Rural crimebusting team gets extra staff

* PC Dewi Evans, Police Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, Rural
Crime Team Manager, Rob Taylor and PC David Allen

A crack team of rural crimefighters is being beefed up, it’s been revealed.

Three extra police constables will be added to the North Wales Rural Crime Team of four PCs and three Police Community Support Officers headed by team manager Rob Taylor, bringing its numbers up to 11 officers.

The announcement was made by North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones at the Meirioneth County Show in Harlech.

The move was hailed as “excellent news” by Farmers’ Union of Wales president Glyn Roberts.

The team is also using high tech methods to combat rural crime, including drones and plans in place to introduce Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras on the road between Dolgellau and Barmouth.

Experts say the pioneering task force has set a benchmark for policing the countryside in the UK.

Last year they established a partnership with their counterparts in Dyfed-Powys who set up a team modelled on the North Wales operation.

Their effectiveness can also be gauged by the fact that while rural crime is on the increase in England where it has risen 20 per cent, Wales is bucking that trend with a seven per cent reduction.

The team remains hard-worked though with 73 current investigations ongoing and a string of court cases taking place.

Arfon Jones, a former police inspector who was brought up on a farm in the Harlech area, said: “North Wales is a huge rural area and we need to provide an equitable service for all the residents of the region.

“While we are very successful in targeting the criminals committing a range of crimes from badger baiting to stealing tractors, quad bikes and livestock, we feel there is a need for greater capacity.

“This is a field where North Wales is leading the way and the team led by Rob Taylor is doing a fantastic job and being recognised for the way they are dealing with rural crime and wildlife issues but it is vital to continue to support them.

“They have also been integral to the formation of similar teams in Dyfed-Powys, with whom we work very closely, and in Gwent.

“The extra staff in North Wales will mean that these partnerships and those neighbouring forces in England will be strengthened.

“It is appropriate that I made the announcement in Harlech because the area has become something of a hotspot and one of the new officers will have a specific responsibility for policing the Meirionnydd area and the border with Dyfed-Powys.

“The ANPR cameras being installed between Dolgellau and Barmouth will be able to read a registration number and instantly check it against database records of vehicles of interest. Police officers can intercept and stop a vehicle, check it for evidence and, where necessary, make arrests.

"It's important that we are not just reactive but that we are also proactive so that we can stop rural crime taking place before it happens.

"Our rural areas are geographically very large so we need technology to help us in our fight against countryside crime and to catch to offenders.”

Rob Taylor, who was a police officer for 30 years, also manages the Dyfed-Powys team and he said: “When we started in 2014, we were one of the first specialised rural crime teams but now there are more than 20.

“This increase in the size of the team is very important to us because we are facing growing demands and have been involved in three court cases in the last ten days, all successful prosecutions.

“Rural crime fighting is old school policing mixed with modern technology. It’s about getting to know the communities you are operating in and having two-way conversations.

“At the same time, we’re using sophisticated techniques like DNA profiling and intelligence-led policing to target the hotspots for rural crime.

“They have four-wheel drive vehicles that can go anywhere and dash-cams to record everything and we equip our officers with laptops so they don’t have to go back to the police station to write up reports and can have instant access to information.”

The team also work closely with organisations like the Farmers’ Union of Wales, National Farmers’ Union, British Association of Shooting and Conservation and the Country Landowners’ Association.

Responding to the announcement, FUW President Glyn Roberts said: “Every year rural crime costs millions of pounds and causes untold anxiety to farmers and rural businesses. North Wales police been leading the way in making sure that rural crime is less attractive for those up to no good.

“The fact that their rural crime team will now double in size, due to increased funding, is excellent news.

“Other police forces across Wales should take note of their approach in supporting the rural community and we can only commend the Police and Crime Commissioner for his efforts and determination to make North Wales a safer place for us all.”

The theft of tractors, machinery and quad bikes is on the increase with many of the thieves coming from across the border and Wrexham and Denbighshire the crime hotspots.

Rob Taylor said: “We need manufacturers to upgrade their security systems on tractors and other vehicles because criminals can buy a tracker blocker for £10 and ship stolen vehicles out in containers and in a couple of days they’re in North Africa or Eastern Europe.”

Arfon Jones added: “The A55 makes for an easy in and out for criminals but there are other roads into the crime hotspots of Wrexham and Denbighshire areas that make them real rat runs for the criminals.

“This is where number recognition cameras come into play and we’re looking at increasing their presence on these routes.”

Skates backs anti-housing plan campaigners

* Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms opposes the development of the youth centre field.

Assembly Member Ken Skates has backed residents campaigning to stop the building of new homes on the site of Llangollen Youth Club and its neighbouring football pitch.

The Clwyd South AM, who is based in the town, has written to Denbighshire County Council chief executive Judith Greenhalgh to call for the site to be withdrawn from the authority’s list of 11 proposed plots for new houses.

Mr Skates has also formally objected to the site being offered for housing in the council’s new Local Development Plan – and say he will help campaigners fight the plan ‘all the way’.

“I have written to the council's chief executive to raise my concerns and ask for the removal of this site from the plans,” said Mr Skates.

“A lot of local people are already concerned about the over-development of the area and worried about how it will cope with the 95 new homes currently being built across the road from the youth club, and I fear the council has misjudged this. I hope my constituents will be listened to.”

Mr Skates added: “Green spaces and sports fields are at a premium in our communities and people do not want to stand by and do nothing while one of them is wiped off the map. Residents have already signalled their intent to fight these plans all the way, and along with local county councillors Graham Timms and Mel Mile I will support them however I can.”

Mr Skates said he was extremely concerned that Cllrs Timms and Mile were not consulted on the plans before they were published.

“Graham and Mel have come in for unwarranted and unfair criticism over this because people think they’re on board with the council’s idea, which they are absolutely not,” he said. 

“Both have made it clear they oppose this site being used for housing for a number of reasons and I support them.”

Carrog Ladies' Choir annual concert on Saturday

* Carrog Ladies' Choir perform at this year's eisteddfod.

Carrog Ladies Choir is staging its third annual concert at the Village Hall in Carrog on Saturday, September 7, starting at 7.30pm.

The choir, formed in 2017, has 25 members and sings a variety of musical genres.

It featured on the outside stages at this year's Llangollen Eisteddfod.

Tickets for the concert, at £5, are available from choir members and also from the Grouse Inn at Carrog.

Campaign urges "be safe, be prepared"

"Be safe, be prepared" is the message behind a major social media campaign launched this September and supported by all North Wales councils, Welsh Government, the emergency services and some utility companies.

The #30days30waysUK campaign has been running in parts of the UK and in other countries world-wide over recent years  and this year it is being supported by the North Wales Local Resilience Forum, a body made up of all organisations involved in dealing with emergencies) is lending its support. The Forum has a duty to warn and inform the public on how to stay safe during emergencies.

One message will be issued each day during September on a wide range of issues, including how to deal with flooding, staying safe in the home, awareness of cyber-bullying, fire safety, tips on driving in wintry weather and where to find the latest information about roadworks and traffic alerts.

Councillor Richard Mainon, Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Services and Strategic Direction: “Organisations across North Wales work together throughout the year to help residents prepare for emergencies such as flooding, winter weather and storms, but also on issues such as protecting your home and your personal safety.

“The Council is pleased to be supporting a  campaign like this, as it’s a great opportunity to send home those messages again and we hope residents find them useful and take steps to make themselves safer and better prepared to deal with emergency situations”.

* Residents can find the messages on the social media accounts of all the partners involved in the campaign in North Wales and by using the #30days30waysUK hashtag and the #cydnerthgogleddcymru or #northwalesresilience local hashtags

Kids float their boats in summer challenge

* A family team with captain Sunny- James and his parental crew.

Families from Llangollen have been taking part in the Ten Things to do in the Dee Valley summer challenge.

They've been creating boats to float on the Llangollen Canal as part of an event organised by Llangollen Library and The Our Picturesque Landscape project which is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Ten things to do in the Dee Valley has been created to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the inscription of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, as an exciting way to explore the picturesque landscape of the World Heritage Site whilst collecting stamp rewards along the way. 

You can pick up an activity leaflet from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

The float a boat challenge involves making your own boat to float on the canal other challenges include exploring the viaduct, aqueduct and tunnels at Chirk and meeting the Llamas at Ty Mawr Country Park.

Sallyanne Hall, Community Engagement Officer Our Picturesque Landscape, said: “It has been great to work jointly with Llangollen library on this project, the children enjoyed making their boats and were able to find some boat themed books to borrow at the same time before heading off to explore the World Heritage Site and earn their stamps for the challenge.” 

New Dot Cinema up for for two major awards

* Happy as Lazzaro will be screened by New Dot on September 13.

Volunteers at New Dot Cinema are celebrating after being shortlisted in two categories in the Film Society of the Year Awards. 

The Cinema For All Film Society of the Year Awards are the highlight of the community cinema calendar. Since 1969, volunteers have come together to celebrate shared achievements and showcase innovation in film exhibition.

Speaking ahead of the award ceremony, which takes place in Sheffield on 21 September, New Dot’s Chair, Yvonne Ryan, said: "Being shortlisted is a wonderful recognition of the efforts our volunteers put in to bring great films to our community. It’s especially good news as we look forward to celebrating New Dot Cinema’s fifth birthday next year."

New Dot Cinema has been shortlisted for ‘Best Marketing and Publicity’.

Speaking about the nomination, New Dot volunteer Jen Rush said: "It's fantastic to be recognised in this category as we put a great deal of effort into making an impact with very limited resources.

"It is a team effort among volunteers to ensure that locals are aware of our events, from distributing flyers and posters to updating our social media, website and mailings."

The hard work and dedication of one of the cinema’s founding volunteers, Simon Proffit, has been acknowledged with a nomination for the category ‘Outstanding Contribution by an Individual’.

Simon has led the way with New Dot’s ever-improving cinema technology, which recently included the installation of a new electric screen in the Town Hall.

He designs New Dot’s eye-catching flyers and posters, leads programme curation and prepares the curious shorts and thematic music local cinema-goers enjoy in addition to the main film.

The next New Dot Cinema screening, Happy as Lazzaro, takes place on Friday September 13.

Lazzaro’s sweet nature means people mistake him for simple-minded. He happily does the bidding of anyone in his local village, which is ruled over by the Cruella de Vil-esque Marchesa.

When Lazzaro agrees to help Tancredi, the Marchesa’s unhappy son, stage his own kidnapping it sets off a chain of events that changes the lives of everyone in this supposed rural idyll forever.

Beautifully shot and incorporating some truly stunning imagery, the film’s textured sepia tinge shifts from a fantastical country paradise that could be set any time in the last 200 years to modern urban decay that could only take place today.

New wine uncorked in memory of food festival saviour

* Pip Gale and Phil Davies with the bottle of Chateau Loughlin.        

A new wine is being launched to honour the memory of the man who saved the popular Llangollen Food Festival – and will be used to raise money for his favourite charity.

Friends and colleagues were devastated by the sudden death of the “larger than life” former wine distributor, Colin Loughlin, 76, after he suffered a heart attack at his home on the outskirts of the town in February.

There was standing room only when hundreds of people turned out to pay their last respects at his funeral at Pentrebychan crematorium near Wrexham.

The red wine, appropriately called Chateau Loughlin, will be unveiled at this year’s food festival that’s being held on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20.

The label features a colourful caricature of Colin in a mural on the side of the Llangollen pavilion where the event is held every year.

The proceeds will be used to help fund a defibrillator on a new boat, the Lady Winifred, that’s recently been launched by the Vale of Llangollen Canal Boat Trust which Colin supported for many years.

Back in 2011, Colin came to rescue of the Llangollen Food Festival and led a team of volunteers who took it over when the previous organiser pulled the plug on the event.

Since then the event has gone from strength to strength and has been named as one of the top 10 food festivals in the UK by both the Daily Telegraph and Independent newspapers.

His contribution as the chair of the festival committee has been celebrated with a painting of him in a mural on the side of the Llangollen pavilion.

A native of Wrexham, Colin ran a wine distribution company called Whitehouse Wines in Coedpoeth before going into business with Lorraine Hughes.

They bought an existing company called Megan’s Kitchen which makes Welsh Cakes.

Lorraine continued to run the business after Colin retired five years ago, before stepping down as festival committee chair in 2016.

She said: “Colin was larger than life and loved telling stories and listening to stories.

“He was the force behind the Llangollen Food Festival and we were all grateful when he returned and started attending committee meetings again a couple of years ago after resigning the chair in 2016.”

Fellow committee member Pip Gale, who also runs Gales Wine Bar in Llangollen, sourced the Chateau Loughlin wine.

Pip said: “I first met Colin many years ago when he was a wine distributor and I bought wine from him.

“He is much missed still, and it was one of the biggest honours to be asked by him personally to join the committee for the food festival, and this does feel like a way to pay back all of the work that he put into that festival, and all of the work he did for me.

 “My brother Andrew has done a great job in designing the label and the jolly look on Colin’s face is the way he should be remembered.

“Chateau Loughlin is a lovely, easy drinking wine from the South of France, made with predominantly with Syrah grapes.  I’m sure Colin would approve.

“If people like it at the food festival we will have it here at Gales afterwards and raise more money for the Canal Boat Trust.”

Another committee member, Phil Davies, has many fond memories of chatting with Colin over a glass of wine.

He said: “It is very appropriate that we are raising money in his memory with red wine because that was Colin’s preferred drink.

“Colin was a hugely popular figure in Llangollen as was shown at his funeral when people were queuing outside the crematorium.

“We were both members of Canal Boat Trust and Colin did a tremendous amount of work for them because it was very close to his heart, so it is fitting that the money raised at his funeral and anything raise from this wine will go towards a defibrillator for the Lady Winifred.

“He was a very kind, generous man and he will be sorely missed by everyone at this year’s event but we will be raising a glass of Chateau Loughlin in his honour.”