People have been metal detecting illegally on the grounds of a historic North Wales castle, police say.
According to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press, North Wales Police's Rural Crime team says its officers have been informed of the issue at Castell Dinas Brân in Llangollen.
* For the full story, see: https://www.facebook.com/150777091689187/posts/3407494026017461/
* An example of the new Young Carers ID card.
ID cards for young carers to help easily identify themselves as having a caring role are launching across 11 local authorities - including Denbighshire - today to coincide with Young Carers’ Action Day.The ID card will give young carers a quick way to inform teachers, pharmacists and GPs, staff in supermarkets, and community services such as leisure centres and local transport, that they look after someone.
It will also help them access their rights under the Social Services and Well-being Wales Act 2014, including their right to a carers’ needs assessment.
As well as a physical card other formats of ID are being tested, for example an app in Anglesey and Gwynedd or a wristband. With engagement with young carers, a national logo has also been created.
As part of the north Wales activity, local young carers have been involved with designing the ID card, including Joshua Hughes, 15, from Colwyn Bay. He said: “I help look after my brother. I have enjoyed being part of the group designing the young carers ID card.”
Hannah Mushrow, 11, from Flintshire, cares for her older brother. She said: "I help care for my 17 year old brother, he has Smith-Magenis Syndrome. Although he is 17 years old he is really like a 3 year old in lots of things he does, but looks 17. I call him my big, little brother."
In November, Ceredigion was the first local authority to launch a card under the Welsh Government’s national ID card project, with Torfaen local authority and young carers’ service launching their card yesterday.
Welsh Government will make £150,000 of funding available for local authorities in 2021 to 2022 to further support the roll-out of the national ID card scheme, with the aim of ensuring every local authority area of Wales has a scheme in place by 2022.
Carers Trust Wales have been awarded £36,000 to produce information resources and provide training to health and education professionals to help them better understand the issues which affect young carers.
Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services Julie Morgan said: “Too often the ability of a young carer to achieve and progress in their studies or have a life alongside caring is hindered because schools, health professionals and others don’t know who or what a young carer is, or how to help them. I want young carers to be able to identify themselves to others in a quick and easy way, so they can get the right help and support they need."
This year’s Young Carers’ Action Day is focussing on the theme of ‘protecting young carers’ futures’ and in north Wales, Wrexham AFC is sponsoring the day and joint launch for six local authorities.
Disability Liaison Officer at Wrexham AFC, Kerry Evans, said: “We at Wrexham AFC are very proud to be celebrating and highlighting Young Carers Action Day 2021 by dedicating our match day today.
“Our club is very dedicated to raising awareness of the outstanding work young carers do within our local community. The more awareness raised of these unsung heroes the better.”
As the latest Coronavirus restrictions ask people in Wales to stay local, Visit Wales will be relaunching its Addo campaign, asking people to make a promise as they start exploring their local communities once again to care for each other, for our land and for our communities.
Addo means to promise and the campaign is about people working together,making a collective promise to care for each other and our country.
The virtual pledge can be signed on visitwales.com/promise
Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “As we all prepare to explore a little further again, it’s important that we stay local, and that we all play a part to keep Wales safe by not venturing further.
"This is the time to make a
promise together, to do the little things that will make a big difference and
to protect the beauty that’s around us and to respect our communities.
“We all need to stay safe for Wales
to stay open and to allow us to move together towards a more normal life. This
is within the gift of all of us. No one wants us to have to reintroduce
restrictions, to retreat from the progress we have made. Only by working
together, can we help keep Wales safe.”
The activity will initially be rolled out within Wales and will include a mix of digital, PR and out of home advertising.
The second phase will include TV, radio and will be extended to target visitors in key markets once restrictions are lifted further.
The Welsh Government has offered financial support to local authorities to prepare for the re-opening of the visitor economy.
WLGA Spokesperson for Tourism, Cllr Huw Thomas said, “The visitor economy is vital to the economy of Wales.
"Local authorities are supportive of re-opening it safely on a phased and careful basis. Government funding for Councils and National Parks is warmly welcomed.
"It will enable us to plan and manage the visitor economy to be safe over a busy summer. We will be able to give re-assurance to local communities and benefit the economy, and by working together we can maintain public health and re-open the economy.”
Visit Wales is also working in
partnership with the industry on a reconstruction and resilience plan for the
future of the visitor economy in Wales.
* The pledge can be signed on the website www.visitwales.com/promise
A social care leader says many care homes are in an “impossible position” after indoor visits by family and friends were given the go-ahead.
Mary Wimbury, the chief executive of Care Forum
Wales, praised the Welsh Government for their cautious approach to the issue.
However, expectations were sky high after the
easing of the rules that means that residents may be allowed one designated
indoor visitor.
Ms Wimbury stressed that while indoor visits were
being permitted again, beyond exceptional circumstances, care homes would need
to undertake a rigorous risk assessment before judging visits could safely take
place
Many care homes were
“terrified" amid concerns a vaccine-resistant variant of the virus could
appear at a time when health experts are convinced a third wave of the disease
is inevitable.
Another problem that
had emerged was the wildly fluctuating rate of second doses of the vaccine
being given to people aged over 80, many of whom lived in care homes.
She said: “Whilst it is excellent news that we are
now able to begin the process of reopening care homes to visitors, it will be a
phased approach and it is imperative that we proceed with caution.
“It will not be like pressing a button and
everybody returning immediately to the normality that existed before the
pandemic struck.
“We are looking forward to welcoming some sort of
normality in the weeks and months ahead.
“Quite rightly, the Welsh Government has said the
decision about visiting will be left to individual care homes who will carry
out careful risk assessments.
“As the Welsh Government have said, in many
cases it will be about preparing for the reintroduction of visiting rather than
it happening straight away.
“Infection and community transmission rates still
vary in different parts of Wales and the Kent variant and other mutant strains
are a real cause for concern.
“What we don’t know is how effective the vaccine is
against some of the newer variants of Covid, particularly with what’s going on
in Brazil.
“Health experts are warning that the new strain
that’s causing such devastation in Brazil could sweep across the world. It’s
absolutely raging.
“As the First Minister pointed out, we are facing
an inevitable third wave of coronavirus and we have to take great care to
protect our residents and our staff.
“Clearly, we want to get people back together again
but we need to get more data on the vaccinations.
“The rate at which people aged over 80 in Wales –
many of whom are in care homes - are receiving their second doses of vaccine
fluctuates wildly, depending on where you are in Wales -from 0.1 per cent in
Pembrokeshire to 48.4 per cent in Torfaen.
“In North Wales, the lowest percentage of second
doses for the over 80s is in Wrexham which stands at 1.4 per cent while the
highest is Conwy at 21.4 per cent.
“The vaccine roll-out in Wales has hitherto been a
real success story so these new figures are baffling and a cause for concern.
“Whilst the first dose will provide a good degree
of immunity, it is important that people are able to have the second jab to
provide better protection, particularly in the case of people aged over 80 who
are more likely to be frail and therefore more vulnerable.
“We will be contacting Public Health Wales to ask
for an explanation and an assurance that, if these figures are correct, there
are not these extreme fluctuations in future so that the distribution is fairer
and more even across Wales.
“The other factor is that care homes that have
recorded positive cases during the routine weekly testing will be flagged as
red and the whole home will be closed down for 20 days.
“They are often false positive results but they can
still close you down for 20 days. That means no visiting.
“Anyone that thinks we’re out of the woods needs to
think again because the resumption of indoor visiting must be done extremely
carefully.
“We’re all doing our utmost to bring back some
normality but everybody needs to understand the fluidity of the situation.
“If you have a 50-bed care home that’s full and
potentially 50 relatives coming in, the home will not know if they’ve been
vaccinated or who they have been mixing with.
“Everyone understand that we have come through the
most hideous 12 months since the pandemic was declared and there is now light
at the end of that very dark tunnel.
“Care Forum Wales wants to see family members and
care home residents united again but we would certainly support care homes in
adopting a cautious approach. Some of these care homes are in an impossible
situation because they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
“In fairness though, the Welsh Government has been far more sensible than their counterparts across the border and they deserve a great deal of credit for their understanding and cautious approach. You can’t press a button and it’s all happy days.”
A Flintshire county councillor, he says: "Having, lived, studied and worked in North Wales my whole life, I have a deep understanding of the challenges we all currently face in our communities.
"There are some who I listen to saying that they feel left behind and their voices aren’t getting heard. I hear you and I want to make a positive difference in people’s lives. I want to be your voice and the bridge linking North Wales Police to our communities.
"As a proactive county councillor for many years, and with the last six years being Armed Forces Champion, I have used my vast experience to lead - and achieve - the Gold award of Governments’ Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) throughout a period of significant cuts and changes.
"Despite the many challenges, and by working closely with many Chief Officers and their teams, I have built a strong network across many public services.
"I work constructively with others across the six Local Authorities of North Wales along with third sector and other voluntary/community groups. I have delivered in making our Armed Forces community of North Wales as an inspiration for others to follow. This is also widely recognised as I’m elected as North Wales Armed Forces Strategic Group Vice-chair.
"Whilst employed previously
as a Social Innovation Outreach Worker, I was involved in developing and
sustaining positive relationships with a wide range of local people including
community leaders, council officers, local groups and third sector organisations. I
pride myself on engagement, listening and strategising. This has played a huge
part in my successes to date.
"My deeply-embedded
partnership approach has always paid dividends for all parts of our community
so that we all benefit. I have solid knowledge and experience within
Local Government, third sector and other public services – vital attributes
needed as a Police Crime Commissioner. I am also an ambassador for the White
Ribbon campaign.
"I have five pledges which are
outlined below:
1. To champion local
neighbourhood policing - giving communities a real say in policing for their
areas and increasing Police visibility. We all want to feel safe and
secure.
2. To adopt a ‘victim
first’ approach to policing, putting victims of crime first and ensure that
their rights are protected.
3. Keep up our fight
against violence against women and girls and all forms of domestic violence. As
a White Ribbon Ambassador I promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent
about male violence against women.
4. Ensure North Wales
Police is fully equipped to deal with the future of online threats, working
with colleagues across Wales.
5. Ensuring a value for money in police budgets, and prioritising local policing teams. It is public money for public services."
Ann Griffith is the Plaid Cymru candidate.
Born in Wrexham, she spent her formative years in Barmouth.
She trained as a mental health social worker and for 40 years has progressed her professional career to senior management, always focused on protecting the most vulnerable adults and children across north Wales.
For over 10 years she was a Ministry of Justice Public Appointee working for the Court of Protection.
She has lived on Anglesey since 1984 where she raised her family.
She served as county councillor, taking on challenging portfolios, Adult and Children Services and Planning and Chair of the Planning Committee.
Ms Griffith says she honed her chairing and scrutiny skills which equipped her for the role as Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for north Wales.
If elected, she says she will consult widely with diverse communities to understand their crime concerns, on which her policing plan will be based.
She adds that she will use her leadership skills to ensure good governance, essential to deliver an effective and efficient police service, and hold the Chief Constable to account.
She promises to be innovative in preventing and reducing crime and work in collaboration with other key agencies to put victims at the heart of the criminal justice system.
BMW 3 Series 330e M Sport Touring road test by Steve Rogers
With the best will in the world economy and an M Sport
BMW don't go hand in hand so why am I going to tell you about the German speed
machine that gave me almost 60mpg?
No prizes for guessing that an electric motor has a
lot to do with it. We are moving swiftly into a new motoring era and like all
around BMW is doing its best to keep up, in this case building the first 3
Series plug-in hybrid mating a 68hp electric motor to a 2-litre petrol engine.
It means the car can be driven under purely electric power for up to 30 miles so if you were to take a 50 mile drive the hybrid could reach the official economy figure of 128mpg.
Back to reality, my journey
was a 200 mile round trip to the Midlands (work, of course) when I used up my
electric quota and, according to the dashboard computer, managed 58.4mpg, not
at all bad considering there was a lot of motorway cruising between 60 and
70mph.
Clearly the best way to get maximum economy is to keep
the battery charged which takes around three and a half hours from a wall
mounted charging box, or six hours plugged into a domestic socket. A word of
caution. Put pedal to the metal in electric mode and the charge will be used up
before you know it.
Given the M Sport's mouth watering performance, it has
an extra 40hp for 10 seconds when you really need it, and superlative handling,
it begs the question who benefits from buying an M Sport hybrid? The only
answer I can come up with is the company car runner because the low emissions
slash the annual tax bill.
Let's forget about the economy and assess if the new 3
Series Touring is a worthy buy. The sixth generation came out last year,
probably unnoticed in the Covid catastrophe, but there are some points worth noting.
The new model has grown all round, most noticeably an
extra 76mm in length adding a little more rear seat legroom, and extra boot
space with a wider opening to help with loading larger items. Best of all the
tailgate window opens so shopping bags can be quickly dropped in if space
around the back is tight.
Not that it is anywhere near the league leaders (Skoda
Superb, Volkswagen Passat) in fact the boot is only a tad bigger than a smaller
Skoda Octavia, and the hybrid loses some space because of the battery pack
stowed under the floor.
I keep coming back to the question: Who buys a 3
Series Touring for its space? Probably someone with a 3 Series saloon. And that
person will be more than happy because it is in a class of its own when it
comes to handling, says someone who is a huge fan of the Jaguar XE and Audi A4.
The all wheel drive M Sport gets stiffer suspension so
don't expect a magic carpet ride, but it still does a damn fine job. You will
hear the thud of a pothole but won't feel much because the shock is dissipated
before it reaches the seat of your pants.
Driving position is spot on and the new seats have
plenty of support keeping you planted while swishing through bends.
The dashboard has been reworked with state of the art
graphics in a superbly crisp 12.3inch
digital driver's binnacle, a much larger head up display, and an equally
sharp and easy to use screen in the centre console. This is touch screen
although, thankfully, BMW has retained the rotary controller by the gear lever
which is a safer and easier way of selecting the multitude of functions.
Voice control worked well too, but I would need more
time to get my head around gesture control which was baffling.
No matter how impressive are the high tech
communication and safety systems, of which there are a great many, the single
most enjoyable feature of a 3 Series is getting behind the wheel and driving.
Whether it is the exhilarating feeling gliding through bends or playing with
the steering wheel mounted shifting panels for the 8 speed auto box, this is
driving heaven.
Beemers aren't cheap but there is a reason for that -
engineering excellence. The Touring starts at £35,505 but if you are prepared
to spend bigger bucks then the plug-in hybrid becomes a no brainer given the
combination of performance and the impressive economy.
Footnote: I agree with everyone who thinks BMW has
spoilt the front of their cars by joining the famous kidney grilles together.
Big mistake!
Fast facts
330e xDrive M Sport Touring
£44,265 (test car with extras £53,000)
2.0 litre petrol+electric motor; 252bhp
Electric range 32 miles
0-60mph 5.9secs; 140mph
128.8-156.9mpg
41g/km. First tax £10
Boot: 410-1420 litres (hybrid)
