Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has received the award of Parliamentarian of the Year from national road safety charity Brake.
Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: “In the past 20 years, Brake has grown and developed a great deal, but we remain as dedicated as ever to our fundamental mission: to help create a world free from the senseless and preventable pain and trauma caused by road death and injury. We are very pleased to recognise the efforts that Susan has made in this area."
Following the tragic death of a child, Robert James Gaunt in Overton in 2009, Ms Jones has been campaigning for tougher jail terms for drivers who kill and injure.
Brake commended her for being "at the forefront of parliamentary debates on the subject throughout the year, setting the tone by bringing forward her own Driving Offences (Review of Sentencing Guidelines) Bill, with cross party support, in January."
Ms Jones said: "I wanted to take this campaign forward in tribute to the excellent work undertaken by Robert's family, Overton Community Council and the wider local community.
"Together we have been part of a campaign that has already changed some aspects of sentencing and now we have a full scale Government review taking place.
"Brake has made this award to me as the local MP, but I very much see it as belonging to all our local campaigners - and we must never cease in our campaigning until there is justice in sentencing and also greater safety on our roads."
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Bid to alleviate Castle Street's traffic problems
Town councillor Phil Thane outlines a bid to counter traffic problems in Castle Street …
* Traffic conditions in Castle Street are chaotic, according to Cllr Phil Thane.
“Everyone grumbles about Castle Street.
Drivers in a hurry to get through would like all parking banned, pedestrians would like safe crossings, shopkeepers need to load and unload and want more parking for their customers, tourists want a pleasant place to stroll.
At the moment we have the worst of all possible solutions, some legal parking, some illegal parking, double yellows down one side giving motorists the illusion of a clear road - until they meet a large vehicle coming the other way, and pedestrians running the gauntlet.
The only good thing is that it's so chaotic the traffic is usually slow and there haven't been any serious accidents.
We, Llangollen Town Council and Cittaslow Llangollen, think it could be better, but it needs a new vision not just the county council putting down some more paint and harrassing shopkeepers.
We are not experts though, so we'd like to call in someone who is. Hamilton Baillie Associates are the traffic management specialists who designed the ground-breaking scheme in Poynton, Cheshire. Poynton's problems were much worse than ours in Llangollen, and they've been fixed. There's a great video here that shows what can be achieved.
A full feasibility study will cost more than £10,000, but Ben Hamilton Baillie has offered to do a brief one day survey followed by a public meeting to explain the latest thinking about how to handle traffic in towns. To pay Ben, and set up a meeting in the Town Hall we need a nice round £1,000.
The town council budget is tiny, and tight, so we're asking the community to get behind this. Instead of grumbling about Castle Street this is your chance to do something about it.
If you've ever struggled to cross with kids, if you're a bit slow yourself these days, if you've incurred parking fines or been stuck in traffic, pledge a fiver (or more) and together we'll do something about it.”
* To support the plan go to: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/people-traffic-in-llan
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Minister unveils proposals for future of local government
Proposals for the possible future shape of local government in Wales
have been unveiled today (Tuesday).
* Maximum five terms - 25 years - for councillors
* Maximum two terms - 10 years - for council leaders and cabinet members
* Pay councillors in line with those on similar sized councils elsewhere in the UK
* Public sector employers to give staff unpaid leave to carry out duties as councillors, and other employers encouraged to do the same
* Council leaders and chief executives given a duty to promote and respect diversity
* Youth councils to be set up by each authority
Mr Andrews told BBC Wales: "It's seen as a bit of an old boys club and we want to cut out the cosy cabals."
Among the changes suggested in a white paper put forward by Local
Government Minister Leighton Andrews are:
* Council elections every five
years, not four as at present* Maximum five terms - 25 years - for councillors
* Maximum two terms - 10 years - for council leaders and cabinet members
* Pay councillors in line with those on similar sized councils elsewhere in the UK
* Public sector employers to give staff unpaid leave to carry out duties as councillors, and other employers encouraged to do the same
* Council leaders and chief executives given a duty to promote and respect diversity
* Youth councils to be set up by each authority
Mr Andrews told BBC Wales: "It's seen as a bit of an old boys club and we want to cut out the cosy cabals."
Welsh Liberal Democrat Local Government spokesperson
Peter Black said: “Limiting the terms of councillors would result in some
popular councillors being forced to step down against the wishes of the people
they represent. We are a democracy, it should be up to the electorate to
decide whether their councillor continues to represent them.”
* For a detailed summary of the white paper, see: http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dsjlg/consultation/150203-power-to-local-people-summary-en.pdfPolice complaints simplified by commissioner
A crime tsar has revealed he's simplifying the way members of the public can make a complaint against the police.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick was speaking following the publication of a report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The report showed the total number of complaints against North Wales Police rose by eight per cent to 330 in 2013/14, compared to an increase of 15 per cent for England and Wales.
The rise follows an increase of three per cent in the force’s recorded complaints in 2012/13.
Some of the increase in 2013/14 is down to the definition of a complaint being broadened beyond an officer’s conduct to include ‘direction and control’ matters to do with operational policing.
Mr Roddick (pictured left) said: "I accept that all complaints must be treated seriously as it is very important that the officers and staff of North Wales Police uphold the highest possible standards at all times.
Some of the increase in 2013/14 is down to the definition of a complaint being broadened beyond an officer’s conduct to include ‘direction and control’ matters to do with operational policing.
Mr Roddick (pictured left) said: "I accept that all complaints must be treated seriously as it is very important that the officers and staff of North Wales Police uphold the highest possible standards at all times.
"The increase in the number of complaints lodged against North Wales Police was due, at least in part, to a change in the definition of a complaint and that the increase here was considerably lower than the average for England and Wales.
"One factor in the rise in complaints is that there is now greater awareness of Police and Crime Commissioners than there was of the old police authorities. This has led to an increase in the public’s confidence to make complaints and given them the reassurance that the PCCs will oversee the process effectively.
“I must say that based on my experience of working closely with North Wales Police for the last two years I believe that the great majority of police officers and police staff carry out their duties with great integrity and to the highest of standards.
“I must say that based on my experience of working closely with North Wales Police for the last two years I believe that the great majority of police officers and police staff carry out their duties with great integrity and to the highest of standards.
"Where the actions and behaviour of officers and staff fall below those standards, I am satisfied that the checks and measures in place in North Wales Police ensure that those issues are dealt with effectively.
“I am in the course of reconsidering the complaints procedures and will be sending my suggestions to the Home Office next week.
"My aim is to simplifying the process for members of the public and to introduce an independent element into the handling of them. I do not want people to feel the process is too cumbersome.
"If people have a complaint we would much rather that they let us know. How else can we improve the service?"
Monday, February 2, 2015
A483/A55 traffic warning
Drivers from this area heading towards Chester along the A483 may be interested in the following tweet from Wrexham Council this afternoon ...
A483 Latest
Drivers living around the A483 near Chester and Wrexham are being advised that emergency utility work is taking place tomorrow (Tuesday 3 February).
The Highways Agency has been advised that one lane of the northbound - I.e. Chester-bound - A483 on its approach to the roundabout with the A55 will close from 8.30am until 4.30pm for Scottish Power to carry out works.
Drivers living around the A483 near Chester and Wrexham are being advised that emergency utility work is taking place tomorrow (Tuesday 3 February).
The Highways Agency has been advised that one lane of the northbound - I.e. Chester-bound - A483 on its approach to the roundabout with the A55 will close from 8.30am until 4.30pm for Scottish Power to carry out works.
County to change pest control service
Denbighshire County Council is informing residents of changes to its Pest Control service as of 1st April 2015.
The Council has been looking at ways of finding £17 million in cuts from services across the board and introducing a different way of delivering the Pest Control service has been agreed.
Currently, the Council manages pest control through carrying out inspections and visits to treat properties (private and commercial) that have pest problems such as rats, mice, seagulls as requested. Some of the pest control service is chargeable.
From April 1st onwards, the Council will be acting as an advice and signposting service for consumers with calls by the public being dealt with directly by the Council’s Customer Service Centre.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Protection, said: “Pest Contol is a non-statutory function that sits within the Council’s Public Protection service and every single service has been asked to consider all of its functions, and look at ways of delivering things differently.
“We have a statutory duty and responsibility to maintain public health for residents and that is why we are not phasing out the service entirely.
“We will be regularly reviewing any developing trends and will respond appropriately if there’s a risk to public health.” Although the service officially changes as of 1st April 2015, the Council will not be dealing with any new cases as of 1st March, to ensure that all those remaining are dealt with."
The Council has been looking at ways of finding £17 million in cuts from services across the board and introducing a different way of delivering the Pest Control service has been agreed.
Currently, the Council manages pest control through carrying out inspections and visits to treat properties (private and commercial) that have pest problems such as rats, mice, seagulls as requested. Some of the pest control service is chargeable.
From April 1st onwards, the Council will be acting as an advice and signposting service for consumers with calls by the public being dealt with directly by the Council’s Customer Service Centre.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Protection, said: “Pest Contol is a non-statutory function that sits within the Council’s Public Protection service and every single service has been asked to consider all of its functions, and look at ways of delivering things differently.
“We have a statutory duty and responsibility to maintain public health for residents and that is why we are not phasing out the service entirely.
“We will be regularly reviewing any developing trends and will respond appropriately if there’s a risk to public health.” Although the service officially changes as of 1st April 2015, the Council will not be dealing with any new cases as of 1st March, to ensure that all those remaining are dealt with."
Campaigner replies to two recent stories
Local campaigner Martin Crumpton replies to two recent stories on llanblogger:
Two new llanblogger articles deserve a considered and supportive response, being AM presses for action over A5 "danger" spot and Cottage Hospital closure raised on national TV, both welcome indeed.
It’s certainly overdue for the unsafe crossing to Stans to be addressed, but this is a classic example of treating the symptoms without addressing the disease.
Keep Llangollen Special has tried several times over the last few years to push Denbighshire to upgrade the inefficient, barely more than clockwork traffic lights, which are no more sophisticated than a central heating timer, but to no avail.
Keep Llangollen Special has tried several times over the last few years to push Denbighshire to upgrade the inefficient, barely more than clockwork traffic lights, which are no more sophisticated than a central heating timer, but to no avail.
They come on at set times, they go off after a fixed period, regardless of whether there are no cars waiting or if the queue is backed up to Glyndyfrdwy.
Currently the safest way to get to Stans is to wait until the A5 is being dug up and temporary lights are in force, a near semi-permanent feature of the A5 it seems.
When Stans was welcomed to town, we pushed again to have the lights upgraded especially with load-sensing features to combat the annual summer gridlock, but for the first time to also include consideration for pedestrians crossing the A5 to do their shopping, safe crossing along the top of Castle Street and also across from the Old Armoury to Watkin & Williams.
For decades, both motorists and pedestrians have had to play the dangerous game of chicken with each other, especially in Llangollen with its confluence of three streams of traffic where at least one is always obscured from view.
In further support for this welcome initiative, KLS will write to Graham Boase, head of Denbighshire Planning and Public Protection, urging his department to update the 20th Century (literally) out-of-date Defined Town Centre Boundary, the one which made both Stans and the Co-op invisible during the controversial planning application by J Ross for Sainsbury’s, which basically concluded that the town had no more than a few tiny shops selling food therefore we needed something which would satisfy a small city, let alone a small town, to rescue us from starvation.
Moving on, we were delighted by Cllr Davies’s O-turn on BBC Question Time (an O-turn is two U-turns back-to-back).
From a starting point of opposing the closure of the Cottage Hospital to promoting the new, unreachable Health Centre and even being the architect of a multi-million pound bridge across the Dee, a tacit acknowledgement in itself by both himself and Mr Skates that the River Lodge site is inaccessible to almost all pedestrians.
From a starting point of opposing the closure of the Cottage Hospital to promoting the new, unreachable Health Centre and even being the architect of a multi-million pound bridge across the Dee, a tacit acknowledgement in itself by both himself and Mr Skates that the River Lodge site is inaccessible to almost all pedestrians.
Given that the councillor is a member of the Planning Committee, I will attend and watch avidly as the application to have the hospital demolished and redeveloped is considered – my seat was booked over six months ago and I’ve applied to speak in opposition to it.
We rise to cheer the doughty councillor because the fact is the bed shortage was created by the infamous Mary Burrows regime at Betsi Cadwaladr and her ‘Health In North Wales Is Mutating’ credo that began an unending bed crisis since the beginning of November 2013.
Even today, during a routine call from the cardio team to check on me,, the lady voluntarily stated that the A&E woes were a direct result of local hospital closures.
As a very frequent flyer to the Maelor, everybody from port to consultant endorses this conclusion. It’s only at Board level where Cardiff’s control-freakery keeps them silent (and the Board isn’t quite as unanimously-obedient as the Health Minister might like to think...).
As a very frequent flyer to the Maelor, everybody from port to consultant endorses this conclusion. It’s only at Board level where Cardiff’s control-freakery keeps them silent (and the Board isn’t quite as unanimously-obedient as the Health Minister might like to think...).
So top marks to both for highlighting these well-known issues – credit where it’s due - and perhaps together we can translate their words into actions.
Perhaps councillor would kindly express a view on the town’s doctors moving to the new Health Centre, an entirely politically-motivated attempt to just the existence of the new Health Centre but which will also sign the death warrant for the Cottage Hospital and ensure Llangollen remains without desperately-needed beds for generations to come.
Perhaps councillor would kindly express a view on the town’s doctors moving to the new Health Centre, an entirely politically-motivated attempt to just the existence of the new Health Centre but which will also sign the death warrant for the Cottage Hospital and ensure Llangollen remains without desperately-needed beds for generations to come.
It is such a strange dichotomy that truth is only valid when spoken by an elected representative and that when an elected representative speaks it, it must be the truth.
The rest of us are relegated to being disenfranchised soothsayers. If democracy could be said to have a shape then it would most closely resemble a pear.
The rest of us are relegated to being disenfranchised soothsayers. If democracy could be said to have a shape then it would most closely resemble a pear.
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