might be attributed to a rogue trader."

Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Pam Gardner also added: "No cold calling zones are a good way of discouraging traders from operating in certain areas as any trader cold calling in No cold calling area could be committing an offence.  Anybody wanting more information about cold calling zones should contact their local Neighbourhood Watch coordinator on 01745 539208 or via www.ourwatch.org.uk"

Inspector Siobhan Edwards of North Wales Police sais: "If in doubt, keep them out" is the simple message to remember when somebody knocks at your door.  If you are concerned about anybody in your neighbourhood ‘knocking’ on the door offering to carry out home maintenance work, then please make a note of vehicle make, model, colour and registration number and any descriptions of the individuals, and contact either the police on 101 or Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Customer Service on 08454 04 05 06 or for the Welsh Language Service 08454 04 05 05.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.  If you feel intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller you should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999.

Man charged with murder following Oswestry death

Detectives have charged an 18 year old man with murder following the death of a 21 year old man earlier this week.

Danny Jones of Chirk died in hospital following the attack in Oswestry on Wed night (24 April) after he received a single stab wound.

The teenager who has been charged is a local man and is due before Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on Monday 29 April.

He was arrested a few hours after the attack and charged this evening (Sat 27 April). He has been remanded in custody.

Detectives working on the investigation have recovered a knife which they believe to be the murder weapon.

Hospital closure referred to older people's czar

Campaigners have condemned a “reckless” hospital closure which they say will endanger patients’ lives in the Llangollen area.

The group fighting to retain hospital beds and improve health services in Llangollen and the Dee Valley are so concerned about the situation that they have called on the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales to hold an investigation into the Health Board’s decision to close Llangollen Hospital.

They say that they fear for the well-being of elderly patients in the area.

Keep Llangollen Health Services have contacted the office of Sarah Rochira, the Commissioner for Older People, urging her to look into the “reckless” decision by the health Board.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of Keep Llangollen Health Services said: “I recently spoke to a care home professional who said that it was his opinion that the closure of Llangollen Hospital would endanger people's lives.

“He explained that elderly people who needed medical care had no issues with going to a Cottage Hospital, but were reluctant to go to general hospitals because of the risks of contracting hospital-acquired infections, such as C-difficile and MRSA.

“Unfortunately his concerns stack up.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor referred to a paper published in the British Medical Journal, which is quoted by the respected Dr Fosters Hospital Guide, which says “Risks (such as hospital acquired infections) are discernible when average bed occupancy rates exceed about 85%”.

"Last year both Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd had bed occupancy levels reaching 87%.

“The NHS is at crisis point in Wales with A&E in meltdown, ambulances queuing 10 deep, and bed-blocking because there aren’t enough community beds available. The Health Board have compounded this with their reckless decision to close Llangollen Hospital with the loss of 18 beds.

“Elderly and vulnerable patients are especially put at risk because of the closure of the hospital. That is why we have called on the Commissioner for Older people to hold an inquiry into the health Board’s decision.”

The Campaign group are urging people to share their stories with them by emailing keepllanhealthservices@gmail.com

llanblogger's taking a short break

Dear readers,

llanblogger is taking a short break for the next few days.

But we'll be back as usual from next Saturday posting all the best in news and views from Llangollen and the surrounding areas.

See you soon ...

Councils team up to launch sport kite mark scheme

Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham Sport Development Units & Glyndwr University have joined forces to launch the Supporting Volunteers Kite Mark to recognise community sports organisations that are committed to supporting and developing their volunteers.

The Supporting Volunteers Kite Mark has been developed by the Sport Wales Regional Coach and Volunteer Development Team to promote good practice in the recruitment, training, deployment and retention of coaches and volunteers.

Signing-up to working towards the Kite Mark, will have a number of benefits for community clubs and sport organisations including free Sport Coach UK training, wider access to and support in recruiting and developing volunteers and advice and guidance from the local authority Sport Development Team.

The Kite Mark has been designed to be accessible to all sporting organisations, bearing no cost implications for a club.  It will offer a chance for some clubs to gain recognition for the work which they already do while for other clubs it will be a chance to develop volunteer support structures by working towards achieving the mark.

Speaking about the launch of the Supporting Volunteers Kite Mark, Sport Flintshire Coach and Volunteer Coordinator Gareth Hayes said:
“Volunteers are the life blood of community sport and the launch of this Kite Mark signifies Sport Wales and the local authorities’ commitment to supporting community sport organisations in providing a positive and worthwhile volunteer experience that will contribute to a lifelong involvement as a sports volunteer.”

Sport Wales North Wales Regional Manager, Graham Williams added:
“The Supporting Volunteers Kite Mark is the first of its kind in Wales and I am sure will provide huge benefits to local sports clubs and their volunteers across Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire. 

“Volunteers are key to ensuring that every child in Wales has the opportunity to become hooked on sport for life.  It is therefore encouraging to see partners coming together in this way to launch a scheme that will benefit those wanting to volunteer within their local community.  We hope that this launch will inspire others to adopt a similar approach across the country.”

For further information regarding the Supporting your Coaches Kite Mark, please contact your local Coach and Volunteer Coordinator. Please find details below:

Flintshire - Gareth Hayes:  gareth.m.hayes@flintshire.gov.uk  (01352) 702465
Denbighshire - Matthew Hilliker:  matthew.hilliker@denbighshire.gov.uk  (01824) 712700
Wrexham - Thomas Robertson:   thomas.robertson@wrexham.gov.uk    (01978) 292088
 
For more information please contact Claire Nicholson at Sport Wales on 02920 338366.

Safety checks on electrical goods

Denbighshire's County Council Public Protection Service recently secured funding from the Electrical Safety Council to undertake a project of monitoring the safety of the sale of electrical goods sold through second hand shops.  

The intention was to raise awareness amongst retailers selling second hand electrical goods and also to check only safe goods were being sold.

Trading Standards Officer inspected a number of second hand outlets across Denbighshire where they not only gave safety advice but also obtained electrical items for analysis at an independent test house.  Disappointingly, 18% of items tested failed to meet electrical safety requirements, with the majority of faults being in relation to the plug or the flexible cord.  Trading Standards are continuing to work with the proprietors of the businesses concerned to ensure no further unsafe products are offered for sale.

Trading Standards Officers are advising consumers to carry out visual checks before purchasing second hand electrical goods and if possible, to only purchase goods which have been tested for safety.  

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager said “The items that failed the test could have been avoided if simple visual checks had been made.  We recommend that anybody purchasing second hand electrical goods give the item a basic visual inspection before purchase.  For example, look out for frayed or split wires, damage to the casing or plug and check if the plug pins are insulated”

Further advice concerning all electrical safety issues can be found on the Electrical Safety Councils website: www.esc.org.uk

Any member of the public who have concerns about the sale of second hand electrical goods should contact Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 05 05 for the Welsh language service.

The Electrical Safety Council is a UK Charity committed to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents at home and at work.

Health chiefs promote measles jab

Public Health professionals are urging parents in North Wales to act quickly to vaccinate their children against measles. 

 

There are over 10,000 children who are not fully protected by the vaccine in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area and therefore at risk of contracting measles.

 

In 2012 we saw how quickly the disease can spread when over 60 people contracted measles during an outbreak starting in Porthmadog.  

 

Siobhan Jones Consultant in Public Health said: ‘‘Although the outbreak is at present affecting the Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli areas, it is likely to spread to other areas.  The likelihood that unvaccinated children across the country will come into contact with those already infected is high. It is vital that parents act now to ensure that their children are fully immunised with the MMR vaccine.

 

“The outbreak is particularly affecting children aged between 10 and 18 who missed doses of MMR at a younger age. Therefore Public Health Wales is urging parents to remember that it is not only younger children who need to be vaccinated urgently.   

 

"The MMR vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles. It is never too late to catch up on missed doses."

  

Dr Sian Owen, paediatrician and lead immunisation doctor for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: ‘‘Measles cannot be taken lightly because you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). MMR vaccination offers the only protection against these complications."

 

Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging parents to work with health professionals and schools to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.  As children return to school after the Easter holidays, the opportunities for measles to spread increase - now is the time to vaccinate your children.