A proposed protest letter to be circulated through the village

I suppose the first week of school holidays is not the best time to gather support. The following will be distributed around the village come September. It may have to be altered if Flintshire Highways move into a gear.

Hello Penyffordd Resident,
Very slow progress is being made to stop the daily speeding and the use of Chester Road as a rat run and speeding in other roads in Penyffordd.
Cars, Lorries and Motorbikes speed past my house on Chester Rd by the 1000 each day doing speeds of 50 and 60 mph, motorbikes doing 80 mph. 2800 vehicles each day at present.
1,040,000 a year. At present Chester Road operates as the Second By - Pass.

So far Mark Tami MP and Carl Sargeant AM have made representations to Flintshire County Council.
Mark Isherwood AM is to table a question to Jane Davidson AM the Welsh Assembly Government Minister for Environment and Regeneration.
Our two County Councilors Colin Bithell CC and David Williams CC have started the ball rolling by arranging a meeting with Flintshire Highways which produced positive results that are in the planning stage at the moment. Highways have been on this 90 days. Arrive Alive and North Wales Police will be targeting Chester Rd and Vounog in future.
I have brought this matter to the attention of Penyffordd Community Council on various occasions.
Proposed.
1. Rumble Strips on entry to village from Broughton
2. *A pelican crossing outside the Post Office
An alternative would be a raised zebra crossing where the LollyPop lady used to be.
3. An extra 30 mph sign at the entrance to the village
4. A possible pro active speed indicator sign for entrance to Chester Rd
* not discussed but the removal of double yellow lines would be needed otherwise this would be unfair to the PO.
The above will not stop the speeders in my opinion but it is a start. Other areas of Corwen Rd, Wrexham Road need to be protected from speeders.

The developments of Warren Hall A55 Exit, Broughton Park Extension and the Warren Hall Development will add annually many millions of vehicles using Chester Road, Corwen Road and Wrexham Road as a short cut if we do not act to prevent them. Flintshire Highways trunk roads will not stand up to these three developments, our village will take the brunt. The A494 will pile cars up quicker at Penymynydd roundabout.

At present our Community Councilors and County Councilors do not seem to be taking this matter seriously enough, because only I have complained they think it is not much of an issue, they lack vision. Our main village roads are in danger of returning to the pre By - Pass days at certain times of the day.
1. We should be looking to ban HGV except for access from the village.
2. We should be looking at ways to stop speeding in the village. 5 inch Vertical Platforms although unpopular will stop the speeding traffic in Chester Rd, 24 hours a day and are gentle on vehicles if riden over at the correct speed.
3. Through traffic should be forced to use the By - Pass.
4. A Compulsory 20 mph Zone outside the Post Office
5. A raised platform zebra crossing.
The centre of our village should be a pleasant and peaceful area where children can cycle to school, pensioners can cross the road in safety, horses can be ridden safely. Please take a moment to contact a councilor to register a complaint as they do not see 2000 speeders a day through our village as being a serious issue. People of Penyffordd, your children and grandchildren should not exposed to daily dangerous insult to our village

Colin Hughes, 1 Penymynydd Rd, Penyfford.
http://penyffordd-district.blogspot.com/ or Google Penyffordd district

I’m for forming a pressure group to make our councilors see sense. Please contact me if you feel the same way.

A Meeting with Mark Isherwood AM

A 90 minute meeting with Mark, an enlightening experience. The traffic situation discussed in detail. He will make representations to the minister concerned in the Welsh Assembly Government with regards to the speeding traffic in Chester Rd, Penyffordd.

A letter to Jane Davidson AM

Jane Davidson AM
Minister for Environment and Regeneration
Welsh Assembly Government

CC. Politicians, Councillors, The Evening Leader


Dear Jane
Good morning, hope you are well. Life is difficult at the moment for those who live on flood plains. Up here in Chester Rd Penyffordd we have issues of a lesser importance. Never the less there are issues that affect our environment.

At the moment I am reading the excellent "Manual for Streets" that your Department is to implement in our green and pleasant land. I don't think its on Dave Faulkner and Charles Hughes' reading list.

Flintshire County Council think that they can allow the building of three large developments north of Penyffordd and leave us to the mercies of millions of extra noisy, polluting lorries and cars through our rural village even though we have a By- Pass.

We currently get 2000 speeding rat runners a day through Chester Rd.

I and my fellow residents of Chester Rd would like your department to to look into this outrage.

Yours sincerely

Colin Hughes

Chester Rd, Penyffordd, Nr Chester.

Travellers move on to Dobshill Hospital site

Click here.

How Flintshire UDP dismisses Chester Rd, Penyffordd

Click on Image to enlarge.

This is how Flintshire County Council deals with a reasoned valid representation. It just dismisses it.
Name and Personal ID removed but on file.

91 days and Counting

Since the meeting with Flintshire Highways
and Arrive Alive.
The net result so far on traffic behavior?

ZERO

2000 cars a day speeding through Chester Rd, Penyffordd.

Penyffordd lies asleep whilst

A55 exit Warren Hall
Warren Hall Development
Broughton Park Extension

are planned.

When finished they will add many millions of cars through Chester Rd, Penyffordd.

Through traffic should use the By-Pass.

Dear Mark

Since you are asking everyone to smarten up for The Eisteddfod I'll leave my hedge protest poster campaign regarding the 2000 cars that speed past my house daily until after the festivities are over. I'll just straighten up the hedge and get the hanging baskets out.

regards Colin

ps I'm presuming Charles Hughes' boys will not have calmed the traffic by then.

Chaos the Serial Leg Humper

Chaos can open baby gates, clever!

My golfing friend's dog is a leg humper. It's a male thing. Thursday night an English Bull Terrier called Chaos has to see the Dog Behaviorist as he is driving everyone around the twist because of his constant desire to hump legs.
The behaviorist is a lady in an E-type Jaguar. True to type he starts bonking her leg as soon as she comes through the door.
The punk couple could have been invented by Harry Enfield.

This behavior is the result of the young owners, dog owners should have to read a manual on how dogs see the world, perhaps Haynes should do one. In our house we have a dictatorship, the dog has a hierarchy with Dolly the dog at number 2, we are not sure where Lisa's place is in the hierarchy.

A strategy is called for.
a. He goes in the sin bin if he starts
b. He is given lots of exercise pulling a bike around.

Eventually they have to go for the nuclear option C. So he trots into the vets for castration. Shown in full for the audience. I have a shot of his testicles in a dish but I will spare you.

The result a lovely family pet.

Click here to see Victoria humped
Its a bit slow... the loading.

Airborne Cement Fallout Detector in middle of Penyffordd

The Weekly Game is off

The white bit fell off!

A text at 6.15 am. He's not keen. The Northop Marshes have been filling up nicely. 12 inches yesterday and 6 inches over night. I think wimp and turn over (I'm the wimp really). When I finally arise I see his executive decision has been correct. Do I fix the dishwasher and the washing machine? Lisa has been having to do the washing the old fashioned way. Or do I start building my Ark?
Meanwhile the traffic flies through the village. I await Charles' traffic calming measures.................
How long a go was that meeting?
Council's live in a world of their own financed with our money. It's time for a revolution.

Postscript. On of my wood screws has jammed the water pump on the washing machine. I normally find washing machines a mystery but the Haynes Manual on washing machines gives you a sequence and method of tracking faults down.
The machine cycle would not go to spin, it took two hours to find. Good job we haven't got laminate flooring!
The impeller has sheared off. I've glued it back on with araldite, although araldite and plastic do not get on with one another. A new pump about £60 delivered. If I had got someone else to do it, it could have got to £150. You can buy a new machine for £200.
Dish Washer went bang with smoke. Someone has given us a newer one which I will plumb in tomorrow.

To Old Swan, Liverpool

Its Friday teatime 5.00 pm, its rained 2 months of rain in a day, its rush hour and we have to go to Old Swan in the middle of Liverpool.
Three reasons for not leaving the house..............
Dobshill A55 someone has turned over his car and trailer, its usually because they go too fast. The traffic is building up everyone from Merseyside heading for North Wales. A customer in The Bungalow as we go past. Traffic is light as it is all going the other way.
We reach Old Swan with Lisa's navigation. A motorbike has run into the side of a van but doesn't look like he's hurt. Traffic is fairly sensible in Liverpool, loads of Gatso's and I think some heavy mobile camera action in the past. In between the main roads are the islands of houses. Where before you could go off any side road to get to another main road through the houses, this is now impossible because each side road has bollards in the road at mid point forming 2 cul de sacs. A perfect traffic calming technique. Rows and rows of cul de sacs.
A council with vision!

Pollution in China

Click here.

China's Industrial Revolution
They have not learnt from ours.

Local Resident wheeled out by Castle Cement

In The Chronicle a local Padeswood resident ex Castle Cement worker criticizes local councilors for having a go at Castle Cement. He's possibly too close to the works to be threatened by stack fallout.

Our councilors are rightly concerned with the waste substances that Castle Cement, Flintshire County Council, The Welsh Assembly, Heidleberg and The EU want getting rid of.

I think household waste is on the agenda. The problem with household waste is that at present it is not screened and it will contain such nasties as mercury, cadmium or whatever. Does incineration totally destroy these materials?

Further investigation shortly

Mark Tami MP makes a call to Flintshire Residents

to tidy up their hedges and gardens to make Flintshire a showcase to people visiting The Eisteddfod, I have some work to do.....................
Postscript; changed my mind due to the trafic.

Do I live in a village full of Philistines?

My councilors concentrate on Castle Cement whilst cars fly by my house at 50 and 60 mph.
Our village centre environment is soiled.
Cars and Noise and Vehicle pollution kill you faster than the alleged Castle Cement .

Hazel Blears, Locals to Decide on Traffic Calming

Friday, July 6, 2007

Give Local Communities meaningful input into the planning and decision making process

The Green Party today called on Hazel Blears to take her new proposals on local democracy further by enabling local communities to have a truly meaningful input into the planning and decision-making process.
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears today announced that direct ballots would be held in local areas over "big choices" on local council spending, including choosing priorities between "play areas, youth facilities, traffic calming or more community wardens". Pilot schemes could be extended to allow the petitioning of councils to consider policy proposals from the public.

Click here.

Unusual Traffic Calming Methods for Beginners

My favorite trick, a variation on traffic calming frisbee, is traffic calming tug-of-war. Just stand on opposite sides of the road and pretend to pull a rope. Cars will screech to a halt!

Video Click here.

Or The Frisbee Method Click here.

Hat Tip to Adam

20 mph zones for Liscard, Wirral

A go ahead council. Click here

DIY Traffic Calming in Albania

Click here
It works better than what we have at present.
My personal preference would be for a row of bricks. Northop Golf Club has a particular savage traffic calming system just fine for outside Penyffordd Post Office.

Barking Dogs the Bane of my Life - Sorted Perhaps

I am currently building a sanctuary (greenhouse) as far away from the road as possible. There are 2 dogs over the back who bark a lot. An hour and 40 minutes last night around the region 8 -10 pm.
Its not fair really.
I've been on Ebay tonight and for an investment of £12 I have bought a dog barking stopper from Hong Kong, delivery 10 days. Every time the dogs bark they will get 130db of ultrasonic in the ear hole. We can't hear it.
I've needed one of these for 25 years. I thank my Maker for Technology and The Internet.

The dogs bark at me through the fence defending their territory which I don't mind too much as they get called inside within a minute or 2.
The 2 hour job is another issue!

I've fell out with about 4 neighbours over the years for having dogs that bark continuously. One neighbour about 3 times. We are back on speaking terms now. I must have quite a thick file at The Council. They always say "have you spoke to the person who's dog is making the noise" It's a waste of time really, they just fall out with you. Best let the Council deal with it all the way.

You will notice a common thread through my whingeings that being noise.

It is 10. 10 pm and they are going at it hammer and tong. Second night in a row

Flytipping in Dogging Woods

Should I be writing for The Sun with such headline imagination? One idiot leaves bin bags in the middle of the road, then others run them over. One bag was dragged half a mile under someone's car to Dobshill roundabout.
If I email Flintshire County Council perhaps they can do a CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) on the rubbish. The council recently won an award for their website. Last time I looked however there is no email address for Flintshire County Council................................
I take that back there a long form to fill in to report fly tipping. How much of the form can I not fill in to get it to send? not much.......................................bah!
Location. From Queensferry turn left at Dobshill garage roundabout past Council depot. Then 1st right

Wrexham County Council's Traffic Calming Plans

Partners & Funding

The Council could not have achieved any of the items listed below ('What have we done?') without the assistance of its partner organisations. The LTP has been implemented through close working partnerships with the following:

• Welsh Assembly Government
• Welsh Development Agency
• Community Councils
• Private Developers

Accident Reduction

• Speed Camera Partnership (Arrive Alive) in conjunction with North Wales Police.
• Measures to slow traffic - 20mph zones, chicanes and buildouts.
• Measures to slow traffic - speed cushions and road humps.
• Skid resistance surfacing and junction improvements.
• Safe Routes to School (Road Safety Education).

The Big Picture

1. A55 exit at Warren Hall

+

2. Warren Hall Development

+

3. Broughton Retail Park Extension

EQUALS 5 MILLION pass through vehicles a year through Chester Road,Penyffordd that will not be stopping in Penyffordd but will be providing

NOISE - POLLUTION - DANGER

Penyffordd Mother drove drunk with children

Click here

Flintshire County Council vote on Broughton Retail Park Extension

Planning
Meeting Date	04/24/2006
Minute	339. APPLICATION FOR OUTLINE PLANNING PERMISSION – EXTENSION TO EXISTING SHOPPING PARK INCLUDING 15.859M2 (170,000FT2) OF NEW RETAIL FLOORSPACE, PLUS 2,500M2 (27,000FT2) OF MEZZANINE, ADDITIONAL AND RECONFIGURED CAR PARKING, ON AND OFF-SITE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCED BUS, CYCLIST AND PEDESTRIAN PROVISION, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS, BROUGHTON SHOPPING PARK, BROUGHTON, CHESTER (037891) In accordance with the Planning Code of Practice Councillor W. Mullin indicated that he had been contacted by the Developer on more than three occasions At its meeting held on 5th April 2006 the Committee had agreed that this application be considered in accordance with the procedure for dealing with major applications. The Committee had visited the site earlier in the day. Additional observations received since the preparation of the report were circulated at the meeting and the Chairman allowed members an opportunity to read these. The Committee considered the report of the Chief Planning Services Officer in respect of the application. There had been wide consultation undertaken and the responses received were detailed in the report. In presenting the report the Chief Planning Services Officer advised that this was an outline application with details of siting and means of access included with matters of design, external appearance and landscaping reserved for subsequent approval. The Committee was informed that apart from its Transport Division, whose response was detailed in the report, the Welsh Assembly Government was not a consultee on a retail application of this nature. However it was noted that should it be resolved to grant Planning Permission, there was a requirement for a referral to them. The Chief Planning Services Officer expressed a view that it was significant that the Welsh Assembly Government had been requested to call in the application but in a letter to him confirmed that in their opinion the proposed development did not involve planning issues which would warrant taking responsibility for determining the application from the Council. The report detailed the site history and the relevant planning policies together with a detailed planning appraisal. The Chief Planning Services Officer also expanded upon the relevant policy considerations which were detailed in the report. The local Member and other Broughton Members present spoke in support of the application and expanded upon the reasons why they felt the application should be approved. There were other Members representing other areas of the County who had a contrary view and felt that this development would be detrimental to the viability of town centres within the County. It had been duly proposed and seconded that Planning Permission be granted. A Member requested a recorded vote and was supported by the requisite five members. On being put to the vote the proposal was carried by 12 votes to 6, the voting being as follows:- For granting Planning Permission Councillors: S.R. Baker, Mrs. D.S. Banks, D. Butler, D.L. Cox, R. Griffiths, E.F. Evans, F. Gillmore, W. Mullin, C. Shone, P.J. Walkden, D.E. Wisinger and J.F. Jones Against granting Planning Permission Councillors: J.B. Attridge, R.C. Bithell, P.G. Heesom, E.E. Matthews, N. Phillips and H.G. Roberts There were no abstentions. RESOLVED: That planning permission be granted subject to the conditions detailed in the report of the Chief Planning Services Officer.

Welsh Assembly's Decision on Broughton Retail Park Extension

This report is intended to provide you with the facts and analysis of the facts upon which the Minister has taken the following decision. This decision report does not include information which can be properly withheld under the exemptions set out in the National Assembly's Code of Practice on Public Access to Information.

Mae’r adroddiad hwn yn nodi’r ffeithiau a’r dadansoddiad ffeithiol a ddefnyddiwyd fel sail ar gyfer penderfyniad y Gweinidog. Nid yw’r adroddiad yn cynnwys gwybodaeth y caniateir ei dal yn ôl o dan yr eithriadau a nodir yng Nghod Ymarfer y Cynulliad Cenedlaethol ar Ganiatáu i’r Cyhoedd Weld Gwybodaeth.

Subject / Pwnc:

Application for call in of planning application for Broughton retail park, Broughton, Chester.

Summary of decision / Crynodeb o’r penderfyniad:

Not to call-in the application for determination

Date of decision / Dyddiad y penderfyniad:

7^th June 2006

Statement of information / Datganiad gwybodaeth:

OUTLINE – EXTENSION TO EXISTING SHOPPING PARK INCLUDING 15,859m² (170,000FT²) OF NEW RETAIL FLOORSPACE, PLUS 2,500m² (27,000ft²) OF MEZZANINE, ADDITIONAL AND RECONFIGURED CAR PARKING, ON AND OFF-SITE HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, ENHANCED BUS, CYCLIST AND PEDESTRIAN PROVISION, LANDSCAPE AND ECOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS

BROUGHTON RETAIL PARK, BROUGHTON, CHESTER

The Assembly Government has the power under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to call in an application for planning permission for its own determination.

The Assembly Government considers that development proposals are generally best determined locally by planning authorities that know their area, its needs and sensitivities. The Assembly does not interfere with local planning authorities’ jurisdiction unless it is necessary to do so. Very few planning applications are called-in. Those applications that are called-in are generally considered to be those which raise issues of more than local importance, issues which could include, for example, those that:

· are in conflict with national planning policies;

· could have wide effects beyond their immediate locality;

Perhaps a missed opportunity in hindsight. An extra million cars a year could be described a "wide effect" for Chester Rd, Penyffordd.

· may give rise to substantial controversy beyond the immediate locality;

· are likely significantly to affect sites of scientific, nature conservation or historic interest or areas of landscape importance;

· raise issues of national security; or

· raise novel planning issues.

On 12^th May 2006 Flintshire County Council referred the above application to the National Assembly under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Shopping Development) (England and Wales) (No 2) Direction 1993 and the Town and Country (Development Plans and Consultation) Directions 1992.

The National Assembly has also received a call in request from Cheshire County Council and a local resident. Mark Isherwood AM has shown an interest in the case. The main concerns are

· The application does not meet the tests for retail development set out in Planning Policy Wales especially with reference to meeting the sequential test. (Effects on Chester City Centre)

· Effects on wildlife (particularly the Great Crested Newt)

The application proposes an extension to the existing Broughton Retail Park (BRP) in the form of a new retail development with associated infrastructure. It is an outline application with details of siting and means of access included and matters of design, external appearance and landscaping reserved for subsequent approval.

The present Shopping park complex comprises 19 No retail units, a pub/restaurant, a fast food outlet and a petrol station totalling 31,150m2 in commercial floor space served by approximately 2000 car parking spaces. The application is to extend the site by adding an extension to he existing Tesco food store, the construction of a new Marks and Spencer store, and an additional retail parade amounting in total to an extra 18,627m2 of retail floor space over an area which is part parking and part landscaping buffer to the south and west of the Woolworth’s store. In addition to the new shops the proposal includes an extra 502 car parking spaces and various local highway improvements with a scheme of landscaping and nature conservation benefits.

The application is accompanied by an Environmental Statement and is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The application was originally submitted in June 2004, to co-inside with the withdrawal of earlier applications for the retail expansion, which also includes the upgrading of the A55 interchange. This aspect is now the subject of a separate application (ref. 40534).

The upgrading of the junction is covered by a separate planning application it is now an integral part of the development proposal and, if Committee is minded to grant planning permission to ensure that one aspect of the development will not take place without the other.

The responses to consultations are based on the proposal to extend the retail park without upgrading of the A55 junction. As the material change in the proposal ( the junction improvements) are the subject if a separate planing application no re-consultation has been undertaken on this application, but consultation responses on the application for the junction upgrades, particularly those from the various Highways Authorities/Agencies, clearly have a bearing on the proposed development as it now stands.

Development Plan

Clwyd Structure Plan – first alteration

Alyn and Deeside Local Plan (adopted 2003)

Flintshire Unitary Development Plan (deposit draft)

Planning Policy

Planning Policy Wales – March 2002

Technical Advice Note for (Retailing and Town Centres 1996)

Ministerial Interim Planning Policy Statement – Retailing and Town Centre 2005

How much more Traffic, Noise and Pollution for Chester Rd, Penyffordd?

Old News but new to me.
Flintshire County Council has granted outline planning permission for the extension to Broughton Shopping Park including 170,000 feet square of new retail floor space plus 27,000 feet square of mezzanine, additional and re-configured car parking, on and off site highway improvements, enhanced bus, cyclist, pedestrian provision, landscape and ecological improvements.

No mention of what happens to Chester Rd. Penyffordd.
Colin Bithell voted against it.


Who is going to stand up for Chester Rd, Penyffordd. This will mean 1000's of more cars per day through Chester Rd.
LINKS
Broughton Community Council
Denbighshire County Council's Neighbouring County Consultation. (pdf)
Daily Post

Penyffordd Village from Hope Mountain_3

The Blue verticle mark is just below The Institute

Click on the Image

Penyffordd Village from Hope Mountain_2

Penyffordd By - Pass can be seen on the left, Chester Rd to the right.

CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Penyffordd Village from Hope Mountain

Click Image to enlarge. The Institute can be see if you look carefully.

Wrexham Road in Penyffordd taken from Hope Mountain

CLICK IMAGE

A Photo of Castle Cement from Hope Mountain

CLICK IMAGE

Castle Cement taken from Hope Mountain.
The smoke in the back ground is coming from Corus in Shotton.
At the time the picture was taken there were no emissions coming from the stack.
The EU, Welsh Assembly Government, Heidleberg and Flintshire County Council want (need) Castle Cement's ability to burn waste. I think there are plans afoot to burn domestic waste. I intend to do a survey and article on industrial incinerators. I seem to remember that Castle's facility runs under less strict rules with regards to emissions.

Broughton and Bretton Community Council Website

Click here

Councilor Colin Bithell mentioned this site last Wednesday at the Penyffordd Community Council meeting but its taken a few days to find it as Google has strange rules about new sites due to "black hat techniques" by website designers. The website gets put into a "sandbox". Unless you have highly popular sites linking to you it takes a while to be indexed. One way I think may help is using a blog owned by Google such as this one.

This is the way Penyffordd Community Council should be going. Using Blogger simplifies the process very much although less sophisticated than Broughton's site.

Broughton's site requires a knowledge of html language and costs money to run and host (I think)
Blogger requires no knowledge of html and is FREE.

Beat Manager PC Chris Pullen with Inspector Mark Pierce

Click on Image to read.

Our new Beat Manager PC Chris Pullen

Is now fully on the case for Penyffordd and district. I've spoken to Chris this afternoon. North Wales Police are giving him his own blog and website (I think). Also access to The Internet which up to now has been restricted to email.
Policing has come a long way from early last century where the Police looked after the well off, keeping the working man down.
It's now a partnership between the Community and the Police. We work together to eliminate crime and antisocial behaviour. Its not about snitching on people, its about the Community being the eyes and the ears for the Beat Manager. Stamping down on elements in the village that are not wanted or required in a civilized society.

A Warning at about Speeding in Chester Road.

I've been wanting to say this for a while. :)
It's not a very good idea from now on to speed past my house.

kindest regards

Padeswood Road is closed

because they are doing drainage work for about 3 weeks. There is a diversion via Buckley. So Mold is either via Pontblyddyn (spelling) or Buckley.

An Email to Mark Tami MP about Traffic Calming

Dear Mark

It was good to meet you in person at your surgery in the Penyffordd Institute.

There was a Penyffordd Community Meeting last Wednesday where I was expecting a progress report about how far Flintshire Highways have got and what they are going to give us with regards to Traffic Calming for Chester Rd, Penyffordd. Nothing specific was confirmed or when.

My councilors are currently myopic with Castle Cement. As I have said elsewhere speeding cars kill you a lot quicker than the alleged pollution of Castle Cement. We have 2000 speeding cars a day past my house which is in the middle of the village. We are also on the Route to School.

Will you contact Flintshire Highways and find out what is happening and when?

Also according to Arrive Alive's website we should have their signs at the boundaries of our village to warn drivers that we are on the Arrive Alive list of places visited. These signs are a slight deterent in themselves. Click here.
Their temporary signs are of little use as they guarantee Arrive Alive presence. The proper road signs are a deterence.

Also the Arrive Alive van is so rare a sighting that I think it has become extinct.

A couple of sessions in quick sequence at Terrace Lane would be highly effective as they cannot start to accelerate until they see that the van is not there. The entrance to Mr Knight's field has limestone chippings underneath. Mr Knight is currently being detained at her Majesty's pleasure.

Will you contact Arrive Alive for myself and Chester Rd?

Also the large blue sign saying Police Speed Check Area (Click here) at the entrance to Chester Rd 30 mph zone would be very effective.


regards Colin

Here's what you call Broadband

Whilst I hobble along on about half a meg which gets knocked off everytime someone phones us up, I see progress has been made in Sweden.
Click here.

A 75-year-old Swedish woman currently has the fastest broadband connection in the world.
Sigbritt Löthberg, from Karlstad in central Sweden, enjoys a massive 40Gbps connection - many thousand times faster than the average connection speed delivered to homes. It's the first time such a high speed as ever been delivered to a home user anywhere in the world.

Castle Cement

Perhaps Castle Cement would gain more acceptance within the village if their top management moved into the middle of the village with their families. I'm sure we would all feel a lot safer. Well, that is those of us who feel concerned.

Weight Restriction A525 St Asaph

Whilst in St asaph today Lisa spotted this. Weight restriction on a trunk road. Just like the one Chester Rd , Penyffordd needs Charles. (Flintshire Highways)
Cindy Hinds CC has sent a letter to Gerwyn Powell.

Mark Tami MP and Carl Sargeant AM Penyffordd Surgery

A short walk across the road just after 2.00pm. Don't want to be seen as too keen turning up at 1.55pm. I meet Cindy Hinds CC on the way in. Mark and Carl follow in shortly followed by Ken Skates.

I'm in first because I've turned up first. A general chat about where we are with regards to traffic calming for Chester Rd, Penyffordd. I realise that nothing is going to happen about traffic this week. I just went across to say hello.

Talk to Cindy and Dennis Parry outside. I have said to all that we should back Cindy's letter to Flintshire Highways.

A Petition to stop the Postcard to Wales Icon

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/PostcardtoWales/

Objectors launched a petition on the Downing Street website, claiming the 36m (118ft) tall and 76m (249ft) wide design was "hideous".
To cost £18 million pounds.
Spare a minute or two to object if you feel it is a waste of Lottery money.

This art project is to cost an indecent amount of money (£18 m) and was very poorly advertised in giving people the chance to object. The majority of people on Deeside do not want this hideous 'art' to be built in our area- at least those that knew about it. We have several long standing icons to welcome visitors to Wales; such as the Blue River Dee Bridge which was constructed at the beginning of the last century and is very well loved. Please don't spoil our area??!! We are already having to contend with the so called improvements to the motorway system which is destroying our countryside!!

A further Letter to Councilor Tony Sharps

Tony Sharps CC
Northop Hall

cc Mark Tami MP, Carl Sargeant AM

Dear Tony,
I forgot to mention the Welsh Assembly's "road network improvements"
With ex Flintshire Leader Alex Aldridge saying yesterday in The Evening Leader that although he had immense sympathy for the plight of people living near the A494, the people of Flint didn't want the A494 problem off loaded on to them. If the A494 development goes ahead I have read that Northop Hall will suffer similar problems to Penyffordd when the A55 exit at Warren Hall goes ahead.

Many millions of pounds are being spent to shave minutes off journeys with the result that small villages like Penyffordd and Northop Hall are left to the mercy of ever increasing speeding traffic whose drivers do not even live in the villages.

The Welsh Assembly need to account for the effects their grandiose schemes have on local villages and factor in money to protect Welsh rural villages from unwanted speeding traffic.
The legislation is there in The Welsh Government Act 2006.
Instead of leaving Community Council's with little money to pick up the bill for a problem not of their making.

regards Colin Hughes

ps If you want to see a good example of a trunk road that used to be the main road and now has a by-pass visit Rossett. A 20 mph compulsory zone in the middle of the village with a set of bumps that wreck the car if driven over at speed.

The Mark and Carl Show

Our AM and MP will be at The Institute between 2.00 and 3.00 pm Friday 13th for some surgery.
They will not be wielding scalpels I'm assured
I will be going across the road to say hello.

A letter to Tony Sharps about Traffic Calming

Councilor Tony Sharps
Northop Hall

Dear Tony,
I read in this evening's Evening Leader that the bumps in Northop Hall are not high enough. Motorists complain about traffic calming methods but they won't slow down so we have to have traffic calming methods. They cannot see that they are a danger to children, pedestrians and horses.

I see you are getting fed up with meaningless correspondence with Flintshire Highways. With your pedigree and length of service as a Councilor you seem to be struggling with Highways, I can see why my crusade against speeding in Chester Rd, Penyffordd feels somewhat "against the wind"

The most effective method of traffic calming are platforms. Raised 5" for may be 2,3 or 4 yards length of road all the way across in a series, they are installed in most modern housing estates especially outside Flintshire. The angle of entry to the platform governs how fast a vehicle can go over the platform. The more steeper the angle the slower vehicles have to go. Flintshire Highways must have specifications for this traffic calming method.

Also Northop Hall lends itself perfectly for the introduction of 20 mph compulsory speed limits with its narrow village centre.

Cheshire, Merseyside and Wrexham have 20 mpg compulsory zones by the hundred.

I am not aware of anywhere in Flintshire that has compulsory 20mph zones.

Chester Rd, Penyffordd a route to school needs one.

After your exposure in The Evening Leader today there is a chance that other representatives of villages in Flintshire will communicate with you over their frustrations with Flintshire Highways. Penyffordd's representatives Colin Bithell and David Williams I am sure would welcome discussion's to persuade Flintshire County Council that their current attempts at traffic calming are moribund and that they need to up their game.

regards Colin Hughes

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

PostScript: I see you still have some influence as you have Dave Falkner (Acting Director for Environment and Regeneration) coming down for a site meeting.
Dave gave Penyffordd the brush off but Flint gets whatever it wants....................................

Cindy Hinds writes to Flintshire Highways about a Weight Limit for Penyffordd

Cindy Hinds one of our Community Councilors has written to Gerwyn Powell of Flintshire Highways with regards to a weight restriction for the village. In the past Highways have dismissed this idea as unenforceable.

It is enforceable. Highways put the signs up and we (us villagers) report any lorries to the Police.
I am personally quite happy to stand there taking video until it stops. ( I have a few credits for work done so I can have time off :) )

I think our County Councilors and Community Council should back Cindy in what is a very good move to keep Penyffordd a rural village and not a rat run for passing traffic.

The Community Council Meeting July 2007

A good meeting, the committee more "collected" than normal. Will add items as Lisa is debriefed.
The new Beat manager is tall he has to duck when going through the door. PC Chris Pullen looks impressive, the business. He is still changing over from Buckley so things are a bit slow till he finalises things.
1. Penymynydd Woods. Chris has been patrolling the area on foot. The woods are being used for unsavoury activities between males who communicate by mobile phone and The Internet. I'm not mentioning the "d" word. (d_o_g_g_i_n_g ) If you put in the "d" word and Penyffordd my blog is at the top of Google. Not something I want to be famous for. In fact I'm going to put a wild card character in my original post to disguise the d word so I not turn up.
There are 3 levels of dealing with it. Intelligence, Patrol and Physical.
The Clerk to the Council takes his dog in the woods twice a day.
Colin Bithell wants to know what the flashing lights codes mean. Edwina asks why they need lights on because its daylight. The clerk opines that the busiest time is 4 - 6 pm. The Evening Leader's recent front page articles suggest an epidemic. Lisa and myself use the woods as a short cut because of traffic issues at Penymynydd roundabout during rush hour.

2. Colin Bithell is pushing through with the traffic calming measures. Tom Jones said Colin should be thanked for his efforts. (I think otherwise, he has been too slow with Chester Rd speeding.)

3. Some free tickets for the upcoming Eisteddfod at Mold. Since the work councilors do is unpaid freebies are handed out by organisations as a form of thank you. Tom Jones say its usual for the Chairman to have a couple of tickets. Stan shows little interest but Edwina is keen. So Stan's going.

Where do motorists keep to the speed limit?

Buckley, Broughton, Sandycroft, Connah's Quay, Mynydd Isa, Flint, Greenfield, Holywell, Mancot,
Hawarden, Pontblyddyn, Pont y Bodkin, Mostyn, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Llay, Gwersyllt, Northp, Caergwrle.

Where do they not do the speed limit? - Penyffordd.

Read forward didn't put Northop Hall down , good job.

Am I being too hard on my Councilors

I see Lisa off on her shopping trip to Mold.
Its shift changeover for Airbus and Raytheon
The hard workers come flying through our village
at 50 -60 mph................

An Email from my County Councilor David Williams

I have taken the liberty of responding on the blog. Link emailed to David

Dear Colin,

Thank you for your latest E.mail, predictable as ever!

Sorry for not responding immediately which is my normal way of working,
unfortunately on this occasion I had to prioritize and felt a response to
such an unnecessary snide remark with your last comment was a little down my
order.
I feel the need to "digg" as the current noisy traffic speeding in Chester Rd is maddening to me. The noise levels outside my home are deafening
Perhaps if I invited Colin Bithell around for a cup of tea I would get more attention :)

As you know, I too share your concerns about the traffic problems in the
village and also have problems at my end of the village, and as you also
know I have attempted to do something about it.

Yes I thank you for your efforts so far and you arranging for a meeting with Flintshire Highways. It was good to have the top men there.

As soon as the matter was raised with me I arranged a meeting to discuss what could be done. As you also know, the response from the authority as ever was very slow, so I
followed it up with the E-mail for an update which I also sent you a copy
of. The authority are currently setting up the measures that were agreed at
the meeting to see what effect they will have, and although we may be of the
same opinion that they do not go far enough, I feel we are obliged to comply
with what was agreed. Again though, this is not happening as quickly as I
would like, and I have been onto the council again recently about it.

Yes I agree we have to wait and see what progress is made with their plans.

Your one man campaign is very noble and hopefully it will eventually reap
the rewards it deserves.
Thank you very much David. I speak for myself, for Mr Davies and George opposite me on Chester Rd, I speak for the young couple who get dark looks from speeding motorist when they try to drive their car into their drive and have the temerity to slow them down.
For Mr Davies who gets bullying motorists beeping him as he tries to get off the road. I speak for the women who ride their horses through the village. I speak for the children that have to cross a road without a lolly pop lady that has cars doing 60mph. I speak for the residents of Corwen Rd and Wrexham Rd who do not want to be part of a RAT RUN.
I speak for the child not yet run over, the horse on its side knocked down by a car.

However, to get things in perspective, your
priority is not necessarily the priority of the entire village.

It should be the second highest priority, with my degree in hind site I can say Councilors have been neglectful. What other village has the same high numbers of speeding?
Since I became a councillor last February, you are the only resident who has
complained to me about the problem.
That should not be the way you measure this dangerous issue.
From now on I intend to get you a few more complaints.

In fact, although I disagree with them,
I have had more complaints about the Arrive Alive van, were people have been
saying the police should have better things to do with their time!

So, speeding motorists in the middle of our rural village with school children, horses and OAP's is a waste of Police time. ..... Every village has its idiots.

I have though, dealt with a large number of other issues that have been
raised by other members of the community, the most frequent one being the
problems of Castle Cement. I am still learning about the finer issues of
this problem which is more complex than meets the eye, and fortunately Colin
Bithell, who seemed to be your main target, knows quite a bit more than me
and is dealing with the matter on almost a full time basis. Castle Cement
may not be your main concern, and to belittle Colin's efforts as you appear
to be doing shows a distinct lack of respect for the concerns of a very
large number of residents.

Colin Bithell is neglecting the residents of Chester Rd, Corwen and Wrexham Road.
Speeding traffic kills people faster than Castle Cement (If scientific proof is found that it does so)

If in five, ten or twenty years it is proven that
what is falling out of the factory is damaging the health of our community,
as many fear it is, will you still be as critical then?

Councilor Wooley is a very clever man, His route seems the way forward along with tighter management of emmissions

I fully respect and support your campaign and appreciate your frustration,
but to belittle the efforts of others because it is not something that is
high on your priority list is, in my opinion, totally out of order.

Not out of order at all, he is my elected County Councilor, I hold an opinion which I will keep repeating through these pages which will be read by more and more Penyffordd residents until the matter is dealt with properly.

I therefore trust that you will be more thoughtful in future, and if you do
have an issue with councilors or individuals, have the decency to go direct
to them first, and if they do not take action that is in the interests of
the majority, by all means, criticize.

You have a point, I am not very diplomatic.

Good luck with your future efforts and please contact me if I can help
further.
I hope this matter ends after Flintshire Highways do their thing. ..................They can stop the traffic speeding in a week with raised platforms. No more 90 mph motorcyclists.

Regards,

David Williams. CC

ps. Our Councilors should be pressing for an HGV ban, a compulsory 20mph speed limit outside the Post Office. Councilors do a very good job of running the village. This one blind spot spoils the village centre. We do after all have a bypass. I also hope that our councilors are also up to speed on what Warren Hall means for the village. The late Derek Darlington certainly was.

Chester Road should be a village centre not a rat run for 2000 speeding motorists a day.

kindest regards Colin

Post Script: I have exchanged further emails with David over the above and have urged him and I hope Colin Bithell and The Penyffordd Community Council to press Flintshire County Council and North Wales Police and Arrive Alive for a conclusion to this dangerous and noisy issue.

Perfect Traffic Calming for Chester Rd Penyffordd

A visit to Bangor yesterday revealed these.

Plaid Cymru now has a Welsh Government Minister

Plaid leader Ieuan Wyn Jones will be confirmed as the new deputy first minister in the Welsh assembly later. Mr Jones will become the first Plaid Cymru government minister in his party's 82 year history.
Click here.

A letter sent to Edwina Davies prior to tonights Council Meeting

Edwina Davies CC
Penyffordd

cc. Linda Vidamour, Cindy Hinds, David Williams

Dear Edwina,

I presume there is a Community Council meeting on Wednesday.

As one our most effective councilors may I call upon you to press for the speeding in Chester Rd to be stopped. In The Chronicle last week Sychdyn was mentioned, their Beat Manager has been told to deal with their Rat Run to Shire Hall on the back roads.

Terrace Lane is the perfect place for our Beat manager as the Morning Rat Run cannot accelerate out of the village until they see that Arrive Alive or North Wales Police are not present. A couple of visits between 7.15 and 9.15 am would be enough to stop most of the 100’s who speed past my house each morning causing danger and noise.

I realize that Flintshire Highways are on the case but the Police should enforce our speed limit. He does after all have very little crime in Penyffordd and Higher Kinnerton to deal with.

I also feel the village should have a 20 mph compulsory limit outside The Post Office.

Into the future Warren Hall looks bad for Chester Rd Penyffordd.
Flintshire County Council seem very very keen. I and others on the main roads through Penyffordd, Chester, Corwen and Vounog may have different ideas.

At present we have 1,000,400 cars a year through Chester Rd.

2000 a day speeding.

Will that triple after Warren Hall is developed and the A55 exit finished?

We have a by-pass of sorts that is not very efficient as you will be aware. Flintshire Highways I think are very keen for Chester Rd to remain part of the National Network to Mid Wales along with the by-pass. I feel traffic not visiting Penyffordd should use the By-Pass

Sincerely Colin

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

ps. I occasionally have a go at The Community council on my Blog. This is because I am frustrated at the slow nature of local government. A current issue is the Notice Board outside The Post Office that wants taking down or repaired. It currently does not make the Community Council look effective.

Pps I have a Penyffordd resident’s objection to Warren Hall in regards to more traffic for Penyffordd in front of me. The objection valid, summarily dismissed by Flintshire County Council. I feel that Flintshire County Council wish to ignore Penyffordd

Penyffordd Community Council Monthly Meeting

Wednesday 11th July 2007 in The Institute at 6.30pm
All welcome to attend but you can't say anything. The village bobby normaly attends and does a report

Last month's Neighbourhood Forum held in secret.

Let's have some notification on The Notice Board.

A Telling off by Councilors

I have been taken to task for saying that Colin Bithell's cry for the shutting down of Castle Cement is a political soundbite. They may have a point. but...
The Welsh Assembly and The EU want Industrial Incinerators. The David and Goliath scenario will not happen.
Mean while I see young children on cycles and anxious parents outside my house. The speeding traffic needs stopping..................... that needs to include the village idiots who are many.
Compulsory 20 mph is required NOW!

Although not enamored with Castle Cement, I hope to be level and not use the blog to bash Castle over the head at every opportunity.

I am accused of snide remarks, I'd prefer the word pointed barb. A look through my blog which is not fully labeled will show criticism of of all those failing to to stop or report the 2000 daily speeders in Chester Rd. These include The Chief Constable, Flintshire County Council Executives, County Councilors, Community Councilors, Arrive Alive, The Chester Chronicle. I even have a go at myself sometimes :)

Penyffordd lags well behind most places I visit on a daily basis with regards to traffic calming. Why is this so?

Castle Cement Boss Hits back at critics

In The Evening Leader today. The dead tree version that pays the wages. Mark Cox, Works General manager says "people are intent to castigate the site at every opportunity to further their own aims."
Perhaps he means keeping a high profile for next years elections (my words)
Mark points out that contrary to the general view, the fire did not happen in the tower but was sucked up by a tunnel effect.
Little environmental impact took place.
The company had an on going program to reduce fugitive dust.
He said he will continue to work closely with The Environment Agency and people of Penyffordd and surrounding areas.

Why is Sychdyn different to Chester Rd Penyffordd?

Police are to increase monitoring of speeding motorists in Raikes Lane and BlackBrook Rd in Sychdyn.
Chester Rd , Penyffordd has 100 times their problem.
Shall I and other Chester Rd residents put it down to the change over of Beat Managers and the lag that ensues?
Or is it inefficient councillors?

cc The Chief Constable

Postman's Legs For Sale

Dog chews at a car boot sale.

Flintshire County Council have a new Chief Executive

Click here.

North Wales Police spotted in Terrace Lane

My source says they were there at about 11.00 am
I suppose its a start.
The Chief Constable is pushing for horses at the moment.
As in mounted police.

George Melly has died

The deathbed advice that a young George Melly received from his wool-trader father was: "Do what you want - I never did". And he followed it with unique aplomb. When the jazz singer himself died yesterday, at the age of 80, he had left few stones unturned, few avenues unexplored.
Daily Mail.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/05/nmelly105.xml

http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2119217,00.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2007/jul/05/obituaries.jazz?picture=330141940

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2007/07/george_melly_dies.html

Warren Hall Development and how it will affect Penyffordd

The Warren Hall Business Park will provide 76,000 sq m of office accommodation with a 120 bed hotel and leisure complex providing 7,000 higher value jobs over the next 10-15 years.
http://www.assemblywales.org/00484c8022c3a00b80d42ee9eea70a1c.pdf

How much extra traffic for Penyffordd village?

Flintshire UDP 2000 -2015 and Penyffordd History

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_east/4220951.stm

We've submitted our objection to the proposals at Warren Hall because it would mean traffic coming at us from both sides.

Cllr Derek Darlington (RIP)

------------------------------------------------------------------
Concerns about traffic have prompted one community council in neighbouring Penyffordd to object.

"We've already got traffic problems in Penyffordd because of the increase in traffic to Castle Cement as a result of the development there," said community councillor Derek Darlington.

"We've submitted our objection to the proposals at Warren Hall because it would mean traffic coming at us from both sides," he added.

But in nearby Broughton, some believe the development could improve congestion in their area.

Flintshire UDP 2000 -2015 and Penyffordd

Car Accident at Penyffordd By-Pass

Road accident at Penymynydd By-Pass Junction at about 1.00pm . Two ambulances called.

Local Resident catches Castle Cement Fire on Video

Are Flintshire Highways First Rate or Third Rate?

As I watch the daily Chester Rd, Penyffordd Rat Run flying past my house. I've just seen at least 4 cars doing about 60 mph in acceleration mode. Flintshire Highways have all the knowledge needed to stop the traffic exceeding 30mph. They come through by the 100.
Rossett and Cefn Mawr have got good traffic calming measures. Wrexham Council seem to be on the ball with traffic calming. Is Flintshire Highways going to be a begrudged effort? We are dealing here with hardened speeders who know Penyffordd is a soft touch. Perhaps they have seen our Council Notice Board :) (previous post)
If there is money for improving Flint's environment ( Chronicle Last week) there should be a little for Penyffordd.
Yes , I forget we have a By-Pass...............
Chester Rd awaits with interest whilst Flintshire Highways prepare their plans for Penyffordd.

Chester Road, Penyffordd, a rural Welsh village with a By-Pass or the preferred fast speedy short cut for over 2000 commuters and 100's of lorries each day?


cc Flintshire County Council Exec, Evening Leader, Mark Tami MP, Carl Sargeant AM, Linda Vidamour CC. Arrive Alive.

Colin Bithell on Kiln Fire

In The Evening Leader.
Penyffordd Councillor Colin Bithell said: "It's yet another worry for the area.
"With £60 million of investment, we would have expected the long-term problems we have been having would have ceased or at least calmed down by now, such as emissions coming from it.
"We are concerned we have lost confidence in both the company and the Environment Agency in not being able to protect us and this sort of incident again today is of immense worry to us. How much more of this do we have to put up with?"

The Environment Agency confirmed the threat to the environment had been minimised and once its investigation is complete they would consider any possible enforcement notice.

And here on the BBC Website

Mark Tami MP and Carl Sargeant AM to meet Castle Cement later on in the month.

A Copy of A Letter sent by my MP Mark Tami with regards Traffic Enforcement Chester Rd Penyffordd

North Wales Police's statistics for Chester Rd and The Vownog. Lamentable with 2000 daily speeders. Discuss later. I have composed in my head a reply to my MP Mark Tami. It is a feature of a previous blog on the most efficient way to slow down the rat run.

Woman robbed at Drury Post Office

Click here.

Castle Cement Fire

Yours Truly.

Click here.

Added Links for Ian
Cank
Emmission Watch

Hawarden Jail

This is Hawarden Jail. Photographed whilst out today. I've removed the 3 traffic sign posts and yellow road salt bin for authenticity.

Naomi has passed Her Doctor's Exams

Well done Naomi, daughter of Chris and Richard, Dobshill.

Penyffordd and Penymynydd Royal British Legion

The Club is available for Members and Non Members.

Wedding Receptions, Birthday Parties and Other Occasions

Secretary Arthur Arnold

Telephone 01244 550942

Upcoming Events include

Robe Gee , Brothers in Arms (Dire Straight Tribute Band)


Its Here!
(Or nearly)

Speeding Traffic Update

Another Wet Sunday. Boy racers speeding with loud exhausts. Why are these loud exhausts legal?
The passing through brigade by the 100's speeding past my house 50 and 60 mph. Bikers same sort of speed.
We have no Lolly Pop Lady or gent.
A Community Council that just about sits on its hands.
I expect more from them in the coming months.
Do we have a lawless speeding village due to the Community Council we have?

North Wales Police a waste of space. Traffic Taliban my elbow.

Arrive Alive do not have the committment or manpower or equipment but will not admit it.

Mark Tami seems the only one taking my (and other residents) complaints seriously.
There have been also the letters by Carl Sargeant AM to FCC.