Church Street parking goes under microscope

The issue of parking in Church Street was highlighted at Tuesday night’s meeting of Llangollen Town Council.

And Cllr Melvyn Miles (pictured right) who placed it on the agenda, described it as a “nightmare”.

He said: “There are only 20 spaces reserved for residents and there are also a couple of holiday lets down there. All of these are full all the time.

“There is no easy solution but is there any way we could ask the county council if the residents’ parking could be extended into Bridge Street or Chapel Street?”

Cllr Sheena Burrell asked whether residents’ parking passes, which are held by a number of people in the town, could be used by people from Church Street to leave their vehicles in local public car parks elsewhere in the town.

It was suggested this might be possible but members agreed to have the town clerk refer the issue to the county council and also to seek clarification on parking permits.

Keep Llangollen Special's AGM set for next Tuesday

The Keep Llangollen Special group has sent in this reminder about is annual general meeting next Tuesday, July 23:

Shoulder To Shoulder For Llangollen

·        What can you do when the consultation you’ve been invited to is a biased, pre-determined sham?

·        What can you do when the heritage of Llangollen is bartered for things that look good on paper but turn out to be deeply flawed and second-rate in practice?

·        What can you do when you report a potentially hazardous crossing but find out there has to be a certain number of casualties before anything is done?,

·        What can you do when people who don’t live in Llangollen decide its future without asking us?

 

Lock and load - using our rights and freedoms, combining the new technologies of social media and digital communication, and plain, old-fashioned meetings, to elect people just like you to be your spearhead. We come together to take our lives and livelihoods back into our own hands against those who would exploit us, who think we’re a soft touch.

Keep Llangollen Special, a strictly not-for-profit Community Group – the people behind the popular Buy Local days – was designed to be that spearhead.

It’s holding its first Annual General Meeting on July the 23^rd, in the lounge of the Hand Hotel (pictured left) at 7:30 pm, where all the Committee positions are up for election by members of KLS.

You can become a member by going to www.keepllanollenspecial .org.uk and there are no fees or obligations placed on you. You can attend even if you’re not a member, so you can speak but not vote or stand for Committee.

Over the last twelve months, we’ve realised we don’t have enough people to take lead roles in projects that will bring prosperity and well-being to Llangollen. That’s where you come in; that’s why we need you, the huge number of people who volunteer and do great work: The people who are the heart of Llangollen and make it such an extraordinary place to live – and we’ll work co-operatively with any groups, societies or like-minded individuals for our mutual benefit.

Can you influence what KLS does? Yes – that’s why KLS exists. Can you raise issues affecting Town or inspire projects to attract more business, jobs or facilities we sorely need? Yes again – every project idea will be discussed and voted upon, so make sure you’re a member.

Whether you’re a resident or running a business in Llangollen, it’s worth your while coming along. Together we’ll get more done, and it’ll only take a small amount of your time to be active in KLS.

Keep Llangollen Special

Outgoing health board chair denies `clash of personalities'

The outgoing chair of Wales' largest NHS body has denied that "a clash of personalities" was at the root of management failings in north Wales.

Prof Merfyn Jones was giving evidence to AMs on how the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) operated.

See the full story on the BBC Wales website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23361966

Latest figures show crime down in North Wales

This morning (Thursday) saw the release of the Crime Survey for England and Wales Data to year ending March 2013.

 

Latest figures show recorded crime in North Wales went down by 12.4% during the 12 months under review.

 

The figures also show that a low proportion of people experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour in the force area.

 

In North Wales 19.9% had experienced or witnessed anti-social behaviour, which is significantly lower than the England and Wales average of 28.9% and the Wales average of 28.3%.

 

During the year there has been a significant increase in the reporting of rape and sexual offences, the number being up 30.8% the majority now being managed by the newly established multi-agency dedicated rape investigators on ‘Team Amethyst’.

 

The Operation Pallial investigation into recent allegations of historic child abuse, commenced during the same period,  has also contributed towards an increase in reported offences which we hope suggests greater public confidence in how we manage the victims and investigation of such offences.

 

Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: “North Wales Police is maintaining a reduction in crime. We are aware of the increase in the reporting rape and sexual offences and in June this year we set up Amethyst, a dedicated rape team.  We are continuing to work hard to drive crime down further and make North Wales safer.

 

“The Force is working closely with the Police and Crime Commissioner and focusing on the objectives in the Police and Crime Plan. Rural crime officers will be launched  later this summer, which is one of the significant targets in the plan.”

Eisteddfod brings quiet Saturday night in town

The evening of eisteddfod Saturday was quieter than a usual Saturday night in the town.

* Cllr Bob Lube.

That was the good news delivered to members of the town council at their meeting on Tuesday.

The mayor, Cllr Bob Lube , said he wished to commend the police for maintaining a high-level presence in the town throughout eisteddfod week, adding: “There appears to have been very few actual bookings for anti-social behaviour over last weekend.

“In fact, the police tell me that it was quieter than a normal Saturday night here

“Well done to them for that.”  

Chain Bridge facelift can go ahead thanks to £350,000 grant

* The historic Chain Bridge is to be brought back to life after 30 years of dereliction.

A VISIONARY scheme to bring Llangollen’s world famous Chain Bridge back to life is set to go ahead after receiving a £350,000 cash boost.

At their meeting last night (Tuesday) members of the town council were given the good news that their grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) – made jointly with neighbouring Llantysilio Community Council – has just been approved.
 

And Llangollen’s mayor said he was hopeful the historic bridge spanning the River Dee, which has been closed for safety reasons for 30 years, will be re-opened to the public early next year.
 

The two councils bought the bridge from its previous owner, businesswoman Stephanie Booth who also ran the adjacent Chain Bridge Hotel, in 2007 and have since been working to secure the funding necessary to see it repaired and returned to its former glory as a major tourist attraction.
 

First injection of cash came a few years later when the HLF made a grant of £28,900 to pay for the preparation of a detailed report on how the bridge could be restored.
 

The project took another step forward last month when it landed a grant of £50,000 from WREN, a not-for-profit business which awards cash to community, environmental and heritage projects.
 

The bridge crosses the river, which itself runs parallel to the Llangollen heritage railway line on one side and Llangollen Canal on the other near its source, the Horseshoe Falls.
 

The plan is to fix the bridge and create disabled access via nearby Berwyn Station along with an exhibition and other community events.
 

The HLF grant bid included working with community groups such as local schools and history groups, including Llangollen Museum.
 

One of the aims is to see tourists travelling along Llangollen Canal via horse-drawn boats and then crossing the bridge to take a steam train ride back into Llangollen.
 

The original bridge was built around 1817 by Exuperius Pickering, a local entrepreneur dealing in coal, limestone, slate and iron bar, who is reputed to have called on engineer Thomas Telford to help with the design and construction.
 

The new bridge allowed Pickering to monopolise the local coal trade as it gave him access to the adjacent London to Holyhead road - the A5.
 

It also meant he avoided paying tolls to cross the main bridge over the river in Llangollen.
 

In 1876 the bridge was replaced by Sir Henry Robertson, a part owner of Wrexham's former Brymbo Ironworks.
 

In 1928, freak flooding washed away most of the bridge and it rebuilt in a style similar to Anglesey's Menai Suspension Bridge.
 

It was closed in the mid-1980s due to concerns over its safety.
 

At the Llangollen Town Council meeting, town clerk Gareth Thomas told members: “Our Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £350,000 has now been confirmed.
 

“All things being equal we should now be able to proceed in August.”
 

The mayor of Llangollen, Cllr Bob Lube, said later: “This is fantastic news.
 

“We now look forward to creating a circular route for tourists between the canal and the railway via the bridge, which I am sure will add to the visitor experience we already have.
 

“It is great that the council has been able to do this. Work can now go ahead and we are hopeful the bridge will open again early next year.” 

Man dies after river rescue drama

A man has died after getting into difficulties while in a river on the Shropshire-North Wales border.

Emergency services were called to an isolated location near the confluence of the Rivers Dee and Ceiriog, near Chirk, shortly before 7pm last night.

A search was carried out involving officers from West Mercia Police and North Wales Police and the man was located in the water at around 7.50pm.

He was airlifted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital where he was pronounced dead late last night.

The Fire and Rescue Service and Ambulance Service also attended and the North Wales Police helicopter assisted in the search.

The man has not yet been named but is believed to a 21-year-old from Shropshire.

West Mercia Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances and renewed warnings about swimming or cooling off in open water.

A force spokesperson said: “There have been a number of recent tragedies in Shropshire and neighbouring counties where people have got into difficulties after entering rivers or quarry pools.

“Please don't be tempted.  These types of water can be highly dangerous with strong under currents, low temperatures which can cause muscle cramps and hidden obstacles beneath the surface.

“Sadly, we are now dealing with another such tragedy.”