Police warn of quarry pool swimming danger

A campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of swimming in quarry pools has been launched by North Wales Police.

Working in partnership with construction materials company Hanson, which operates five quarries in North Wales, the campaign warns children and young people to stay away from water-filled quarries as schools close for the summer.



The warning comes after North Wales Police were recently requested to carry out a safety audit at one of Hanson UK’s quarries in the Mold area due to concerns of people trespassing.

Superintendent Jane Banham, Head of Community Safety at North Wales Police said: “Sadly over recent years there have been tragedies in the region whereby people have gotten into difficulty after entering quarry pools.

“The water is extremely cold and the hidden dangers are immense which can quickly lead to something altogether more serious.

“Although it can be very tempting to jump into the nearest pool or lake to cool down on a hot day, or to swim in the water at disused quarries, the water depths are huge – up to 60 metres – and it can be very difficult to get out due to the steep faces.

“As well as the dangers associated with swimming at unsupervised and often remote places, jumping from the rocks also puts people in danger.

“Swimming at disused quarries is a very dangerous practice and I would appeal to all youngsters and anyone else to please stay away.”

Members of the public are also being reminded that quarries are private properties and anybody found swimming or on the rocks would be trespassing.

Supt Banham added: “We want people to enjoy themselves over the summer but to keep safe. Not only is the water temperature freezing but it can also contain hidden hazards such as debris, weeds and reeds that you may not be able to see from the surface.

“The water can also be very deep and swimmers can easily find themselves out of their depth. If you are thinking about going swimming in such places please think again, consider the dangers and don’t trespass.”

Hanson Communications Manager David Weeks added: “We work very hard to ensure our sites are secure and carry out regular patrols of the boundaries to check and repair fencing. The fences and warning signs are there for a reason – please respect them.”

Hanson are also planning to add dye to the water at its site near Mold to act as a further deterrent to swimmers.

PC Hazel Goss, from the Eastern Community Safety Department said: “We’ve been working closely with Hanson UK to try and deter people from trespassing on their land to access the quarry pools.

“Over the years we’ve even had reports of families ignoring the dangers to spend the day at these quarries, even taking picnics with them. Clearly this is unacceptable and this is why we have launched this awareness campaign to highlight the dangers.

“We are also urging parents to educate their children about the dangers of trespassing and to avoid swimming in any pools or lakes and to also be aware of where their children are and what they are doing this summer.”

Balloons come floating back into Llan

Llangollen will once again be the home to the only hot air balloon festival in Wales, creating a spectacular sight over the stunning Dee Valley and beyond over the weekend 17/18 September.

The town has been a mecca for balloons of all shapes and sizes since 1997 although this year will see a number of new attractions.

There's the inaugural Wales International Balloon Festival Great Balloon Race, which is guaranteed to generate a spectacular site as pilots set off in pursuit of the 'hare.'

The Red Devils parachute display team will also be making a controlled jump for the first time at a major ballooning event.

With plenty of other activities taking place on the festival field, it promises to be a fantastic couple of days for the whole family.

For more information go to: http://walesinternationalballoonfestival.co.uk/

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.  

Treat for those who dig archeology

There's a treat in store this weekend for anyone interested in archaeology and heritage.

Excavations are taking place at Penycloddiau hillfort in the northern part of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Liverpool University Archaeology Students alongside students from America are taking part in a training excavation directed by Dr Rachel Pope and Richard Mason on an area of the hillfort ramparts and on an area where a house was built.

There is the opportunity to visit the site organised by Fiona Gale, County Archaeologist for Denbighshire, who said: "It's a great opportunity for us to learn more about what life was like in these enigmatic places when people built them around 2,500 years ago, the spotlight is really on sites in our area, with archaeologists from across the UK waiting to see what is found."

When can you visit the excavations?

Today (Saturday August 6) there is an open morning at Penycloddiau and Fiona will lead a walk up from the Llangwyfan car park (SJ13896663), leaving at 10am.

At the site will be Dr Rachel Pope of Liverpool University who will talk about what they have found so far.

If you have any queries please contact the Loggerheads Information Centre on 01352 810614 or email loggerheads.countrypark@denbighshire.gov.uk

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."