HSBC will not leave behind ATM when branch closes

* The HSBC branch in Bridge Street earmarked for closure next February.

An HSBC bank boss has ruled out leaving behind a cashpoint when the branch closes as planned early next year.

The revelation came following a recent meeting to discuss the controversial closure between Assembly Members Mark Isherwood and Ken Skates and Andrew Tamplin, regional service manager, South West and Wales region, for retail banking and wealth management.

In an email sent to the two AMs after the meeting and copied to llanblogger by Mr Isherwood, Mr Tamplin says: “During our meeting we discussed the Cash Machine in Llangollen.

“We have looked at usage, and the current availability of ATMs within Llangollen, and as discussed on the day,  there are many fee-free cash machines in the town and as such we will not be leaving an ATM when the branch closes next February.

“Thank you for your time when we met, and I hope the above information is useful.

“As discussed on the day, if you have any specific customer issues, please let me know and we will do our utmost to help and resolve.”

Soon after the closure decision was announced by the bank, a group of local residents, led by members of the town’s Chamber of Trade and Tourism, held a demonstration outside the branch in Bridge Street, asking for HSBC bosses to reconsider the move.

Martin Crumpton, chair of local group Keep Llangollen Special, said: "The programme of closures by HSBC and others since 2009 is being interpreted as their response to the report by Sir John Vickers into banking reform following the wrld’s biggest crash since the depression of the Thirties.

"In short, ring-fencing has forced them to choose between the dull, staid world of retail banking and the lucrative world of casino banking, where the banks themselves determine the house odds.

"Those at the top are so addicted to it they’d rather sell-off the ball and chain of branch banking, and when you consider that branches are the prime source of new accounts, the conclusion is inevitable.

"Keep Llangollen Special is talking with a new, community-minded alternative that enshrines face-to-face banking with profits ploughed into the community, and we’ll need the backing of the business sector. We’ll have more news in the new year." * An online petition has been started urging the protection of banking services in vulnerable communities. It can be seen and signed at: https://www.assemblywales.org/epetition-list-of-signatories.htm?pet_id=947

 

Llan bid for CCTV upgrade cash needs your vote

Money seized from criminals might help to upgrade Llangollen’s ageing CCTV system.

Cash from the POCA (Proceeds of Crime) scheme and funds from the Police and Crime Commissioner are being made available for local communities across North Wales to use on projects which will help cut crime and reduce anti-social behaviour.

 

Each local authority area has been allocated £7,000 and selected projects will go forward to a final public vote, with each winning project receiving a maximum of £3,500.

 

Llangollen Town Council and Llantysilio Community Safety has just heard that its bid for £3,000 towards facelifting the CCTV system is one of five accepted for Denbighshire which will now be voted on by the public.

The Llangollen CCTV system, which is operated by the Town Council, was first commissioned in 2006, and at that time Llangollen was one of the first towns to utilise broadband technology for CCTV systems.

The system plays a significant role in reducing crime and disorder, increasing the community safety and public reassurance as well as assisting the police in investigating crime.

According to the bid submission, the project will enable the Town Council to replace the defective cameras and complete the upgrade of the system.

The submission says: “CCTV has served, first and foremost, as a deterrent to crime. The evidence collated has featured in a number of high-profile cases, proving invaluable in the fight against crime.

“The introduction of CCTV in the town has been an effective tool in addressing the fear of crime and plays a key role in helping to attract new businesses to the area, in particular those boosting the night-time economy.”

·        To vote for the Llangollen/Llanstysilio scheme go to the website below:

English language:

http://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/your_community_voting.aspx?lang=en-gb

Welsh language:

http://www.north-wales.police.uk/contact/your_community_voting.aspx?lang=cy-gb

 

 

 

Applications invited for shop front improvement scheme

Traders are being invited to apply for a grant to improve their shop frontage in town centres across Denbighshire to help bring an extra 'feelgood' factor on to the street.

The scheme applies to the whole shop frontage up to and including the pavement area and surrounds and can include signage - bilingual signage is encouraged.

The scheme, which is being run by Denbighshire in conjunction with the relevant town councils, offers up to 50% of the eligible costs up to a maximum of £1,000.

The funding is limited and so schemes for key premises which will have the most impact on the street scene will be prioritised.

Denbighshire's Lead Member for Economic Development, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: "This is an excellent scheme which will go a long way in helping businesses present their premises in the best light possible. Both the street scene will be improved and businesses will benefit from increased footfall - everyone will benefit."

For more information on the terms and conditions of the scheme, please phone your town clerk - contact details can be found at  www.denbighshire.gov.uk/business.

County gets tough on council tax non-payers

Denbighshire County Council says action will be taken against people who wilfully do not pay their council tax.

The warning comes after a 60-day suspended prison sentence was given to a Prestatyn resident for not paying council tax arrears totalling £2,674.

The resident had not contacted the council to discuss his arrears, despite the numerous letters requesting him to do so.

The authority had summoned the man to court multiple times to which he never attended. He was arrested and taken to Prestatyn Magistrate Court.

The magistrate found him guilty of Wilful Refusal, and issued him with a 60-day suspended sentence, and ordered him to make payments each month towards his arrears.  

If the tax payer fails to pay in accordance with the Magistrates instruction, the  prison sentence will be enforced.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: "The council recognises that a number of people may have difficulty in paying their council tax and we ask them to contact the Council at their earliest convenience to discuss a payment plan.

"The majority of people pay their council tax on time, but a small group of people wilfully do not pay their council taxes on time. This places a heavier burden on other taxpayers and this will not be tolerated."

The council says the most convenient way of paying council tax is through Direct Debit – this is the most popular method used by Denbighshire residents.

Anyone who has arrears but have not made any arrangements to pay can contact the council’s Recovery Team, on 01824 706321.

Police send out fraud warning

North Wales Police are warning all in the community and particularly the elderly not to be drawn into revealing their bank details after recent reports of ‘scams’ being attempted in the area.

 

The offences can take many forms.  Residents of Conwy recently received through the post a "Euromillions Commonwealth of Nations Online Lottery" letter informing them of a substantial financial win to be released upon personal bank details being submitted.  

 

Police say this is a "cruel and criminal fraud".

 

Many offences involve fraudsters, possibly based overseas, contacting victims at random either by email or direct to their home or mobile phones informing them they have won a cash prize in an on-line draw or competition but in order to release the money they have to pay a handling or joining fee.  Bank card details are then requested and victims have money removed from their account.

 

Det Supt Mark Pierce at North Wales Police is warning people to be on their guard.  

 

He said: “People committing this type of crime can often sound or appear very plausible.   Letters, phone calls or emails can be received asking for members of the public to pass over their bank details to allow funds of some kind to be paid into their accounts.  This is clearly a scam and anyone receiving such a request should treat it with the caution it deserves.   Under no circumstances should anyone give out their bank details in this way”.

 

“The best way to deal with these individuals is to simply cut them off and inform BT.  If you are concerned then seek advice from a member of the family or friend, CAB or Police.   This is a cruel crime, particularly at this time of the year but we can all take steps to protect ourselves from financial crime by calling the Action Fraud hotline on 0300 123 2040, or visit http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ .   

 

Det Supt Pierce added: “Action Fraud can provide up to date advice on current scams and can identify whether a scenario is fraudulent.  The Action Fraud Helpline will send details of the offence to the Force area where the offenders are located for further investigation.  If the fraud has been committed by persons within North Wales then a local investigation will be conducted.  We would encourage the public to use social networking to get this message out to as wide an audience as possible – the more people who know about it the less chance of them becoming a victim.”

 

Protect yourself from fraud:

 

Do not give personal details including banking details to anyone you do not know following unexpected requests for money made either in the street, on the doorstep, over the telephone or internet or as these details can be used to steal your identity.

• Consider registering with the Telephone Preference Service to stop unsolicited telephone calls.  This is a free service.  Further details can be obtained from http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/ or 020 7291 3320.  Registration can be made on line or by phone 0845 070 0707.
• Consider registering with the Mailing Preference Service as this supports the right to choose the mail you wish to receive.  Further details can be obtained from http://www.mpsonline.org.uk/ or 020 7291 3310. Registration can be made on line or by phone 0845 703 4599 begin. This too is a free service.
• If you are suspicious that you’ve been targeted in a fraudulent telephone call this can be reported to Action on Fraud at http://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or telephone 0300 123 2040.
• If you’ve lost money call your local police on 101.
• Beware of cold calls even when the caller appears to have personal information such as your address or bank account details.  Legitimate callers will never be offended if you ask to call back in order to confirm their identity.  When doing so always use a phone number that you’ve obtained from previous correspondence or an independent source such as phone book or an official website.

 

.

Isherwood questions Minister over affordable housing

SHADOW Housing Minister Mark Isherwood has questioned the Housing Minister over action to address the "lack" of affordable housing in Wales, highlighting the increase in new home registrations in England, as they have plummeted in Wales.

 

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood questioned the Minister over work to ensure that new affordable housing goes to local people, and also asked what action is being taken to ensure local authorities seek the best way of maximising the supply of quality homes for affordable and social rent.  

 

He said: “As you know, although half of the local authorities in Wales have transferred their housing stock, they all retain a strategic housing responsibility. How will you ensure that, in maximising the supply of quality homes for affordable and social rent, local authorities seek the best way of doing that, whether or not that means that the property remains or becomes council owned?"

 

Questioning him over section 106 agreements, he said: “In the quarter to August, new home registrations in England were up 16%, but down a further 24% in Wales. We know that your predecessor had commissioned some work on section 106 agreements, to try to reconcile the need to maximise the occupancy cascades, which prioritise local people, with the needs of mortgage lenders to protect in law the assets against which they lend. Will you update us on the recommendations of that work and how that is impacting on Welsh Government delivery?"

 

In his reply, the Minister insisted that house building in Wales is showing signs of recovery and said that he did not accept Mr Isherwood’s “negative comments regarding house building in Wales”.

 

Mr Isherwood added: “It is clearly a matter of concern if the Housing Minister in Wales does not recognise the official figures for new home registrations produced by the National House-Building Council (NHBC). It is also a matter of concern that the Minister failed to answer my question on a matter which is absolute key to the delivery of more affordable housing for young people in our communities.”

 

Mr Isherwood also asked the Minister what consideration he will give to enabling tenants in council areas where they have voted against stock transfer to consider voting fo r having a Community Housing Mutual within their own community.

 

He said: “The first community housing mutual was delivered in Knowsley village in 1981 under the Heseltine initiative. However, in Wales, we are still waiting to hear good news about how this can be maximised.”

Ramblers publish their winter 2014 programme

Llangollen Ramblers has sent llanblogger a copy of their programme for winter 2014, which begins early in the new year: