KLS chair comments on Sainsbury's sales dip

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, comments on the recent announcement of a 3.1% dip in like-for-like sales for Sainsbury's, which is due to open a new supermarket in the town.

"Sainsbury’s shareholders may finally steer the company away from Big Box, local economy devouring formats, given the disappointing results announced yesterday – over 3% down.

It’s also been bad news for Tesco, Morrisons, and tipped the balance to the German discounters such as Aldi and Lidl. As the BBC’s Robert Peston points out, none of them can blame the economy: Shoppers are changing how they shop.

There’s no conceit or smugness in stating that Keep Llangollen Special has played a part in re-introducing shoppers to value of the little bit of extra time involved in buying local for better quality, better service, better value for money and a slower, more enjoyable and healthier experience. The major supermarkets are starting to pay for perpetuating the myth they created of being
cheaper.

KLS was one of the first pioneers of Buy Local, now in its third year since we started it here, thriving and still growing. Saturdays in Llangollen used to be tranquil, shopper-free days. Visit our butchers on a Saturday and they’re humming with customers, and Saturdays aren’t Buy Local days! Twitter and Facebook are buzzing with converts, and both me and Mike Edwards’ messages are reaching millions, alongside so many others promoting this change of lifestyle.

So much so that April 14th has been dedicated nationally to Buy Local. That means a one-off change of day for us – we usually organise these events for the second Friday of each month – and it’s so rewarding to see how many have tried Buy Local and then kept it up.

See you in Town on Saturday!"

Llan's Royal British Legion branch saved from closure

* Llangollen RBL branch plays a key role in the annual Remembrance Day parade. 

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has been saved from closure after one of its members agreed to take on three key positions.

But John Lawton, who will now become chairman and secretary on top of his current role as treasurer, says he can’t continue to do all the jobs indefinitely and has put out the call to members for more support to keep the branch going.

The branch, which was founded in 1923 as a gathering point for men who had served in World War One, thrived for years but has recently suffered from falling attendances at meetings.

Crisis point came when the man who had served as both chairman and secretary, Bob Davidson, had to stand down because of ill-health.

Seeing that there was a real possibility that the branch might fold, treasurer Mr Lawson decided it was time to step into the breach.

He said: “The good news now is that our branch can keep open.

“Since after Christmas, I have been holding meetings with both RBL area officials and headquarters regarding the viability of the branch.

 

“In order for it to remain active, I have had to agree to take on the jobs which Bob Davidson used to do, chairman and secretary, as well as my own job as treasurer. 

“I did this reluctantly and only agreed that I would do it firstly to keep the branch open and secondly only until such time as Bob recovers his health and returns to lead us again.

 

“However, the committee of five members cannot continue to do this alone. We need the support of the 47 members of the branch.”

 

Mr Lawton added: “If attendance at the meetings does not improve, then reluctantly I will not continue and will allow the branch to close.

 

“It is up to the members to pull together now and support the branch.

 

“This year is the anniversary of the First World War, which was the catalyst for the formation of the Royal British Legion, and it would be a shame to allow the branch to close in this important year.

 

“At the moment we are meeting in The Hand Hotel in Llangollen at 12.15pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

 

“Once more members attend, we may be able to return to meeting in the evening of the first Tuesday of the month at The Hand 7.30 for 8pm, so it is now up to the members to show their willingness to keep the branch active.”

 

Llangollen RBL was formed 91 years ago in time to consecrate the town’s cenotaph in November, 1923.

 

Mr Lawton has previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead, a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps and treasurer of Llangollen Royal Naval Association.

Meet Denbighshire's new chief inspector

Jason Devonport has been appointed as the new chief inspector for Denbighshire by North Wales Police.

 

The officer, who previously held the post as inspector for the Denbighshire Coastal and the Abergele area based in Rhyl, was successful in recent promotions board along with three other officers stationed across the force.

 

“I am very pleased to remain within Denbighshire, my time as an Inspector here has been challenging and extremely rewarding, I am looking forward to the future and the challenges that we face,” said Chief Insp Devonport (pictured left).

 

It was in Rhyl that the officer first started his career with North Wales Police, having transferred from West Midlands Police in 2001.

 

After being promoted to sergeant, the officer left the coastal town for more investigative type roles.  Some of this work included helping to tackle burglaries and before coming to Rhyl as an inspector he headed Flintshire CID as the detective inspector based in Mold.

 

“What I am keen to build on is the relationship with our partners and the communities to continue to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour within the county, for a safer North Wales. Problem solving and hot spot policing has worked well in coastal area of Denbighshire, I am keen to develop these further and to build on the work that is being undertaken with rural crime in the southern part of the county.”

Council warns landlords over maintenance issues

Denbighshire County Council is warning property landlords that it will take court action against those who fail to maintain their properties and not license them as a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The warning follows two recent successful prosecutions brought by the council.

In one case, a landlord was served with an Improvement Notice under the Housing Act 2004, for his property in Rhyl.  

The notice included works to be carried out to resolve complex dampness issues, being rising damp, condensation and penetrating dampness, electrical repairs, insulation and repairs to the rear door.

Following numerous emails and communication with the tenants, the council concluded that no works had been carried out to remedy the problems.

At Llandudno Magistrates Court, the landlord pleaded guilty to the offence of non-compliance and he was fined £200, with costs of £400.

In the second case, two co-owners of a property were fined for offences under the Housing Act.  One was fined £2,250 for two offences, the other fined £1,500.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Protection, said: "Although the fine is disappointing and is a matter for the courts, it is again an important conviction for us and sends a message out to other negligent landlords that if they have an improvement notice served on them to require works to be completed, we will prosecute them if they choose to ignore it.

"The majority of landlords are responsible and take the health and safety of their tenants seriously, but  not maintaining their properties properly simply will not be tolerated. The Council is there to provide advice and information for landlords and is offered with a view to landlords protecting the welfare of tenants, but ignoring that advice and guidance could result in action being taken against the landlords.

"I must commend the housing enforcement staff responsible for bringing these matters to the courts for their due diligence and perserverance in their efforts to protect the welfare of tenants."

Denbighshire County Council says it supports landlords and tenants through providing advice, responding to complaints, arranging landlord forums twice a year and producing information newsletters.

Special event aims to help grow businesses

Denbighshire County Council is holding a free special event at Llangollen Pavilion early next month designed to help businesses grow and flourish.

Entitled Denbighshire Open for Business, it will take place on Thursday, April 3, from 5pm to 8.30pm.

People attending will get an insight into how to develop your business in the current climate, learn new skills and ideas from motivational speakers, make vital new contacts from the council and other businesses and have the chance to record their  own 30 second promotional video for free.

On the night you will be entered into a free raffle draw. Prizes include four VIP tickets to a concert at the International Eisteddfod and two Denbighshire Leisure annual memberships. A buffet will be provided.

Attendance at this event is free of charge.

To book online, go to: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/leisure/events/April-2014/booking-form-open-for-business.aspx

Paper examines town's parking issue

The Denbighshire Fee Press online has a story today about the thorny issue of car parking in Llangollen.

See the full story at: http://m.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/mobile/mnews/131948/parking-is-a-problem-in-town-that-attracts-100-000-tourists.aspx

UPDATE ...

We have received the following letter on the parking issue from reader Mike Edwards, together with a picture of the "pinch point" on Mill Street he refers to:

Firstly at a Town Council Meeting last year Councillor Davies made it clear that the County Council's main driver was income generation. The main problem with weekend parking at the Medical Centre is the lack of safe pedestrian footpaths between the site and the Town Centre. As the photograph shows there is a pinch point (pictured below) on Mill Street which cannot be removed without demolishing property.

The County Council is failing again to take the local Communities views into consideration and has now allowed two out of town developments ignoring Planning Policy Wales on protection of the vibrancy and viability of Town Centres and Sustainability by permitting developments which will increase vehicle movements in Llangollen.

The construction of these out of town buildings will have a adverse affect on Llangollen detrimentally pulling traffic and pedestrian flow away from the town centre.

Why does Denbighshire so strongly support Corporate interests which extract money out of the Local Economy to HQs outside Wales and  fail to support our own local independent businesses who encourage money to be re-circulated in the Dee Valley Economy?

Mike Edwards
  

AM's ideas to tackle housing shortage

Shadow Housing Minister Mark Isherwood AM has spoken of the need for the Welsh Government to work with Housing Associations to maximise the supply of housing and help tackle the housing supply crisis in Wales.

 

Mr Isherwood raised the matter when questioning the Housing Minister in the Assembly Chamber this week on the Code of Governance the Minister is developing with Community Housing Cymru (CHC), the representative body for housing associations and community mutuals in Wales.

 

He said: “To what extent will the Code of Governance that you referred to, being developed by you and Community Housing Cymru, impact on the Housing Pact for Supply with Community Housing Cymru, and to what extent, under the Code, is the Welsh Government willing to give Housing Associations in Wales the same freedom as those available to Housing Associations in England and Scotland to manage increased levels of risk?”

 

The Minister replied: “We are in discussion with CHC and interested stakeholders in terms of what that Pact will consist of. I am very flexible on my approach to risk-based assessment. We have changed the way that that is operating, and there is still a little bit of improvement to go. However, it works both ways. There is an expectation that I will release risk in terms of giving autonomy to RSLs in the way that they operate, providing that they can show to me that there is good governance in place. Good governance means equity across board membership, not just male-dominated boards.”

 

Mr Isherwood added: “Where gender imbalance exists in the make up of boards, positive action is required to equip people of both genders and all backgrounds with the skills required. However, my question focused on the need for the Minister to work with Housing Associations to maximise the supply of housing and help tackle the housing supply crisis in Wales created by the Labour Welsh Government.”