AM challenges First Minister over prison figures

With figures showing that Wales has the highest imprisonment rate in western Europe, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood (pictured) has challenged the First Minister over what action he plans to take to address this.

Raising the matter with Mark Drakeford yesterday he said: “Of course, we already know that the prison and probation service in Wales will be responsible for probation again from 2020 in Wales, with a focus on communities, community sentencing and rehabilitation.

"But, given that the Wales Governance Centre analysis found that under the Westminster criminal justice system, as it was earlier termed, the total number of prison sentences in England between 2010-17 dropped 16 per cent but went up 0.3 per cent in Wales, and that custodial sentences imposed by magistrates in Wales went up 12 per cent, what dialogue will you endeavour to have, perhaps, with the Judiciary and with the Magistracy, to establish their reasons within Wales for this, when I know, many years ago, in taking evidence in Assembly Committee, when similar geographical differences were found, they put a case to us that we were able to consider?” 

The First Minister replied: “Why rates have risen in the way they have in Wales is a complex matter. There is an increasingly punitive climate of opinion that some analysts point to. There are certainly changes to legislation. There were over 3,000 new offences put on the statute book in 10 years from 1997 to 2007. We in this Assembly have put fresh offences on the statute book in the work that we do.

"There are the impacts of sentencing guidelines and guideline judgments that have had the effect of increasing length of sentences, quite certainly, and there is the issue of, as some sentencers put it, a collapse in confidence in the probation service. I said in answer to Leanne Wood that we welcomed strengthening probation, building confidence, in the consultation with the Ministry of Justice last summer. We'll do what we can within that, but want to go further.”

Mr Isherwood added: “Such a difference in delivery between England and Wales within what is a shared criminal justice system provides yet another reason why the calls for devolution of criminal justice by Labour and Plaid Cymru AMs must not be answered."

Official probe to be held into massive mountain fire

* The fire as seen from the town centre.

* County Councillors Melvyn Mile and Graham Timms on the Horseshoe Pass, scene of the fire last summer.

An official probe into the massive mountain fire near Llangollen last summer is to be held in March.

And the area’s two county councillors who called for it have welcomed he day-long evidence gathering meeting which will take place at the International Pavilion on Wednesday March 20.

The fire ripped through acres of moorland around Llantysilio and the Horseshoe Pass burning for six weeks in July and August.  

In September Llangollen councillors Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile called for the county council to hold an inquiry into the fire and its impact on the area.

As a result the council’s Communities Scrutiny Committee will hold the special meeting in March.

A letter to the councillors from committee chair Cllr Huw O Williams says: “We will be examining evidence from last summer’s fire on Llantysilio Mountain, near Llangollen, and its impact on the local area.

“For this purpose an evidence gathering a meeting of the committee will be held at the International Pavilion in Llangollen at 10am on Wednesday March 20. The meeting will have a morning and afternoon session and will be open to the public.

“The inquiry is not intended to apportion blame on any individual, service, organisation or group with respect of the fire or its management.

“Its aim is to understand what happened and learn lessons from the event in a bid to improve the management of similar incidents in future and minimise the disruption caused to nearby communities and businesses.

“At the morning session the committee will be examining evidence relating to the emergency services and other public organisations’ response to the fire along with the management of the incident.

“The afternoon session will be devoted to reviewing evidence relating to land management matters and the fire and incident management’s effect on local businesses, residents and communities.

“Representatives from various services, organisations, communities and businesses either involved or affected by the fire will be invited to give evidence at the meeting.

“In the meantime, the committee would also like to hear from individuals affected by the fire about their experiences during this time and the impact it had had on them, their businesses or community since.”

The letter adds that if anyone has photographic, video or written evidence they would like the committee to consider, they should send it to: Rhian Evans, Scrutiny Co-ordinator, Democratic Services, DCC, County Hall, Wynnstay Road, Ruthin LL15 1YN, or email to: rhian.evans@denbighshire.gov.uk by February 12.

Cllr Mile said: “We are keen that the response to the fire by North Wales emergency services, the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council is examined so that lessons can be learned to prevent such an event happening again.

“The fire caused devastation to the environment, flora and fauna as well as a prolonged effect on local farmers, businesses and communities. It is important that those affected by the fire will be given an opportunity to put evidence to the committee.” 

Cllr Timms said: “We asked for the committee to hold its meeting in Llangollen Pavilion to make it easy for those living near the fire site to attend. It is important that a full and detailed investigation is held.

“We have been working hard to get an important piece of evidence released by the Local Resilience Forum which is now expected very soon.

“Its report has been drawn up by the officers and emergency services involved in the response to the fire and we hope that it will help to enlighten us about the actual situation.

“There have been lots of rumours and misinformation about the fire and we need to be able to look at the evidence before jumping to conclusions.” 

Blood donation sessions next week

Blood donation sessions will be held at the Pavilion off Abbey Road in Llangollen next Tuesday, January 29, from 2-4pm and also from 5.30-7.30.

Donations are either by appointment or walk-in.  

A spokesperson for the Welsh Blood Service said: "For every unit of blood donated three lives are saved.

"Next week's Llangollen session still has 32 available appointments meaning an additional 96 lives could be saved.

"If you're available, please use the link to book an appointment and come along to donate: http://bit.ly/2FIaCB3"

Young 'Uns Hopelessly Devoted to Grease

* Taken at the 1950s Museum (Cae Dai Trust) in Denbigh, the picture shows the Pink Ladies(plus Patty Simcox)  and T Birds aboard the museum's 1950s pink Cadillac.

Pink Ladies (from front left round to right) Frenchy, Connie Richardson; Sandy,Sophie Roberts; Rizzo, Celyn Orton-Jones, Marty, Maia Molloy; Patty Simcox, Zoe Nicholas and  Jan, Katie Clark.

T Birds (inside Cadillac) Kenickie, Luke Reardon; Danny, Ethan Le-Cheminant; Roger, Aled Morris; Sonny, Will Heath and Doody, James Reardon. Picture by Barrie Potter.

Llangollen Operatic Society's junior section stage their own version of what is possibly the world's favourite musical next month.

To mark the 41st anniversary of Grease, which had its premiere in New York on Valentine's Day in 1972, , the Young 'Uns are putting on the blockbuster fifties-set show at Llangollen Town Hall from February 14-16.

The piece is packed with explosive energy, vibrant pop culture of the era and a host of unforgettable songs such as Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin', Hopelessly Devoted to You and You're the One that I Want.  

And the Young Uns' cast of nearly 50, a number of whom gave a sneak preview of the production during the town's recent Christmas Festival, have been working hard in rehearsals for the past few months to perfect their presentation of the big rock 'n roll party.  

The 'Young 'Uns have been performing shows in Llangollen for the past 28 years.  

Last year's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat led to the group landing an amateur stage "Oscar" from NODA.

Members, aged 16-18, are drawn not only from Llangollen but surrounding areas such as Chirk, Corwen, Glyn Ceidiog and Wrexham. 

Production team for Grease is Pamela Williams (producer), Dee Smith (assistant producer), Jo Lloyd and Robyn Crowley (artistic directors) and Julian Cattley (musical director).

Show times are Thursday February 14, Friday 15th and Saturday 16th at 7.30 pm plus a Saturday matinee at 2pm.

Tickets at £10 and £8 concessions are available from Jades Hair and Beauty, Gwyn Davies the butchers, Llangollen Oggie Shop, by ringing Stella Bond on 01978 86044 or online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety

Christmas quiz raises £637 for cancer charity

The Cancer Research UK Christmas Quiz 2018 raised £637.61 for the charity.

Results were:

= 1^st     Linda Sutton of Upton, Wirral (49 points)

            Nenia Blatsou of Kempston, Beds (49 points)

= 3^rd      The Hindle family of Newport, South Wales (48 points)

            Margaret Shaw of Greasby, Wirral (48 points)

Very close behind came Jane Hurle of Llangollen, Bill Rowe from London, Ben MacDonald (Bristol), Simon Proffitt (Llangollen), Andrew Spencer (Cwmbran), and Gaynor Answer (Milton Keynes). 

Judy Smith of the Llangollen Committee for Cancer Research UK said: "Our heartiest congratulations to all those, and to everyone who took part. As you can see, we have entrants from all over the country.

"We hope you enjoyed the quiz and that you will make sure to get a copy of the 2019 edition, which should, as ever, be published on December 1st."

MP meets Minister over nuisance fireworks

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones recently met Business Energy & Industrial Strategy Minister Kelly Tolhurst to discuss the regulation of fireworks.

Ms Jones (pictured) was part of a cross-party delegation of nine Labour, Conservative and SNP MPs who were calling on the Government to change the law. 

Last year Ms Jones led a debate in Parliament on the subject and also took part in another debate before Christmas in which every participating MP called for reform.

Speaking after the meeting, she said: "I love firework displays and I think organised displays are fantastic. However we can't carry on with the current noisy and dangerous free-for-all which seems to happen throughout the year.  

"There have been big public petitions calling for change and I support them wholeheartedly.

"As well as meeting the Minister we also had a good dialogue with civil servants at the Office for Product Safety and Standards who have been asked to look at the regulations."

She added: "I raised concerns about the ridiculously high noise limit of 120 decibels on fireworks and the fact that while there's a limit on when fireworks can be bought, there's absolutely no limit in terms of the days when they can be let off.

"This is a far cry from fireworks being used only on Bonfire Night. The RSPCA has noted this presents a major problem for animals and pet owners. Veterans' groups and others have also raised similar concerns. 

"Then there is the issue that many of us raised about fireworks being let off by people who are committing anti-social behaviour. This is now commonplace in big cities but we've also seen it a bit in our area too.

"Locally, we have fought tooth and nail to protect fire appliances and we must not have fire fighters and appliances, Police and innocent bystanders caught up in these mindless incidents."

Further to her meeting, Ms Jones will also be writing to Welsh Government Ministers. 

Emporium owner in wrangle with council over sign

* Paul Taylor outside his Chapel Emporium with the controversial sign. 

The owner of a Llangollen second-hand business is at odds with council chiefs over exactly where he can display a sign to advertise his business.

Because his Chapel Emporium is located just off a lay-by on Abbey Road and out of sight of the main shopping area in nearby Castle Street, Paul Taylor has painted a small board to draw customers in.

But because this is not easily visible if he puts it right outside his showroom in a converted chapel he has positioned it, with the permission of the owner, outside the nearby newsagents shop.

But he says he has been informed by Denbighshire County Council that he is not allowed to do this and must keep the board directly outside Chapel Emporium.

Paul said: “As we are situated just slightly off the beaten track, a sign to let people know where we are is a massive help getting customers to us.

“Unfortunately,  the council have said if we have our sign outside the newsagent and sandwich bar, it will be removed and taken away.

“Since being told to remove the sign weeks ago our trade has dropped dramatically especially with visitors to the town who don't know where we are.

“After seeking some advice we were told that the council cannot discriminate against just us, they'd have to tell every shop, pub, cafe etc which puts anything outside to remove theirs as well, and not just in Llangollen but the whole of Denbighshire.”

He added: “What harm is a sign? It's a small town and hard enough to run a business and try make a living as it is.

“We also have 10 stall-holders from as far as Liverpool who also rely on customers coming to us, and they can't believe how pathetic this place is with some very silly rules on having a sign out to advertise a local business in its own town.

“We are doing our bit for the environment by saving and re-using old furniture and other things from being skipped and going to landfill .”

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council said: "An officer from the council's Streetscene department spoke to an employee at the business.

"The signs were placed approximately 50 metres away from the front of the business so contravened the Highways Act. 

"Advice was provided on how they could approach Llangollen Town Council and county councillors to find help on how to attract business.

"Any 'A' boards in the high street placed directly outside a business and which belong to the business are acceptable, as long as they do not cause an obstruction. This applies to all high street businesses."