New health centre now has roof in place

llanblogger's correspondent in the area, Phil Meyers, has sent us in the latest pictures showing progress on the new health centre currently under construction on the site of the old River Lodge.

Large sections of the roof are now clearly in place.

Public asked to help draw up policing blueprint

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner is seeking the public's help to draw up a new blueprint for policing the area.

Mr Winston Roddick CB QC (pictured left) says he wants to ensure that all communities, groups and representative bodies have a stronger voice in telling the police what they think is most important and what they are most worried about.

The Commissioner is updating his Police and Crime Plan and is keen for as many people as possible to be involved in the process.

According to Mr Roddick, the interests of victims and community safety will be at the heart of the new strategy.

He is proposing an integrated victims’ strategy incorporating the key themes of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Roddick said: "North Wales is one of safest places to live, work and visit in the UK. We want to have strategies that keep it that way.

 

"Crime in the area has been reduced in recent years and as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, my job is to ensure this continues.

 

"My overriding objective, where I start from, is that people should feel secure at home and safe in public places and that the police should be visible and available when needed most.

 

“There is an open invitation to all parts of the community to share their views.

 

“As the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, I have statutory duty to consult local people on policing priorities.

 

“In consultation with the force, I draft an annual Police and Crime Plan and in order to do that the police and I need to be aware what local people believe  the policing priorities should be.

 

"My aim is to ensure that the views, needs and expectations of all parts of our communities are reflected in the plan.

 

“I am accountable to the people when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour so it is vitally important for me to find out what people think about how the region should be policed.

 

“The updated Police and Crime Plan will set out in plain English and Welsh the level of service people can expect to receive from their local police force.

 

"I recently commissioned a detailed report to provide an independent assessment of the current victims’ support services within North Wales.

 

"As a result of this I have decided to develop an integrated victims’ strategy incorporating the key themes of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime and anti-social behaviour, with the emphasis on providing a comprehensive service to victims.

 

"The plan will also focus on the rehabilitation of offenders with the aim reducing crime which will in turn mean there are fewer victims of crime.

 

“The purpose of the Police and Crime Plan is to ensure the force is paying specific attention to those points which have been identified as crucial by the public, me and indeed by the force itself.

 

“An important part of my role as Commissioner will be to monitor the force’s compliance with the plan and I will be rigorous in holding them to account on behalf of the people of North Wales."

 

Anybody wanting to contribute ideas can do so via the Commissioner's website www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or they u can e-mail the Commissioner’s office OPCC@nthwales.pnn.police.uk  or write to the Commissioner at Glan-Y-Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW.  The deadline for submissions is December 18 the revised plan will be submitted to the Police and Crime Panel on January 19, 2015.  

Work starts on Chain Bridge

The BBC is reporting this afternoon (Wednesday) that work has started on the restoration of the world famous Chain Bridge.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30205556

Mike guides the guides around town

* Mike Smart (second from right) outside The Hand Hotel, Llangollen with some of the Guides. 

OFFICIAL guide Mike Smart spent some time last weekend guiding other guides around Llangollen.

Mike, who is local North East Wales Tourism Ambassador and Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB guide, led a group of 20 Green Badge Guides on a tour of the town.

Mike, who is also part of TREKsmart.net Guided Walking, said: "The Green Badge Guides had just completed their three years of studying to become the higher level Blue Badge Guides.

 

"The Blue Badge Guides course is overseen by Coleg Llandrillo and requires a huge in-depth knowledge of history, heritage, people and landscape, culminating in an intense week of activity and exams.

 

"My job at the weekend was to guide the guides around Llangollen and share my local knowledge of the Dee Valley, the AONB and its protected landscapes, the UNESCO Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site along with other places to visit when these guides re-visit with tour groups in the future.

 

"Tourism is hugely important to the area and we should help encourage it in any way we can."

 

Mike's TREKsmart organisation is arranging a walking festival in Llangollen on May 2, 3 and 4 next year.

This will take in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Pontcysyllte UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

He added: "Come and join us for short, medium and long walks.

 

"Two of the walks include a steam train ride, and there will also be wilderness walks, history walks with a Blue Badge Guide, food and drink walk, Nordic walking, photography walk and talk plus evening entertainment with Welsh folk storytelling music and songs."

 

* For more details, go to www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ and on Facebook. Email: hello@treksmart.net

Fatal accident on A483: appeal for witnesses

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a fatal collision on the A483 yesterday evening (Monday, November 24).

Officers were alerted to the incident at 6.13pm which involved a silver coloured Peugeot 307 and a Scania HGV on the A483 between Halton roundabout and the junction with Ruabon.

Emergency services attended the scene. The male driver of the Peugeot, who is believed to be in his 30’s and was the sole occupant of vehicle, died.

His next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the HGV is not believed to have sustained injury.

The section of road was closed for a number of hours and diversions were in place.

Investigations into the collision are continuing and officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit at Deeside on 101 quoting reference R185086.

Police appeal follows serious A483 accident

Police have appealed for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision on the A483 between Chirk and Ruabon last night (Monday).

See more on the story on the Leader website at: http://leaderlive.co.uk/news/141135/police-appeal-for-witnesses-after-a483-chirk-crash.aspx

Walkers sought to organise local events

People from Llangollen are being sought to help with organising a suitable mix of walking events in the area.

Interested walkers from Llan recently held a meeting with those in Corwen to discuss future joint ventures and it became clear that the Dee Valley has vast potential to attract walkers and benefit the economy of the area.

Llan walker Ian Parry said: “The idea of creating a Dee Valley Walkers Are Welcome group was floated and gained much support particularly from the Corwen team.

“But we now need to encourage walkers from Llangollen area to  join and help with organising a suitable mix of walking events in the area.

“We would need to get the support of Llangollen Town Council and Corwen Business Association and Denbighshire's Dee Valley Business Action Group in order to proceed and this will be organised in the coming weeks.

“I would like to invite anyone from the Llangollen area interested in getting involved in this exciting venture and help the economy of the Dee Valley to contact me on  01978 753897, or email: ian.parry@uwclub.net.”