Tall tales to be told at the aqueduct

* Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Tall tales will be told when Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site hosts a family fun day.

Next Tuesday March 31, Ruth Moore-Williams, folk singer and story teller, will be enthralling children and adults with her canal ditties and wild words of the waterways.

A range of community craft and food stalls will be selling their wares and Explorers, the children’s education arm of the Trust, will be hosting activities for children of all ages.

Visitors to the event will also be the first to see the newly-refurbished grade II listed twin dry docks, which have been restored as part of an £88,000 project funded by the European Rural Development Programme, Wrexham County Borough Council and public donations to the Canal & River Trust.

Dating back to the early 19^th century, the docks were in need of vital repair work to seal leaks in the chamber walls, remove vegetation, replace and repair posts and fences.

The project has included improvements to public access, painting and masonry repairs, and new paved pathways near the visitor centre. The covered dock is currently leased by boat hire company Anglo Welsh and is still used for boat repairs.

Lynda Slater, visitor centre manager at Trevor Basin, said: “The fun day will be a fantastic celebration to mark the end of the refurbishment and landscaping work and the start of the main summer season.

“Each year the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct attracts more than 200,000 visitors as word spreads of this stunning engineering masterpiece. Opened in 1805 and designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop, it is the highest, longest aqueduct in the UK.”

Part of Cynwyd closed by police, says BBC

The BBC reported around 8.30am today (Thursday) that part of the village of Cynwyd near Corwen had been closed by police.

For more on the story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-32064302

* The Daily Post is reporting on the same incident: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/police-close-denbighshire-village-due-8922169

Nun Run makes heavenly £1,500 so far

* Nun Runners line up at the start line.

THEIR prayers for good weather were answered when devout members of Llangollen Operatic set off on their charity Nun Run on Sunday in brilliant spring sunshine.

And with offerings now almost complete, it looks like their efforts raised a heavenly £1,500.

The sponsorship cash they made  by running or walking the 10k course in the countryside close to the town dressed as nuns or priests will go to help pay for their forthcoming production of the musical Sister Act and also to the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Society member Louisa Jones, who was on the run, said: "We were under starters orders from Christine Dukes at Llangollen Sports Club and then headed up Dinbren Road and along the Panorama before dropping down Sun Bank and joining the canal towpath for the final stretch back into town.

"A good number of the 23 participants were dressed in ecclesiastical costume and this was a source of great amusement to passing walkers and cyclists, many of whom couldn't believe what they were seeing at first.

"Everyone successfully completed the course at varying paces but congratulations must go to Ross Wilson and Louise Decourt who took first and second place respectively with some excellent times.

"Money raised through sponsorship and donations is currently around £1500 and there is still more to come in.

"Needless to say we are extremely happy with this result and would like to express heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the event and helped to make it happen."

* Pictures by Barrie Potter.

* Marcus Ansloos under holy starter's orders.

 

* Ross Wilson powers his way around the course.

 

 

* Runners celebrate their celestial achievement at Llangollen Sports Club.

County notifies of bus service changes

Denbighshire is informing bus users of a number of changes to bus services from April 7 and passengers are strongly advised to check timetables carefully.

All Denbighshire timetables are currently available online at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/travel and we expect the new printed timetables will be available from March 30.

Denbighshire's Director of Community and Economic Ambition, Rebecca Maxwell, said: "Earlier this year, Denbighshire set the final budget for the next financial year which included the need to make savings of around £10m across Council services. As a result, some bus routes will see fewer or altered journeys.

"We have worked with bus operators to ensure we continue to provide as comprehensive a service as possible for passengers."

* Should passengers have specific questions, they can either telephone their operator or the County Council on 01824 706964

New measures help GPs to work in Wales

A new package of measures being announced today will make it easier for GPs to work in Wales, Health and Social Services Minister, Mark Drakeford has said.

 

These arrangements will make it easier for GPs who have previously worked in Wales to return to practice following a career break or a period of working outside the UK.

 

It will also support doctors who have qualified outside the UK and choose to work in Wales.

 

The package of measures includes a more targeted assessment of an individual’s skills, to identify those who can safely enter the workforce with minimum support or who require greater assistance.

Arrangements will also be put in place for overseas applicants to undertake their initial interview and assessment before they arrive in Wales, enabling tailored support for their return to practice to be agreed in advance.

It is also intended that the Medical Performers Lists in Wales be amended to provide GPs who wish to work outside the UK the opportunity to remain on the list for a maximum of five years.

This would remove the current obligation for all GPs who previously practiced within the Welsh health system to undertake the induction and refresher scheme on their return.

This approach will be underpinned by a requirement for the doctor to provide evidence of continuous professional development, clinical work and reflective practice.

Prospective returners to the GP workforce will continue to receive financial support for up to six months, depending on the clinical support required.

The Welsh Government will work with key stakeholders in Wales to take forward these changes.

Mark Drakeford said: “The changes I’m announcing today will make it easier to recruit new doctors to work in Wales and for GPs who want to return to work in Wales to do so. It also has the potential to reduce costs for those seeking to return.

“GPs, like many others, may decide to take career breaks for a number of reasons. Making it as easy as possible for them to return to work in Wales, while ensuring there are safeguards in place to ensure patient safety, is one of the ways we can increase the numbers of GPs required to provide care for patients in Wales.

“I recognise there are challenges in GP recruitment and retention in some parts of Wales, as there are elsewhere. We continue to work closely with NHS organisations to attract the best medical talent but we are operating in an extremely tough global market where many countries across Europe are experiencing shortages.

“The reforms we are making to Wales’ primary care service will help ensure that young GPs coming into practice have a wider range of options available to them, including opportunities to become involved in research and teaching in Wales.”

Crime tsar defends online surveillance to net cyber criminals.

 

* Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales,

Winston Roddick and his deputy Julian Sandham at a Cyber

Crime training day. They are pictured with student,

Detective Sgt Lisa Jones and Detective

Sgt Peter Jarvis of the Cyber Crime team.

 

A crime tsar has defended the use of internet surveillance to catch cyber criminals.

According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC, there was always a balance to be struck between personal freedom and public safety.

Mr Roddick was speaking after attending a training session for police officers at the police station in Penygroes, in Gwynedd, as part of a new campaign to combat an increase in cyber crime by serious and organised crime groups targeting North Wales.

North Wales Police launched their St Asaph-based Cyber Crime Team to coincide with National Cyber Crime Awareness Week.

The force has pledged to train more than 100 officers to combat the growing threat of online crime.

The campaign is being watched closely by forces in other parts of the UK.

The team have also agreed to hold training sessions for groups of vulnerable people so they can learn to stay safe online.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC says people rightly want assurances that the police are one step ahead of the criminal elements that use the internet to commit crime.

He said: “There will always be tension between freedom and liberty and surveillance. But the security of people is essential if they are to be free to enjoy their liberty. Surveillance is necessary to protect those freedoms.

“We need to be able to use all legal means to catch and arrest criminals who use the internet to commit crime and without effective internet surveillance that is not always possible.

“The police are savvy and are adapting to change, that is evident from what I have seen today. The police have to use every resource at their disposal if they are to prevent and detect crime. And that has to include electronic and internet surveillance.

“North Wales Police is ahead of the game and setting an advanced standard that many other forces are now looking up to. Policing priorities are fluid and constantly shift and change.

“We have addressed the threat of cyber crime in our Police Crime Plan. The simple fact is that whereas cyber crime is a relatively new phenomenon the police, and particularly North Wales Police, are on top of it and adapting strategies to deal with it.

“The public need to know that their police are technically enabled and are able to use all means at their disposal to combat crime in all its forms."

Deputy North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Julian Sandham added: “The Cyber Crime Team, who have all received enhanced training, have assisted with a number of high profile investigations as well as forging links with businesses and the National Crime Agency to ensure key messages to identify and reduce opportunities of falling foul of this ever increasing problem.

“I’m delighted North Wales Police is leading the way when it comes to tackling this ever increasing issue. The Cyber Crime Team is able to provide advice and guidance on both a technical and tactical level as well as having the enhanced capability to deal with complex cyber crime investigations.”

Detective Sergeant Pete Jarvis of the North Wales Cyber Crime Team promised they would pursue cyber criminals both across North Wales and internationally.

He said: “We will be working proactively to target criminal vulnerabilities and seek to prevent criminal opportunities whenever we can. We will also support partners in industry and law enforcement to better protect themselves against the threat of cyber crime.

“And by providing a highly visible investigative response to incidents of cyber crime we will assist other police forces and wider law enforcement agencies to prevent cyber-enabled crime and pursue those who utilise the internet for criminal means.”

There was, he said, a great deal people could do to keep themselves safe.

He added: ““Research indicates that up to 80% of cyber related offences could be avoided if simple computer and network hygiene guidance is followed.

“We would recommend using up-to-date anti-virus software, install all computer security updates as soon as they are released, use complex passwords for all accounts and never use the same password for multiple accounts.

“And never click on links in e-mails which suggest you have won a competition you did not enter and never clink on links in e-mails that you do not recognise as these might install malicious software on your computer or take you to bogus websites.”

If you think you may have been the victim of cyber crime, require further information or have any information about suspected offenders contact the police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively you can report suspected online crime to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk

For further information about staying safe online visit www.getsafeonline.org/protecting-yourself/

AM welcomes health plans deferment

North Wales’ Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Aled Roberts, has welcomed the decision to defer the plan to downgrade maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and remove breast cancer surgery from the Wrexham Maelor and Gwynedd hospitals.

 

He is now demanding that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board undertake a proper consultation on the provision of services at all three sites.

 

“Common sense has prevailed over the botched decisions on maternity and breast cancer surgery,” commented Mr Roberts.

 

"They were taken under the urgency procedure but, as the Community Health Council pointed out to the Health Minister, problems within the maternity services had been in evidence months before.

 

“Senior officials within the Health Board have raised the idea of concentrating different health services on one site so that the three hospitals in North Wales operate as one. But there has been no proper discussion of this proposal. Such a radical rethink of our health services needs to be the subject of widespread consultation.

 

“My own view is that the concept of one hospital on three sites will not work in North Wales given the geography and long distances that make travelling across our region very difficult.

 

"Many patients would be left isolated from their families unless specialist medical teams become more mobile or there is major investment in public transport.”