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Monday, March 4, 2024

Police to offer businesses tips on beating shoplifting at free conference

* Supt Jon Bowcott , North Wales Police, and Ashley Rogers, Chair of North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) with bags full of seized stolen property.             

A police crackdown on retail crime across North Wales has led to a “hugely positive” 9%  increase in the detection rate for shoplifting that’s bucking the UK trend.

But the officer running the campaign, Supt Jon Bowcott, says he’s not resting on his laurels and is the first to admit there’s still a lot of work to do.

Since last Autumn he’s been the North Wales Police lead on retail crime and he’s set up a task force to combat it.

Supt  Bowcott will be giving an update on the crackdown and offering advice and guidance at a special conference – titled Protect Your Business! Expert Session - that’s free for North Wales businesses next month.

The event between 10.30am and 1pm on Thursday, March 7, at the Scala Cinema in Prestatyn, is being organised by the North Wales Police and Community Trust (PACT) in conjunction with North Wales Police and the North Wales Business Council.

Other speakers will be focusing on how businesses can guard against cyber crime and property theft as well as dealing with anti-social behaviour and spotting the signs of modern day slavery.

The renewed push on detecting retail crime in the region comes against a backdrop of a significant increase in offences across the UK – with a 32% hike in England and a 36% rise in Wales as a whole.

While the 24%  increase in North Wales is smaller, there have been 800 more shoplifting offences  reported in the region since last April, compared to the previous year.

The good news is that a growing number of shoplifting crimes are being now detected as a result of the force’s campaign.

When it started in the Autumn, the detection rate was running at 29% and had increased to just over 38% during January.

The onslaught has been particularly effective in Wrexham where there has been a 9.6% drop in the number of shoplifting offences.

Supt Bowcott said: “There has been a national trend where retail theft was increasingly dealt with over the phone if the offender wasn’t there.

“We’re moving away from that and switching it around so that the default option is that we will attend when retail thefts have been committed, particularly where an offender has been detained, where violence has been used or threatened or where there are enquiries at the scene the would benefit from an officer attending. 

“To oversee our response and analyse performance I am chairing a coordination group made up of key individuals from across the force to ensure we continue to make progress.

“Essentially, we are having a renewed focus on combatting retail crime because it’s about fulfilling the message of our mission to make North Wales the safest place to live, work and visit in the UK.

“Cracking down on retail crime aligns well the force’s vision set by our Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman and is absolutely the right thing to do.

“We started this half way through the crime recording year which runs April to April and, despite an increase in reporting which is a national trend,  we have seen an increase in the outcome rates in the past three or four months.

“When we started we were detecting around 29 per cent of shoplifting incidents and the monthly positive outcome rate for January was 38.3 per cent so we are seeing green shoots but we are not complacent because there is more to do.

“It’s not just about convicting people either  because I recognise there are people who struggling with substance misuse  or other difficulties so we are also involved with our prevention team who look at methods of offender management that can address some of their lifestyle challenges and sign post them to support.

“One area I want to develop is dealing with repeat offenders to prevent that demand happening. Dealing with the prolific offenders can have a big impact – probably 80 per cent of offending is carried out by 20 per cent of offenders.”

According to Ashley Rogers, the Chair of PACT and Chief Executive of the North Wales Business Council, the improvement in the detection rate for shoplifting was “hugely positive and encouraging” news.

He said: “Coming out of Covid, people’s behaviour is different and the economy is different and retail theft has increased as well as a perception that anti-social behaviour has become more of a problem.

“For North Wales businesses who are on the front line in terms of handling these issues, it’s really valuable to have an insight from the experts along with guidance  how to manage things if and when it happens or even avoid it by designing your premises in such a way that would discourage it.

“Over and above that you have the scourge of exploitative modern slavery and there are elements of the problem, like the involvement of organised gangs, that businesses might not be aware of.

“It’s really important that businesses are able to spot the signs of this insidious, often hidden crime, so they can report any suspicions to the police. In uncertain economic times it’s never been more important for us all to pull together to make North Wales an even safer place, especially with the very high cost of living.”

* For more information and to book a place go to  https://bit.ly/49zq4t9

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

 

Hall Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire


04 March - 15 March

 

Roadworks, Delays likely

 

Traffic management: Road closure

 

Description: REPLACE 13M OF OLD METALLIC GAS MAINS WITH NEW PLASTIC MAINS AND RENEW/TRANSFER ANY AFFECTED SERVICE

 

Works location: JUNC REGENT STREET - JUNC HILL STREET

 

Public facing description: Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales & West Utilities Ltd.

 

Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: XY254003001625599

 

 

 

Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire


04 March - 06 March

 

Roadworks, Delays unlikely

 

Traffic management: No carriageway incursion

 

Description: Removal of electricity supply from redundant street furniture including the excavation and reinstatement of the footway

 

Works location: Base Post, Side Of 36

 

Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Scottish Power Renewable Energy.

 

Responsibility for works: Scottish Power Renewable Energy

 

Current status: Planned work about to start

 

Works reference: GY5502101508827

 


Saturday, March 2, 2024

What's coming up at Pengwern Hub

The following events are due to take place at Pengwern Hub:






Llangollen listed as one of UK's 10 best Christmas towns


* Magnificent seventh: Llangollen's mention in the TimeOut list.

Llangollen gets star billing in a magazine's 10 best Christmas towns in the UK.

The Denbighshire tourism attraction takes seventh place in the guide by TimeOut which also features the likes of  the royal town of Windsor in Berkshire, coastal beauty spot Mousehole in Cornwall and Shakespeare's birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire.

Llangollen is the only Welsh town to be featured in the list. 

The magazine says: "Throughout November and December many of these towns turn into something out of a Christmas movie, with everything from Shakespeare-themed candlelit walks and renowned light shows to festive railway rides and good old pantomimes on show. "

And of Llangollen it says: "Straddling the banks of the River Dee, Llangollen is a gorgeous Welsh gem well worth a winter visit – especially during its Christmas Festival, where the traditional Welsh Siôn Corn (Chimney Jack) dons his green outfit, rather than the famous red, when switching on the lights. 

"The kids will also love the Santa Special: a two-hour journey from Llangollen to Lapland (Carrog) and back including a visit and a gift from Santa. 

"Over at Llangollen Wharf, adults can enjoy a four-hour luxury Christmas afternoon tea boat ride, or even join the party boat which includes a retro buffet and a DJ playing the biggest festive hits."

The full list of 10 is:

1. Windsor, Berkshire

2. Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire

3. Mousehole, Cornwall

4. Ludlow, Shropshire

5. Oban, Argyll

6. Bournville, Birmingham

7. Llangollen, Denbighshire

8. Whitby, Yorkshire

9. Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

10. Buxton, Derbyshire 

Friday, March 1, 2024

Happy St David's Day from llanblogger

llanblogger says: 




World wishes Llangollen a happy St David's Day

* Welsh folk superstars Calan, who headline the 'Wales Welcomes the World' concert at the core Llangollen Eisteddfod on July 3, are amongst those who have sent St David's Day messages.

St David's Day messages from America, Canada, China, the Czech Republic and Japan will be beamed to Llangollen at a special Gamanfa Ganu held this Sunday at St Collen’s Church. 

The messages have been sent by competitors and performers heading to Wales this summer for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

The night will feature conductor Trystan Lewis and Shea Ferron of Johns’ Boys Male Chorus, as well as the celebrated Derwent Harp School. 

Others who have sent messages for the evening include Broadway star John Owen-Jones, and Welsh folk superstars Calan, both of whom will be heading to Llangollen in July to perform evening concerts during the Core Eisteddfod Week. 

Over the past few weeks, competitors have been sending in their St David’s Day messages for the event. This includes videos from dance groups, community bands, children’s choirs, a rock band, and a male voice choir. 

Vice-Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod John Gambles said: "These messages will make our St David's Day Gamnfa Ganu even more special. This Sunday night, people can expect an amazing traditional Welsh evening, backed up by some tremendous performances sent in from across the World. We would like to thank everyone who sent messages for St David's Day."

The Gymanfa Ganu is an integral part of the Welsh heritage. It is a unique feature of Welsh music - a festival of sacred hymns sung by the audience in four-part harmony under the direction of a choral conductor.   

Elen Mair Roberts, a member of the Music and Staging committee, said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of Trystan Lewis. He is a very popular and highly experienced choral director, and we’re delighted that he will be leading our St David’s Day celebrations in Llangollen. If you have never been to a Gymanfa Ganu you’re in for a real treat.” 

Tickets, priced £10, are available from llangollen.net and from the Llangollen Tourist Information Centre. You can also pay on the night. Doors open at 7pm. The event will raise money for the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod charity. 

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Views sought on plan for 'safer and easier' travel through Brook Street area

* The areas around Brook Street covered by the new plan.


* Action points of the proposed plan.

The views of Llangollen people are being sought on a plan to make travel through the Brook Street area of town easier and safer. 

The area is part of a route that connects residents of Gwernant and pupils of Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant and Ysgol Bryn Collen with shops and services in the town centre.

 

Denbighshire Council is currently working on the scheme with Sustrans Cymru and Transport for Wales with backing from the Welsh Government’s Active Travel Fund.

 

This helps Welsh councils to develop, promote, and support walking, wheeling, and cycling schemes in their area. 

In March 2023, Sustrans asked local people to tell them which parts of Brook Street work well and which don’t.   

Workshops were held with children and their parents outside school gates and at the town hall with residents. There were also online and postal surveys for people who couldn’t take part in person.  

People told Sustrans they were worried about vehicles travelling too fast, that there were too many cars at school drop-off and pick-up times that roads were difficult to cross, and that the footpaths were too narrow.     

Sustrans came up with some ideas on possible ways to fix these problems, which included:

 

·                  Timed road closures at school pick-up and drop-off times

·                  Wider footpaths

·                  Safer crossings at junctions

·                  More and better crossing points

·                  Slowing cars and other vehicles down to 20mph

 

Based on these points a plan has been developed and people are again being asked to voice their opinions on it. 


Two drop-in workshops will be held during March at which everyone is welcome to join the conversation. 

In-person Workshop 1 will be held outside the gates at Ysgol Bryn -Collen/Ysgol Gymraeg y Gwernant on Thursday March 14, from 2.30-4pm, when Sustrans and Denbighshire County Council staff will be available to talk about the project, answer questions, and collect feedback.

In-person Workshop 2 will be at Llangollen Town Hall on Thursday March 14, from 6-8pm. Again, staff will be on hand to gather feedback. 

People can also take part in an online survey, which will be available until March 28. The link to it isBrook Street Active Travel Design Survey (jisc.ac.uk)

You can request a paper copy of the survey by emailing: Llangollen@sustrans.org.uk, or writing to Sustrans at 1 Canal Parade, Dumballs Road, Cardiff, CF10 5BF.