Take extra care with bonfire night, says ambulance chief

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is urging people to take extra care during Bonfire Night celebrations.

Every year, the service is called to deal with firework and bonfire-related injuries through improper handling of fireworks and people taking unnecessary risks.

The Trust is asking revellers to keep a sensible head in the run-up to November 5.

 

 Mike Collins, Interim Director of Service Delivery at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “It is easy to forget how dangerous fireworks, bonfires and even sparklers can be.

“Calls we dealt with last year ranged from minor burns to life-changing injuries as a result of a fireworks display gone wrong, and a lot of these injuries could have been avoided. 

“We want people to enjoy themselves on Bonfire Night, but it is important to remember that fireworks can be potentially lethal if used improperly.

“If you can’t go to a professionally-organised public display and are planning to host your own event, please make safety a priority to ensure everyone has a good time without getting hurt.”

People hosting their own event are reminded that fireworks should be kept in a closed box and used one at a time to avoid any accidents.

Follow the instructions on each firework, using a torch if necessary, and light at arm’s length wearing goggles and protective clothing. Never return to a firework once it has been lit.

Children should wear gloves with sparklers, and never wave it near someone’s face. When the sparkler has finished, put it into a bucket of cold water straight away and leave it there.

Mike added: “Bonfire Night is a demanding time of year for the Welsh Ambulance Service, and makes it difficult for crews to get to other non firework-related incidents.

“Help reduce the number of calls we get about firework-related injuries to zero, and play your part in freeing up valuable resources to help others who may be suffering a life-threatening medical emergency.”

Click the below to learn more about firework safety and find an organised display in your area:

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service: www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk

Notice from wholefood co-operative

llanblogger has received the following notice on behalf of Llangollen Wholefood Co-operative:

"After 6 years of trading the Llangollen Wholefood Co-operative closed its doors on Thursday 31st October. 

"The members of the Co-op would like to thank all the customers who have supported them. 

“We have received so many positive comments in our last few weeks of trade,” said Catherine Veasey. 

"There are now only the last few lines left to sell.  The shop will be opening its doors for one last morning of trade on Saturday 2nd November 10am –1pm with 20% off all remaining stock."

Latest roadworks in the area

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following local roadworks:

A5, from area boundary to Queen Street, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights until November 22 for wall repairs.

Outside Canoe Centre, Berwyn Road, Llangollen, traffic lights to allow water works from November 3-6.

Opposite old Smithfield pub, Berwyn Street, Llangollen, waterworks from November 3-6.  

Welsh Government offered some income tax control

The Welsh Government will be offered some control over income tax subject to a referendum, Prime Minister David Cameron has said this morning.

See the full story on the BBC news website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-24763988

Wales's Finance Minister Jane Hutt has welcomed the UK Government's announcement.

 

She said: "This is excellent news for Wales, and a significant milestone in our story of devolution.  It gives the National Assembly and the Welsh Government new responsibilities and significant opportunities to boost jobs and support the Welsh economy.

 

"These changes mean that, in the next few years, Wales will be in a position to tackle the improvements required for the M4, and to shape its own taxes, including the much needed reform of Stamp Duty Land Tax.  A future Assembly will also be able to call a referendum on the devolution of rate-varying powers for income tax."

While the details are to follow, the UK Government has committed to legislate for the new powers within the lifetime of the current UK Parliament.

Councillor acts on smoke incident

* One of Cllr Phil Thane's pictures of the smoke over Llangollen.

A Llangollen councillor made a formal complaint to the county council after smoke billowed across part of the town on Thursday morning.

Cllr Phil Thane, a member of the town council, took several pictures of the incident which he says led to smoke “filling the valley” at one stage.

And he passed on the details of it to the Denbighshire’s pollution and public health team.

Later in the day, a council officer replied to Cllr Thane, saying the source of the smoke had been contacted and warned about such burning.

Safety advice for Halloween and Bonfire Night

Denbighshire County Council’s Trading Standards Section and North Wales Police say they will be working to try and make Halloween and Bonfire night as enjoyable as possible for local people.

A spokesperson from Denbighshire Trading Standards Section has said: “October 31 and November 5 are dates that have long been associated with parties and family fun, but for some they can be nights to forget.   

"On Halloween elderly people can be left frightened and intimidated by youngsters calling at their home asking for trick or treat - particularly when the callers are in costume.

"Similarly, families can find their evenings disrupted and their pets driven to distraction by the blasts and bangs from fireworks exploding on Bonfire Night.

"Nuisance behaviour at Halloween had been a recurring problem in years gone by. In relation to anti-social behaviour Halloween has often been a bigger problem than Bonfire Night.  

"This is because of the shock some elderly and vulnerable people get when they find someone dressed in a terrifying outfit on their doorstep or from people persistently knocking on their doors.

"We don't want to stop anyone enjoying themselves, but we would ask that they bear in mind the elderly and vulnerable people in our community who may not want callers knocking on their door late at night.

"We would ask the youngsters who got out trick or treating to make Halloween as pleasant as possible for the households they call on, by being polite and courteous to those they meet. Parents should ensure that their children are suitably advised as to possible ramifications involving elderly residents. A message they may wish to employ is to imagine they are visiting their own grandparents.

"Many of the problems associated with Bonfire night would not take place if certain residents just stopped to think of being more neighbourly.

"There are several organised displays in Denbighshire, scheduled for Bonfire night and we would recommend people attend those rather than have their own fireworks party in their back garden, for both safety and social reasons.

"However, if people want to hold their own event we would ask that they inform their neighbours well ahead of time, by calling in person or by popping a note through their letterbox. Many complaints spring out of people not telling their neighbours that they are planning to hold a firework display at their home and most importantly when the fireworks were going to be let off.

"The residents then have a chance to make arrangements in relation to any pets they may keep, or to make plans to go out if they don't want to listen to the noise.

"We would also ask that people, no matter how experienced, please take all the usual safety precautions, accidents happen when you become lax about the danger that you may be in.

"Fireworks are explosives and should be treated with great care and respect." The council and the police have issued the following safety advice:

1.        Only buy fireworks marked BS 7114 and from reputable outlets.
2.        Don't drink alcohol if setting off fireworks.
3.        Keep fireworks in a closed box.
4.        Follow the instructions on each firework.
5.        Light them at arm's length, using a taper.
5.        Stand well back.
6.        Never go near a firework that has been lit. Even if it hasn't gone off, it could still explode.
7.        Never put fireworks in your pocket or throw them.
8.        Always supervise children around fireworks.
9.        Light sparklers one at a time and wear gloves.
10        Never give sparklers to children under five.
11.        Keep pets indoors.
12.        Don't set off noisy fireworks late at night and never after 11pm.
13.         If having a bonfire, prior to lighting check carefully for wildlife and when finished dampen it down fully. Never light or store fireworks near the bonfire.

Anyone that chooses to use fireworks in an anti-social and irresponsible manner could find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Under the Fireworks Act there is a now a curfew preventing people from letting off fireworks between 11pm and 7am.  I

If people are holding a fireworks party on November 5, the last rocket must have gone off by 11pm or they could find themselves liable for prosecution.

It is now illegal for children under 18 to buy or in fact be in the possession of fireworks.

Denbighshire Trading Standards will be undertaking inspections and test purchases to each premise which sell fireworks to ensure compliance with firework legislation and age restricted products.

Twenty Club cancels Rebecca

The Twenty Club has had to cancel its production of Rebecca, due to have been staged at Llangollen Town Hall next week.

A group spokesman said tonight (Wednesday): "With sadness, due to circumstances beyond our control, we have had to cancel our production of Rebecca' originally scheduled to take place next week.

"This is the first time that this has happened in the club's 67-year history and needless to say everyone involved is hugely disappointed.

"We apologise to anyone who had made plans to come and see the production and hope that no inconvenience has been caused.

"On a more positive note, we are able to announce the March 2014 production.

"In order to mark the centenary of World War 1 we will be staging The Accrington Pals by Peter Whelan. We hope you will all be able to attend."