County is "scam capital of Wales" says Plaid

Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd has warned householders to be aware of the dangers of scams in the wake of a huge number of complaints made to trading standards officers across Wales.

 

Scores of complaints about scams and unsolicited calls are being made to trading standards officers every week with councils across North Wales dealing with 2624 complaints over the past few years.

 

Denbighshire alone had more than 1,000 complaints over four years, second only to Swansea in terms of numbers. Many local authorities have also taken out prosecutions following complaints [see breakdown below]

 

Plaid Cymru submitted a Freedom of Information request to all Welsh local authorities to find out the extent of complaints about scams and cold calling. The figures released reveal Denbighshire as the “scam capital” of North Wales.

 

Mr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: “Older people are more likely to fall victim to these scammers and lose their life savings as has happened too many.

 

“I support Age Cymru’s call for action by government and the telecom companies to tackle these scammers along with and measures such as an expansion cold-calling zones.

 

“The information we obtained using the Freedom of Information Act is an indication of the significant concerns of people about scammers. This is probably the tip of the iceberg because, while some individuals will make complaints, others may perhaps feel too embarrassed to complain. But they should go to the police and trading standards with any concerns

 

“These scammers and rogue traders are really the worst of society and it is important that we are all aware of the dangers, particularly if we have older relatives, friends or neighbours.”

 

This month Age Cymru is leading on a Scams Awareness Month highlighting online, mail, phone and doorstep scams.

 

The figures

 

 

DENBIGHSHIRE

 

Complaints about scams (post, phone, email, unsolicited mail, doorstep callers)

2010-11: 222

2011-12: 285

2012-13: 299

2013-14: 240 (up to January 31, 2014)

TOTAL: 1,046

Prosecutions: 6

 

 

FLINTSHIRE (for comparison)

 

Complaints about scams (post, phone, email, unsolicited mail, doorstep callers)

2010-11: 92

2011-12: 135

2012-13: 134

2013-14: 116 (up to January 31, 2014)

TOTAL: 477

Prosecutions: 0

 

Try an after-hours visit to Ruthin Gaol

Denbighshire Archives and Ruthin Gaol Museum are giving children a rare opportunity to visit at dusk to celebrate the Museums at Night out of hours festival.

Museums at Night is the annual after-hours festival of arts, culture and heritage when hundreds of museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage sites open their doors for special evening events.  There will be a story evening at the Gaol on Friday 16^th May which will see children joining in

There with local singer and story teller, Ruth Moore Williams and staff to make story time fun.

Children are encouraged to wear winter pyjamas, slippers and their dressing gown because the gaol can be quite cold in the evening.

Cost: £2 per child including milk and biscuit. Please call 01824 708281 to book your place. Recommended for 5 years and over and children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.

Sickness virus affects Wrexham Maelor wards

The BBC is reporting that a sickness virus has affected four wards at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

For the full story see:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-27313901

KLS has latest Buy Local Day on Friday

Keep Llangollen Special has organised in latest Buy Local Day for this Friday, May 9.

The aim is to support Llangollen’s local traders and celebrate quality, personal service and value for money.

 

AM calls for action to protect community pubs

 

 

* North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood and Welsh

Conservative Leader Andrew RT Davies at the recent North Wales  launch of the ‘Save your Local Pub’ campaign.

 

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has sent a letter to the Minister for Housing and Regeneration Carl Sargeant AM calling for the Welsh Government to take action to protect valued community pubs from closure.

 

Mr Isherwood, contacted the Minister after receiving a letter from constituents who are members of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, who would like  the Welsh Government to uses its power under the UK Localism Act 2011 to enact the Community Right to Bid for Assets of Community Value in Wales, which would help prevent further pub closures in Wales. Mr Isherwood has also previously spoken in favour of this in the Assembly.

 

New powers introduced under the Localism Act have given communities in England the opportunity to help protect valued community facilities such as pubs by listing them as Assets of Community Value (ACVs).

 

Listing pubs as ACVs prevents their sale behind the back of local people and allows communities to delay any sale by up to six months while they investigate options for saving the pub. Many of the 350 pubs listed as ACVs in England have brought together people from a variety of backgrounds to campaign on behalf of saving their local pub. ACV status can also be used as a material consideration in planning decisions.

 

Mr Isherwood said: “As the CAMRA members state ‘pubs play a critical role in the Welsh community; supporting over 34,000 full and part-time jobs, supporting local food and drink production, and providing a regulated environment to enjoy alcohol responsibly.

 

"However community pubs in Wales are in crisis with three closing every week, often without the local community having a say. Without added protection for pubs in Wales, they will continue to close at an alarming rate.’

 

Mr Isherwood added: “The Welsh Assembly Government has the power to enact the Community Right to Bid for Assets of Community Value in Wales, which would help protect our valued community pubs from closure.

 

“I strongly support the introduction of the Community Right to Bid in Wales and I am therefore calling on the Minister to give this matter his urgent attention and confirm the Welsh Government's intended course of action.”

Tourism businesses invited to forum event

Tourism-related businesses in Denbighshire are being invited to attend a forum which looks at developing the visitor offer across the county.

The Denbighshire Tourism Forum has been arranged on Thursday 12 June 2014 at Ruthin Castle where delegates can discuss Denbighshire's Destination Management Plan, growing tourism in Denbighshire, learn a few customer service techniques and discover Denbighshire's newest digital tourism product.  

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for tourism, said:"This is an ideal opportunity for businesses and individuals to get together and share ideas as to how we can get more people to discover what Denbighshire has to offer."

If you would like to attend the Denbighshire Tourism Forum, please  e-mail: dcc_tourism@denbighshire.gov.uk or ring 01824 706223.  Registration is from 10am, the Forum starts at 10.30am with lunch and networking at 1pm.

This project has received funding through the Rural Development Plan for Wales 2007-2013 which is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

County council wants your views on priorities

Denbighshire County Council is focussing on delivering its priorities and would like to hear your views about some of its proposed activities for the year ahead.

Each council in Wales is expected to produce an improvement plan and Denbighshire’s five year Corporate Plan was agreed in 2012.

Every year, the council announces its planned projects for the year ahead, to support the delivery of its priorities.

The priorities are:
·        Developing the local economy
·        Improving performance in education and in the quality of school buildings
·        Improving roads
·        Vulnerable people are protected and are able to live as independently as possible.
Ensuring access to good quality housing
·        Modernising the Council to deliver efficiencies and improve services for customers.

The full document with the Council’s planned activities can be viewed on Denbighshire’s website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/consultations

If you have any comments or suggestions regarding these projects, you can contact the Council by e - mailing corporate.improvement@denbighshire.gov.uk or by phone:  01824 706161.

The closing date is 12pm on May 12.