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Monday, May 31, 2010

North Wales Chief Constable's New Toy




This is the new weapon against the 1000's speeding bikers in North Wales. Article here The Daily Post. On Sunday I heard many bikers screaming down the Penyffordd ByPass. They must be doing 100 - 120 mph.

NWP are being naive if they think they can stop bikers speeding in N Wales by engaging with them. That's exactly why they come here. NWP are employed to enforce law not be bikers' social workers.

NWP have taken the soft option as they do not want to upset the bikers as they race around N Wales.

Here's a simple method to stop them. Tell the bikers that you are going to operate covert speed cameras. Pick one main route, install covert speed camera have officers a few miles down the road in contact by Blackberry and book the offenders. Use media to highlight the operation. Points on licenses work, engaging bikers does not.

To check efficiency of operation get an independent body to monitor results with doppler effect speed monitoring equipment.

Meanwhile our elected representatives hide behind the sofa afraid of upsetting the bikers whilst N Wales is used as a race track every weekend. Exhaust decibal limits conveniently ignored by the biker's mate Chief Constable Mark Polin.

At the last count 700 vehicles speeding through Chester Rd most days and NWP ignoring it along with Penyffordd Community Council.

Emailed to  Rt Hon Theresa May MP  Home Secretary

keyword: Superintendent Simon Shaw, Yamaha

Cllr Alison Halford County Capers May 2010

Link Alison Halford

Change

The Healer

Smooth

Friday Night Entertainment Comes Early

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Penyffordd Community Council June 2010 next Wednesday

The Prologue

CBM Howie Williams told Penyffordd Community Council that speeding over 30 mph in Chester Rd in June 2008 was 5 %, not much to worry about. Nigel the Clerk minuted this.

Is this a deliberate lie by a police officer or has Nigel made an error with the minutes?

Will Penyffordd Community Council sell Chester Rd down the river? There is an extreme reluctance for Penyffordd Cllrs to push NWP to do their duty for Chester Rd.

700 speeders over 30 mph each day 
which is 34% not 5 %.   * FCC hold data

NWP continue to take on the bikers

May I suggest Penyffordd By Pass on a Saturday and Sunday when the sun is out. There is currently no appetite by NWP to enforce exhaust decibel levels however or for that matter for politicians to raise the issue.

Link Daily Post

Rain stops play

much needed

Friday, May 28, 2010

Senorita - Justin Timberlake

Cry me a River

Team set-up to tackle Flintshire cement plant concerns

Link Daily Post

Andrew Jones, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Executive Director of Public Health, will chair the response team.
He said: “We are taking the views of the local community very seriously and would like to invite local residents to get in touch with us to share their public health concerns about the Hanson Cement works.”

But he refuses to answer an FOIE from Buckley Town Council on respiritory disease.

keyword: John Thornton

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Best Fish and Chip Shop in North Wales ?


The Galleon , Conway
postscript: They treat customers like manure. No opening times shown, last time we went they were closed gone 12.They only open in the holiday season as well. Try the one's below instead.

Or you could try Enoch's which is also very good.

There is also The Galleon  in Rhos on Sea also very good

Deganwy is good too.


North Wales Police catch 171 drivers using mobile phones at the wheel

 Superintendent Simon Shaw from North Wales Police’s Roads Policing Unit said
One of the five major contributory factors in all fatal and serious injury collisions nationally, involve the misuse of mobile phones by drivers.
“North Wales Police are committed to educating drivers and we will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to this crime.”

As Superintendent Simon Shaw knows one of the other five is speeding. I look forward to seeing zero tolerance of speeding in Penyffordd which at the last count was over 700 day.

We currently have 100% tolerance of speeders in Chester Rd, Penyffordd.

Link Daily Post

Postscript: After what I've seen today he has another couple of million to go.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Fake Speed Camera

Since Penyffordd Community Council refuse to press CBM Howie Williams to do his job perhaps we need our own GATSO.


Link The Mailonline

Sunday, May 23, 2010

To Chirk Carboot sale

It's hot there must be a couple of thousand people on site. The variety of stalls unmatched anywhere.
Bought a pair of walking boots for 50p. Also red, yellow and orange pepper plants, four for £3. They were started in February and are three times the size of my seed grown.........

North Wales Police Reform?

Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill (Home Office).
The vehicle for making police forces more accountable – including oversight by what ministers refer to as a directly elected "individual". Police must also publish monthly local crime data statistics. This is also likely to include a fresh crackdown on anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related violence.

Link Sunday Telegraph

A possible crack down on our morning unpoliced rat run.

Friday, May 21, 2010

A deliciously reptilian barrister - Alison Halford - Council Capers

Link  Ombudsman

keywords: Eversheds, Lewis, Patrick Heesom, Adjudication Panel,

56 Today

I once wondered what it would be like to reach 40. Am I doing well? Birthday presents to come. A village centre that is not a race track. Village environment the goal.

Birthday presents today
My 7 degree driver (golf)  fixed ( head came off)  and a Northern Face fleece. The clothing is so good I rarely wear anything else except Rohan.

Special thanks to Jim Law Golf Saltney.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Uphill task as more children in Wales get lifts to school

CHILDREN in Wales are more likely to be driven to school than youngsters in any other part of the UK, a study has revealed.
It does not help in Chester Rd Penyffordd where NWP refuse to  police traffic and Penyffordd Community Council act as if they are impotent. They lack cojones.

Link Walesonline

Monday, May 17, 2010

28 Days Later visit Hanson Cement Kiln 4 at Padeswood

Link here ( Kiln 4 photos )

The group involved do what they call urban exploration. This sort of stuff is big in the USA.


This is the view from the top of Kiln 4 where they took this photograph. The link has various photos of the inside of Kiln 4 all the way to the top. These groups usually leave some sort of mark and photograph it that proves they have been there. Research is normally done first to weigh up security and worker movements so that they do not get caught on the exploration. A little unfair on Hanson Cement as normally no one would want to break into a kiln.

I found the link by accident when looking at my blog log which shows who looks at the blog. Heidleberg in Germany had done a search on  Hanson Cement Padeswood on which I am fairly high on Google.

Postscript. I was going to ask Mark Cox whether I could go up in the Kiln 4 lift sometime to take a few photos of Penyffordd from the top.............................

A moments lack of attention

Girl on mobile phone coming out of a side road. Motorbike doing 85 mph equals death x three. The job of the accident agencies very grim.


An email to Cllr Chris Bithell


cc Chief Constable, Leader Editor, Post Editor
 
Morning Councillor Bithell
 
I see the CC taking credit from the credit crunch
 
I like the term "serious acquisitive offences."
It used to be called theft.
 
All I see and hear is Penyffordd Bypass and N Wales being used as a racetrack.
No traffic policing in the village either
 
It would appear that NWP and NWPA are reduced to acting like politicians.
All talk and no substance.
 
Colin Hughes
Penyffordd District
 
Rat run nearly over and our CBM is still in bed........................
 
NWP NOT doing their job.

Chief Constable takes credit from the credit crunch

Link The Daily Post

North Wales Police being turned into Pen Pushers

Link The Telegraph

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Footpath Trouble at Gwernto Fach


Send for Klaus?  Chainsaws not machetes needed.
postscript: I've found the other side of this path in Gwernto woods, It's quite bizarre really. There is this footpath sign pointing into a wood with no sign of the path whatsoever just a wall of trees. After a couple of attempts of trying to find the footpath I found it. (below)


You can just see the footpath sign the path is to the right of the sign.
I've cleared the footpath for three quarters of its length. In the middle of the path you come across this footpath stile in the middle of a clearing.  

keywords: secret footpath

Friday, May 14, 2010

NWPA Forum - Road Traffic Enforcement Policies – Necessary or Excessive?


Odd Fellows Hall, Saltney.

11th May 2010 Tuesday

Start of meeting 7.00 pm

Meeting chaired by County Councillor Chris Bithell

Also present -  Inspector Martin Best, Superintendent Simon Shaw, PC 2519 Ian Millington, Inspector Alan Hughes, County Councillor Klaus Armstrong-Braun, Councillor Terry Renshaw, County Councillor Cindy Hinds, Mrs R Roberts (Policy Officer), County Councillor Carolyn Thomas.

County Councillor Chris Bithell opened the meeting.  Cllr Bithell being the appointed member for Flintshire  on the North Wales Police Authority.  The Bridge between community and the force.

Mrs R Roberts continued by talking of Policing priorities. 
Top Line – Ensure trust and confidence in the police.
Second – Reduce and resolve crime and ASB.  Protect people and reduce harm.
3 – Protect and reduce numbers of deaths in accidents.
4 – Priority to deliver a quality service
5 – To have a well organised and skilled workforce.

Superintendent Simon Shaw (Head of Road Policing Department)

Inspector Alan Hughes (Senior investigator for serious accidents)

The approach –

Education
Engineering
Enforcement.

These based on national and international strategies.

Education
Carried out in class or roadside

Engineering
LA and WAG

Enforcement
Police and Camera Parnership
VOSA
LA
A balance between education and enforcement needs to be applied.

Overall figures have shown a decline from 1995 to 2007 but a big rise in 2007 was due to a change of definition of how numbers were recorded.  Any fracture and admission to hospital is now included.  Serious injuries now include such injuries as a broken finger etc.  But from then to 2009 figures have fallen again.


Enforcement strategy

High volume enforcement supported by the targeting of those at greater risk of being involved in collisions.  More at risk –
Prolific offenders, high risk groups, under 25’s and motorcyclists.

Prolific offenders
Scores are worked out in the same was as organised crime principles.
First a home visit, letter for driving course, may require enforcement, parents, remove their licence and monitored on a 2 week basis.
Young Drivers
17 – 20 up to 10 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured than experienced drivers.  Friday to Sunday are peak days.
Risk of fatal collision –
Up by 39% with one driver.
85% with 2 people and
182% 3 or more.    (Chen Baker 2000 study)

Education for young drivers
Adverts.  Deadly mates –
Default patrols target young drivers at their peak times, Friday to Sunday.
Drink drive statistics show that the total of drivers under 25 are 9.5% of all drivers but in drink drive campaigns, 30% of those convicted were under 25.
Also McDonald’s leaflets.  Green road, Facebook etc.

Motor Cyclists.
In 2003, 18 motorcyclists lost their lives on the roads in North Wales. In 2009 that number was reduced to three.
This year there have been 15 collisions and 13 of these were residents in North Wales.  50 / 50 split of these were bikes on their own or involvement with a car.

Superintendent Simon Shaw – “I have no desire for riders to come to North Wales and use it as a race track”.

Exhausts – Draw a lot of attention.  Motorcycle news have critisised the police for this.  Offenders have been prosecuted rather than issued with just warnings.  No decibel limit, cycles are checked for the stamp stating road use or off road use.  The police have no equipment to check noise levels.  VOSA can test exhaust systems.  102 decibels road legal quoted by a member of the audience. 
There are bike safe workshops, unmarked police bike being introduced this week, Go Safe camera vans now have side cameras.
Last year there were random stops of cyclists entering North Wales and being given advice.  This has been abandoned this year to concentrate more on road policing of bikes.  All statistics on motor cycles are down.

THE FATAL FIVE

Drink (Drugs)
Seat Belts
Dangerous Driving
Mobiles
Speeding

All these contribute to fatal accidents.  Using a mobile has been proved to be the same impairment as having had a drink of alcohol.
For each 1 mph reduction in speed there is a 3 – 6% reduction of a chance of a collision.
Tailgating comes under dangerous driving.

Drink / drive (drugs)
Total agreement that no discretion should be given to offenders.
There was a discussion over whether prescription drugs should be given any discretion and it was decided that this also should be no.  The fit test, as used in the USA is used by North Wales Police.

There is also a HGV commercial unit set up to monitor their behaviour.

A question of what percentage of police are dedicated officers for road policing.  Superintendent Simon Shaw stated that there were 62 dedicated officers, plus 10 specialists in collision investigation and a further 60 ish who are armed response officers that also can be deployed a good percentage of their time on road policing.

Seatbelts
Over 16 person not wearing the belt is responsible for the fine.  No discretion should be given as voted.

Mobile phones
After a discussion it was voted that no discretion be given.

Speeding
There was unfortunately no time to discuss this.  Superintendent Simon Shaw did, however, state that it could be discussed for hours.

Careless / dangerous driving
Voted discretion if no injuries at the accident.

The meeting was closed at 8.50 pm.


keywords. Motorcycle News, Safespeed,


Hanson Cement in the news over emissions

Question. How many emissions currently come out of Kiln 4 and how many emissions are created by vehicles on Penyffordd Bypass. What effect does the noise from Penyffordd Bypass have on health. Why haven't the WAG done a noise map of the bypass. South Wales has noise maps for various areas N Wales has none.

ABSTRACT

This paper discusses the following key issues concerning human exposure to dioxins and furans emitted from typical, modern MSW incinerators: (1) Are MSW incinerators the major source of PCDD/PCDF input into the environment? (2) Are environmental concentrations around MSW incinerators substantially elevated relative to background levels? And (3) are MSW incinerators the major source of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs? Current scientific evidence indicates that (1) combustion sources in general (including steel mills, copper smelting plants, motor vehicles, pulp and paper mills, and MSW incinerators) are major sources of PCDD/PCDF input in the environment; (2) environmental concentrations of PCDDs and PCDFs around operating MSW incinerators are not substantially elevated; and (3) 99% of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs is from background contamination, even for individuals living near a modern MSW incinerator.

Links
The Leader 
A Perspective on Dioxin Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators

Carwyn Jones Welsh First Minister takes the pragmatic view

Link Walesonline

Bonnie Raitt & Bruce Hornsby - Thing Called Love (live)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Strange bird at Gwernto Bach


Saw a pair of these birds today. Quite spectacular. In the woods near the above residence.
It is a Redstart.

Links 
Nant Y Ffrith
Redstart

To The Spiv at Ewloe ( Flintshire Steels )

It's my birthday shortly so my treat is 50 metres of 32mm water tube to make the following.
Also a scaffold tube or two will be needed.
Plus the plastic sheet. 

Cheryl Gillan Secretary of State for Wales

Congratulations to Cheryl Gillan MP on her new post. Lets hope Cheryl will look at the stitching up of Chester Rd for loads of extra traffic by the Welsh Assembly Government and Flintshire County Council.

keywords: Carwyn Jones, Cllr Tony Sharps, A55 Warren bank Exit, Warren Hall Business Park, rat run traffic, Higher Kinnerton, Cllr Norma Humphreys, speedd humps, traffic calming.

Links
Wikipedia 
Cheryl Gillan MP

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

We have a new Prime Minister

David Cameron

Genetically Modified Food - Secret Suicide

Numerous studies have proven genetically modified foods to be an extreme health hazard, but one must only look at how it is created to realize how unsafe GM food really is.

Link DProgram Net 
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Our analysis clearly reveals for the 3 GMOs, new side effects linked with GM consumption which were sex- and often dose dependent. Effects were mostly associated with the kidney and liver, the dietary detoxifying organs, although different between the 3 GMOs. Other effects were also noticed in the heart, adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system. We conclude that these data highlight signs of hepatorenal toxocity, possibly due to the new pesticides specific to each GM corn. In addition unintended direct or indirect metabolic consequences of the genetic modification cannot be excluded".

North Wales Police Authority Forum

Forum Subject

" Road Traffic Enforcement Policies 
- Necessary or Excessive"


on Tuesday 11th May 2010 at Oddfellows, 65 High Street, Saltney CH4 8SG.

at 7.00 pm



keywords Cllr Chris Bithell, Flintshire, Cllr Ian Roberts, NWPA

Monday, May 10, 2010

More Trouble in Angelsey

Councillors get read their rights or perhaps its not their rights.
Link The Druid

Penyffordd News

It's raining.
It's cold.
The rat run has gone to work.
No police in sight.
Howie away on a course or still in bed.
When was Howie last seen not in his car. ie walking, perambulating...............


All eyes are on the LibDem  Lab / LibDem Con coalitions.

I personally like the Lib Dem £10,000 minimum tax codes.........................

Meanwhile elsewhere the solids are going to hit the fan big style. The EU is collapsing.

Link The Excellent Slog

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Alison Halford Blog April 2010

Link Council Capers

keywords: Susan Lewis, Patrick Heesom, Clare Budden, housing, ombudsman,

A Good Idea

Marcellus recommends bringing in the IMF to audit UK PLC. So we know where we stand with regards all the hidden off balance sheet debt built up by Gordon Brown.

Link Marcellus

Friday, May 07, 2010

Buggles - Video killed the radio star 1979

Bette Davis Eyes

Wind of change - Scorpions (Acoustic version with lyrics)

Scorpions - Still Loving You (lyrics)

Fleetwood Mac - Everywhere

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams

House Sales in Penyffordd district

18 Coed Y Graig £185,000
Penymynydd, CH4 0XD 12th March 2010

1 Bilberry Close £110,000
Penyffordd, CH4 0LT 26th February 2010

20 Min Y Ddol £304,995
Penyffordd, CH4 0EB 18th February 2010
You can search all these sales totally free of charge by going to OurProperty.co.uk.

Airbus A 380 photos









General Election 2010 perspective

Points of view.

Link
Ian Dale 
Mailonline

Election Results Alyn and Deeside 2010

Results for Alyn and Deeside

Mark Tami   ( Labour )  15804

Will Gallagher 12885

Paul Brighton 7308

Maurice Jones 1549

John Walker 1368

James Howson 1009

Thursday, May 06, 2010

Expected Time of Alyn and Deeside election anouncement

I will not be waiting up. 3.30 to 4.00 am

Liink Miserableoldfart

Election News - Labour makes final efforts

Cllr Cindy Hinds checking voters at Penymynydd. Her friend Jess at the Penyffordd Polling Station. Cllr Bernie Attridge driving the van around Penyffordd whilst someone the megaphone  is shouting " Vote for Tami"

Resident Power against lorries

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1272598/Grandfathers-pedestrian-crossing-protest-halts-traffic-Dorset.htmlLink Mailonline

Penyffordd Speed Protester in The Flintshire Chronicle

Story in The Flintshire Chronicle. A big thank you to journalist Francesca Elliot.

Link The Flintshire Chronicle 

Quote " South Flintshire district inspector Martin Best said: “North Wales Police undertake regular enforcement and engagement in the local area with regards to speeding.”


No you do NOT do regular enforcement in Chester Rd,  District Inspector Best. A quote worthy of a politician.

Email to Chief Constable Mark Polin

General Election 2010 Results

You're vote today may make little difference overall. Austerity is on it's way. Although the complete removal of Gordon Brown is a necessity. Gordon Brown as Chancellor and later as Prime Minister has borrowed money into oblivion. Labour deserve better.

UK residents were encourages to borrow money against inflated house prices. Loads more tax for the government. A bubble that was always destined to fail. ( No more boom and bust - Gordon Brown)

Gordon Brown has let down most those who voted Labour in power. They will pay very dearly for the decision to allow Gordon Brown financial control of UK. The blog pundits say 10 years plus.

It should be stated that whilst GB has gone through over a trillion pounds with not much to show for it there has been little said by the opposition. In fact at one time I have read the Tories wanted GB to go even further in the slackening of financial controls of the banks.

Results for Alyn and Deeside

Mark Tami   ( Labour )  15804

Will Gallagher 12885

Paul Brighton 7308

Maurice Jones 1549

John Walker 1368

James Howson 1009







Just to show how bad things are getting. Greece, three people killed in protest yesterday. Greece is spending money vastly over what it makes. They are going to be forced to make very large reductions in public spending and pensions. Pressure is mounting on other EU countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy. Such is the nature of this crisis that the even the Euro as a currency is at risk.

Links  
Greece Mailonline 
Spain and Portugal

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Cllr Colin Bithell still in denial over speeding

I have just spoke to a neighbour who sits next to Colin at Wrexham football matches. He told Colin about the speeding the other week, how bad it is every morning.
Colin's reply. "There's little speeding in Chester Rd"
He said to Colin that there is if you live here.

A councillor with his head in the sand, as are many others.

Councillor Bithell's literature at the last election stated he stood for the family. One presumes this excludes speeding (safety)  in Chester Rd.

Penyffordd Community Council May 2010

I spoke to ( GNI) Nigel Jones yesterday from afar. Looked like he was putting the council agenda on the council notice board. I said it looked like Cllr Tom Jones has returned to being a Conservative with him having Will's placard in his hedge.

As usual I suppose most of the council agenda will be hidden behind the first page.
Will the fact that CBM Howie Williams misled PCC be mentioned?

Monday, May 03, 2010

Blind Faith ~ Can't Find My Way Home

Steve Winwood - Night Train

Steve Winwood - While You See A Chance

Independent with a small "c"



Will Gallagher is the Conservative choice to fight the election for Alyn and Deeside. In the fields around Penyffordd Conservative placards can be seen in hedges. One is in Cllr Tom Jones' field. Tom of course is an Independent Cllr. Very good of him to help the Conservatives out.

There is also a placard outside Independent Cllr Edwina Davies and Independent Cllr Stan Davies' house or is the placard on Mr Hewitt's hedge?

My dad used to get his petrol and servicing from Will's grandad in the 1960's.


Sunday, May 02, 2010

Hot peppers galore


To Chirk carboot sale. The pepper man is there for the first time this year. His peppers not liking the biting cold wind. We have come away with the above speciman (in 3 months time) which is an Orange Habenero which is very hot. Bought it for its looks really. Perhaps it would make a good pepper spray?

Also bought a Big Jim, Gold Cayenne, Twilight and Pinnochio's Nose. (below)

After a few hours in the greenhouse the peppers look fine. They are about 2 inches high. If kept in the house over Winter they will fruit each year.

Speeding motorcycles

using village as a race track. A black bike on Saturday night coming through twice at 80 - 100 mph.
Sunday night two bikes did the same  through the village and along the bypass.
Or sounded like.

Winter returns

1.6 degrees C  in the greenhouse overnight.
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