Llan councillor hits out over Brexit celebration picture

Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms (pictured) has criticised his predecessor for celebrating Britain's departure from Europe.

Yesterday (Friday) llanblogger featured a picture sent by former county councillor and town mayor Stuart Davies of his yacht, which is moored in Portugal, dressed in the national flags of Wales, England and Scotland to mark Brexit, of which he was a keen supporter.

In response Cllr Timms says: "It’s a pity that one of our former county councillors thinks that it’s a good idea to send pictures of his private yacht in Portugal to celebrate the split between Europe and the UK.

"We need to remember that 48% of the population (and rather more than that in Llangollen) are disappointed about the split."

* Stuart Davies's boat dressed to mark Brexit.

On Britain's first post-Brexit day Cllr Timms added: "I will not be celebrating today, but I will continue to work to bring our community together, whether they voted to leave or to remain.

"This town has a long history of welcoming people from across Europe and the rest of the world and it is my hope and belief that our community will continue to do that.

"We also need to make sure that we give our support the organisations in our town that foster these relationships, particularly the International Eisteddfod, ECTARC and our schools." 

Meanwhile, Stuart Davies has sent in a picture of his welcome to Portugal by a local government official as part of his temporary residence in the country ...

Former Llangollen mayor celebrates Brexit Day

Former Llangollen mayor and county councillor Stuart Davies (pictured) has sent in this picture of his boat, which he keeps in Portugal, "dressed for Brexit Day" with the national flags of Wales, England and Scotland.

Mr Davies has been a keen supporter of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union.

Police boss: Don't prosecute people using medical cannabis

A police boss is calling for assurances that people using cannabis for medicinal purposes will not be prosecuted.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones (pictured) has written to the head of the Crown Prosecution Service in Wales asking for a guarantee that sick people will not be hauled before the courts for trying to alleviate their conditions.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, is a long term advocate of drug reform.

He was deeply touched by the recent death of Phil James, a young father from North Wales who took cannabis oil to prolong his life after being diagnosed with a brain tumour at the aged of 33.

Mr James’ case made global headlines after he advocated for the use of CBD which contains banned Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

The father-of-one from Oakenholt, near Flint, said the oil shrunk his tumour and staved off seizures allowing him to spend longer with his wife Nicola and their 15-month-old daughter, Phoebe.

He was diagnosed with a grade three tumour at the end of 2015 and it dramatically reduced in size after taking the drug.  

But Mr James then suffered a minor stroke and a CAT scan revealed a secondary tumour, causing him to suffer a series of falls, in February 2018.   

He died at Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham on January 5. 

According to Mr Jones, the case of Phil James was a perfect example of why it was necessary to ensure that people who took medicinal cannabis should not have the additional worry of being threatened with the possibility of prosecution.

It was, he said, “cruel and inhumane” for people to be criminalised for being seriously ill.

In his letter to Chief Crown Prosecutor Barry Hughes, the police and crime commissioner wrote: “I am writing to you to request your support in preventing the prosecution of those using cannabis for medical purposes.

“On the 1st November 2018 the UK Government announced that cannabis products can be legally prescribed to individuals who could benefit from the medicine. “Cannabis based products have been proven to help those suffering with a number of issues including MS, Parkinson disease and epilepsy.

“Since the legalisation of medical cannabis there have only been two individuals that have received an NHS prescription for the drug.

“Unfortunately there are hundreds of individuals in the UK that need medical cannabis to continue to live without pain and enable them to lead a normal life.

“To those who don’t have an NHS prescription they are left with two options, the first is to pay for a private prescription and the second is to cultivate cannabis with a risk of receiving a criminal record. The cost of a private prescription for medical cannabis can be up to £3,000 a month. This is a cost which is impossible to sustain yet these individuals are increasing their debts and using their savings just to live a pain free life and prevent prosecution.

“In October 2019 MPs hosted a Cross Parliamentary meeting on Drug Reform called ‘forced to break the law: how should police respond to medical cannabis users’. 

“During this meeting we heard from individuals who use cannabis to relieve their symptoms yet spend their days worrying that they will be prosecuted for their cannabis use.

“During the meeting we heard about Lesley Gibson an MS patient who has spent the last year awaiting prosecution for the cultivation of cannabis.

“In January 2019 Lesley’s home in Carlisle was raided by Cumbria Police and her cannabis plants were removed. Lesley could not afford a private prescription and was left with no option but to medicate herself for her MS and grow her own cannabis plants. Her local Crown Prosecution Service decided to take the case to where she was acquitted. The Crown decided that it was not in the public interest to prosecute an individual who cultivated cannabis for medical purposes only.

“Is this now National CPS Policy that it is not in the public interest to prosecute users of medical cannabis? If so I welcome this progressive policy change and I agree that it is not in the public interest to prosecute users of medicinal cannabis.

“Individuals are forced to cultivate medicinal cannabis because the UK Government will not support widespread prescribing of pharmaceutical cannabis by the NHS.

I look forward to receiving clarification from the Director of Public Prosecutions.”

Choral concert for St David's Day

Firework crackdown backed by councillors

Denbighshire County Council has supported a raft of recommendations to regulate the use of fireworks in the county.

A Notice of Motion, put forward by Councillors Brian Blakeley, Gwyneth Kensler and Julian Thompson-Hill and supported by councillors meeting in Ruthin, means that:

• Organisers of all public firework displays within the local authority boundaries will be encouraged to advertise in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people
• The Council will actively promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people – including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks;
• The Council will write to the Welsh Government urging them to utilise any levers at their disposal to mitigate any negative impacts on animals and vulnerable people of the hosting of fireworks displays;
• The authority will also write to the UK Government urging them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90 decibels for those sold to the public for private displays;
• All local suppliers of fireworks will be encouraged to stock “quieter” fireworks for public display.
• Further work will take place with the Council’s public protection team to see what other action can be taken.

MP signs holocaust book of commitment

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes this week signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment in the Houses of Parliament, marking Holocaust Memorial Day 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

After signing he said: "May we never forget the persecution of the Jewish people. I know my constituents in Clwyd South will join me in pledging to honour those who died in the concentration camps of Europe during the Holocaust, paying tribute to the survivors and ensuring that anti-semitism is eradicated from our lives.”

Police appeal follows serious A5 collision

Two people sustained serious injuries following a road traffic collision on the A5 in Glyndyfrdwy near Corwen yesterday afternoon (Wednesday, January 29th).

North Wales Police were called shortly before 3:30pm to a report of a two vehicle collision involving a Honda Civic and a Ford Ka.

The driver of the Honda was initially taken to the Wrexham Maelor Hospital but he has since been transferred to hospital in Stoke.

The female driver of the Ford Ka was airlifted by the Air Ambulance to hospital in Stoke.

Both have sustained serious but not life threatening injuries.

PC Anja Macleod of the Roads Policing Unit is appealing for any potential witnesses to come forward. She said: “The black Honda was travelling towards Corwen from Llangollen with the Ford Ka travelling in the opposite direction and I am appealing to anybody who saw either vehicle prior to the collision, or anybody who may have been travelling in the area and who may have dash cam footage to contact us.”

Anybody with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit on 101 or via the live web chat quoting incident number Y012719.