Plans to demolish a former Llangollen hotel in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to make way for a 16-home development have been rejected by county councillors, according to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press.
For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/19307377.llangollen-hotel-redevelopment-plan-area-outstanding-natural-beauty-rejected/
A new police boss has pledged to pull out all the stops to combat the growing tide of online crime.
Tech savvy Andy Dunbobbin, 46, was speaking on his first official day in office as North Wales
Police and Crime Commissioner after succeeding Arfon Jones in the job.
Standing for Labour, father-of-two Mr Dunbobbin
said that winning the election was one of the proudest moments of his life and
he vowed to represent everyone in North Wales, regardless of their political
affiliations.
A native of Connah’s Quay in Flintshire, he is the
son and grandson of steelworkers whose family was hit hard when in 1980 British
Steel axed 6,500 jobs at Shotton Steel.
It‘s still the
biggest industrial redundancy on a single day in Western Europe and the cataclysmic economic and social blow and the decades of deprivation
it caused in Deeside forged his values and his view of the world.
But it was another family crisis, he said, that
inspired him to dedicate himself to the idea of public service.
He and his wife, Louise, took in four other
children as kinship carers and overnight they became a family of eight.
The support they received at the time persuaded Mr
Dunbobbin that he wanted to be in a position to do practical things to help
other people and in 2013 he was elected to Flintshire County Council.
His greatest professional claim to fame so far is
that he played a role in ensuring that the 2012 London Olympics was
successfully beamed across the world to an audience measured in billions.
At the time he was working as a technical team
leader for a local network company and was responsible for carrying out
rigorous checks on the vast array of technology used by the outside broadcast
units at the Olympic Games, the biggest sporting event in the world.
Fast forward to 2021 and he says the chance to
stand for election as the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner was an
opportunity that was too good to pass up.
He said: “I am passionate about the idea of public
service because a lot of things have happened in my life and I want to
serve the people of North Wales.
“Where there’s a challenge, I will always step up
to the plate. There have been things in my life – like being a kinship
carer for and going from a family four to being a family of eight overnight -
that have demonstrated my commitment to doing the right thing.
“When there’s a challenge, I will always step up to
the plate. I am rooted in the community and I want to make a positive
difference in people’s lives, learning from each other and working together so
that we all benefit.
“The reason I wanted to stand to become the North
Wales Police and Crime Commissioner is because I know how important it is
to keep families and communities safe. It really matters to people how safe and
secure they are.
“There is so much influence this role can have in
improving our can improve our communities.
“My manifesto is going to be like my blueprint for
the next three years to provide the strategic direction of North Wales Police
and that’s what I am going to be measured against.
“Crime does not just happen on the streets any
more, it also happens online and that is a massive challenge for the
police.
“Online crime manifests itself in so many different
ways, ranging from fraud to sexual exploitation and hate crime.
“The criminals are becoming more sophisticated by
the day and it is vital that the police also continue to be more tech savvy.
“Because of my background, I am used to using
really sophisticated software packages and equipment.
“We have to invest to make sure that North Wales
Police has the most up-to-date technology available to them to combat
online criminals. We want to future proof the force’s technology and ensure
greater value for money.
“I believe my knowledge and expertise in this area
will be a real strength.
“On the ground, I want to improve the visibility of
North Wales Police because we all know that prevention is better than cure – a
police presence provides reassurance to people.
“The Welsh Government has committed to increasing
the number of PCSOs in Wales from 500 to 600. I will be having conversations to
make sure that North Wales gets its fair share.
“Something else I feel strongly about is investing
in victim services, including setting up a victims’ panel. I want to give
victims a voice to give an opportunity to victims and survivors to tell us what
can be done better.
“North Wales Police is recognised throughout the UK
for the significant improvements they have made in terms of rural policing and
this is something I want to build on.
“Although I live in a largely urban area, I am
committed to providing the best possible policing service for the whole of
North Wales, including rural areas.”
Mr Dunbobbin also wanted to pay tribute to his
predecessor, Arfon Jones, who has retired.
He said: “Arfon needs to be congratulated on the
work he has achieved, particularly over the past year during the pandemic which
has caused unprecedented challenges for the force.”
Stephen Hughes, the Chief Executive of the Office
of the Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “On behalf of the team, I would
like to offer our sincere congratulations to Andy on winning the election to
become the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.
“We look forward to supporting him to draft a new Police and Crime Plan to outline the strategic priorities of North Wales Police and to scrutinise the force to ensure that these objectives are carried out to make North Wales an even safer place to live and work.”
Enthusiasts at Llangollen Railway have made a last-ditch appeal to save a historic crane being sold off along with other assets from the liquidated public limited company.
Following the PLC going into receivership with debts of around £350,000 in March various assets of the heritage attraction were put up for online auction to pay off creditors.
A massive fundraising appeal enabled the completely separate Railway Trust, which is perfectly solvent, to buy up sufficient assets, including rolling stock, to be able to press ahead with its plans to re-open the railway later this summer.
But there wasn’t enough money raised to buy everything, including a 50-ton Cowans
Sheldon crane.
According to a post on the
unofficial Llangollen Railway Facebook page on Saturday, this is a historic
vehicle and the only one of its kind still in operation.
Despite it already having been
sold for scrap, an appeal has been launched to keep it at the railway.
The post says: “As has been
mentioned elsewhere, our 50 ton Cowans Sheldon crane has been purchased by a scrap
merchant, who we understand wishes to break it up on site.
“This is an historic vehicle and we understand the only one of its kind left operational, having being built for the MoD as a steam crane, acquired by BR and converted to diesel operation as a breakdown crane.
“We understand the total purchase price
(including VAT and buyers premium) was around £35k.
“We have had the begging bowl out for some time
now and many folk have already donated money to our successful appeals.
However, if anyone wants to help try and make a last ditch attempt to save this
historic vehicle please contact the LR Trust as soon as possible (trustllanrail@gmail.com).
“Transporting the crane is likely to be
prohibitively expensive and require partial dismantling, which is what is likely
to have put other preservation purchasers off, so the most cost-effective and
ideal solution (for us at least!) would be for the vehicle to stay on the
railway.”
Following
the auction, the Trust said in a statement last Friday morning: "The
auction of Llangollen Railway PLC’s assets saw some “fast and furious” bidding
for the coaching assets in particular, and the larger plant items.
"We
were delighted to secure our priority one assets, namely one accessible-adapted
coach, road railer, 12t crane and Lowmac.
"We
were similarly delighted to learn that friendly bidders have acquired two further
coaches and a significant amount of machine tools which will remain on the
Railway."
Pete
Edwards, Trust chairman, added: “Preparations can now begin in earnest to
complete the necessary works on Dee Bridge and in the tunnel. We also need
to press ahead with the necessary safety and regulatory matters.
"We are on target to reopen in late July or early August."
Pupils at Ysgol Bryn Collen will join thousands of children across the UK to celebrate the benefits of walking during Walk to School Week.
Walk to School Week, from May 17-21, is organised by Living
Streets, the UK charity for everyday walking as part of their National Walking
Month campaign each May.
Families are encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that come from small steps, from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.
This year’s challenge will focus on the ‘walking
superpowers’ that benefit individuals, communities and the planet.
Ysgol Bryn Collen children will enjoy Living Streets’ Walk to School Week classroom packs, filled with activities to complete on the way to school and in the classroom.
Each day, pupils will be introduced to a brand new ‘Walking Superpower’ taking the form of a fun comic-book inspired design. ‘Super Strong’, ‘Super Smart’, ‘Super Smiley’, ‘Super Safe’ and ‘Super Sustainable’ will teach pupils about the benefits of being active and reinforce the power of walking.
Daily reward stickers and
special reward badges are up for grabs at the end of the week for those who
travelled actively every day.
Last year, almost 200,000 children across
the country took part in Walk to School Week with this year looking to be
bigger than ever.
Ysgol Bryn Collen headteacher, Lisa Howden said: “Pupils enjoy the health and happiness that comes from walking, while schools and local communities enjoy reduced congestion and pollution."
Mary Creagh, Chief Executive, Living Streets said: “Walk to School Week is a fun, inclusive, free and simple activity, which improves the physical and mental wellbeing of children and celebrates walking for all."
A garage sale will be held at the Holy Cross church rooms, from 10.30am, on bank holiday Monday, May 31.
The rooms are at the end of the alleyway opposite the Castle Street Tourist Information Centre.
The sale will feature a wide range of household bargains and organisers say everything must go.
Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd has been able to buy up enough key assets from the liquidated PLC to continue with its plans for re-opening the heritage attraction in late July or early August, it says.
On March 1 the railway's Public Limited Company went into receivership with debts of around £350,000.
Since then the assets of the railway have been put up for online auction, which ended on Wednesday.
In the meantime, the separate Railway Trust, which remains completely solvent, has been battling to raise enough money to buy as many of the assets as possible and get the railway back on track.
Following the auction, the Trust said in a statement issued this morning: "The auction of Llangollen Railway PLC’s assets was duly completed on Wednesday 12th May.
"The bidding was fast and furious on the day for the coaching assets in particular, and the larger plant items.
"The prices paid were substantially in excess of our expectations which is good news for the PLC’s administrators and we are glad all the creditors, including those who are unsecured, will benefit accordingly.
"We were delighted to secure our priority one assets, namely one accessible-adapted coach, road railer, 12t crane and Lowmac.
"This would not have been possible without the support and dedication of our members and numerous other donors, and we thank them all.
"We were similarly delighted to learn that friendly bidders have acquired 2 further coaches and a significant amount of machine tools which will remain on the Railway."
Pete Edwards, Trust chairman, said: “It was very important to secure the principal assets which will enable us to continue preparations for reopening without further interruption.
"The support we have received from so many donors, without which we may well not be able to look forward to running again this year, and the friendly bidders, has been crucial and is very much appreciated.
"Numerous coach and plant items will be leaving the Railway which is a great shame from our point of view but at least their future in preservation is secured.
"Preparations can now begin in earnest to complete the necessary works on Dee Bridge and in the tunnel. We also need to press ahead with the necessary safety and regulatory matters.
"We are on target to reopen in late July or early August."
*Both appeals to enable the railway to re-open remain open and the trust says it would welcome further support to help fund the higher prices they had to pay for the priority items and to provide the necessary working capital to get us up and running again.
Donations can be made online at https://llangollenrailway.enthuse.com and click the Donate button, or via the railway trust's Facebook page. For taxpayers, the railway can apply for 25% Gift Aid.Alternatively, supporters are invited to send cheques payable to Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd to The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SN.
AUCTIONEERS' STATEMENT
In a statement on how the sale went James Hanson, a spokesman for auctioneers Lambert Smith Hampton, said: "The auction received an incredible amount of interest and the bidding was highly competitive resulting in the prices achieved exceeding expectations. We had over 200 bidders register for the auction and we received in excess of 1300 bids on the 50 lots.
"We had initially requested that interested parties submit offers for the assets of Llangollen Railway PLC for negotiation by private treaty. Due to the level of interest this attracted, we decided that the fairest and most effective method of disposing of the assets would be by public auction. The prices achieved were significantly higher than the offers received prior to the auction thus validating the decision to use this method of sale.
"More importantly, I understand that the Llangollen Railway Trust were successful in purchasing the assets that they require to operate and maintain the railway which is of great value to the local economy. Furthermore, I am aware of at least 2 coaches which were purchased by a private individual who intends to leave the coaches at Llangollen Railway.
"The majority of the engineering machinery will also stay on site. The 7 other coaches included in the auction were purchased by other heritage railway organisations which means that they will continue to be utilised for the purpose they were built for.
"I am therefore very confident and hopeful that the next time I visit Llangollen Railway, I will have the pleasure of travelling on a train carriage rather than having to put a lot number on it."
Clwyd South Senedd Member Ken Skates (pictured) has voluntarily stepped down from the Welsh Government's cabinet.
After
a number of years at the highest level of government, he yesterday asked First
Minister Mark Drakeford, as he reshuffled the cabinet following Welsh Labour's
election victory, to accept his resignation as the minister responsible for the
economy, transport and North Wales.
In a statement Mr Skates said: "Being re-elected as Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South is a huge honour. It has been a privilege to work with constituents over the last ten years to improve and champion our area, and I will continue to work as hard as I possibly can.
"This week I informed the First Minister of my wish to step away from Welsh Government. After eight years in government, now is the right time.
"Clwyd South has always remained my
number one priority, and my decision will enable me to spend more time in the
constituency, focusing on local matters, as well as further strengthening the
Party’s position in North Wales and further afield.
"I will continue to be a loyal
supporter of First Minister Mark Drakeford and our Welsh Labour Government from
the back benches.
"Above all, I will spend the next
five years focusing relentlessly on helping the people and communities of Clwyd
South as the local Member of the Senedd."
Announcing the
changes, the first minister paid tribute to Mr Skates, who he said would
"continue speaking up for north Wales and for Welsh Labour, but in a
different role".
He added: "We
will miss his energy and passion."
Replacing Mr Skates in the economy portfolio is former health minister Vaughan Gething and taking over his North Wales responsibility is Wrexham Senedd Member Lesley Griffiths.
