Penyffordd man in The Leader

Andrea’s brother, Wayne Russell, of Hillside Road, Penyffordd, rushed to help Andrea when she began to have a fit in her hotel room.

Link The Leader

This letter on the short comings of North Wales Police from my perspective

Which was published yesterday in The Leader.

Thank you Leader.

Dear Leader

A letter for consideration

In your article " North Wales Police call in extra officers at Treuddyn blackspot" it is stated that 10,000 motorcycle riders can pass through Treuddyn in a weekend. Whilst behaviour by motorcyclists visiting North Wales is improving there is still a substantial element who import extreme danger and unacceptable levels of noise. Is it not time for North Wales Police to throw down the gauntlet and apply the law? Why do we who live near the A5104 have to put with this constant flagrant breeches of law. North Wales should be a green and pleasant land and not a race track. I and other law abiding citizens pay our rates and expect North Wales Police to do their job.

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

Still no law and order in Chester Rd

1000 + speeders everyday

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I presume they used Hugh Jones' little magic box to count the motorcyclists.
Hugh Jones is a Road safety Officer for Flintshire County Council.
Postscript. North Wales Police made the figure up that was very wide of the mark and makes them look silly.

I wrote the above letter after a day clearing the shed and listening to regular weekend traffic hammering through Chester Rd. Also the other week end it sounded as if we were next to Oulton Park with the noise coming off the bypass as many 100's of motorcycle's with illegal exhausts flew down the bypass. You cannot hear the noise of a legal motorcycle which is travelling along the bypass.

Will anybody write a letter for or against my issues. We have too much apathy in this country.

Have your say about how Wales should be run

All Wales Convention

Our financial futures

I used to be very interested in systems that made money on the stock market. Systems using Technical Analysis to buy and sell. The last year has been a good opportunity for those with the knowledge to make good money in the volatile markets. I get an email twice a week from Colin Twiggs a trader who I have a lot of respect for. This is what Colin has to say about our financial futures. The red bit at the bottom is the bit that matters. You should take note, weigh and consider.

His comments are with regards recent "green shoots" in the US financial markets. They also apply to here. Colin I repeat is a trader and not a politician.
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This is no blue sky rally. The bear market is taking a rain-check while equities undergo a period of hopeful exuberance. Unemployment is rising, however, and the economy contracting — albeit at a slower pace. Rallies are not always driven by improving fundamentals, but those that are not seldom last. Bear market rallies are mostly sparked by the contraction of short interest as an initial price surge forces shorts to cover. But unless joined by long-term investors, spurred by improving fundamentals, they soon run out of steam as the short interest dwindles.

The current up-trend has shown more stamina and cannot be dismissed as a typical bear market rally. Some long-term investors have obviously drunk the Kool-Aid. But how long will this last?

This is not a typical recession. Our global monetary (and banking) system is broken and we will have to invent a new one. The US, UK and Japan are accumulating debt at an alarming pace, with no serious prospect of repayment — other than monetizing the debt, which would cause hyper-inflation. The situation is massively unstable.

Enjoy the rally while it lasts. But bear in mind that it could end badly. And keep your stops tight.

Link Incredible Charts

Mr Buzzard

Click image to enlarge

On our walks we see this magnificent bird that rides the thermals. They are a Welsh version of the vulture. Not too dissimilar to a small golden eagle. I say similar to the vulture who eat carrion but not quite, the buzzard is far more catholic in its tastes. Rabbits, moles, voles, frogs, birds, worms and anything carrion.

The buzzard has been badly treated by man up unto the 1970's. Make's one ashamed to be part of the same species. Times have changed however and their numbers have grown

The farmer where we walk uses the time honoured method of dealing with fallen stock. Leave it to the foxes, ravens, crows and buzzards. This is against the law and perhaps will disappear with new EU legislation for recording all activities of sheep from birth to abbatoir.

Less food perhaps for the undertakers in the natural world.

Lisa has nearly got used to seeing fallen sheep. I think she must be on her 20th.

1st Penyffordd Guides

‘Guides is fun and cool. You go on trips and camps and try things like clothes design and archery and you get to have a say and do stuff that makes a difference, too. But the best part is you get to hang out with your friends and be yourself.’

Penyffordd Guides and Senior Section meet every Monday during term time at Penyffordd War Memorial Institute 7.30pm - 8.30pm. If you are interested please contact myself, Claire Walker on 01244 544647 or just turn up.

Don't write off summer yet

Link Walesonline

An email to Inspector Martin Best of North Wales Police

cc. Chief Superintendent Ruth Purdie, Cllr Ian Roberts Head of North Wales Police Authority, Cllr Tony Sharps Environment Portfolio Flintshire County Council, Carl Longland Director of Environment Flintshire County Council. Cllr Arnold Woolley Flintshire County Council leader.
Jim Moore All Wales Safety Partnership.


Dear Martin,
Congratulations on your new position as District Inspector for Mold, Buckley and Penyffordd. I hope you enjoy your time here as Police Inspector. I've been in the shed this morning sorting through 20 years of items that " might come in handy". A look on Ebay shows I have a few surprises to sell. Nearly every minute or two you can hear cars flying through the village, its Saturday morning no police presence and they all know it. They have no respect for Chester Rd, Penyffordd whatsoever.

You might like to visit Cllr Sharps' domain in Northop Hall and see how he has stopped any speedy rat runs through his manor. You might then like to visit Rossett that is exactly the same as Penyffordd. An old trunk road that has been succeeded by a bypass. Notice the 20 mph bumps and limits.

Then back to Chester Rd, Penyffordd which is wide open and used by over a 1000 vehicles each day as a short cut to and from Broughton and beyond. There used to be 2000 vehicles speeding through Penyffordd each day but now its nearer 1000 due to the credit crunch and articles and letters that have appeared in The Evening Leader.

There appears to be an unofficial moratorium on speeding by North Wales Police. Flintshire County Council have a variable moratorium on speed bumps ( an oxymoron?) Arrive Alive have disappeared off the planet in name and function.

I remain to committed to living in a village centre and not a race track. I hope you can help transform Chester Rd back into a village centre environment.

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

ps CBM Howie Williams suggested pushing back the speed limit up the hill which is a really excellent suggestion. I hope you can help our county councillors push this.


pps Hugh Jones Safety Officer for Flintshire County Council has two sets of traffic data for Chester Rd but his bosses won't let me have a copy because it's that bad.

ppps. Can we have speeding put on here please.
http://www.north-wales.police.uk/nwpv2/en/nptSearch/wardResults.asp?ID=06&WID=F51

copied to blog
keywords   gosafe.org 

Best Kept Village Flintshire

My hedge most probably precluded Penyffordd of any chance.
Or perhaps the morning rat run?

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The winners of this year’s Environmental Competition have been announced.

Best kept village under 1,000 population:

First prize: Ffrith
Equal second: Llanfynydd and Llanasa
Certificate of Merit: Ysceifiog

Best kept community over 1,000 population and under 5,000:

First prize: Caerwys
Equal second: Northop
Certificate of Merit: Higher Kinnerton

Best kept town centre with a population of over 5,000:

First prize: Holywell
Equal second: Mold and Mynydd Isa
Certificate of Merit: Buckley

Best kept senior citizens’ estate:

First prize: Och'r y Bryn, Halkyn
Second prize: Llys Mostyn, Trelawnyd
Equal third prize: Bryntirion, Rhewl, Mostyn and Blaenwern, Gwernymydydd
Certificates of Merit: Belvedere Court, Queensferry, Stoneleigh Close, Garden City and Hafan Deg, Treuddyn.

Link Flintshire County Council

Coloured Water

is what we have this morning. A 7 inch pipe burst near Hope Motors at 11.00 pm last night. Dee Valley Water recommend running the cold water to get rid of the muddy water. This is what I recommended to Lisa before she rang. The tap to turn on is the cold water tap connected to the rising main, not the connected to the water tank. Ok for us as we have no water meter............

Info Jim in the Penyffordd Post Office.

A Letter to The Leader

Just to show I can do other letters than whinging speeders through the village types.

Early this year I stood with my wife Lisa and two very excitable english bull terriers the other side of a rickety gate that could have blown down with a feather opposite 10 cows and their calves. I did not realise what peril we were in.

The Letter

Dear Leader

A letter for consideration.

As a dog walker in countryside containing cattle I have become increasingly alarmed at recent events where dog walkers have been trampled to death by cows and calves. Leader readers need to be aware that taking a dog into a field with cows and calves is total folly and should be avoided at all costs. Conversely farmers need to be aware that if they know that footpaths or bridle paths are used by dog walkers they have a duty of care towards the dog walkers. A recent legal precedent has been set where a dog walker was brain damaged by cattle and costs were awarded against the farmer to the tune of many hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Colin Hughes
Penyffordd District

Links
The Daily Mail
The Daily Mail Robin Page - Cows
The Telegraph - David Blunkett
Vet trampled to death
The Guardian
The Daily Post

Quote
Blunkett has been inundated with messages from people who have suffered similar attacks. "I have had letters flooding in - from people telling me about personal experiences, family experiences, who have been in hospital for three weeks after an incident, who have had family members killed, and a couple of letters from people whose dogs were crushed," he said. People had also thanked him for drawing attention to the problem: "If I hadn't been who I am, no one would know about it. Although I went to hospital I doubt they would have reported it. There is usually a category for road traffic accident - but for being crushed by a cow?"

Evening Leader website is back up

but will all its links return.............................................

Evening Leader website still down

A nightmare for the likes of Christian Dunn who works on the website for the newspaper. They said they were changing the way the comments section worked................................
Temporary News Link here

Some bloggers have moved servers to outside UK jurisdiction to escape any legal challenge by individuals to their blog content. Moving 100,000's of files to different computers maintaining the correct structure, not for the faint hearted.

Currently all my links to Evening Leader articles are also down. One hopes they can get them working again. Flintshire County Council recently changed their website. I suspect they have 1000's of dead links on Google. Perhaps they just work out of the system through indexing.

Swine flue precautions

Swine Flu is a virus. It spreads by being near someone spluttering and sneezing who have the virus. Transfer from off your hands seems the big risk by touching surfaces that someone infected has touched such as door handles, money, etc. The name of the game is washing hands regularly. Keeping wet wipes on you seems sensible. I've told Lisa that being touchy feely with friends should be off limits until we know what's happening. Masks seem not to work very well unless you take precautions. The virus could be present on the outside of the mask and will be transferred to the inside of the mask if you are careless adjusting or removing your mask with your hands.

Those at risk of fatal reactions to the swine flu appear to be pregnant women, people who have underlying health issues. People with compromised immune systems.
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Wikipedia says

Prevention of human to human transmission

Influenza spreads between humans through coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it and then touching their own nose or mouth.^[76] Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food.^[76] The swine flu in humans is most contagious during the first five days of the illness although some people, most commonly children, can remain contagious for up to ten days. Diagnosis can be made by sending a specimen, collected during the first five days for analysis.^[77]

Recommendations to prevent spread of the virus among humans include using standard infection control against influenza. This includes frequent washing of hands with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizers, especially after being out in public.^[78] Chance of transmission is also reduced by disinfecting household surfaces, which can be done effectively with a diluted chlorine bleach solution.^[79] Although the current trivalent influenza vaccine is unlikely to provide protection against the new 2009 H1N1 strain,^[80] vaccines against the new strain are being developed and could be ready as early as June 2009.^[81]

Experts agree that hand-washing can help prevent viral infections, including ordinary influenza and the swine flu virus. Influenza can spread in coughs or sneezes, but an increasing body of evidence shows small droplets containing the virus can linger on tabletops, telephones and other surfaces and be transferred via the fingers to the mouth, nose or eyes. Alcohol-based gel or foam hand sanitizers work well to destroy viruses and bacteria. Anyone with flu-like symptoms such as a sudden fever, cough or muscle aches should stay away from work or public transportation and should contact a doctor for advice.

Social distancing is another tactic. It means staying away from other people who might be infected and can include avoiding large gatherings, spreading out a little at work, or perhaps staying home and lying low if an infection is spreading in a community. Public health and other responsible authorities have action plans which may request or require social distancing actions depending on the severity of the outbreak.

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Possible carriers: The Postman, shop assistants, The Post Office, The Spar.

Airbus workers. Broughton Tesco customers, assistants.

Possible objects. Your friends mobile phone, computer, money, post.

Link Wikipedia Swine Flu

Leader website at 22.00 hrs

Bad Request (Invalid Hostname)

oh dear!

Businesses volunteer help St John the Baptist Church, Penymynydd

A CHURCHYARD which had fallen into a state of disrepair has been given a new lease of life thanks to local businesses.

When the pathways at St John the Baptist Church, Penymynydd, churchyard became impassable the church struggled to find funding to restore the hazardous paths.

Church warden Andrew Bronnert said: “It is rare for there to be a churchyard still open for burials but the old pathways have made access difficult for people visiting and tending graves.

“The ground has also caused damp in the church building itself.”

Nearby Hanson Cement, formerly Castle Cement, stepped in and donated cash for materials to get the project up and running.

Work started in the grounds of the grade two listed church to replace the paths, improve the drainage and alter the ground to prevent further damage.

As word spread, Marshall Paving, Travis Perkins, Read Construction, AH Plant Hire, Scarfo & Sons and DP Williams all came forward to offer their help.

Vicar, the Rev Paulette Gower held a special service recently to thank the local businesses for their generosity.

I've taken the unusual step of copying all this story from The Evening Leader website instead of pointing you in the direction of their pages. The Leader are currently struggling to get their new website up and running, this is from a temporary blogging site they have set up. Hope you get it sorted shortly Leader. The sort of stuff they must be involved in changing must involve tens of thousands of files, plenty of programming code change, rocket science stuff.

Swine Flu gets nearer

AIRBUS is refusing to comment on reports of a swine-flu outbreak at its Broughton plant.

More than 6,000 people work at the wing-making plant, and the Evening Leader has been told that about 10 employees are off work with suspected cases of the virus.

Link The Evening Leader full story

In my opinion Airbus who are currently saying "mind your own business we are not telling you" are guilty of breaking their corporate stated commitment to local environment.

A Letter published in The Leader

Dear Leader,

With four new eco towns given the go ahead in England and Flintshire County Councillors rightly demanding the end of "bolt on" housing estates in their communities is it not time for our county leaders to travel further along the track to consider the formation of a new "state of the art" town off the A55 which will prevent further grid lock in Flintshire and help villages and towns to retain their identities?

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

Link The Leader

As a rate payer I have a right to argue for certain courses of action. Penyffordd will nearly double in size should Flintshire UDP be implemented in its curent form. Double in size will mean more trouble with youth and more traffic passed my house.

Inspector's report on Flintshire UDP

contains the comment that housing development should not be allowed on the old council depot at Dobshill.
Flintshire County councillors voted to accept the inspector's decision.

It has been suggested elsewhere the site may be a good place to house an ambulance base.

Upton, Chester environment has been ruined by the constant sound of sirens as ambulances go and leave the hospital. Is this in store for Dobshill residents?

If I lived there I would prefer houses over ambulance sirens.

Another Community Council website

Link Northop Hall Community Council

keyword Cllr Tony Sharps

Wasps 1 - Colin 0

Clearing some ivy around a tree yesterday led to a sharp pain in the nose with watering eyes to follow and a feeling I should not be standing where I am as I can feel wasps thudding against me.
Exit stage left over nettles, compost bins and branches half blind with wasps following in hot pursuit.

Lips and nose are swollen. The discomfort is worse on the second day. A lot of people would be out to destroy the nest, not me. We have at least three nests in the garden. I have one in my greenhouse. They just fly over my head. They will be gone at the end of the year. Live and let live.
Humans abuse their powers unnecessarily.

Currently looking a little like Miss Piggy.
Nose and lips getting bigger.......... 26 hours on.

Link Wasp Stings

Penyffordd people at Buckley Jubilee

Click image to enlarge

John Martin and wife marching with the Buckley Jubilee

Link NE BBC

Do not upset the bin man

Link NE BBC

The selecting of a new Chief Constable for North Wales

cc: ACPO, North Wales Police Authority Chairman, People for Proper Policing

Dear Evening Leader and Daily Post

A letter for consideration

I understand the North Wales Police Authority are currently looking for a new Assistant and Chief Constable. As far as Chester Rd, Penyffordd, Flintshire is concerned the previous holders Clive Wolfendale and Richard Brunstrom have been a dead loss.

The so called traffic taliban leader has been a toothless wonder, far too interested in media attention with no interest in accountability to communities. His inflated reputation far ahead of what he actually achieved.

Can we have a new Chief Constable who does what it says on the tin. Someone who will apply the laws laid down by Parliament. Someone who will apply ALL the laws instead of picking the easy laws like a pick 'n' mix at Woolworths. Someone who will leave the politics to the politicians.

Someone who will apply the Government's pledge to communities.

Someone who will be accountable to the communities they serve.

Yours sincerely

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

http://penyffordd-district.blogspot.com/

still over a 1000 vehicles speeding through Penyffordd everyday 2.5 years on..............................................

copied to blog

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Facts

NWP, FCC and ArriveAlive know that Chester Rd has a speeding issue and do little about it.

The figures have been as high as 2000 a day but are now nearer 1000 a day.

NWP website does not see an issue with over a 1000 speeders a day.
North Wales Police view of crime in Penyffordd

NWP refuse to back an HGV ban even though we have a bypass, thereby conspiring with FCC against Chester Rd community

Reporting a police inspector for taking no notice of speeding gets you an investigation by an inspector in the office next door.
Obviously it's natural for your complaint to go nowhere.

Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom did an audit of Penyffordd but "forgot" to look at speeding traffic.

Flintshire County Council and Arrive Alive have consistently avoided FOIE's that show all the speeding that is going on.

North Wales Police and Flintshire County Council have conspired to do very little regards speeding in Chester Rd Penyffordd.

North Wales Police refuse to enforce laws laid down with regards decibel levels of motorcycles and cars.

North Wales Police refuse to honour the pledge made by Government to communities

Link BBC NE

Cllr Colin Bithell steps out for a curry

Click image to enlarge

Cllr Colin Bithell was amongst a delegation of local leaders who met a business delegation from Bangladesh at Country Spice in Hope. Flintshire County Council Leader Cllr Arnold Woolley and Cllr Cliff Shone of Hope were also at the curry bash.

Link Leader Online Photo Sales


You can't beat The Bengal Dynasty for quality. If its good enough for Sir Anthony Hopkins its good enough for Lisa and me. We have a take out normally. We can then stretch it over two days as the meal is too big for one go. An Indian with starters is too much for one sitting for us.

Link Bengal Dynasty

Best Village Competition

Judges will be visiting Penyffordd and Penymynydd today and tomorrow.

A 1000 speeders each day do not count in the proceedings...........................

Lisa

Planning Alerts

If you have an interest in local planning applications ( I don't most of the time) you may wish to sign up to Planning Alerts.com

Carl Sargeant AM lobbies Welsh Assembly Transport Minister

This week Carl Sargeant AM has lobbied Ieuan Wyn Jones AM to release the long awaited report on local speed limts.
Quote " I know that speeding vehicles are a concern to many of my constituents and I hope that the new guidance will instruct local authorities to act quickly in local hot spot areas where the speed of vehicles equates to a danger within the community."

I think over a 1000 speeders a day qualifies.

keywords: Cllr Tony Sharps, Chief Executive Colin Everett, Carl Langland Director of Environment.

It's going to rain shortly

The Met Office rain radar

Motorcyclist killed near Penyffordd

The straight to Pontblyddyn is behind. The lodge to the estate on the right. The motorcycle and 4x4 accident reference marks where they finished up after the accident are all in the right hand lane. There are a trail of marks where the motorcycle skidded or somersaulted along the right hand lane.

Click image to enlarge

A motorcyclist has been fatally injured in a crash with a car at 10.00 pm last night on the outskirts of Penyffordd district. Witnesses are asked to come forward. This accident is the second within a month at this point in the road. The other accident involved a collision of five vehicles.

Postscript: There have been numerous accidents along this stretch of the road over the years. What will the police and FCC do about it? Nothing.......................

Link The Evening Leader

Portsmouth goes 20 mph

Whilst I am not suggesting that all Penyffordd goes 20 mph something has got to be done over the lunacy of over 1000 vehicles speeding through Chester Rd Penyffordd everyday.

Link The Guardian

Quote of the day

News is what people don’t want you to know, everything else is advertising.

Guido Fawkes

In The Evening Leader

discussing you know what. Still a 1000+ speeders in Chester Rd Penyffordd every day. My ever present thanks to The Evening Leader.

"Calls to lower speed limit on Flintshire road after 51 crashes in 6 years"

Speed campaigner Colin Hughes from Penyffordd has backed the calls, saying it was a "miracle" that no-one had been killed on the road.

He added: "51 accidents in six years is staggering. I can't see why the speed limit can't be changed. Alarm bells should have been ringing in the councils ears well before the total number of accidents reached that number.

"I am calling on Flintshire Council to do a wholesale audit of speed limits across the county before the situation gets even worse."

Link: The Evening Leader

keyword: Cllr Tony Sharps.

Keeping people informed

If one reads Cllr David Williams' County Council reports one can see that he has had various exchanges with officers of Flintshire County Council over speeding in Chester Rd. Up until now I was unaware that these meetings were going on. If councillors are going to keep meetings secret and the traffic continues to speed through the village councillors have only themselves to blame if I continue my protest at the continuing speeding through Chester Rd Penyffordd.

Dog Control Laws for Wrexham

Link The Daily Post

Dog fouling is a big issue in Penyffordd district.

County Council Reports - Cllr David Williams

April 2009

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

( my reply in red)

Web Site. - The Web site should be ready for viewing and building up by the meeting and should be found on www.penyfforddareacc.co.uk, or www.penyfforddareacc.com

The actual address will be advised at the meeting.

Re Generation of Village. – Employment/Business opportunities & recreation.

Second meeting with Dave Heggarty still to be arranged and as a result of the meeting with the director of the environment it is intended to also include the senior strategic development control officer, Andy Roberts.

The response from prospective businesses has been rather disappointing and I would be grateful of assistance in getting any names of people or businesses who would like to be based in Pen-y-ffordd or work in the ward in an unsatisfactory environment

Leisure Strategy.

The response I sent to this document is enclosed and I would hope that more members of the council can canvas the authority to provide more leisure space in Pen-y-ffordd, and publicise this matter as much as possible in the community.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View. – Still under investigation by the Director of the environment..

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd – Now in Place. Please encourage its use to ensure it remains

Speeding Matters. – Director of the Environment asked to set up site meeting with senior Highways officers and other Council members will be invited when the meeting is arranged.

Flintshire County Council hold two sets of traffic data recorded over periods of 10 days. At that time approximately 2000 vehicles were speeding through Chester Rd each day. Flintshire County Council at the time of writing have refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Enquiry for the above data. The reason being that everything I say about speeding through Chester Rd Penyffordd is correct.

Parking outside stepping stones. – Will be discussed at this meeting.

Crossing & footpath - Hope Green Nursery. – Work underway and is expected to be complete by next week.

HGVs Using the Village. - More inaccurate claims of speeding HGVs where Alan skip drivers have not only been publicly described by a resident as ‘scum bags’ and’ idiots’, they are now ‘cowboys’!. The actions of this individual are a disgrace and he is doing real harm to a serious issue with the false accusations and abrasive manner. I wish to distance myself from anything this man states and hope the Community Council as a united body can do the same. The Manager of Alan skips has given his assurance that he will cooperate with our community and if there are any problems they can be discussed with him in a cordial and polite manner which will obviously have a more positive effect.

I am the author of the above remarks. It is a fact that Alan Skips drivers used to hurl through the village. The means justify's the result. Alan Skip's now respect our community.

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise – Estimates around 8K have been provided. As yet I am not fully aware of exactly what these are for, but have been informed that the housing department is making further inquiries.

Roundabout Landscaping. – At the meeting with Mr Longland, he asked if the Community Council would be prepared to contribute to a possible scheme and I would like to ask members to consider this matter.

Strydd Isa – Contact to be made with police and authority to see what can be done.

March 2009

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

Web Site. - The Web site should be ready for viewing and building up by the meeting and should be found on www.penyfforddareacc.co.uk, or www.penyfforddareacc.com

The actual address will be advised at the meeting.

Re Generation of Village. – Employment/Business opportunities & recreation.

Second meeting with Dave Heggarty still to be arranged and as a result of the meeting with the director of the environment it is intended to also include the senior strategic development control officer, Andy Roberts.

The response from prospective businesses has been rather disappointing and I would be grateful of assistance in getting any names of people or businesses who would like to be based in Pen-y-ffordd or work in the ward in an unsatisfactory environment

Leisure Strategy.

The response I sent to this document is enclosed and I would hope that more members of the council can canvas the authority to provide more leisure space in Pen-y-ffordd, and publicise this matter as much as possible in the community.

Dog fouling bins. - Bins are now in place and at least one thank you e-mail has been received expressing gratitude to the Community Council and Cindy for the efforts. .

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View. – The Director of the environment is to investigate these problems personally and details can be found in the enclosed copy of the meeting discussions.

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd – Work has now started and the Director of the environment will also investigate the delay personally.

Speeding Matters. – Director of the Environment asked to set up site meeting with senior Highways officers and other Council members will be invited when the meeting is arranged. Parking outside stepping stones. – Will be discussed at this meeting.

Crossing & footpath - Hope Green Nursery. – Work programmed to start on 16^th March. Dropped kirb also to be installed outside Manor fields.

HGVs Using the Village. - More inaccurate claims of speeding HGVs where Alan skip drivers have not only been publicly described by a resident as ‘scum bags’ and’ idiots’, they are now ‘cowboys’!. The actions of this individual are a disgrace and he is doing real harm to a serious issue with the false accusations (the accusations are not false. At the invitation of a previous director of Alan Skips I went down to their headquarters in Bretton. If lorries were going to to continue speeding through the village as they did the above terms were correct in my opinion. Speeding by 20 ton lorries in villages is dangerous and if management can't control their workers the above terms are correct. Thankfully Alan Skips have seen sense and their lorries now use the bypass ) . and abrasive manner. I wish to distance myself from anything this man states and hope the Community Council as a united body can do the same. The Manager of Alan skips has given his assurance that he will cooperate with our community and if there are any problems they can be discussed with him in a cordial and polite manner which will obviously have a more positive effect.

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise – Estimates around 8K have been provided. As yet I am not fully aware of exactly what these are for, but have been informed that the housing department is making further inquiries.

Roundabout Landscaping. – At the meeting with Mr Longland, he asked if the Community Council would be prepared to contribute to a possible scheme and I would like to ask members to consider this matter.

Strydd Isa – Contact to be made with police and authority to see what can be done.

FCC Highways service

Re. Meeting of Carl Longland & David Williams – Thursday 19^th Feb 2009

Issues.

1. Alyn Drive Floods. Charles Hughes, Neil Parry & Alan Davies

Mr Longlands impression was that this was probably more of a civil matter, but as the council had been involved for so long and there were possibly issues that may have partial responsibility of the council. CL undertook to speak to relevant Officers to ascertain the Council’s role in taking the matter further.

An attempt was made to bring Mr Hughes into the discussion but as he was not available. Mr Longland would discuss it with him at the first opportunity. Following communication with the affected resident on Friday 27 February, a further e-mail and letter has been sent to Mr Hughes.

2. Bus Stop Charles Hughes, Bavid Blainey & Mark Betts

Mr Longland was provided with a breakdown of communication and correspondence that went back to May 2007. He expressed concern over the level of service and would investigate the problems. Mr Longland was informed that work had now started but progress was slow. He was also concerned that busses may still not stop there as ultimately it is the commercial bus operators’ decision to do so and the bus stop may interfere with the overall service of the route.

3. Previous information problems for location of drainage run & sewers

Mr Longland was shown difficulties that I personally had obtaining information in the past and he explained that many plans were rather dated and not always accurate. Concern expressed over how long it took to make the necessary investigations to obtain the information required, but it was concluded that this was a problem of several years ago and not really pertinent to current issues. Ways of improving the promptness in responding to enquiries made by the general public would be looked into though.

4. Village sewage problem Planning

Mr Longland was shown a letter sent by local resident Mrs Jane Hopwood to planning over sewage problems. He expressed concern that the resident had had no response and would investigate the reasons. A discussion also took place over the general problems of the existing sewage system being unable to cope with the current demands on it. Mr Longland intended to check the conditions for Meadowslea development to ensure provision was being made so as not to cause further problems. A discussion also took place over the report by a resident near Station Way that raw sewage had been drained into a hole that had been dug by unknown contractors to relieve the overflow of the system in the area. Mr Longland expressed that conditions on any further developments must ensure the system could take any additional demands but it was normally Welsh Waters responsibility to make these demands and decisions.

5. Residents Ombudsman request over private road construction. –

Dave Faulkner, Vinden Jones & Paul Traynor

As this matter had been investigated by senior officers in the past, Mr Longland was reluctant to involve himself and it was decided the best course of action would be to take the matter to the ombudsman as recommended by Mr Barry Davies.

6. Speeding – Dobshill, Pen-y-ffordd Bypass and Chester road. Dave Faulkner

The problem was discussed and it was decided that Mr Faulkner was dealing with the matters quite adequately given the constraints he had to work to. Mr Longland would speak to Mr Faulkner to request Dobshill be dealt with as a priority and was asked to arrange a site meeting to view other areas such as the bypass and Chester road.

Speeding in Chester Rd continues wholesale.

7. Roundabout Landscape – Derek Kirby

Mr Longland expressed concern that there had been no response to my inquiries made last October and would look into the reasons why there had been no response. General discussions took place over the practicality of various forms of landscaping of roundabouts and the question was put over the possibility of the community council making a contribution towards the cost. Hopefully the Community Council would be agreeable and Mr Longland was to be informed.

8. Correspondence problems with Planning. Glyn Jones

Mr Longland was informed of many problems over the planning department not responding to correspondence and was provided with letters that had not been replied to. He therefore undertook to investigate the problem.

9. Re-Generation. Dave Heggarty

It was established that recreation matters was the responsibility of Lifelong Learning but for regeneration involving strategic land-use planning around recreation, building and business development issues it would be best to work with Andy Roberts. The intention now is to try to set up a meeting with Mr Roberts once business interests in the village have been investigated and established.

Jan 2009

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

Web Site.

It is hoped that the Web site will be up and running by the end of the month.

HGVs Using the Village.

Claims that Alans Skip wagons have been driving recklessly through the village have been made. I followed one of the wagons through the village that it was claimed was speeding but driver exercised extreme caution throughout the route and stopped to allow school children to cross the road outside the youth club. I do not condone HGVs using the village as a short cut but take exception when I hear them described as ‘Idiots’ and ‘Scum bags’ which does our argument no good whatsoever. Mr Hasall, the Company Manager is endeavouring the ensure his drivers use the bypass, but if they do have to use the village they should make sure they drive carefully. Any offenders should be reported to me or Mr Hasall. I most certainly will. It is important to note there has been a marked improvement with regards Alan Skip Hire. They nearly all now avoid the village. Well done David.

Re Generation of Village. – Employment/Business opportunities & recreation.

Second meeting with Dave Hegarty to to be arranged for early March. Any council member or member of the public who know of businesses seeking premises or suggestions of land for recreation would be welcome so they may be put to the head of re-generation at this meeting. Poster now in post office.

With the new leisure strategy that is hoped will be approved by March, large new recreation areas are proposed. It is up to our community to put forward the strongest argument possible to be part of this venture

Dog fouling bins – top of Penymynnydd road. - Bins at top of Penymynydd road still not in place. Hilary Williams now responsible and she is in receipt of the latest communication.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View. – Council completed all tests which indicates the problems is a result of actions of an individual resident. Meeting arranged with Engineers and resident concerned during half term. Legal department are also dealing with the matter..

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd – Meeting arranged with Director of Environment, Mr Carl Longland on Thursday 19 February to discuss delay and other issues with Highways.

Speeding Matters.

Village access only sign request. – Still no progress, but still being pursued.

Corwen/Rhos road. – Awaiting Arrive Alive involvement.

Wrexham Road and Petition – Very disappointing and negative response to petition see attached letters and response I have sent to Mr Faulkner.

Dobshill – Slow progress but at least some is being made. See attached letter.

Parking outside stepping stones. - Still not prioritised but in hand.

Crossing & footpath - Hope Green Nursery. – Work programmed for construction of footpath and central refuge in the first week of March. See attached letter.

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise – Security company visited flats on appointment by Housing to give estimates for further security measures such as intercom’s. Awaiting estimates.

Jan 2009

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

Re Generation of Village.

Employment Opportunities.

Poster to be put up locally asking for anybody needing business premises (office or workshop) to make contact to put pressure on Council to make more local provision. This will not happen over night but a start needs to be made now.

Recreation.

Land needs to be identified for possible recreation space and pressure put on the authority to acquire the land for recreation use following the open space survey provided in last meeting. Suggestions welcome!

Dog fouling bins – top of Penymynnydd road. - Bins at top of Penymynydd road still not in place. Contact to be made this week with Harvey Mitchell to establish the problem/delay.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View. - Drainage pipes have been rodded and moves now in place to take remedial action to prevent further flooding.

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd - Pavement and hard surface still not in place as promised in November. Formal complaint is to be lodged with Chief executive this week.

Speeding Matters.

Village access only sign request. – Still no progress, intend to contact Dave Faulkner to reconsider installation of signs below village entrance/exit signs.

Corwen/Rhos road. – Contact now been made with Arrive Alive who I hope will do some monitoring between the Red Lion and the Station Roundabout.

Wrexham Road – A petition has gone round requesting a review of the speed limit from Derby Park to Hawarden side of the nursery, and resurfacing of the road along the residential stretch. I have written to Dave Faulkner supporting the petition and request action on the lines of the nursery could be classed as a school and many Castell Alun students walk the route and have to cross the road.

Dobshill – Good news in that following my meeting with Dave Faulkner he has visited the area and is in the process of taking steps to improve the situation.

Parking outside stepping stones. - Still awaiting prioritising by director and executive member.

Crossing outside Hope Green Nursery. - Letter sent to Dave Faulkner for advice on when the work is likely to start.

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise – Families of residents I have spoken to seem reasonably happy with security arrangements now in place. Residents are urged to keep council informed over any problems.

Dec 2008

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

To avoid excessive AOB, it may be more appropriate to discuss these items as part of Correspondence.

Speeding Matters.

Village entrance signage. – Still awaiting reply from Charles Hughes over access only signs

Corwen/Rhos road. – Awaiting response off Charles Hughes, and request made to Arrive Alive to check the area.

Dobshill – Good news in that Council has finally accepted that there is a problem They will be reviewing the area as a matter of urgency and in order to make a start I have asked for the removal of the de-limiting signs from the ridiculous positions, especially on the lamp posts on the roundabout.

Dog fouling bins – top of Penymynnydd road.

Unable to visit sites that Cindy has requested and would appreciate feedback from others so I ma chase up.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View.

Ditch now clear and next stage of work underway.

Correspondence with FCC.

Problems brought to attention of Chief executive and awaiting response.

Footpath – Watts Road, Pen-y-ffordd.

Request made to tidy up grass area around the footpath.

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd

Order for commencement of work has been put in and should start very soon.

Waiting restrictions, Penymynydd.

Still under consideration by highways and awaiting response from Charles Hughes

Crossing outside Hope Green Nursery.

Agreed commencement of work.

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise –

Maintenance officer has visited properties and is in the process of carrying out various improvements. Lighting now appear to be to the satisfaction of the residents I have spoken to.

Re Generation of Village.

Dave Hegerty in possession of village plans and ambitions and awaiting appointment of consultant for to move to next stage.

Employment Opportunities.

If Members could explore any small businesses who would like units or office space in the village, please let me k now so that I can make planning aware of the demand.

Nov 2008

County Council Report – Cllr David Williams

Speeding Matters.

Village entrance signage. – Written to Charles Hughes again requesting re-consideration, awaiting reply

Corwen/Rhos road. - Request made to Charles Hughes to re-visit area.

Dobshill – Petition handed to me over speeding concerns that have been forwarded to highways. Request made to Dave Faulkner who has promised to look into the problems and see what can be done on receipt of the Welsh Assembly revised guidance that is imminent.

Dog fouling bins – top of Penymynnydd road.

Cindy has sent plan and I have backed it up with my own request for this area wher I have had specific and repeated requests. Awaiting reply off Harvey Mitchell.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View.

Ditch to be cleared next week as a start. Once clear the area will be reviewed over next course of action.

Correspondence with FCC.

Complaints by residents and local county Councillor over Officers, especially senior officers, not responding to correspondence and communication made

Matter to be brought to the attention of the Chief executive

Footpath – Watts Road, Pen-y-ffordd.

Completed and appreciation expressed by several local residents..

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd

Temporary hard standing opposite Lower Mountain and 30 yards towards layby with path to be constructed within the next few weeks. Awaiting delivery of kirbs that are on order.

Waiting restrictions, Penymynydd.

Still under consideration by highways.

Crossing outside Hope Green Nursery.

Agreed by Dave Faulkner to extend the footpath either side of the road and put a central refuge. Altering the speed limit may still be a problem but he will

Security of Pensioners flats, Meadow rise – Written to Head of Housing to request intercoms and possible bars on rear widows as requested by one of the residents. Reply from Housing is that a maintenance officer will visit the properties and see what can be done.

Re Generation of Village.

Very useful meeting with Dave Hegerty & Mel Higham from re-generation on 1^st November.

Will support wherever possible.

Expecting a Part time consultant to be employed who is experienced in these matters and will make contact to support when in position.

Very impressed with Peny and suggest a closer working relationship with Community Council for future ventures.

Advises to identify clear aims and prioritise

For local business premises, get a list of potential occupiers.

Pen-y-ffordd Re-Generation Aims.

Current facilities.

· Butchers, Hairdressers, Chemists, Spar. British legion, one public house open, one closed.

· Youth Centre in badly maintained old school. Scout hut in old brick building with suspicion of asbestos roof. War Memorial institute.

· One full sized football field, playing fields, MUGA pitch under construction funded by local group.

· Bowling green. Tennis club

Organisations.

· Three senior football teams, Cricket team, 16 Junior football teams, Scout group with various branches. Guides, Dance group, Choir, and various other local groups.

Aims/Ambitions.

· Identify and purchase land for recreation for two football pitches and a cricket square.

· Renovation of youth club which is old school and the only building of local interest remaining in the village.

· Identify land for development of small industrial units and office space.

· Further improvement of existing play areas.

Playspace and outdoor sports and recreation space survey results for Pen-y-ffordd Ward.

	Minimum required	Actual
Outdoor Youth & Adult space.	5.9 (ha)	0.85.
Equipped Childrens Playspace.	0.69 (ha)	0.7
Childrens Freespace.	2.1 (ha)	1.15

Oct 2008

County Council Report – Cllr David Wiliams

Speeding Survey results,

See results sheet. Disappointing response. Members to take and consider. Still awaiting Hawarden Road & Dobshill

Dog fouling bins – top of Penymynnydd road.

Letter off Harvey Mitchel who enclosed copy of letter to community council requesting location details last April – still waiting instruction.

Flooding – Alyn Drive/West View.

Complaint to Carl Longland plus leader and two other senior officers.

Sand bags provided to protect shed.

Footpath – Watts Road, Pen-y-ffordd.

No progress as yet – to pursue before next meeting.

.

Arrangements for speed control, Corwen/Rhos road, Pen-y-ffordd.

Needs reviewing following survey.

.

New Bus stop, Chester road Pen-y-ffordd

David Blainey sorting out but no progress as I am aware. Suggestions from members!?

Village entrance signage.

Negative response from Charles Hughes. Intend to still pursue.

Waiting restrictions, Penymynydd.

Under consideration by highways.

Crossing outside Hope Green Nursery.

Arranging site meeting with Dave Faulkner. Looking towards exrendoing footpath and moving speed limit. Suggestions from members!?

Re Generation of Village.

Meeting to be set up with Dave Hegerty & Mel Higham from re-generation over possibility of funding & grant aid. Awaiting date off Mel and after initial meeting to explore possibilities, will put to members and hopefully future meetings will involve Cindy and Members interested.

Main Aims.

• Doing something about youth club building
• Identifying land for recreation for consideration as part of UDP and leisure strategy currently being put together.
• Consideration of small office and industrial units to cater for existing business working in unsatisfactory conditions, encourage new employers and create local employment opportunities following hospital closures.
• Further improvement of Playing fields with more facilities and seating area.

Also.

Contacted Derek Kirby from Highway strategy to consider landscaping of roundabouts with low maintenance shrubs and trees.

Pen-y-ffordd & District Traffic Survey results

Chester Road. Forms out - 31 returned - 8.

Question	Response	Response
Is there a problem?	Yes - 4	No - 4
Where is the problem?	Leaving Chester road passed the institute.
When is it worst?	Early Mornings and tea time.
Happy with speed humps?	Yes - 4	No - 4
Suggestions!	Fixed speed camera (3), Single lane (1) Move 30 mph back (1) Nothing needed (1)
Short Cut aware	Yes - 6	No - 2
Suggested solutions	Take more measures to reduce speeding, so deter use of short cut. (2) Weight restriction (2)

Corwen/Rhos road Forms out - 42 returned - 5.

Question	Response	Response
Is there a problem?	Yes - 5	No - 0
Where is the problem?	Red Lion to roundabout
When is it worst?	Any time 2, Mornings & evenings 3
Happy with speed humps?	Yes -5	No - 0
Suggestions!	Speed traps (2) activated sign (1) Speed limit sign (1)
Short Cut aware	Yes - 4	No - 1
Suggested solutions	Parking restrictions on Rhos road (1). Speed cameras & sleeping policemen (1). Activate signs (2). Access only signs (1)

Wrexham road. Forms out - 27 returned - 3.

Question	Response	Response
Is there a problem?	Yes - 3	No - 0
Where is the problem?	Overtaking between Village turning and layby. (2)
When is it worst?	All day
Happy with speed humps?	Yes -0	No - 3
Suggestions!	No overtaking signs (3) Speed cameras (1) Speed limit down to 40 from nursery to Hope (2) Re-surface road to reducd noise (1)
Short Cut aware	Yes - 4	No - 1
Suggested solutions	Parking restrictions on Rhos road (1). Speed cameras & sleeping policemen (1). Activate signs (2). Access only signs (1)

No responses from Dobshill and Hawarden road still need to be handed out.

The Penyffordd traffic survey was never delivered to our house, I am the main complainant about speeding in Chester Rd.