Tour hailed as huge success

Councils across North Wales have hailed the North Wales stage of the Tour of Britain a huge success.

The fourth stage on Wednesday, 18 September  started at Stoke on Trent, before entering Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy and Gwynedd, finishing in Llanberis.

The event was supported by all six North Wales authorities, as well as the Welsh Government.

Now council officials say the Tour's success shows North Wales is geared up for major events and is ready to do business.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board,  said: “This has been a great opportunity to showcase North Wales as a destination for cyclists, but has also been a tremendous boost to the local economy.

“North Wales has had a lot of positive and widespread coverage as a result of this race coming into our region and it has been a great platform to show the cycling industry and tourists that North Wales is capable of handling such a major prestigious event.

"We now need to capitalise on this success and make sure that we work together as a region  and look at what other events can be hosted in our region. We have the capacity and skills to look bigger, think bigger. Today should act as a catalyst for promoting North Wales as a great place for tourists and for the local economy,

“We were also delighted with the tremendous support shown by communities across the whole of North Wales. Thousands of people came out to show their support – that is typical of the warm Welsh welcome we have come to expect from our communities.

“We can now look forward to next year’s vent with confidence that North Wales really is ready to do business.”

Police highlight realities of alcohol-related crime

 

 

North Wale Police have joined with forces around the country in a week-long campaign highlighting the realities of dealing with drunkenness and alcohol-related incidents.

 

Over the five days of the In Focus: Alcohol Harm initiative North Wales Police highlight the effect inappropriate alcohol consumption can have on our communities and the individual while also increasing our activities to tackle these issues.

 

Local councils are also working closely with us to undertake various operations across North Wales. 

 

Superintendent Nigel Harrison said: “We are supporting this initiative with a wide range of activities across the region.

 

Drink-fuelled anti-social behaviour in pubs, clubs and on our streets is just part of the problem.
Nationally nearly 50 per cent of all violent crime is alcohol related. 

 

Across the UK offenders are thought to be under the influence of alcohol in nearly half of all incidents of domestic abuse.

 

The national policing lead on alcohol harm, Chief Constable Adrian Lee, said: “Police are all too often having to care for people who have clearly failed to take care of themselves.  They need to grow up and take responsibility.  Drinking so much that you can’t think clearly makes you vulnerable and more likely to become a victim of crime, be injured or be involved in violence. 

 

“We’re not here to clean you up and drop you home or mediate drunken arguments. We’d prefer our officers to be in their communities rather than being pulled off their beats into town centres every weekend.”

 

Alcohol Facts:

• Nearly 50 per cent of all violent crime is alcohol related. 
• Drink-related anti-social behaviour is the most common form that people experience. 
• Offenders are thought to be under the influence of alcohol in nearly half of all incidents of domestic abuse
• Excessive drinking clearly increases your likelihood of committing a crime or becoming a victim.
• People that ‘pre-load’ (heavy drinking before you leave your home for a night out) are two and a half  times more likely to be involved in violence as a victim or an offender.
• Pre-loaders are four times more likely to consume over 20 units in a single night
• 50 per cent of 18 – 35 years pre-load on a Friday or Saturday night
• 72 per cent of assaults requiring treatment are alcohol related.

Major cycling event pedals into Denbighshire

The Tour of Britain's cycling event is visit to Denbighshire and the rest of North Wales today (Wednesday).

The event will see Team Sky, which includes well known names such as Sir Bradley Wiggins an Mark Cavendish, pass through the area on Stage 4 of the Tour.

The tour enters Denbighshire from the county boundary near Loggerheads and leaves via the county boundary into Conwy near Bylchau.

The race is expected to arrive at the following locations (estimate times).  These times are for elite cyclists and the main group of cyclists are expected to follow close behind.  

A494        Loggerheads : 1.20pm

A494        Llanferres: 1.25pm

A525        Ruthin: 1.35pm

A525        Llanrhaeadr: 1.50pm

A525        Denbigh: 1.55pm

The roads are expected to be closed approximately 20 minutes before the race arrives and will re-open as soon as the cyclists have gone through.  These timings are estimates and spectators are urged to get to the route in plenty of time.

For further information, please visit: www.thetour.co.uk

Skates welcomes cash boost for Dinas Bran

Clwyd South Assembly member Ken Skates has welcomed the news that Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen has won a £5,000 Big Lottery Fund grant.

The high school - which recorded its best ever set of GCSE results in August - was awarded the cash boost to purchase IT equipment for 'supported fitness sessions' to improve pupils' health and fitness.

Mr Skates, whose constituency office is based in Llangollen, said: "Ysgol Dinas Bran is an excellent school which has always encouraged students to take part in physical activities and promoted a healthy lifestyle.

"The bid for Big Lottery funding was submitted by the school's PE department, which will now be able to use the new technology to help deliver enhanced lessons for pupils."

The school said the money will be used to buy 14 iPads and an Apple TV. Last year both Ysgol Dinas Bran's current performance and prospects for improvement were rated 'good' by Estyn inspectors. Last month every GCSE student achieved at least 5 grades at A* to C.

County's warden team are top dogs for second year

Denbighshire County Council’s Dog Warden Team has been awarded the RSPCA’s gold footprint award for its work with stray dogs - for the second year running.

Denbighshire is the only local authority in Wales to achieve the gold standard for stray dogs and it was achieved through working in partnership with North Clwyd Animal Rescue.

The RSPCA introduced the Community Animal Welfare Footprint Awards in 2008 and the aim of the scheme is to recognise and promote those that have made an extra effort and gone beyond basic service requirements to ensure higher welfare standards in some of the service they provide.

This is the second time that the council has applied for the award and as a result of the award, Denbighshire County Council is now entitled for the next 12 months to use an accredited  logo on its website and publications.

The RSPCA CAWF scheme is split into four main categories – animal welfare principles, contingency planning, housing and stray dogs. Depending on the standards of the level of service, either: gold, silver or bronze footprints are awarded.

Since the schemes inception in 2008, the Stray Dog Footprint award has been the most popular, with achievers inspiring others to develop and improve their service.  The main aim of the Stray Dogs Footprint is to encourage local authorities to look at this important and often under-valued service and address any resource and issues that might help them to meet the footprint criteria in the future.

The scheme has been officially supported by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Trading Standards Institute.

Alert over two vehicles stolen from the area

The local Neighbourhood Watch has sent out alerts about the theft of two vehicles from the Llangollen area in the past week.

In the first case a Land Rover Discovery, registration number L369 PMB, was stolen from the driveway of a property on the Horseshoe Pass between 5pm on Thursday 12 September and 8.30am on Saturday 14 September.

If you have any information relating to this crime, contact North Wales Police on 101 quoting the reference RM13019174

The second theft involved an unroadworthy Mitsubishi Sigma estate, registration number M759 CEY, being stolen from a yard in the Llangollen area sometime between Wednesday 11 September and 8.20am on Thursday 12 September.

If you have any information relating to this crime, contact North Wales Police on 101 quoting reference RC13152417.

 

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