Skates campaigns over future of eyesore site

An AM wants to help bring a town centre ‘eyesore’ back into use.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates was contacted for help over run-down Commerce House, on the A5 in the centre of Corwen, by local councillor Huw Jones.

The pair would like to see the Grade II-listed premises – which is privately owned and up for sale – developed for social housing, and Mr Skates has contacted Denbighshire County Council chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet to raise the issue.

“This building has been on Denbighshire’s list of eyesore sites for some time, it’s a real shame and I know Huw and Dr Mehmet share my frustration,” said Mr Skates.

In his response to Mr Skates, Dr Mehmet said it had ‘proved particularly difficult’ to find a solution to Commerce House, which he said is in ‘an extremely difficult state’. The council has contacted heritage watchdog Cadw to try and get the building’s listed status removed, which could make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Mr Skates said: “Because of huge cuts to Wales from the UK Government, the council cannot afford to buy the building outright and pay for the extensive work that needs doing. Social landlords have been approached about the viability of a housing scheme to address local need, and this is an option I’d like to see pursued for local people.

“I have offered my full support to Denbighshire County Council to get this matter resolved. Dr Mehmet has said the authority would provide as much support as possible should the right private sector investor comes forward with redevelopment or refurbishment proposals, so I hope this is another avenue which can be explored.”

Plan for new park on former civic amenity site

* A site plan of the proposed pocket park off the A539 approach road to Llangollen.

The river is at the bottom of the picture.

Plans have been unveiled to create a ‘pocket park’ on the former civic amenity site on the A539 road into Llangollen.

The scheme for the council-owned land, which was last used for waste disposal in the late 1990s, has been submitted by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team on behalf of the Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership.

According to a development brief, the proposal includes landscaping, tree planting, wildflower meadows and hedgerow planting with the aim of increasing the biodiversity and ecological value of the site.

Work would also be done to eradicate the small stand of Japanese knotweed said to be present on site.

Paths, tracks and parking for 36 cars would be landscaped and screened to minimise any visual impact on the surrounding landscape and immediate site neighbours.

Improved site access/egress is a key part of the proposals. Adjacent landowners and the county’s C highways department have been consulted.

Access to the site would be available for pedestrians and cyclists along pavement from Llangollen to the west and the canal to the east, a bus stop is also located adjacent to the site, providing easy access to the site to users by an alternative means to the car.

The planning brief says: “The proposed new park would be developed along with community groups and other interested parties over a number of years and as this will take time, the ethos for this initial phase was to create a welcoming site for people to enjoy both in its own right but also as a gateway to the wider area.

“The plan has been developed as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund – Landscape Partnership Scheme bid and as part of this process consultation with stakeholders and communities has been ongoing.

“The site is seen as a key gateway into Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley, it will provide a new access point for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, promoting wider exploration of the area and a longer stay.”

* The full application can be seen on the Denbighshire planning portal. Its reference number is 03/2017/0467. https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx

Have your say on new travel maps

Consultations are taking place on the Denbighshire Council draft Active Travel Integrated Network Map (INM).

The INM is a 15-year plan for improving walking and cycling routes within Denbighshire and is a requirement of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, which places duties upon local authorities to map, plan for, improve and promote opportunities for active travel.

In September 2014, the Welsh Government introduced the Active Travel (Wales) Act which makes it a legal requirement for local authorities in Wales to map and plan for suitable routes for active travel within certain settlements in Denbighshire, as designated by the Welsh Government.

Active Travel means walking and cycling (including electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters) for everyday short-distance journeys, such as journeys to school, work, or for access to shops, services and bus/rail stations. Active travel does not include journeys made purely for recreation or social reasons.

Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) 

The first stage of the act required local authorities to produce Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) to show existing routes in Denbighshire that the council considered suitable for active travel. The ERMs therefore do not show all of the available walking and cycling routes within an area.

Llangollen ERM

Active Travel Integrated Network Maps (INMs)

The second stage of the Act requires the Council to produce Integrated Network Maps (INMs) that set out the local authority’s plans to develop a network of active travel routes and facilities over the next 15 years. Denbighshire County Council is now seeking your views on the walking and cycling proposals that have been developed.

Llangollen INM


View the Denbighshire Integrated Network Map route proposals

How to have your say

You can have your say on this consultation by completing the Active Travel online survey.
Have your say on the Active Travel Integrated Network Map online survey
Or you can;

• Come to one of our drop in sessions to discuss your views with the team. Find out when the drop in sessions take place. 
• Phone 01824 706 922
• Download and complete a copy of the survey and post it to Sustainable Transport Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.

The closing date for this consultation is 20 October 2017

Policing devolution 'inevitable' says commissioner

A police boss believes the devolution of policing to Wales is inevitable, saying it's a matter of when not if.

According to Arfon Jones, the newly-elected chairman of the All-Wales Policing Group, there was now an unstoppable momentum in favour of the idea.

Mr Jones, the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, said support for devolving the issue was unanimous among the four Welsh commissioners who are members of the group.

Although not legally devolved many of the other areas of the criminal justice system, like the Crown Prosecution Service and the courts service, already operate with all-Wales structures.

Mr Jones (pictured) said: "The four police and crime commissioners are keen to see more responsibilities devolved to Wales.

"We welcome the fact that the Ministry of Justice are moving towards devolving more responsibilities to commissioners around victims and witnesses. This is a step in the right direction.

"We believe policing should be completely devolved to Wales and it’s only a matter of time before it is, but we need to convince the Secretary of State Alun Cairns of that and up till now we haven’t had much success.

"He is against the idea because several people tried to move amendments to the Wales Bill to devolve such things as youth justice.

"The Government didn’t support it so it didn’t go through which is a shame because youth justice is the only part of children’s services which is not devolved to Wales. "Other areas like education, health and social care are all devolved - and then you’ve got youth justice which still comes under the Ministry of Justice in London. It’s totally illogical.

"In terms of the devolution it is now just a matter of so we’re doing is preparing the ground because when it does happen it's likely to happen overnight.

"It might take 10 or 20 years but it's important that we are properly prepared and that we have the right structures in place.

"It would make sense if criminal justice was totally devolved as well the same as it is in Greater Manchester.

"Policing and criminal justice are devolved there to the mayor Andy Burnham, and if they can do it in Manchester I don’t see any reason why they can’t do it in Wales.

"To have certain elements of criminal justice outside of that sort of sphere doesn’t make sense because you need everything together as part of one integrated service.

“When you have one bit of a service devolved and not the others all it does is muddies the waters and it causes more problems and it causes more legal challenges.

"There have been a few legal challenges between the Welsh Government and Westminster and I can see more happening until policing is finally and rightly devolved to the people of Wales.

"A case in point is the confusion around the apprenticeship levy where policing is not devolved and training is, with the likely end result likely to be that Welsh Police Officers may not get the same level of training because of the impasse between the two governments." 

MP backs hearing support campaigners

Susan Elan Jones MP is backing a campaign by charity Action on Hearing Loss which calls on the Government to do more to support companies and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Speaking after meeting with representatives of Action on Hearing Loss in Parliament, the Clwyd South MP said: "A recent YouGov poll found that 57% of business leaders feel there's a lack of support available for employers about employing someone with hearing loss while nearly two-fifths of business managers don't feel equipped to enable staff with hearing loss to stay productive in the workplace.

"Those figures are really concerning when you think that 11 million people in the UK having a hearing loss - and almost 5 million of them are of working age.

"I want to see greater work opportunities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and greater support for employers too. I welcome this very thoughtful campaign from Action on Hearing Loss who have written two excellent reports which make detailed and constructive suggestions for how the Department for Work and Pensions can act."

* Susan Elan Jones MP meeting in Parliament with representatives of Action on Hearing Loss.

Party in the Park is a big hit

Llangollen Cytun Churches Together hosted its Party in the Park at Riverside yesterday (Saturday) afternoon attracting scores of people to its range of children's games and free barbecue.

There was also a strong gospel message and here the Rev Phil Poole, Minister of the English Methodist Church, leads a live music session on the bandstand.

MP calls for tougher action on problem gambling

* Susan Elan Jones MP campaigning for tougher laws against problem gambling.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is calling on the Government to take much tougher action to tackle problem gambling.

She is especially keen to see the Government drastically reduce the stakes allowed on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals from £100 to £2.

Ms Jones said: "I am really concerned about this issue and its impact on families and individuals.

"In the last Parliament, I was very involved in a campaign to get controls over Fixed Odds Betting Terminals devolved to the Welsh Government.

"Although the UK Government would not do this at first, our persistent campaigning did finally get them to include partial devolution in the Wales Bill."

She added: "I want the entire UK to be covered by laws that mean stakes on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are reduced from the staggering £100 a stake which is legal now down to £2.

"All of us who have campaigned on this issue know the misery that Fixed Odds Betting Terminals can cause, with casino games like routlette allowing punters to stake £100 every 20 seconds. That is £50 million being lost to Fixed Odds Betting Terminals in Wales alone.  No wonder Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are often called the 'crack cocaine' of gambling."

The UK Government is currently considering responses from the Call for Evidence into Gaming Machines and Social Responsibility launched in October 2016. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is expected to publish the next stage of the Review, with its proposals, this October.