MP calls for tougher sentencing of rogue drivers

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones will lead a debate in Parliament today (Wednesday) on the subject of road safety and the Government's proposed sentencing review.

Ms Jones (pictured), who received road safety charity Brake's award of 2015 Parliamentarian of the Year for her campaigning work, previously introduced a bill to Parliament calling for higher penalties for drivers who drive unlicensed or uninsured.

This year, she tabled a series of questions to the Government on the issue on the week Theresa May became Prime Minister.

Ms Jones said: "I met recently with the Transport Minister and over the summer I tabled a number of questions to Government Ministers.

"I finally got a commitment that the Government would announce a proper consultation on sentencing for road traffic offences by the end of the year.

"I am not giving up because every delay to this campaign is a slight to justice and an insult to the families of those innocent victims who die on our roads.

"There is a lot of support for fairer laws that will help secure justice and make our roads safer."

The train now arriving ...

* 6880 Betton Grange aboard a low loader is inched into the entrance to the railway works in Abbey Road. 

Traffic on Abbey Road was temporarily halted yesterday (Monday) afternoon to allow a prestigious steam engine to be shoehorned into Llangollen railway workshops. 

Last weekend 6880 Betton Grange had been one of the stars at the world’s biggest model railway exhibition, the Warley MRC event at Birmingham’s NEC, and was being returned to its home base. 

This was the first time the loco had appeared in public.

The Betton Grange Society's working parties had lovingly prepared 6880 for display at Warley, assembling all of the motion parts to finish the bottom end of the engine.

The boiler from ex-GWR loco No. 5952, Cogan Hall, was mounted on the frames for the display period.

This will allow the society to set out the pipe runs needed when No. 7927 Willington Hall’s boiler is finally refurbished for use on the completed engine.

The transfer of the boiler from Cogan Hall on to Betton Grange was handled by volunteers led by chief engineer Chris Moore.

The society has announced that TV presenter Mark Evans has agreed to be their first ambassador.

Mark has delivered a number of programmes on Channel 4 and Discovery including An MG is Born, A Race Car is Born and A Plane is Born.

He joined the society at Llangollen in October and received a warm welcome from the 6880 directors who explained all aspects of the project to him.

Ideas flowed as to how Mark could help members achieve their ambition of finishing 6880 within the next two years.

* Llangollen Railway's Winter Warmer gala weekend will be held on December 30 and 31.

It will feature an intensive timetable, authentic cameos and a real ale bar.

Services will be in operation between Llangollen and Carrog (the temporary platform at Corwen East being closed over the winter period as part of the new Corwen Central station works) and will feature a combination of steam, diesel and DMU traction.

Discounted advance fares are available through the railway's website: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/, with an adult day rover being just £16 (£18 on the day) and just £9 for children. Senior and family discounts are also available.

   

Further developments on Vicarage Road plan

The developer aiming to build new homes on the Vicarage Road site in Llangollen has now put forward a number of amendments to the original scheme which sparked a storm of protest from opponents in the area when it was first announced.

Earlier this year Castlemead Homes submitted an application to Denbighshire County Council for a development of 99 dwellings comprising a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

But people in the area argued strongly that local roads would not be able to cope with the extra traffic these would generate both during construction and when the new homes were occupied.

Now, with the application expected to go before the planning committee next month, the developers say there would be fewer homes than originally suggested – 95 instead of 99 – and that if the scheme is given the go-ahead they are prepared to build the access road before any homes are constructed.

Its representative also says there would be cash contributions for extra primary school provision in the area and also for improved open space.

These revelations come in a letter from planning consultants acting on behalf of Castlemead Homes to council chiefs, a copy of which has been sent to a member of the local group campaigning against the scheme.

The letter says: “You have asked me for a resume of our proposals following our various discussions over the past few weeks. 

“For the avoidance of doubt, the proposal is now for 95 dwellings, plots 96 – 99 have been deleted from the proposals (although these benefit from a separate permission).

“So far as other matters are concerned, in the event that you resolve to grant permission, then our clients would be prepared to commit to the following: 

“Highways: We propose to construct the new road access prior to the construction of any dwellings.

“The following matters would be covered in a Section106 Agreement: 

“Education – An education contribution of £172,800, relating to the expansion of primary school capacity in Llangollen, by means of either a contribution to a new build school or extension(s) to existing facilities. The contribution to be made prior to the occupation of the 51st dwelling.  

“Open Space - Commuted sum of £1,818.28 payable prior to the occupation of the first dwelling in the development, to be spent on the improvement or provision of open space facilities in Llangollen 

“Affordable Housing - Four dwellings provided on-site for (plots 7, 8, 50, 51), together with a financial contribution of £47,074.50 in relation to the residual requirement of an additional half a dwelling.”

County officers say they are anticipating that the application will be presented to the planning committee on December 14.

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted to Castlemead on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

Castlemead’s latest application, submitted earlier this year, had been to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses, on four parcels of land.

County stresses importance of responsible dog owners

Denbighshire County Council is reiterating its message for dog owners to clean up after their animals.

The latest warning follows an incident where a child playing rugby on Cae Ddol fields in Ruthin managed to get dog mess on their gum guard, which could have had serious consequences for the child’s health.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “ I am disgusted and disappointed by this lack of concern by certain dog  owners disregarding all the messages regarding the consequences of dog fouling on the health of our children. 

“The council has been running a campaign, educating and encouraging people to clean up after their animals. The majority of people do act responsibly and carry bags with them.

“However, there are some individuals who think it’s appropriate not to clear the mess.

“Dog mess is a blight on the landscape and is one of the key issues of concern raised by residents. There is also risk to people’s health and well-being and there are examples nationally of people losing or partly losing their sight after coming into direct contact with dog mess.

“Luckily in the Ruthin incident, the child did not suffer any reactions or lasting effects but it still would have been a very unpleasant experience for her and her family and the consequences could have been serious.

“We would urge everyone to be responsible and clean up after their animals."

* To report any problems with dog fouling, please visit: http://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/dogfouling or phone 01824 706101.

Housing plan could be decided next month

* The Vicarage Road site.

A controversial scheme to build 99 homes on land at Vicarage Road in Llangollen is likely to be decided next month, according to a senior county planner.

Earlier this year Castlemead Homes submitted an application to Denbighshire County Council for the development, which includes a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

But the scheme has sparked fears amongst people in the area that local roads will not be able to cope with the extra traffic it will generate both during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

The scheme has attracted considerable opposition and members of the group campaigning against it have submitted evidence to the council which they say shows the kind of traffic problems it would create on roads leading to the site from the town centre.

One of the opponents has just received notification from senior planning official Paul Mead which says: “The LPA (Local Planning Authority) has received some final amended plans and documents this week from the applicant.

“These plans and documents are being checked and will be placed on our website as soon as possible.

“We will be carrying out a re-consultation exercise on these plans and documents and so, if you have previously made any formal representations on material planning issues, you will no doubt be informed by letter/e-mail of the opportunity to make further representations.

“Officers are anticipating that the application could then be presented to our Planning Committee on 14^th December 2016. Any representations you have made on material planning issues will be summarised for Members of that Committee.”

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted to Castlemead on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

Castlemead’s latest application has been to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses on four parcels of land.

As part of the formal consultation process, the town council has been able to give its official response to the application although a decision on it rests with the county council.   

At their May meeting all seven members of the town’s planning committee voted to object to the proposal. 

Llan is filled with Christmas Festival fun

* The firework display which rounded off the festival after the lights were switched on. 

* The head boy and girl from Ysgol Dinas Bran switched on the Christmas lights.

Hundreds braved the cold today (Saturday) to make an early start to the festive season by flocking to  Llangollen's Christmas Festival.

The annual event kicked off in style with the traditional parade headed by Santa who was driven to the Town Hall in his sleigh to take up residence in his grotto where he was visited by scores of excited youngsters wanting to share their Christmas lists with him.

There was a full programme of entertainment out on the Town Hall steps and in nearby Market Street, including a display by the Clerical Error morris dancers, a Punch and Judy show and music from solo performers and St Collen's choir and orchestra.  

Proceeds from the event will be shared between Wales Air Ambulance and the fund to put on next year's festival.    

Llanblogger has been out and about recording the day's fun which ended with the switching on of the town lights and a big firework display.

 

* A dazzling fire display came at the end of the festival. 

* Santa leads the big Christmas parade.

* St Collen's choir and orchestra perform on the Town Hall steps.  

* Visitors browse around the Christmas fair inside the Town Hall. 

* A guitarist belts out seasonal songs.

* All the fun of the fair in Market Street.

* Leonie Kirby sings Christmas songs in Market Street.

* A vintage tractor joins the opening parade.

* More tractor action on the bridge.

* A sleighful of youngsters head into town.

* Members of the National Elf Service greet the crowds on the bridge. 

* The Clerical Error morris dancers make their way into town.

* Llangollen Silver band sets the pace for the parade.

* A vintage car from the Motor Museum was a crowd pleaser.

* Town Crier Chem rings his bell aboard a parade float.

* Santa' little helpers Phil Meyers and Graham Platt.

Christmas in Llangollen starts today

Santa is raring to go at Llangollen Christmas Festival which takes place today.

The annual event starts with the traditional parade through town at 1pm and you can see Sion Corn in his sleigh and then visit him in his grotto.

There will be events and entertainment in and around the town until the Christmas lights are switched at 5pm followed by fireworks.