Your views on cycling facilities sought

Cyclists and pedestrians are being asked to give their views on facilities and routes available within the county of Denbighshire.

There isn’t long left for the public to have their say as the current consultation closes on Friday, August 19.

Denbighshire County Council uses consultations to hear what their residents think of the areas that they live, work or visit in the county.

The Active Travel Wales Act 2013 commenced during September 2014 requires local authorities to continuously improve facilities and routes for pedestrians and cyclists. It also requires them to prepare maps identifying current and potential future routes for their use.

The Act also requires new road schemes (including road improvement schemes) to consider the needs of pedestrians and cyclists at design stage.

To have your say on the facilities available for pedestrians and cyclists in Denbighshire, head over to the Denbighshire County Council website and view the current consultations where you can complete the online questionnaire.

You also have the opportunity to download a map of travel routes currently being used in your local area.

Red Arrows fly over town

Graham Timms took this fantastic picture of the famous Red arrows aerial display team overflying Llangollen Pavilion this lunchtime en route to an air show.

Zorro cuts a fine dash at Plas Newydd

* A slice of action from last night's production of Zorro at Plas Newydd.

The wit flew as fast as the flashing blades in last night's open-air production of Zorro at Plas Newydd.

As a large audience munched on their picnics and sipped their chilled wine, 17 members of the Off the Ground theatre group thrilled with this touring tale of old New Meckicko, which was a little heavier on the comedy than the high drama.

On the brink of Mexican Independence, the Viceroy of New Spain, aided by the evil Ramón family, has turned New Mexico into a tyrannical, poverty-stricken wasteland for the townspeople.

Their legendary hero, Zorro, is their only hope of relief and resolution.

* Zorro (Felipe Pachero) dashes to

the aid of his lady-love Esmerelda

(Billy Czajkowska) 

As the rebel group, The Alliance, attempt to fight back, Zorro must be smarter than he has ever been to keep the Ramóns from turning his beloved people against him.

Can he change his ways to stop them? Well, of course he can.

With the aid of his trusty rapier and cunning our hero, played nicely by the aptly named Felipe Pachero, rights all wrongs and in a couple of brisk acts vanquishes all the sneering baddies - male and female.

Unfortunately, one thing he couldn't deal with were the midges but, heck, we were in the great outdoors.

Along the way there were plenty of laughs, not least of which came from the direction of Esteban the second-hand mule salesman played by Eric J Blakemore, a particular audience favourite.

But the entire company were stars and it was a great night's theatre.

Let's see more al fresco entertainment in this wonderful local setting.  

Davies calls for help for Wild Pheasant staff

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies (pictured) says everything possible should be done to help the staff affected by the closure of the town's Wild Pheasant Hotel earlier this week.

He said: "I feel for the people involved in the closure of the Wild Pheasant.

"I am calling on the Economic Unit of DCC to get in touch with the administrators to see what we can do to ensure that the hotel is opened again as soon as possible.

"When the Dobsons and Crowther printworks closed we worked with the administrators and the now owners to help them as much as we could to re open the facility."

He added: "The Welsh Government has its part to play as well and I hope that the Minister, who is the local AM, is working as hard as possible to ensure that any possible help by them is instigated as soon as possible.

"Hotel spaces are important to the town, without them we cannot continue to offer a premium tourism product."

Appeal over missing man last seen in Llan

North Wales Police are appealing for help tracing a 51-year-old man from the Mold/Buckley area.

Paul Nickson has not been seen since leaving a friend’s home in Regent Street,  Llangollen at about 7.30pm yesterday (Monday August 1).  

* Missing: Paul Nickson.

All enquiries to trace him have thus far proved fruitless and family and friends are becoming increasingly concerned. 

Mr Nickson’s grey Ford Transit van was discovered today (Tuesday) north of Coed Nercwys and police we are appealing to anyone who may have seen him to make contact.

Sergeant Mavis Evans at Mold Police Station said:  “Paul is about 5’6 tall of medium build with brown hair and blue eyes.  

"The area of Coed Nercwys is a popular with dog walkers and mountain bikers and we are appealing for witnesses in that area.  If you have seen Paul, or know of his whereabouts, please contact Police as we are concerned for his welfare."

* If you can assist with this investigation please contact North Wales Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and quote Missing Person Ref 16117.  Alternatively, contact the control room direct via the new web live chat /contact/chat-support.aspx

Zorro swashbuckles into Plas Newydd this Friday

Off the Ground theatre group swashbuckles its way back to New Mexico in 1821 with an open-air production of the play Zorro at Plas Newydd this Friday evening.

On the brink of Mexican Independence, the Viceroy of New Spain, aided by the evil Ramón family, has turned New Mexico into a tyrannical, poverty-stricken wasteland for the townspeople.

Their legendary hero, Zorro, is their only hope of relief and resolution.

As the rebel group, The Alliance, attempt to fight back, Zorro must be smarter than he has ever been to keep the Ramóns from turning his beloved people against him.

Can he change his ways to stop them? 

Find out at Plas Newydd and bring a chair and a brolly just in case.

The performance begins at 7.30pm. Adults £12, concessions £8 and under-21 £5.

Tickets from www.offtheground.co.uk  or at Plas Newydd on the night

Why not let our chef Steve cook you a pre-show meal at 6pm in the stable-block tea rooms? Prices are from £4.95 and pre-booking is essential on 01978 862834, or plasnewydd@denbighshire.gov.uk

Counterfeit goods handed over to charity

* From left: Tex Sampson and Carol Sampson from

Sports Traider, Councillor David Smith, Ian Millington,

Public Protection business manager, and Nicola Sutton,

public protection officer.

Over £200,000 worth of counterfeit products seized in raids across the county are being donated to charity by Denbighshire Trading Standards.

The haul includes clothing, sunglasses, trainers, handbags, DVDs, money boxes, ash trays and mugs. 

There is a range of brands including Nike, Ray-Ban, Fred Perry, Prada and a variety of different football clubs.

Ordinarily, the goods would be destroyed or securely disposed of following a forfeiture in the court.  Instead, the goods will be donated to a charity called Sports Traider.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, who also has responsibility for Trading Standards, said: “Sports Traider is a youth-focused charity offering youngsters the kit and the support they need to discover and fulfil their sporting ambiti n and potential, whatever their background, ability or disability. 

“Sports Traider have established the first chain of charity shops in the UK that specialise in sports kit and equipment. The aim is to make clothing and sports equipment affordable to all, and at the same time generate a sustainable source of funding to help disadvantaged young people participate in sport.”

After a court case councils can often be left with masses of counterfeit products to be disposed of, storage of such goods can incur costs, and so can the disposal of these goods. Donating them to charity eliminates these costs and donations are often gratefully received. 

Councillor David Smith added: “Trading Standards regularly make seizures of goods that are counterfeit, and it is good to see that these products can be donated to a worthy cause, and used to support youngsters wanting to become involved with sports.

“Removing counterfeit products from the market helps support local businesses who are trading legitimately and protects consumers from buying poor quality and unsafe items.

“As well as being brought to justice through their prosecution, all defendants have unknowingly helped children from all over the UK who are in need, rather than ripping them off.”

For hygiene/safety reasons it is inevitable that some of the seized goods will need to be destroyed, however all other items will be recycled by Sports Traider.

* If you know of anywhere selling counterfeit goods or illegal tobacco, reports can be made by in confidence by contacting Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 (Welsh language line) the service is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.  Alternatively reports can be submitted online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk

This service works in partnership with Trading Standards.  Reports can be made anonymously, this will then be sent to the relevant Trading Standards department for consideration and possible further investigation.