Christmas carol concert staged at the Town Hall

* Llangollen Silver Band provides musical accompaniment for the carol concert.

Churches in Llangollen came together for their annual Christmas carol concert at the Town Hall this evening (Sunday).

Favourite carols, including Once in Royal David's City and Come All Ye Faithful, were interspersed with seasonal songs and readings.

Providing musical accompaniment was Llangollen Silver Band and there were selections from the newly-formed Youth Choir and the singing group Stage to Stage accompanied by a three-piece band.

The evening came to a rousing finale with I Wish It Could be Christmas Everyday and Merry Christmas Everybody.

A collection was taken on behalf of the charity Embrace the Middle East.

Police boss slams report into North Wales force

* North Wales PCC Arfon Jones.

The latest inspection into North Wales Police has been blasted as "inaccurate, wasteful and stressful" by the man elected to hold the Force to account.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, a former police inspector, claims the report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary fails to recognise the work done by the Force to improve.

The report, by HM Inspector of Constabulary Wendy Williams, follows one last year which rated North Wales Police as ‘good’ but this time says it ‘requires improvement.’

But Arfon Jones doesn’t believe the headlines of the report are supported by its findings and content.

He adds that seemingly continuous inspections are actually getting in the way of North Wales Police doing their job and requires a team of three including two police officers to work on them full-time and diverts others from their duties.

According to Mr Jones, HMIC take no account of the priorities which saw him overwhelmingly elected as Commissioner earlier this year.

It is the second such report in two years and for the first time included an assessment of how well Forces tackle the problem of abuse of authority for sexual gain by members of its workforce.

This year’s report found that North Wales Police was good at treating the people it serves with fairness and respect but has limited capacity to seek out and assess intelligence about potential corruption and could do more to recognise the signs of ill health involving mental health issues, including stress at work.

Arfon Jones said he was pleased that HMIC had recognised that NWP is good at treating people it serves with fairness and respect and had acknowledged and commended the significant efforts of North Wales Police officers and staff.

But he added: “I don’t believe the ‘requires improvement’ judgement reflects the tremendous work carried out across North Wales on a daily basis to keep our communities safe and they should not be disheartened by this report.

“North Wales Police is the most improved Force in England and Wales in terms of victim satisfaction and I don’t believe the headlines of the report are supported by its findings and content.

“The reference to a ‘drop in performance’ since 2015 is inaccurate as it is not comparing like for like – the subject areas of the 2015 inspection were not a part of the inspection this time round.”

He was also critical of the number of inspections being carried out, their expense and their focus and he said: “The Force is having to make a significant amount of investment of both time and resources just to respond to the inspection regime.

“The public of North Wales would be surprised by the sheer volume of inspections and the level of resources being diverted from the front line just to prepare for these inspections.

“HMIC continue to highlight areas they believe require investment without any apparent appreciation of the competing pressures, including financial pressures, that we face.

“The irony is not lost on me that they express concerns on the area of stress at work with no apparent awareness of the stress caused by their inspection regime.

“It’s particularly frustrating that the Police budget is being top sliced to fund HMIC’s significant growth in resources.

“But they fail to give any consideration to the priorities that I set out in my Police and Crime Plan.

“The legislation is clear. I hold the Chief Constable to account and HMIC should let him get on with delivering an efficient and effective police service that the people of North Wales deserve.

“I appreciate that it is important to have a system of rigorous appraisal of the Force but it should not be to the detriment of our vital frontline services.”

Viennese gala is prelude to New Year

An orchestra is joining forces with global operatic star Anne Williams King (pictured) to launch the New Year with a sensational Viennese gala concert in the heart of Wrexham.

It is the first ever collaboration between NEW Sinfonia orchestra and the North Wales Opera Studio, founded by international soprano Anne and her husband, professional tenor David Bartleet.

The glittering event, at St Giles Church at 3pm on January 2, will showcase arias from classic operas including La Boheme, La Traviata, Die Fledermaus and Turandot.

NEW Sinfonia conductor Robert Guy promises ‘a perfect partnership’ of the most talented young instrumentalists and singers arising out of North Wales today. He said: “It’s an exciting coming together of two organisations which each have the potential to make musical history.”

Anne’s career has taken her all around the world from South Africa to Japan, Australia, the USA, Canada and South America.

She has wowed audiences in key roles with The Royal Opera Covent Garden, Glyndebourne, Deutsche Oper am Rhein and Niedersächsische Staatsoper Hannover, Germany, and at Teatro Verdi Trieste, Italy.

She said: “NEW Sinfonia and North Wales Opera Studio are of like minds. We both champion outstanding new talent.

“When Rob asked me about doing a joint concert I had no hesitation. It is the ideal fit for us. NEW Sinfonia is highly acclaimed and my students feel honoured at the chance to perform with such quality musicians.”

Having been based in London for a large part of her career, Anne is originally from Pen-y-cae and moved back to North Wales a few years ago to be closer to her elderly mum.

She launched the non-profit making North Wales Opera Studio in Llangollen in 2015 to provide  enhanced training for aspiring opera singers.

She said: “We offer intensive courses, not just in singing but in the stage craft which is so much a part of opera. We run each course over a period of days, building up to a live performance of a scene from one of the great iconic operas, which we perform at the end of each course.

“The performances usually take place at the English Methodist Church, Llangollen, where we rehearse,  but in summer my students also had the honour of performing at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, and now they are very much looking forward to the gala performance with NEW Sinfonia.”

While Anne won’t be performing herself at the Viennese gala, she will be there on the day  supervising her students through every step of the way.

She said: “We have some exceptional talent in North Wales and it is a privilege to help it shine. I can get very emotional when I see my students perform as I know all the hard work they have put in and their unstinting commitment to furthering their music.”

* NEW Symphonia in concert.  

The Viennese gala has become a winter tradition for NEW Sinfonia with the last one so popular that the historic St Giles Church was packed to the rafters, and extra seats had to be put out when the audience topped 400.

“We’re hoping for another big turn out on January 2, 2017,” said Wrexham-born Robert.

He and his brother, clarinetist, Jonathan Guy, founded NEW Sinfonia in 2011 to develop an exciting flagship orchestra for North Wales.

In five years it has grown from obscurity to secure major appointments such as becoming resident orchestra for the 2016 North Wales International Music Festival.

It has worked alongside classical music big names including piano virtuoso Llŷr Williams and composer Paul Mealor who was commissioned to create his motet Ubi Caritas et Amor for the Royal wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

Earlier this year the orchestra was invited to undertake a music residency at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, supported by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and the Arts Council of Wales.

“Now, collaborating with Anne is another significant coup for us. She has a wealth of experience to pass on, having performed at the world’s great opera houses including with the Welsh, Scottish and English National Operas,” said Robert.

“We’re looking forward to warming up a January afternoon with Viennese favourites like the Blue Danube March and the much loved Die Fledermaus operetta by Johann Strauss. The opera singers will also be giving a spectacular rendition of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma, a real grandstander.”

Talented pianist and NEW Sinfonia harpist, Bethan Griffiths, of Treuddyn, has recently been brought on board by Robert and Jonathan to help run the orchestra.

She said the gala concert is a favourite with all its members, many of whom are based in other parts of the UK but return especially to take part.

She said: “It’s so good to be playing together after the Christmas festivities. It makes a rousing start to the new year ahead and gives us all a heartening, warm glow. This year, with the addition of the opera element, it will be extra special.”

Bethan, 21, is in her final year of a performance based course at the Royal College of Music, London, and has agreed to take on some more organisational tasks with NEW Sinfonia.

She said: “I’ve known Robert for a few years as I used to sing with the Cantorion Rhos Mixed Choir of which he is musical director. He’s also choral conductor and tutor in choral conducting at the University of Manchester, and principal conductor to the Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra, so he has a lot of commitments. That’s why I’m happy to help out him and Jonathan with any of the admin and organisational challenges I can for NEW Sinfonia. Our programme is already looking busy for 2017 so the gala will mark the start of what is looking like an eventful year for us.

“The orchestra is such a great asset to musicians from North Wales. I’ve played with it for about four years and I always enjoy our concerts. It’s great to be able to get together to perform with other local music makers on our home turf.

“Before NEW Sinfonia there were very few opportunities for us to do that as most musicians are forced to go out of the area if they want to further their careers. To have a flagship orchestra for our own region is a dream come true.”

Trumpet player Gwyn Owen, 23, of Bangor, agreed. After studying at London’s Royal Academy of Music, he is now based in the city carving out a career as a professional freelance trumpet player.

But he said the NEW Sinfonia Viennese gala concert remains a permanent fixture on his calendar, adding: “I always make sure to be home for that, no matter what. It’s a great occasion. Performing with NewSinfonia is so rewarding and I’m also looking forward to working with North Wales Opera Studio for the first time. I’m sure it will be an exceptional and memorable occasion.”

* NEW Sinfonia Viennese gala concert, St Giles Church, Wrexham, January 2, 3pm. For tickets visit www.newsinfonia.org.uk or  go the Tourist Information Centre in Wrexham.

North Wales Opera Studio’s next opera workshops will be held at the English Methodist Church, Princes Street, Llangollen, from December 15-22.

Advice on safe toy buying this Christmas

Denbighshire Trading Standards are reminding businesses and shoppers to help keep children safe by selling and buying toys that are deemed safe.

David Smith, Lead member for Public Realm in Denbighshire said: "Trading Standards officers across the county keep watch for unsafe toys being sold or imported.  Officers regularly inspect shops to check that toys on sale meet current safety legislation.

“Retailers must only supply toys which are safe and meet stringent safety standards.  If the toy is labelled with the ‘CE’ mark it means it meets the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations."

The advice is:

·        Don’t buy toys without a genuine “CE” mark

·        Always buy from reputable shops and traders

·        If buying over the internet, buy from reputable web sites to reduce the risk of being supplied with unsafe and possibly counterfeit toys

·        Look for safety signs in addition to the “CE” mark (e.g. the British Toy and Hobby Association ‘Lion mark’)

·        Don’t let children play with broken toys as they may no longer comply with safety standards

·        Don’t forget to keep older children’s toys away from the toddler or baby

·        Always remove plastic bags before giving a toy to a child

·        For electrical products, always ensure the plug is a three-pin, made to BS 1363. If it doesn’t include this information, then don’t buy the product.  Any safety advice should be always be in English, and should advise on both charging the product and how to use correctly.

Councillor Smith added: “Toys are generally much safer than they used to be, but there are still non-compliant toys being sold which is why Trading standards is offering the following toy safety tips to keep your children safe.”

* For advice on your consumer rights call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh Language.  Reporting an online fraud can be done on the Action Fraud website.

Go-ahead for Vicarage Road homes scheme

* The Vicarage Road site.

After a lengthy debate county planners earlier today gave the go-ahead to a controversial scheme to build 95 homes on land off Vicarage Road in Llangollen.

And the area's Assembly member Ken Skates says he is "bitterly disappointed" by the decision.

The scheme, by Castlemead Group Ltd, raised a storm of protest from people in the area who objected mainly to the extra pressure they feared would be put on access roads to the 3.7 hectare site.

But, following negotiations, Castlemead agreed to upgrade Willow Street before construction begins.     

The site incorporates land originally granted planning permission in the late 1990s which has an existing planning permission for 50 dwellings.

The scheme proposes a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached dwellings.

And a condition of today's approval was that 10 per cent of these are affordable homes rather than the four originally proposed.  

An officers’ report to the planning committee said there were around 100 objections to the application on the grounds of the impact on existing roads, insufficient infrastructure to serve the development and the extra burden it would place on local schools and health services.

The report, which recommended the application for approval, goes on to show that a number of these concerns have been addressed.  

It says: “The proposal includes upgrading of an existing access road to the site (Willow Street).

“This upgrade is proposed to take place prior to the construction of any dwellings.

“Separate parking spaces are proposed to be provided within the site for seven adjacent dwellings (1-7 Castle Buildings). It is proposed that the site will be accessible from both Willow Street and Hill Street.”

The report points out that current pupil numbers for the two primary schools serving Llangollen  - Ysgol Gwernant and Bryn Collen - indicate both are at capacity. But it adds that the developer is to make a contribution of £172,000 towards education provision.

Officers also say that there is no evidence to suggest that the development as proposed would lead to a requirement to build additional healthcare facilities or improve the newly built health centre. On this basis no contributions have been sought from the developer.

The report adds: “A development of this scale will inevitably lead to increased levels of noise and disruption for occupiers of neighbouring properties.

“However, having regard to the scale, location, separation distances and design of the proposed development in relation to the existing site and neighbouring properties, it is not considered that the proposals would be so unreasonable in terms of impacts on residential amenity to justify refusal of permission.”


* Clwyd South AM Ken Skates, who has previously raised concerns over the development, said he was ‘bitterly disappointed’ with the decision and would fight for safeguards for residents.

He added: “People have been worried about this development in its various guises for a long time, which has been conveyed to the council in no uncertain terms. I asked for an urgent meeting with the developers earlier this year, but they weren’t interested.

“I’m bitterly disappointed with this, as I know many others who raised serious concerns will be.”

Boost for job-creating business grant

* Dominic Haynes and Llyr Jones of the Dangerous Food Company.

A business grant which has already helped scores of businesses to create jobs has been increased.

Denbighshire County Council’s Business Development Grant scheme has awarded more than £71,000 to 17 Denbighshire firms since April.

The cap of the grant has been raised from £5,000 to £10,000 and the limit on applicants’ annual turnover has increased from £250,000 to £500,000.

The scheme, which forms part of the council’s Economic and Community Ambition Strategy, offers funding to new and existing businesses to create employment, improve business competitiveness and create a vibrant local economy.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire, said: “Raising the cap for our business grant scheme will allow us to help even more firms in Denbighshire.

“The scheme is a funder of last resort, so by the time an applicant approaches us they have already tried to secure other sources.

“The scheme has already had a real impact, directly helping to create 19 jobs and safeguarding another 17.

“Doubling the maximum grant and the turnover limit will enable us to directly release additional business investment and expansion within the county. 

“This will lead directly to the creation of additional employment opportunity for local residents that otherwise would not be realised.

“I would encourage eligible businesses in the county to apply for a grant before the end of the financial year.”

Dominic Haynes and Llyr Jones, who launched St-Asaph-based Dangerous Food Company less than three years ago, used a £2,300 grant from Denbighshire County Council to purchase a walk-in fridge which enabled them to quadruple their order capacity and expand.

The grant has also been expanded to include businesses looking to exploit digital technology to help stimulate local innovation, improve competitiveness and help reach new markets.

* For more information or to apply for a Business Development Grant of up to £10,000 from Denbighshire County Council visit Denbighshire.gov.uk/business or contact 01824 706896.

County issues credit card scam warning

Denbighshire County Council is warning people to be aware of a scam relating to credit cards.

A Rhyl resident has been in touch with Denbighshire Trading Standards after receiving an automated telephone call at his home, stating:  “Alert, Alert, your credit card has been compromised, please press 1 to resolve”.

The caller hung up and checked with his credit card provider who advised that was a scam call.

The Council is issuing the following advice relating to telephone scams:

• did the call come out of the blue?
• stop, think and be sceptical. If something sounds too good to be true it probably is
• do not give personal or financial information or pin numbers to anyone, however plausible they might sound. This applies even if they claim to represent a business or organisation you have heard of or where an approach is personalised
• genuine businesses or organisations will never telephone you and ask you for personal or financial information
• think about how much money you could lose responding to a potential scam; it's a risk not worth taking
• if you receive a call that you suspect is bogus, speak to family or friends or seek advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service
• If you receive a scam telephone call, you can report it to Action Fraud. You can also report it to the Citizens Advice consumer service for referral to trading standards.
• If you are conned into phoning a premium rate number, you can report it to PhonepayPlus, which regulates premium rate services in the UK.
• If you enter a contract because a trader misled you or because a trader used an aggressive commercial practice, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 may give you rights to redress: You can report complaints about unfair trading practices to the Citizens Advice consumer service for referral to trading standards. However, it may be difficult to take legal action against a criminal.
• If you think your details have been shared unlawfully you should report it to the Information Commissioner's Office for further investigation.
• If you have been the victim of a fraud you can report it to the police.
• If you think your identity has been stolen please follow the guidance given on the Action Fraud website

* To contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service, please phone 03454040506 or  Action Fraud – 0300 123 2040  website www.actionfraud.police.uk