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Friday, October 30, 2009

Blogger gets Town Council to disband

A town council has disbanded after members staged a mass walkout in protest at being constantly criticised by a lone internet blogger.
"'Here we have a cosy group of people who are so used to residents taking them at face value that when they are challenged they can't take it."

Relative calm ends

After three days of relative calm with three way traffic lights at Penymynydd Rd and Chester Rd junction reality returns with traffic hammering through the village again.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Castle Cement as seen from Rhydtalog


Airbus ‘to match 2008 planes total’

EUROPEAN planemaker Airbus expects to match the number of planes it delivered last year in 2009 but said the A380 superjumbo programme was still challenging.

So it's a good job we had the credit crunch?

Link Daily Post

Further Financial Troubles?

The Dow and FTSE 100 yesterday both threatened a secondary correction — on the 80th anniversary of the great crash of 1929. Today the Shanghai Composite fell below 3000 and the Nikkei 225 below 10000, both warning of another down-swing. The Australian All Ordinaries index closed below 4600, signaling a correction, but final confirmation will come from the Dow.


We have involved ourselves in a colossal muddle, having blundered in the control of a delicate machine, the working of which we do not understand. The result is that our possibilities of wealth may run to waste for a time — perhaps for a long time.

~ John Maynard Keynes: The Great Slump of 1930

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An alternative lesson from the double dip the economy took in 1938 is that the GDP created by massive fiscal stimulus is artificial. So whenever it is eventually removed, there will be significant economic fall out.

~ David Einhorn - Greenlight Capital

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Cllr Arnold Wooley on life in Flintshire

In The Leader Cllr Woolley describes Flintshire as our diverse and beautiful county. Flintshire County Council is commited to the well being of our environment.

Cllr Woolley describes a situation I do not find in Penyffordd. Lorries that use the village instead of the bypass. Buses that pile through. Unpoliced traffic by the 1000.

Flintshire County Council have on record that Chester Rd, Penyffordd has over a 1000 speeders each day. I and others in Chester Rd await action by Flintshire County Council to slow down the constant speeding in our village which resembles a race track on a major route to school by our children.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Noise - I hate it

Today I have had to work near the front of the house. Buses and lorries roaring through, cars hammering through. It's the noise that drives me mad. After all God's sake we have a bypass.
Anyway here is a good article on noise and listening. I am not on my own.

Link Timesonline

Further re Cronyism in Community Councils

My letter here has been published by The Leader today. (edited version). I have also forwarded my email to the Expert Panel who have been looking at local democracy in Wales.

They say

All comments on the recommendations made by the Expert Panel in their report will be recorded and forwarded to the Minister for Social Justice and Local Government, Dr Brian Gibbons. The comments made in your email regarding the *banning of "Independent" election sheets do not relate to a specific recommendation made by the Panel - so it will be recorded in the "general comments" section.

* should say group election sheets

postscript: I'll explain what is unfair about 10 councillors on one election sheet be they Independent, Labour, Conservative or BNP shortly.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Salmon with ginger, chilli and coconut lentils

Heat oil and soften a dessert spoon of finely chopped root ginger, 2 green chillis and 1 clove of garlic. Add 165 mil coconut milk and 1 x 410g tin of green lentils drained. Simmer uncovered for 10 mins and then stir in a handful of chopped parsley. Top with cooked salmon.

Served with glazed carrots and steamed brocolli.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Community Council Websites

At the moment Cllr David Williams is struggling with ours which is here. I did offer to set one up for free with free ongoing technical help but David decided against. He then criticises me for doing nothing for the village. One can't win.

There are also the costs for the website space and website name which are ongoing and yearly. Also the site needs modifying and updating by someone who can program in html or a similar language. A knowledge of cascading style sheets is also needed.

Northop Hall Community Council have a website here. I notice they too wish to deter traffic taking a short cut through their village . At the bottom of the page is a free software to set a community website, it will not be as easy or functional as mine though.

© 2009 Northop Hall Community Council
Joomla! is Free Software released under the GNU/GPL License.


Blogger which is what you are looking at is the best way forward for Penyffordd Community Council.

Its free.

The website name is free.

Its easy to use.

Items can be added by most councillors who are familiar with computers within a few minutes of their machines being set up. No learning of html code. Cllrs Cindy Hinds, Linda Vidamour, Jane Hopwood and David could add content.

Information will be indexed by Google in seconds, a private website like the one David is currently stuggling with can take 9 months to start to get indexed by Google. I know I have been there with our commercial website.

Access permissions can be granted or removed.

Polls can be carried out online.

There can be a forum area.

You could have a donation page through Paypal which allows secure payments from all credit cards.

There are various other options available and many more continue to be added.

Instead David struggles on with a website that costs money to run annually and which he will struggle for ever to master. It's time to give up the struggle David and get real.

Clocks go back tonight

Clocks move backwards one hour.

Sunday 25 October 02:00 BST** (01:00 GMT )

**As the UK will be on BST (British Summer Time), we will change our clocks at 2 am on Sunday 25th October.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Letter to The Leader - Cronyism in community councils in Wales

cc Welsh Assembly Government, Barry Davies, Head of Legal Services Flintshire County Council

Dear Leader

A letter for consideration

At present the The Welsh Assembly Government are holding a consultation on local democracy in Wales. An expert panel have made 35 recommendations to improve our perception and involvement in local government. One area they have looked at is the retaining and recruitment of a diverse group of councillors.

May I suggest they ban group "Independent" election sheets for local elections. This allows a local "Independent " godfather to surround himself with cronies and dead wood blocking those keen to stand. Currently if your face fits you get a free ride in Penyffordd elections.

If Leader readers in other areas of North Wales have had similar issues when trying to stand as a councillor now is the time to put your thoughts forward to the expert panel. You have one month.
The Leader has the contact information.

Colin Hughes
Penyffordd

notes. I believe Penyffordd Community Council have approached FCC for a second time with a view to gagging my blog.

Apologies to Cllrs Jane Hopwood and Linda Vidamour you are not the target.
Postscript: Cllrs Cindy Hinds, David Williams and Colin Bithell published their own sheets. Clr Colin Bithell also appeared on the general sheet of community Independents.

Still over a 1000 speeders each day on a major route to school councillors!


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Monday, October 19, 2009

Mark Polin, New Chief Constable of North Wales Police


Mr Mark Polin was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary on 19th October 2007.

Mr Polin entered the Police Service in 1983 joining the City of London Police where he rose to the rank of Chief Inspector. His last posting saw him in charge of operations at Snow Hill, with particular responsibility for security operations at the Central Criminal Court and other high profile venues.

In 1998 he transferred on promotion to Gwent Police as Superintendent in charge of various central operational functions, including the Force Control Room and the firearms, public order and traffic units. This was followed by command of the Ebbw Vale Division.

December 1999 saw his appointment as Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander of Caerphilly Division and in 2002 he assumed responsibility for Professional and Ethical Standards Department.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Chief Constable he held two other Chief Officer portfolios in Gloucestershire Constabulary. As Assistant Chief Constable (Corporate Services) he was responsible for the Criminal Justice, Community Partnerships and Contact Management Departments and a member of the Local Criminal Justice Board and other strategic partnerships in the County.

In the role of Assistant Chief Constable (Operations) he was accountable for performance improvement and responsible for the three territorial Divisions and the Specialist Crime Investigation Services and Operational Services Departments. He also performed many national and regional roles and in particular was, and continues to be, the ACPO Lead for criminal justice reform issues and also the chair of the Regional Tasking and Coordinating, Firearms and Forensics forums.
He acts as an umpire on the national counter terrorism exercise programme focusing on Gold Command and associated structures and processes.

Mr Polin holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from the Open University.

Mr Polin starts in his new position of Chief Constable of North Wales in November.

Postscript Mark Polin comes from Gloucester Police Force which have a proper Police Pledge system in place. As opposed to North Wales Police whose current policing pledge is non existent.

Link Gloucestershire Constabulary

Further 20 mph zones rolled out in Wrexham

Link BBC NE Wales.
Meanwhile its business as usual in Chester Rd. Foot to the floor.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

To Delamere Forest to support Bullies in Need



Bullies in Need is an unregistered charity that supports unwanted English Bull Terriers. They give money and support for the rehoming and temporary fostering.
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