Penyffordd Community Council are not happy with me

Meeting Points.

Penyffordd Community Council wash their hands of speeding in Chester Rd, Penyffordd. They have no interest.

The above wording will form the basis of a protest sign for the 3000 people I have passed the house every day. It will also include the police. I have the moral high ground council, you cannot win.

Never mind the young girl nearly getting killed last week.
Never mind the 370 speeders each day.

I had a bit of a go because they do no tell me anything.

On a plus point Chester Rd has been reclassified which may mean it doesn't appear on GPS.

CBM Chris Pullen didn't turn up, no apology. Cllr Colin Bithell says police expect us to go to their forums. Colin is right.

Stan Davies doesn't like being called a train robber ( his election picture) It was just a leg pull Stan.

Stan raised the banning of HGV's. Flintshire say the road is suitable for HGV's.
Thank you for bringing it up Stan.

Cllr Margaret Jones singles out my car to the meeting. It's in the way stopping people getting passed. Loads of people complaining.
Fact: It does not block the path. If I do not park there someone else does. No problem with the others parking on double yellow lines either.
Victimization Margaret.

I think we had a pre meeting didn't we committee.

The Spinning Wheel is to be knocked down and houses built on it. Thus shows the dire straights of much of the pub industry. The Millstone will not survive either. Punch Taverns which leases The Millstone have seen a 15% drop in their share price today as they have decided not to give a dividend.

The meeting between Charles Hughes and Derek Kirby and Penyffordd Community Council was to discuss Warren Hall Business also diverting traffic away from the village. Except for HGV's that is. The Road Haulage Association must be paying Charles Hughes a few bob.

On a plus note Cllr Linda Vidamour brought up Carl Sargeant AM's 20 mph initiative to return villages to villages by reducing vehicle speeds.

Cllr David Williams wasn't half bad.

Fagl Lane planning application was refused at FCC. ( Breaking News)

Hope Parish Website

http://www.hopeparishflintshire.org.uk/home/

Flintshire Planning meeting Re: Fagl Lane Quarry

A long meeting this afternoon.
County Councillor Stella Jones for Caergwrle has made a speech before the committee.
Cllr Cindy Hinds attended part of the meeting.

Questions.

1. Did Cllr David Williams attend and / or did he make representations with regards increased
lorry traffic through Chester Rd. On the BBC they are talking 120 lorries a day.

2. Did new county councillor Tim Newsome for Hope attend. Has he made representations?

A quick look through The Hope Church magazine September 2008 sees no mention of Tim. Why is that?

Update. Application is thrown out.

Postscript.

Hope Councillor Tim Newhouse put his written objections to the quarry in his report to the Flintshire Planning Committee.

This decision thankfully overturned Cliff Shone's vote FOR the quarry in 2002.

More Lorries for Chester Rd Penyffordd

Have your say in The Evening Leader

in The Daily Post, the re-opening of Fagl Lane quarry, Hope.

On the BBC NE Wales website its says:
Ian Redhead from Hope
I would like to get the views of local Hope residents about the application to re-open Fagl Lane Sand and Gravel Quarry and to extract 300,000 tonnes annually for 11 years which means 120 lorries a day using Fagl Lane and its link roads for over a decade if this application is approved.I will be writing to lodge my objections on the grounds of safey, noise and dust/pollution.

keyword: Google Maps

Penyffordd Community Council are meeting on Wednesday at 6.30 am

Will the promised visit by Chief Superintendent Ruth Purdie materialise?
Are North Wales Police going to anything about 370 speeding vehicles (Over 35mph) through the village everyday?

A Letter to GNI Jones Clerk to Penyffordd Community Council

cc. Flintshire Highways

Penymynydd Rd

Penyffordd

Chester

GNI Jones

The Clerk to Penyffordd Community Council

Penyffordd

Chester

Re On going Speeding Traffic Chester Rd, Penyffordd

Dear Nigel,

It is now well over 18 months since I brought to Penyffordd Community Council's attention the fact that there is wholesale speeding through Chester Rd which is a major route to school. Flintshire County Council have now finally confirmed that 370 vehicles travel at speeds greater than 35 mph on Chester Rd each day ( data from County Cllr Cindy Hinds ) (I do not totally agree with how the data is presented.)

You are also aware that a young girl escaped death by very narrow margins the other Friday night as you were there just after the event

Council has recently had a meeting with Charles Hughes and Derek Kirby of Flintshire County Council. One hopes that they haven't persuaded any of you of the benefits of lots more speeding traffic for Chester Rd with Warren Hall and other upcoming developments such as the proposed A55 Warren Hall exit.

I remain firmly committed to removing this cancer from Chester Road community. I will continue to press Penyffordd Cllrs, Flintshire County Council, North Wales Police, Airbus and Politicians for a lasting solution using The Evening Leader where they will allow, leaflet drops and numerous protest plackards in my garden hedge which has over 3000 people passed it everyday.

We should be a rural village with a bypass intead of an environmental sewer with excess noise from HGV's , 100's of speeding cars many with illegal exhaust systems at varying times of the day.

Yours sincerely

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

Letter acknowledged then ignored. Blood all over the hands of Penyffordd Community Council when someone is run over.

Warren Hall Pre Amble by Charles Hughes and Derek Kirby

Warren Hall Business Park will saturate the village of Penyffordd even though we have Penyffordd By Pass.

In the last week or two Flintshire Highways have organized a little meet with Penyffordd councillors. It now turns out that Cllr Linda Vidamour and Cllr David Williams were on holiday.

Why have pre meets? Is this to try smooth the way with councillors so that its fine to have all this extra traffic short cutting through the village with no speed restrictions. To try to get councillors to persuade us stupid villagers that all this extra traffic will not make any difference at all.

As far as I can see Cllr Colin Bithell has stood by whilst Airbus and Broughton Park planning applications went through smoothly with no arguments from Penyffordd about the massive traffic increases.

We now have Warren Hall Business Park before us.

Then we have the new A55 Warren Hall exit to be built, Broughton Park extension to be built, perhaps 300 houses at The White Lion site Penymynydd then we have Saltney shopping park.
Wrexham UDP housing requirement will also add greatly to our traffic, it already does.

All this will add massively to Chester Rd Penyffordd traffic

I have made a fool of myself

over the weekend. Firing off emails. I of course do this because I am not given information that affects me here in Chester Rd.

I am still of the opinion that Flintshire County Council are going to stitch us up big style Since I read The Evening Leader every day I am fully up to speed with the Croes Atti debacle.

At the end of the day me shooting my mouth off without the facts is of use.

All that needed to be said was Charles Hughes and Derek Kirby are going to meet Penyffordd Community Council before a public meeting then everything is explained.

As is usual for Penyffordd I am kept in the dark, as I have been for the last 18 months. Penyffordd Community Council as a group have been a disgrace. I have early emails from David Williams explaining he had loads of other stuff and my 2000 speeding cars through the village posed little interest to him as no one else had complained.

Lest hope we have some movement from them.

Cllr Cindy Hinds and Cllr Linda Vidamour are not included in the above as they are good councillors.

An email sent Penyffordd Councillors re FOIE

cc Mark Tami MP and Carl Sargeant AM

Hi Councillors,

Below is an FOIE that I have made to FCC this morning with regards traffic data for Chester Rd.

You as councillors should be able to obtain all electronic traffic data for Chester Rd without FOIE's

Highways have at least 2 sets of data. If they have any other data we should be given everything.

If you do get copies before me I would be grateful for a copy.

I hope false excuses previously given by Arrive Alive will not be used.

For example.

1. You will not be able to read the data

2. It will take too many hours to collect information

As you have computers you will of course know that the above files will be stored in a folder system

that allows easy access and copying of any data held.

yours Colin Hughes

"hopeful to live in a village and not a noisy shortcut for many HGV's and outsiders, we have a bypass"

Castle Cement Kiln

The business end. Temperatures of 1400 degrees C inside this horizontal kiln lined with firebrick and rotated at 2 or 3 rpm.

Castle Cement Padeswood Kiln Operation Software

Click image to enlarge.

This image was taken during shut down so the readings are not at full operation.

A Letter to The Clerk to Penyffordd Community Council

Dear Nigel.

Will you please show this letter to Penyffordd Community Council on Wednesday

It is 18 months since I brought to the council's attention wholesale speeding through Chester Rd Penyffordd.

On Friday 24th August 2008 a young girl cycled across the path of a speeding motorist and missed death by a few seconds.

The vehicle had to slam on brakes, in so doing skidded and mounted the path near to the bus stop.

Flintshire County Council have now released figures from their traffic speed survey.

Which are as follows.

Vehicles (3394) travelling at or above 35 mph and (283) were travelling at or above 45 mph.

Total 3677 doing more than 35 mph over a 10 day period.

(please note these are static speeds, it is reasonable to assume many of these vehicles are in acceleration mode passed our houses.)

1. As the above is anti social behaviour what are North Wales Police going to about these 367 vehicles that speed on our major route to school every day. I know of no other village or town in Flintshire where this happens.

2. I understand a meeting took place between Penyffordd Community Council and Charles Hughes and Derek Kirby of Flintshire County Council. As an interested party in the tremendous traffic increases that these two officers have planned for Chester Rd Penyffordd will you please give me details of what was said at the meeting.

3. Will you please explain to me why I and other residents of Chester Rd were excluded from the meeting.

4. Will you please explain why you told councillors I had been advised of the date of the meeting when you did no such thing.

May I remind you of your position of Clerk to The Council. I believe your position should be one of neutrality. From where I stand I find it not so.

I wish to remind you of your code of conduct.

regards Colin Hughes

Postscript: The meeting was for councillors only. Although why have one I do not know. They will not be persuading me or any others from Chester Rd or Corwen Rd that Warren Hall is good for Penyffordd village environment.

Penyffordd Community Council in secret talks with Flintshire County Council

Charles Hughes Head of Engineering and Derek Kirby Transport Flintshire County Council have met with Penyffordd Community Council and County Councillor Cindy Hinds to discuss Warren Hall.
No mention was made of this meeting upfront. Nigel Jones, Clerk to The Penyffordd Community Council is quoted that I had been aware of the date of the meeting . This is a lie.

keyword GNI,

To Castle Cement Padeswood for their Open Day 2008

Click on images to enlarge

General Manager of Castle Cement Mark Cox shows Penyffordd resident Lisa Harding the cement production process.

Castle Cement Quarry at Gwernaffield

General Manager Mark Cox fields questions from visitors to the Castle Cement Open Day 2008.

Mark Cox General Manager of Castle Cement Padeswood shares a light moment with Penyffordd resident Lisa Harding.

A quarry monster at the Castle Cement quarry

County Councillor Cindy Hinds and General Manager Mark Cox sharing a cup of tea discussing Penyffordd community.

County Councillor Cindy Hinds sharing a joke with Noel from Castle Cement and County Councillor Haydn Bateman - Independent for Mold Broncoed.

M&A Kynaston's warning after hours offences

A North Wales tipper firm which had been heavily fined for drivers' hours offences escaped with formal warnings when it appeared before Welsh Deputy Commissioner Lester Maddrell. The company had put a new training regime in place and admitted that new regulations on off-road driving had sometimes been overlooked.

Link Road Transport.com

They also used to speed through village, recently though they have appeared to slow down.

Conmen steal from vulnerable Penyffordd pensioner

TWO callous conmen ransacked a pensioner’s bedroom and stole money after posing as ‘waterboard officials’.

Now local councillor Cindy Hinds is warning all elderly or vulnerable people in Penyffordd, near Mold, to be on their guard.

Link The Daily Post

Penyffordd Councillors have a meeting with Charles Hughes

The Double Standards employed by Flintshire County Council over Croes Atti developments and Chester Rd rat run which must be well over 500 vehicles each day.

Charles Hughes is Director of Engineering for Flintshire County Council. I am of the opinion that Flintshire Highways which is part of Engineering have plans for Chester Road to remain a trunk road in all but name. The meeting was held at Cllr David Williams' house.
Cllr Cindy Hinds attended the meeting.

The removal of yellow lines outside the Post Office was discussed. Charles Hughes reels off one of his stock of excuses on why he can't help. This time its "the fire engine will not be able to get through".

The yellow lines were removed outside the chapel what about the fire engine there in Hawarden Rd. What about the Vounog that has no yellow lines. All three roads exactly the same, ex trunk roads.

Chester Rd remains the second by-pass of Penyffordd. I think the word is de facto.

Flintshire County Council do triple back somersaults to get Croes Atti development off the ground when the real fear of rat runs is raised by residents. Chester Rd is a rat run. Charles Hughes currently refuses to do anything about our daily rat run.

Excuse No 1 doesn't hold either. This is the " we have no money left". Kate Forrester of The Evening Leader reported early in the year that FCC has nearly £60 million at its disposal to spend on whatever.

Village environment and safety remains firmly at the bottom of the agenda for Flintshire County Council.

Castle Cement Open Day

Saturday 30 th August 2008. A guided tour from 10 am to 4 pm. All welcome, refreshments available.

LINK Castle Cement Open day Photos

Miss Wagstaff Logo

World Ploughing Championships - Tribute paid to Ian Wilson

Elfed, 34, of Ty Hen, Llanfihangel GM, Ruthin, was competing in the reversible section of the World Ploughing Contest at Grafanegg, 70km from Vienna, at the weekend.

Elfed, whose reversible section was won by Andrew Mitchell Snr of Scotland, paid tribute to the "tremendous" team coaches, including Ian Wilson of Penyffordd near Mold.

Link The Denbighshire Free Press

Near miss for child on cycle on Chester Rd

Whilst standing in the garden (Friday 18.20 am) in my DJ last night waiting to go to a charity event I looked up to see a red car brake heavily, skid, hit the kerb and mount it, which wrecked his wheel, deflating the tyre. The car mounted the kerb 20 feet from a bus stop.

Then I saw a small girl aged about 8 or 9 with long hair pedaling up Penymynydd Rd on her green bike. The young girl had just missed serious injury or death by a very short margin.

The young girl had cycled across Chester Road without looking into the path of the red car which was doing about 30 mph.

The young man who was visibly shaken for some time after the event, his lightning reactions prevented very serious injuries or death to this young girl. The young girl carried on pedaling up the path on Penymynydd Rd too embarrassed or shocked to stop.

His mates who were in two cars then set about changing the wheel whilst he looked on still a state of shock

Due to the number of speeding vehicles through our village statistically its just a matter of time until someone is seriously injured or killed. Whilst taking pictures of the kerb damage this morning I am stopped by a resident of Penyffordd who knew about the incident. He then regaled me with near misses he had witnessed.

Chester Rd a major route to school is an accident waiting to happen.

Witness to near accident
Colin Hughes 01244 548063

Witness after the event
Nigel Jones Clerk to the Penyffordd Community Council
Tel 01244 547440

The Millstone Lease details

£87,000 up front
£50,000 per year

It's for a 10 year lease.

A Very Big Thank You to The Flintshire Leader

for publishing my letter below.

Letter - Evening Leader - Warren Hall Infrastructure contracts

Hi Evening Leader

A letter for consideration.

I note that you report contracts are being put out for Warren Hall Business Park infrastructure.

The Warren Hall developments are going to increase traffic through Chester Rd, Penyffordd many fold. Flintshire County Council and The Welsh Assembly Government are currently ignoring our plight.

Flintshire Highways see Chester Rd as a spare trunk road to deal with the gross inefficiencies of Penyffordd By Pass and Penymynydd roundabout.

The other side of the coin to regeneration is environment. Chester Rd descends daily into a fast short cut for over a 1000 non residents vehicles usually at illegal speeds, many with illegal exhausts. The above developments will only add to our daily misery if we are not to be protected.

Chester Road, Penyffordd could be the first village in North Wales to benefit from The WAG's Manual for Streets. I hope The WAG and Flintshire County Council will consider diverting a very small percentage of development money to protect Penyffordd's threatened environment.

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

links

http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/news/Bids-now-welcome-for-Broughton.4405623.jp#3139054

http://new.wales.gov.uk/news/ThirdAssembly/Planning/2007/1543942/?lang=en

A new direction for Arrive Alive

"work closely with our communities to tackle antisocial driving and seek cost-effective engineering solutions".

In the Wales on Line http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/08/18/safety-campaigners-defend-speed-cameras-91466-21552382/

The woman from Safe Speed wants locking up for saying speed cameras do not work.
Many millions of drivers have altered their driving habits through communities due to gaining points from speed cameras.

I await Arrive Alive to deal with the 1000 odd speeders through Chester Rd everyday.

The Millstone is up again for lease

Jim Foley who used to run The Millstone says the details for the lease are on the website of the company advertising the pub.
More later when I get the link. Need to register.
The lease I think is in the region of £50k a year

http://punchpubs.punchpubs.co.uk/

Type in Chester in search.

Millstone
Harwarden Road
Pen-Y-Fford
Chester
CH4 0JE

	Available on a 10 Year Secure Lease Agreement (longer by negotiation)
	Fantastic business opportunity with great character.
	Located in the affluent area of Pen Y Fford
	Established food offer with scope for development

The Guardian Online Logo

Coffee House Logo

Loud noise and speeding vehicles it must be Friday teatime

I've just sent off a missive to Cllr Tom Jones. I explained to him that his and Colin Bithell's legacy to the village is a village centre that is an environmental hell hole.
Every other car racing through the village with loud exhausts. A motorcycle doing 80 mph showing off to his mates outside the Penyffordd British Legion, with the modern fashion accessory a very loud illegal exhaust.

They have sat in the Penyffordd Institute each month with cars speeding passed, they oblivious.
I've told him his block vote in the last local elections a disgrace.

Flintshire County Council's current plans for Chester Rd is two or three times more vehicles.

They are a disgrace.

North Wales Police seeking volunteers to help with paperwork

In The Evening Leader Inspector Alun Oldfield. I'm thinking of offering Lisa to help if he will tackle the 1000 cars a day that speed through our village. This he knows about as the traffic has been recorded. Last year we had a big fan fare in The Evening Leader with CBM's getting their own speed gun to use in our village. This has NOT been carried out properly or efficiently.
North Wales Police continue to ignore this issue.

Postscript. After many months of waiting for action by North Wales Police against speeding through our community I have given up and have made a formal complaint against Inspector Oldfield to the Professional Standards Department, North Wales Police Authority.

I do this with reluctance.

Penyffordd PoW pal reunited through the Evening Leader meet after 60 years

TWO former prisoners of war, who were reunited by the Evening Leader after 60 years apart, have vowed never to lose touch again.

read here The Evening Leader

* one hopes this is our Penyffordd

A walk to calm the soul

Above Roman track between Minera and Ffrith

Click image to enlarge

Links to the walk are here. The walk we did was from Ffrith to Bwlchgwyn and back again. It's 2.5 hours, leg and arm protection needed. It will be muddy in places. By doing this walk this way you do the climb on the way up instead of the way back. One of the tracks was used to transport lead ore from Minera to Ffrith in Roman times.
note. The waterfall is not on the marked route on the map link (please ask)

A further letter to The Flintshire Leader with regards Flintshire UDP housing requirement

The Kingspan £60,000 house

Links
Kingspan Zero Emission House
Kingspan £60,000 house
Environmental Housing Competition.

A letter for possible insertion.

With regards Cllr Alex Aldridge's suggestion that a new town be built to deal with

Flintshire UDP housing requirement instead of Flintshire villages and towns getting more clogged up.

Here in Flintshire we have Kingspan who are at the cutting edge of energy saving building technology.

We also have Sharps nearby at Llay (Wrexham Council) who produce electric solar panels.

Kingspan could be brought in to help design a modern low energy town made up of affordable housing..

Since Flintshire is blessed with lots of sun and wind, solar panels and wind turbines could be

incorporated to drive down energy requirements.

Flintshire could become the leading county in Wales for affordable low energy housing and in the process highlighting

one of Flintshire's and Wrexham's employers world wide.

With regards transport I feel that a new town should have access to the A55 but not clog up our existing road network.

Perhaps other readers have their own ideas to put forward.

regards

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

Postscript. I left out the other firm who might be contributing, Corus if they are still called that.

Further postscript. Letter published. - Kingspan have been on the blog. - Letter worked out in my head if any opposition pops up with a letter.

Notes. I have never emailed (he doesn't have one) or spoke to Cllr Alex Aldridge.
I buy Kingspan panel seconds off Ebay. I love the stuff great for diy.

A Letter to The Evening Leader with regards Penyffordd Health Care

Dear Evening Leader

A letter for consideration, my thanks for recent publications

So the LHB remain committed to providing a health resource centre for Hope, Caergwrle and surrounding villages whilst Penyffordd with over 3000 residents have to make do with advice from the chemist.

It would appear that Penyffordd health care has been sacrificed so that Hope super health source centre can be built.

I'm sure we can find space in Penyffordd for the health centre, then Hope residents can come to Penyffordd rather than the current practice of Penyffordd residents driving to Hope.

regards Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

North Wales joins the 21st Century

Published in todays Evening Leader a civil partnership between Catherine Hughes and Saira Griffiths. Lets hope the girls live happily ever after. The photo looks very sweet which is here

Carnage on North Wales Roads continues...

In The Leader

I have fired off a letter to the Leader with a CC to North Wales Police. I have had an email back from North Wales Police they are not best pleased. They rightly condemn me over insensitivity to the bikers family.
We have this issue where many bikers are being killed yet any criticism is not liked.

Motorcyclists will continue to die until they are fully controlled. If smoking can be stopped in public places speeding can be stopped on North Wales roads.

As I have said to North Wales Police on current form the next motorcyclist will die within a week.

I wrote a letter to The Leader as last weekend has seen Penyffordd By Pass being used as a 120 mph race track with illegal exhausts to boot.

Meadowslea Hospital

Beeston Castle from Lower Mountain Rd

Click on image to enlarge

Beeston Castle on the left amd Peckforton Castle on the right.

Penyffordd Wine Circle Summer Barbeque Bash

Ted and Sylvia Plevin

Something amiss in the layby.

Update: Here is the answer
The Evening Leader
BBC NE Wales
The Daily Post
Further Daily Post



Layby between Penymynydd and Broughton closed. North Wales Police present. So are the Fire Brigade and a red trailer.

A Talk with GNI Jones in the woods

We meet Nigel in the woods. We are dog walking to retrieve transport after a barbecue at the Penyffordd Wine Circle. I report street light panel missing. Nigel is straight on to those who fix these things at Flintshire County Council. It appears there is a meeting tomorrow with regards Warren Hall developments.

Warren Hall developments will be very bad for Penyffordd and district unless we are protected.

Postscript. Cllr Cindy Hinds informs me the meeting is early September.

Banning of HGV's through Penyffordd

Today I have rung up Garner Haulage to complain about one of their lorries speeding in Chester Rd. Here is a letter about a village who managed getting HGV's banned.

The Letter

Sir: The letter from Councillor Mollie Toy from Southwell (30 August) about sat-nav luring HGVs to her small town with inadequate roads struck a chord with residents of our tiny village of Milton Malsor in Northamptonshire.

We regularly get huge HGVs stuck in our narrow streets, damaging the cottages as they struggle to get out. We believe some of them are aiming for Lodge Farm Industrial Estate, five miles away, rather than our Lodge Farm.

Can anything be done, asks Councillor Toy? Well, we have been pressing the county council to impose a weight limit on the access roads to our village, although it has dithered for months, worried about the policing of such a limit. It needn't be. We will be out there with our cameras dealing with lawbreakers until the haulage companies know that they can't mess with Milton Malsor without getting fined.

A village with spirit!

Links

Letters: Revenge on sat-nav
Sat Nav Scourge
Sat Nav lorries damage roads

Reverse North South Divide with Post Office Closures

South Wales hit harder than North Wales with Post Office closures since 2003.

Link Peter Black AM for the story.

Penyffordd and District Traffic Survey

Cllr David Williams has presented the above form to Penyffordd Community Council for their backing. The form has been handed out to various communities that are plagued by speeding traffic. Please print the above form and fill in the details. We should be a village community not some speedy short cut for over 1000 outsiders every day.

Meadowslea Hospital circa 1926

Click image to enlarge

Castle Cement miss out on fuel supply

The Daily Post

Deeside Sunday League Donation

From the Left: Penyffordd Community Association Chairman Steve Johnson, Deeside Sunday League Chairman Peter Robinson and Peter Olsson of Penyffordd Red Lion Strollers FC.

A cheque was presented by Peter Robinson to Steve Johnson for £400. This money gratefully received for a Multi Use Games Area for the youth of Penyffordd. The £400 will go towards the £52000 needed. The current total stands at £45,000.
Castle Cement have generously agreed to do the base.
Cllr Cindy Hinds has been heavily involved in this project.

Over the years the Deeside Sunday League have raised over £30,000 for various groups in Deeside.

A copy of the photo may most probably be purchased from here The Evening Leader

Flintshire County Council joins the 21st Century

Delivered this morning by the postman from Flintshire County Council. A booklet entitled A-Z services and a colour brochure outlining the political changes plus more about services. The A-z has an email address for every county councillor............

Politicians in row over closure of Deeside building society

Click here The Evening Leader

Quote from Dennis Parry of Penyffordd.

"Society member Dennis Parry said: "I am disgusted by the closure.
The Cheshire is not a ruthless bank – it is a building society and is supposed to be one of the country’s top employers. There should have been full consultation with staff and members and I would call on the society to halt the closure process until we get the full facts.”

A letter to The Evening Leader with regards speed in villages

Re: John Butler's excellent open letter to Welsh MEP's with regards the adoption of a better greener transport plan for Wales.

Whilst we await their deliberations may I mention the following.
Many communities in Flintshire are daily subject to danger from speeding and its sisters noise and air pollution. There are currently 3 consultations in progress with regards the above.

Carl Sargeant AM has a consultation about road safety and 20mph limits in communities. The Taith Regional Transport Plan Consultation for the next 25 years is taking place
and locally to Penyffordd Cllr David Williams' Speed Survey. The first two can be found by
searching The Leader Website.

If you think safety and environment are important to your community
you should make your opinions known to the above representatives.
If you do not take part you will have no right to complain later.

regards Colin Hughes
Penyffordd

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

John Butler's letter yet to appear on the Leader website
http://www.eveningleader.co.uk/sectionhome.aspx?sectionID=12179

Carl Sargeant's
http://penyffordd-district.blogspot.com/2008/07/carl-sargeant-ams-traffic-speed.html

Taith
http://penyffordd-district.blogspot.com/2008/07/taith-consultation-document-on-future.html

Notes: Cllr Cindy Hinds is currently in discussions over traffic and HGV's with Flintshire County Council.

Our Welsh MEP's here

I have heard Eluned Morgan (Labour) speak at a fund raising night, have exchanged emails with Glenys Kinnock (Labour) and Jonathan Evans (Conservative).

Carl Sargeant Am's Traffic Speed Consultation

AM Welcomes Consultation

CARL SARGEANT WELCOMES CONSULTATION ON TRAFFIC SPEEDS
Carl Sargeant, AM for Alyn and Deeside, has welcomed the launch of an Assembly Government consultation on new guidance for setting local speed limits on Welsh roads.
Mr Sargeant said: “I am regularly contacted by constituents who are concerned about specific local aspects of road safety, be it outside schools or through the villages in our constituency. The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to continually promoting road safety in Wales and to reducing the number of road collisions and casualties, and this consultation marks an important step in delivering appropriate speeds in our communities.
“I am very keen to hear what constituents think about this issue, and would encourage interested groups and individuals to share their views with me by calling me on 01244 823547 or emailing carl.sargeant@wales.gov.uk. I will be sure to feed any ideas or comments into the consultation process.”
The 12-week consultation will look at several key issues relating to the setting of speed limits, and includes:• 20 mile an hour speed limits at appropriate locations - such as in the vicinity of schools; • Speed limits through villages; • The categorisation of routes by quality and traffic use; • The potential for, and implications of, 50 mph speed limits on lower quality rural roads; and, • A proposed period of five years for Highway Authorities to review and amend speed limits on their road networks.

Posted by Carl Sargeant AM at 08:29

Penyffordd History Logo

Good Luck Edwina for the weekend

Cllr Edwina Davies is Lady Captain of Padeswood and Buckley Golf Club for 2008. It's Edwina's Lady Captains Day this weekend. Lets hope Edwina has better weather than Birkdale had on Thursday.

keyword : The Open 2008. Birkdale

North Wales Police to be more accountable

The politicians are calling for more accountability at a local level. With over 1500 speeding cars a day passed the house with lots of illegal exhausts I'll drink to that. Labour have their proposals the Conservatives have theirs.

Quote
Other proposals contained in the Green Paper, entitled Policing Our Communities Together, will mean the police must respond to emergency calls within 15 minutes, to “priority cases” within one hour, to telephone calls and e-mails within one day and attend non-emergency calls within two days.

Currently CBM Chris Pullen is not responding to me at all.

Link Daily Post

Labour Politician's of Penyffordd and District past

I have bought a copy of Maurice Evans' book The Flintshire Labour Party - its History and Growth. I purchased it for 2 reasons. One to see if any Penyffordd history was present and two to resell at a profit, one has to live. I have a couple of advantages and overheads over Maurice with regards marketing and purchase. At present Maurice's book is not visible on The Internet which it will be in an hour of writing this and also customers will be able to buy the book with a couple of mouse clicks.
( I fib it may be a day or three)

No writing letters and posting. Just three or four mouse clicks and its bought with full details of delivery such is the advantage of The Internet.

Maurice Evans is a former resident of Penyffordd who was our County Councillor for a period.
In the book Maurice mentions the late Sam Ithell OBE of Penyffordd who played a big part in the shaping of the Flintshire Labour Party. Sam was Irene White's election agent.

Sam Ithell's record as Flintshire County Councillor for Penyffordd 1967, 1964, 1961, 1958, 1955, 1952, 1949. Chairman of Flintshire County Council 1967.

Background. Sam Ithell was a steam roller driver for Flintshire County Council. He was made an Alderman in 1970. Served as a Justice of the Peace for 25 years.

Thomas Rowlands' of Dobshill record as a Flintshire County Councillor for Penyffordd 1931, 1928, 1925, 1922, 1919. Chairman of Flintshire County Council 1925.

Background Tom Rowlands was a miner's agent.

Penyffordd Community Council meets tonight at 6.30 pm

In the Penyffordd War Memorial Institute. Residents can attend but not comment. A good place to corner a councillor after the meeting is finished. Lisa is in attendance taking notes. Lisa hopes the meeting finishes prompt because Celebrity Master Chef is on. Cllr Stan Davies most probably does too as there is football on the telly.

No show from Stan, perhaps the match?

Also Cllr Jane Hopwood sends apologies.

Cllr David Williams in standard form. Promises to turn up but doesn't. Sends The Council a three sheet statement, which doesn't go down well because he has not turned up.

No show by CBM Chris Pullen, no apologies either.
Doesn't reply to emails about 5 cars in the dogging woods at Penymynydd Primary school home time about quarter a mile from the school.

Cllr Tom Jones sees absolutely no advantage to himself to the having a village website. Tom remains fixed in the 1970's watching his control of the village slip from his grasp. His legacy to the Penyffordd village will be here for the future to show how narrow minded he was. 2000 speeding cars through the village each day and he is not bothered one iota.
Village safety doesn't even register. His re election a disgrace. Why do people act as sheep?

County Councillor Cindy Hinds business like and to the point, keeping Penyffordd Council up to date with what is happening at Shire Hall.

Councillor Linda Vidamour was superb.

The power of The Internet is doing Cllr Colin Bithell's head in.
A relative from Australia has been doing a little Google and telling Colin what's on about him.
Cllr Bithell went on about control of the village website. I have offered to do one for free.

Penyffordd Community Council are going to pay for one. All that's required from my end is I set one up for them, they change the password, control handed over.

Not that I would alter or put personal points of view on a village website.

Flintshire Council strike to cause little impact in Penyffordd District

We have no children and are self reliant of Flintshire County Council with the exception of rubbish collection. If we separate further food waste from non food waste we can last out indefinitely. I'm even looking at methods of composting left over food. I am assured by Lisa that we waste little food. We have a 4 legged food disposal unit called Dolly Dog who is first assistant in the kitchen.
Dolly of course comes with her waste disposal issue.

It is another matter though if you are reliant on Flintshire County Council due to ill health and old age...............

link : The Evening Leader

Cllr Colin Bithell in the Wrexham Leader

Decision reached on future of Flintshire horticulture college.

By Michael Youds

After years of wrangling, plans to merge the Welsh College of Horticulture in Northop with either Deeside College or NEWI in Wrexham have been scrapped.
Former Penyffordd councillor Colin Bithell, a governor at the horticulture college, said: "There has been a tremendous amount of talking and a lot of tension, but it's possible now to go forward.

Click here to read The Wrexham Leader

Jack Garston, boss of Hawker Siddeley Chester circa 1964

Click image to enlarge

The front man in the middle with the piercing dark eyes Jack "Black Jack" Garston, head man when I started my apprenticeship in 1970.
Jack lived in Saughall at the bottom of the runway, a big white house.
Years later Lisa and I got to know his daughter Karen Roden who lived in Penyffordd.

keyword: Airbus, De Havillands,

postscript: Barry Champion 1st left.

Former Penyffordian Maurice Evans

Source The Flintshire Chronicle.

Maurice Evans has written a history of the Labour Party in Flintshire. Maurice was a councillor for Penyffordd and Hope, Clwyd County Council and Alyn and Deeside Council. Included in the book is former East Flint MP Eirene White.
Does Penyffordian Dennis Parry who was Leader of Alyn and Deeside Council feature in the book?

The book which is priced £10 post free is available from Mr Evans at 43 Cil y Craig, Lllanfair PG, Angelsey, LL61 5NZ. Telephone 01248 712169.

A letter from Nigel

I offered to set up a free website with a free email address for the Penyffordd Community Council, plus free technical assistance and education. This has been declined. Such is life.

Penyffordd Council continue to take umbrage at being told they are not doing their job. ie 2000 speeders a day through village.

One wonders on who decided. A committee decision not as they have not met. Is this Cllrs Tom Jones/ Colin Bithell democracy or were all consulted?

One waits for the accepted offer. Is it going to be free or is it to be paid for on an ongoing basis?

A custom designed website that requires constant additions from a paid web master is not the way to go.

keywords: GNI Jones. Clerk to Penyffordd Community Council.

Congratulations to Cllr Tim Newhouse for Hope

Cllr Tim Newhouse the new County Councillor for Hope.

Link here

Taith Consultation Document on future transport for North Wales over the next 25 years.

This site links to transport web sites for the people of North Wales. It has information on how Taith is organised and the strategies it has adopted.

Link New Regional Transport Plan 2008.

Survey Here

Penyffordd Junior Football Triumph Part 2

Click image to enlarge

Photos can be located and purchased by going here and typing in the number in the bottom right hand corner

The under 8's also came top of their age group.
Arthur Arnold also liked to thank senior Penyffordd Football Team players who gave up their time to referee the matches

Penyffordd Junior Football Triumph

Photos can be located and purchased by going here and typing in the number in the bottom right hand corner.

In The Flintshire Chronicle Penyffordd Under 7's have won their age group in a football tournament sponsored by Castle Cement. Penyffordd Junior's Chairman Arthur Arnold thanked the hosts Castle Cement also Shaun Wilkes, Phil Deduca and Neil Connah for all their hard work.
Also thanks were given for all those that turned up on the day.

A letter to the Leader Re:speeding Marford Hill

Hi Leader

A letter for possible insertion.

How does KF Miller know that only a small minority exceed the speed limit on Marford Hill? As a main route to the A483 I believe there will be 100's a day who plough up and down the hill. Wrexham Council have the technology to measure exactly speeds and numbers. They could prove if Mr Miller is right or wrong.

Colin Hughes

Penyffordd District

Castle Cement supporting International Eisteddfod

CASTLE Cement, one of the UK’s leading cement companies, is supporting Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this week.

Link The Daily Post

Garden Beetle

Green Hawthorn Shield Bug

Not sure why it isn't green. These are in the garden.

Penyffordd Philistinism Persists

There is an element of Penyffordd that doesn't want a village centre that is safe. They have kids of course and have houses in cul de sacs. They most probably play football, work in Airbus or Raytheon, most probably drink in The Red Lion.

They are alright but can't see the issue with speeding passed my house.
Chester Road, Penyffordd remains firmly in the hands of the law breakers. Just the odd 1500 every day.

keywords: unaccountable, North Wales Police not doing their job, Arrive Alive can't do the job.

Traffic Speed Checking a waste of time letter.

In The Leader letters page A R Fontes says that the speed checking on Marford Hill is a waste of time. I had a letter published last week defending the use of this tactic. I tend to back any education as some is better than nothing.

Whilst this may seem schizophrenic I actually agree with Mr Fontes.
This method is very inefficient. Drivers just warn each other and most carry on as before after the event.

At the end of the day there are only three ways of stopping the modern motorist from speeding.

Speeding points on license or the fear of and the inability through civil engineering solutions called traffic calming. Motorists including myself do not like platforms or bumps but nothing else stops the speeders in communities

Education will not work. A look at Chester Rd, Penyffordd rat run in the morning proves Mr Fontes' point.

It's 7.30am......I've been in bed for what seems like 5 minutes

The 60 mm solid insulation (Kingspan TT47) arrives. 1.2 x 1.2 square and 38 of them. The driver started off from Powys at 5pm, has about 8 calls the last one in Newcastle then back to Powys. His work load I do not like. He says production at the factory they buy the seconds off is down to 25% of normal. We are of course talking about the building trade for houses and factories. I have bought mine now as the product must be made of an oil derivative and will get dearer.

To Maureen's

Welcome to the 21st Century.
On the way home.
Milk being delivered at midnight.

At Maureen's I am occasionally told "don't
put that on the blog!"

keyword: Maureen Roberts.

People for Proper Policing

Link People for Proper Policing

Sunday Race Afternoon on Chester Rd Penyffordd

Shoppers and holiday makers flying through by the minute.
2000 anti social behaviour acts each day plus the illegal exhaust systems
What happens to other villages? Do they just have to put up with it too.
North Wales Police and Arrive Alive continue to be unaccountable to North Wales residents.

The current withholding of full traffic data a criminal act in itself. They put these grand corporate statements on their website then completely ignore them.

keywords: Chief Superintendent Ruth Purdie, Chief Constable Richard Brunstron, unaccountable.

LINK: North Wales Police Intelligence

The above at the Liverpool Echo. The real power of blogs
They quote............
One would have expected controversial blogs by Chief Officers of North Wales Police to elicit more responses or posts than what gets published and that is exactly what happens. Many posts are not published on spurious grounds but the underlying reasons always seem to be a disagreement with the authors view. This is censorship, Chief Officers publish their view but they do not grant a right of reply. From now on I will copy and paste every blog published by Mr Brunstrom and Mr Wolfendale on this forum, which then allows everyone the right to respond....Please use the facility and enjoy.....

Link People for Proper Policing

North Wales Police, Arrive Alive and Statistics

Are North Wales Police statistics correct that they hand out to the press? Arrive Alive are very unkeen to give you their traffic speed data. Two FOIE's outstanding. They hide the true situation with averages and percentiles.

Here's Ben Oldacre in The Guardian on the murky world of statistics.

Click here.

or here The Slate

To Liverpool

Under the water we go via Wallasey Tunnel. On a round trip that takes in Waterloo, Toxteth, Aigberth, Woolton, Penketh and Warrington. Lisa took this on our way through Toxteth perfect for that group girly night out.

keywords: stretch hummer, chick truck, pink.

Carl Longland New Director of Environment for Flintshire County Council

Carl's previous post was Head of Mobility and Development with Telford and Wrekin Council.
Carl starts his new role in September.