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Ö÷²¥´óÐã BLOGS - North East Wales Weblog

Archives for October 2007

Happy Halloween!

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 16:47 UK time, Wednesday, 31 October 2007

A paranormal team think they've discovered one female and two male spirits in a fancy dress shop in Mold, leading the to ask if this is "the most haunted house in Flintshire?". Meanwhile we've had a couple of reports of sightings of strange creatures - a big cat sighting near Padeswood and a "bear with long forearms and walking on all fours" seen on the Horseshoe Pass!

Acton Park's lottery luck

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 15:22 UK time, Tuesday, 30 October 2007

Acton Park in Wrexham has been awarded nearly £50,000 from the 'Parks For People' Heritage Lottery Fund, according to a report in the . Coincidentally we recently received a photo taken in the park showing some of the wildlife that flourishes there.

Groves School housing bid

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 09:51 UK time, Tuesday, 30 October 2007

The today reports that the site of the old Groves School in Wrexham is one of a number of locations being considered as a venue for the construction of housing developments. The school is one of 160 sites across Wrexham being considered for potential development.

Living in a slum to make a point

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:45 UK time, Friday, 26 October 2007

Young church members in Ruthin and Denbigh are spending the next 48 hours living a meagre existence in homes they've managed to fashion from anything they can lay their hands on.

The 'slum dwellers' as they are known will undergo "challenges that mirror and draw out what real life in a slum is like", says Richard Kendrick from .

All proceeds from the charity fundraising event will be used towards a 'Youth Mission Project' to South Africa in 2008 in which 100 young people from across North Wales will travel to South Africa to build homes.

One language for Wales? That'll get them going!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:44 UK time, Thursday, 25 October 2007

Listen again to Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio 4's .

The programme blurb read: "The revival of the Welsh language has become central to Wales's resurgent national identity. But could the ambitious project to alter language use now be causing serious social fissures?"

The short answer is YES.

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Speak up - they are listening

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:04 UK time, Thursday, 25 October 2007

More and more now I'm seeing that the powers that be and those we elect to represent us are actually paying attention to what you say.

Last week we blogged about the Chief Constable saying he was reading your comments posted online about his idea about legalising drugs.

Local AM Carl Sargeant posted a message overnight to our page debating the now shelved plans to build a sprawling sculpture across the A55.

Admittedly, they do pick their subjects.

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More bad press for our NHS

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:39 UK time, Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Following on from our blog debate A health service to be proud of?, the reports today that retired professor Clare Wenger has received an apology from health officials for being treated in dirty conditions whilst a patient at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.

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Back in business

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:25 UK time, Wednesday, 24 October 2007

Technical problems affecting us yesterday have now been resolved.

Best curry house in Wales

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 16:05 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

The Bengal Dynasty, Shotton, has been awarded the title at the 2007 British Curry Awards, reports .

We've got a section where you can nominate your favourite local takeaways, food and pubs .

Rocking on Everest

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:51 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

Mike Peters' website has photos and a podcast of him and the rest of the team fulfilling their challenge world record breaking challenge.

Mike blogs: "It was a day for heroes. Everest, Sagarmata, Chomolumyo whatever name she is given or by whatever faith the mountain answers to seems to control everything around here. Today she allowed our Love Hope Strength team / family / band to look at her charms from 18,540ft and to share with her some of our humble songs and to break the record for the world’s highest concert on land. (Glenn Tilbrook also took the record for the world’s highest duck walk)."

Leader has to go

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:35 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

Denbighshire Council's leader and her cabinet have been ousted following a damning report into local education.

Deputy Chief Constable upsets junior footballers

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 12:42 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

Blogging Deputy Chief Constable has upset junior footballers and their parents by wrongly labelling them litter louts.

He writes: "Whilst patrolling in Buckley this week I came upon a different aspect of pitch-side anti social behaviour. Buckley is blessed with an abundance of open green spaces, for the most part extremely well maintained. The opportunities for healthy recreation are simply excellent. I was most surprised, therefore, to come across a real eyesore on football fields near to the High School. It looked like every participant in the previous weekend's fixtures had left a personal memento in the form a drink bottle and crisp packet. Now, when Wayne Rooney tosses his Lucozade container to the touchline, Ray Clemence dutifully rushes out to collect it. Parents and match supervisors in Buckley (and I dare say in many other places) seem to have missed Ray's fine example."

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Llangollen Food Festival

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 10:39 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

The larger than life Hairy Bikers entertained everyone with their cookery demonstrations at the on Saturday. The reports them as saying that the diversity of Welsh food produce is "spectacular" and that view was certainly reflected in the large number of stalls at the fair selling everything from truffles and jam made in Wrexham to pâté made in Ruthin.

Brave OAP, Aston Hill evictions, job losses and school problems

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:35 UK time, Monday, 22 October 2007

Today's headlines: Brave OAP tells how she put out kitchen fire; Historian trying to prove Deeside man took part in Charge Of The Light Brigade; Ruthin shop closes [Tesco competition blamed]; Denbighshire school problems could oust leader; Cadbury say job cuts ‘will not affect Chirk’; Aston Hill tenants served with eviction notices.

For more on these stories, use our [feeds explained] to take a look at what local bloggers and media websites are talking about today.

There's a hairy biker in the food!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:18 UK time, Friday, 19 October 2007

Hairy Bikers TV chefs the Hairy Bikers, aka Si and Dave, are appearing at this weekend's .


It was only when I scanned the list of that I realised just how many local food producers we've got in this region - from chocolate truffle makers, on Llay Industrial Estate, Wrexham, to , a piemakers at Nercwys, near Mold, who sell at .

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Our politicians blast the chief - and bloggers blast the politicians

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:55 UK time, Friday, 19 October 2007

Before I get to last night's Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales political programme Dragon's Eye [click to watch again], today it has emerged that US police group are the latest to back Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom's call to legalise drugs.

The interviews former New Jersey undercover narcotics officer Jack Cole who says of legalisation:

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Photo: Rhyl fair demolished

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:38 UK time, Thursday, 18 October 2007

Rhyl Fun Fair, by Adam Bradley

Thanks to contributor Adam Bradley for submitting this photo of the demolition of the rollercoaster at Rhyl Fun Fair. The site is being redeveloped for homes and entertainment.

Will this redevelopment do enough to revive the resort's fortunes. Add your comments.

The chief is listening...

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:23 UK time, Thursday, 18 October 2007

The is interested in your views on his idea to legalise drugs:

"...comment on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã website is running at about 75% in favour of my argument. This is not a representative sample of course, but it does clearly show that there is a good debate to be had, and that the public are more ready for it than many of our politicians yet realise."

Add your comments

Blogging from Everest

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:57 UK time, Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Mike Peters is continuing his push on Everest and performing as he goes, says from the expedition team who blogged this morning from 3,870m up at which, by all accounts, is home to an important .

Drugs deaths - stats prove Chief's point

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:46 UK time, Wednesday, 17 October 2007

Figures released today showing the number of in North Wales will help to strengthen the point of the Chief Constable, don't you think? Add your views to the debate.

More reaction to Chief Constable's call

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 11:14 UK time, Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Reaction continues to come in following Richard Brunstrom's call to legalise drugs. Today Bob Denmark, former Detective Superintendent, Lancashire Constabulary, comments on the issue in the newspaper's letters page. The debate seems to be spreading nationwide which can't be a bad thing, whether you agree with Richard Brunstrom or not. Keep sending us your views on the issue.

Police Authority back the chief

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:08 UK time, Monday, 15 October 2007

The North Wales Police Authority are backing the Chief Constable who has called for the legalisation of drugs.

has the latest on the story and its implications and we'd be interested to hear more of your views.

Mike Peters' Everest blog

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:36 UK time, Monday, 15 October 2007

Singer Mike Peters and co have started blogging en route to Everest to perform the world's highest gig.

Mike's writing about his experiences for the newspaper. Meanwhile, other members of the expedition group are blogging on the website of Love Hope Strength Foundation [] which explains all about the charity stunt.

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Under discussion today

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:08 UK time, Friday, 12 October 2007

Your views on legalising drugs; Wil says earmark the old Denbigh Hospital for a new prison for North Wales; Chris plays mediator in the debate over migrant workers; Selwyn asks after Jacko - the name of people who live in Wales' biggest village, Rhos; and Mark offers to take Hollywood actor Russell Crowe canoeing on the Dee.

Click the following links to read more and to join the conversations.

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Oh, no! Fron Choir get their kit off

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:13 UK time, Thursday, 11 October 2007

Our loveable Fron Choir have taken the next step on the road to celebrity status - they've got their kit off!

naked chorister Dennis

And while it may not be a pretty sight for some, it is a lot of fun - and all in a good cause as it's a charity calendar for .

There is a serious message behind this and it's that life continues whatever age you are - the fun need never stop. Just look at golf fan Dennis's face - he's having a ball.

And may the laughs continue for a long time for the boys [average age 66 and counting].

Pob lwc - good luck to them.

Do you back Chief's call to legalise drugs?

Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:11 UK time, Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Do you agree with North Wales Police Chief Constable who blogs today about legalising drugs as a way to cut down crime?

He has said this before but this time he's asking next Monday's meeting of the North Wales Police Authority to officially back his view.

The chief's comments have been welcomed in the blog run by charitable think tank the which reckons "prohibition itself is the major cause of drug-related" problems.

Our Russell [Crowe] is coming 'home'

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:04 UK time, Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Yep, that's right - the Hollywood actor hails from Wrexham. Well, his grandfather came from Wrexham before emigrating in the early 1900s to New Zealand.

Now, as Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales announces it is planning to do a family history programme and bring Russell Crowe to the town of his ancestors, local newspapers the and have been looking more closely at his connections.

Unfortunately, the Evening Leader doesn't provide the same coverage online as it does in print and last night's edition carried the original newspaper report of 1925 detailing the Crowe family being given a send off by fellow members of Chester Street Bapist Church before emigrating to Canada.

Under discussion...

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:25 UK time, Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Quick links to some of the issues people are talking about right now on bbc.co.uk/northeastwales:

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Listen: Baby delivered over the phone

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:07 UK time, Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Click across to to hear the incredible phone conversation between Roy Barlow and ambulance control as he helps wife Alison deliver their baby daughter at their home in Chirk.

Did the earth move for you?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 09:32 UK time, Friday, 5 October 2007

Colin from Burton, Rossett, has just been in touch to ask if others felt an earth tremor at 9.20am. He could not feel anything from inside his home but outside he could see the telephone poles and wires were bouncing and shaking. Now, other contributors have been in touch to say they felt the same thing - 20 miles away.

According to , we have tremors all the time and, in the main, they're 'no great shakes'.

But the British Geological Survey (BGS) have checked their records and tell my colleagues they can find no details of any earth tremors in the area. So what did our contributors experience?

Reviving Rhyl - by opening the old Vale of Clwyd line

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:19 UK time, Friday, 5 October 2007

There has been no shortage of comments about reviving Rhyl's fortunes as a resort, including rebuilding the pier - but one contributor clearly has some firm ideas which we'd like to share with you.

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Food for thought!

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Alys - Web Team Alys - Web Team | 15:48 UK time, Thursday, 4 October 2007

Despite Jamie Oliver's best efforts it seems that school children are turning their backs on healthier school meals with Denbighshire Council considering plans to stop children from leaving the school grounds at meal times, as reported by , in order to stop them from going to the chippy! Now the Denbigh Youth Nutrition and Health project have come up with a for children to submit recipes to be used in a "young people’s user friendly recipe book".

What a good idea. Surely the best way to get children interested in good food is to get them involved.

Affordable housing needs

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:44 UK time, Wednesday, 3 October 2007

Further to our previous blog and debate Ö÷²¥´óÐãs shortage? about the availability of affordable housing in the region, there is a report out today saying rural homelessness is twice the urban rate, according to .

The situation regarding affordable housing generally makes for grim reading in Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire - and it's going to have an effect on us all if you think about.

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Wind farms update

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:50 UK time, Tuesday, 2 October 2007

says villagers around Clocaenog - one of seven areas across Wales - are to meet this week to discuss the implications of the plans to build on the forest around them.

The talk, says the Ruthin blogger, is that 100 could be built. This really is one of these divisive debates.

Fined for playing bingo

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:03 UK time, Tuesday, 2 October 2007

Carla and Sarah, both 25 and from Rhyl, have been speaking out after seven British tourists were arrested and fined at a Turkish resort - for playing bingo.

They're interviewed in today's which tells how armed police surrounded a bar in Altinkum and seized the game equipment as bingo is considered a form of gambling and is outlawed in Turkey.

How we bring the stories to you

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:05 UK time, Monday, 1 October 2007

We'd like to show you a couple of the things we're using to keep up to date these days.

On the right hand side of our pages are a couple of useful links.

allows us to make public the feeds we use.

In short, they bring websites and blogs to us rather than us going to them - and you can do the same. []

The best thing is that the feeds are only updated every time a new story or comment has been added so we don't waste any time checking for updates. It's explained better by .

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Save Bersham slag heap?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:38 UK time, Monday, 1 October 2007

Bersham slag heapYou'll no doubt know it as that blot on the landscape as you shoot up or down the A483 at the Rhos turn-off near Wrexham [aka Little Chef turn off].

But would you miss the old flat-topped slag heap if it was flattened?

A renewed request was made to to use the slag for industrial purposes, but this was rejected after the Welsh ancient monument preservation group, , said it should be saved for posterity.

The , for one, calls it "one of the many scars left by the Welsh coal industry".

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