Christmas drink driving campaign launched

The 2016 Think Safe, Drink Safe Christmas Campaign for Denbighshire is underway to promote safe and responsible drinking in our communities.

It is aimed at ensuring visitors to Denbighshire can enjoy a safe and relaxed night out during the festive period. 

It also aims to promote responsible drinking and prevent and reduce levels of alcohol fuelled violent crime and anti-social behaviour at this time of year.

This year’s Think Safe Drink Safe campaign is taking on a regional and local element to highlight the significant pressures that front line operational services are put under at this time of year including police, ambulance and A&E departments. 

Resources are often put under increasing pressure as key personnel have to deal with extra cases of alcohol related incidence, whilst continuing to support already over-stretched services.

The public are encouraged to take part in a specially designed quiz aimed at raising awareness of alcohol consumption. This is available via the North Wales Police website http://www.north-wales.police.uk

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Community Safety,  said: “We know that Christmas and the New Year is an extremely busy time. We want visitors to Denbighshire to enjoy themselves but we frequently find that people drink too much during the festive season.

"Our aim is to encourage people to have a good time but to drink responsibly. Excessive drinking can affect behaviour and lead to serious consequences. The message is simple - anti social behaviour and violence will not be tolerated and anyone behaving irresponsibly will be dealt with appropriately and quickly ensuring that Denbighshire  is a safe place to come and enjoy a night out.”

Superintendent Jane Banham, of North Wales Police, said: “We want people to enjoy the festive season, but we know from experience that at this time of year some people will come to harm due to alcohol excess and it is the emergency services and local councils who are left picking up the pieces.

“The aim of this campaign is to ensure that those who consume and sell alcohol take responsibility for their actions.

“We make a significant contribution to keeping our town centres safe so people can enjoy a good night out, but we must get the message across that people need to take greater responsibility for themselves and their friends to reduce the likelihood of them being injured, becoming a victim of crime, or being involved in violence through excessive drinking.

“North Wales Police, working with our partners, will ensure that pubs, clubs, shops and drinkers are complying with the law. Those who don’t will be dealt with robustly. 

“The message is simple – think safe, drink safe.”

Church stages Christmas tree festival

Llangollen Methodist Church is currently staging its annual Christmas Tree Festival.

The colourful collection of trees, pictured below, has been made by schools, clubs and businesses in the area.

Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite festive creation.

The church will be open for tree viewing next Saturday (December 17) from 10am-3pm and Sunday between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

Filmstar bear's terrific response

AN ART teacher has been overwhelmed with the response to her one-of-a-kind teddy bear which has been spreading festive cheer in Denbighshire.

Sarah Chapman, aged 57, from Llandegla, created Carys, the six-foot bespoke bear which stars in Denbighshire County Council’s Christmas shopping video.

The two-minute  film has been produced to showcase the wide range of local shops in the county and as well as telling the story of Carys’ magical journey, features a family completing their Christmas shopping in Denbighshire with all gifts bought from local traders.

Making the bear took Sarah 50 hours, seven metres of material and 10kg of stuffing.

The mum-of-two started making rag dolls and soft toys when she was still at school near Brecon, South Wales, and now runs her handmade teddy bear business, Bilberry Bears.

Sarah said: “I have done a lot of different jobs over the years and never had any formal training as an artist.

“A few years ago I had the inspiration to make individual fabric bears.

“I’m slowly building up the business, it is just me, there is no big production line.”

Sarah was approached by Frozen Moon Productions, who produced the film on behalf of the Council, to make a bear costume modelled on one of her creations.

She said: “I was pleased to be asked but I went into a panic, I’ve never made a 6ft bear costume before.

“It was very stressful but the reaction has been fantastic. People love Carys and everyone says the video is fantastic. It is a really heart-warming story and it supports local businesses which I love.

“I have been overwhelmed. I have had a lot of lovely responses. People have been showing a real interest after the film.”

Sarah, who has been teaching art at St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Wrexham, for 12 years also writes poetry and makes greeting cards.

She said: “It is great to work with the children. I love it. I learn as much from them as they do from me.

“They have seen the film and all the children have said they love it.”

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “This is a fantastic film with a heart-warming story and a really important message – shop locally this Christmas.

“All the businesses featured are based in Denbighshire and the film shows the huge range of products and services available.

“As a Council we want to see local businesses succeed as this ensures money spent locally stays in Denbighshire and helps create a thriving economy.”

More than 50 children, from Rhyl, Prestatyn, Ruthin, Bala, Corwen, Denbigh and St Asaph, aged six – to 17 from Denbigh Stagecoach also performed in the film.

For a chance to win Carys, who has now been transformed into a smaller bear, visit Denbighshire County Council’s Facebook page or to view the clip visit the Council’s YouTube page.

AM slams Welsh Government over "cuts"

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has described Welsh Government cuts to its budgets for prevention and early intervention services and voluntary sector support as a ‘false economy’.

Speaking in a debate on the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget, Mr Isherwood expressed concern that although budgets for prevention and early intervention, and for voluntary sector support, are key to delivery of its policies - and although they represent just 1.5% of the combined Health and Local Government budgets - Labour Welsh Government has cut them again, to over £7 million below their 2015-16 level.

Mr Isherwood said: “The Welsh Government has rightly prioritised prevention and early intervention, but as this draft budget illustrates, it says one thing and does another.

“Rather than working smarter, this false economy will add additional costs to Health and Local Government services many times higher than the short-sighted cuts imposed.

“So much for the Social Services and Wellbeing Act, promoting the involvement of people in the design and delivery of Care and Support services. So much for the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, making public bodies work better with people, with communities and each other, taking a joined-up approach.”

Referring to the impact of Welsh Government cuts to the Family Fund on the most vulnerable families with disabled children, Mr Isherwood stressed that equivalent funding in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland has been maintained, and referred to other cuts already made by the Welsh Government.

He added: “Of course, Labour Welsh Government has got form for this. When, in September 2014, it announced funding to support front-line advice services Citizens Advice Cymru and Shelter Cymru, it shut out AdviceUK, the UK’s largest support network for free, independent advice centres, with 24 member organisations in Wales, denying people in crisis quick, emergency intervention and trapping them on waiting lists.

“Over the last year it has been the turn of organisations including Disability Wales and Child Contact Centres in Wales, leading to poorer and more costly outcomes for people and families.

“Despite calls by the Wales Disability Reference Group for the devolved Independent Living Fund to be administered in the voluntary sector with Scotland and Northern Ireland, Labour has given this to Local Government.

“When I raised concerns about the shortage of qualified nurses providing Palliative Care in the Voluntary Sector identified by Charity “Together for Short Lives”, this was dismissed – as it was when I highlighted concerns raised by the North Wales Safer Communities Board that too much was being spent on firefighting substance misuse problems and not enough on intervention and prevention, and when I criticised the 10% cut to the Third Sector Supporting Communities and People Budget, emphasising the crucial role the third sector plays in delivering quality services for less.

“Such cuts to ground level support compromise the more user-led, preventative and cost-effective services that the Third Sector delivers – when we should instead be transforming Wales’ public services by embedding co-production.”

Campaigner slams Llan housing plan as a "travesty"

A proposed development of nearly 100 houses at Vicarage Road Llangollen would be a “travesty” and fail to meet the needs of local people, says Mabon ap Gwynfor who has campaigned against it.

He slams the scheme, which is recommended for approval subject to conditions when it is considered by county planners next week, in a Daily Post article published today.

* For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/huge-llangollen-housing-development-would-12288762

Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner voices Brexit fears

* Ann Griffith, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

Fears are growing that North Wales could become a more dangerous place as a result of leaving the European Union.

The latest warning has come from Ann Griffith, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, who says the Brexit vote has raised worrying questions about the implications for fighting crime and security.

Among her concerns is the potential damage to the European Police Office, known as Europol, which contributes to more than 13,500 cross-border investigations every year.

Life could also be made more difficult for other joint investigation teams from agencies like Eurojust which tackle a range of crimes from terror to child abuse.

Another worry is whether the UK will still be a part of the European Arrest Warrant agreements that allows for the most wanted criminals to be returned promptly.

The agreement was introduced 2002 in response to a growing threat from international terrorism and a recognition that extradition procedures were complex and time consuming.

Ms Griffith said: “Brexit wasn't sold to us with all of the information available -  very little was said about the implications for policing and security about which there are very serious concerns.

"Unfortunately, the vote to quit the European Union leaves us with more questions than answers in all areas of governance and we are facing a period of huge change and uncertainty.

"But one thing that remains the same as it applies to policing and security, is the fact that the sharing of intelligence and cooperation between countries will remain vital in understanding the movement of criminals and domestic and international terrorism into the future.

"What you have is years and years of hard work and preparation gone into creating agencies and agreements that may be dashed as a result of Brexit.

"We're very aware now in North Wales how cyber-crime is the biggest emerging crime problem that we have - it's across Europe and indeed across the world.

"The majority of crime doesn't happen on the streets anymore and our frontline is now online.

"Europol was established in 2009, and one of its main function is cyber-crime cooperation.

"If the cooperation with Europol an Eurojust is to continue, it will come at a price because it is likely we will have to pay a lot more to benefit from the work of these agencies.

"I am also particularly worried about the possible loss of the European Arrest Warrants which currently means that most wanted criminals can be returned promptly.

"Before the European Arrest Warrant, extradition arrangements could take up to 10 years whereas now we're talking about people being able to be transferred within a matter of weeks.

"There is a huge amount of legislation to be worked through as a result of the Brexit vote but it is vitally important that security and policing are given priority by the UK Government.

"Keeping people safe has got to be our priority," she added.

Transport chiefs keep on eye on 64 bus route

Problems with the operator which could affect a bus service into Llangollen are being kept under review by the county council.

The problems affect the 64 service from the Ceiriog Valley to Llangollen via Chirk.  

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies said: “More disruption is on the way but Denbighshire’s passenger transport team are keeping on top of the situation and are ready to pick up any slack if necessary.

“I understand from them that Wrexham council is securing a successor but in the event that they cannot find a new operator for the contract we will resume our minibus operation from Parade Street to Pengwern.”

* For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rjs-wem-banned-operating-wrexham-12276072