Mike Priestley

Quote

2012-01-01T04:06:00.000-08:00

The Bad News is time flies. The good news is you're the Pilot. -by Michael Altshuler

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T09:11:00.000-08:00

May I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Peaceful New Year.

Growing Season

2011-12-22T02:40:00.000-08:00

I am a little behind on the gardening front but was a little surprised to see the daffodils and spring bulbs coming through and still my summer lobelia is flowering.

I will have to take my laptop to the Dr's as I am still having problems receiving comments.

So True

2011-12-21T13:16:00.000-08:00

"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist"

mahatma Gandhi

Job Satisfaction

2011-12-21T10:57:00.001-08:00

Not a great picture, this is an issue I have been dealing with for some time now, in my capacity as Chair of Conwy Drainage Group. This is a camera shot of the surface water drains in Winllan Ave in Llandudno. In this photo you can see a rock in the drains, which has probably assisted in the flooding of this area. The problem was not helped by cars driving at speed through the water and splashing it against some residents front doors. I hope the next down pour of rain, drains a lot quicker now this restriction has been removed.

That said we have a massive problem with silting in our drainage system in Llandudno and I will be pursuing the relevant agencies to tackle this issue and will be asking them to publish their maintenance schedules in order to tackle silting.

Worth mentioning that this drain had been pressure rodded 3 times up to this point and had quite a quantity of sand removed.

One of my Favourite Views

2011-12-10T12:48:00.000-08:00

My Daughter is studying Photography and asked me for one of my favourite views, so today I drove her to one of my favourite spots.

Clean Streets

2011-12-06T09:08:00.001-08:00

Very pleased to receive this award from The Association for Public Service Excellence (apse). This award covers the whole of the UK.

The last two years has seen Conwy recognised as having The Cleanest Streets in Wales (Keep Wales Tidy). I have said and will say that we strive for continuous improvements regarding Street Cleansing and I believe this award is recognising the improvements made to date.

My sincere thanks to all involved.

Ward Work Near Completion

2011-12-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

Some months ago I applied for a grant to tidy up the Junction end of the Conwy Cob and was pleased to be successful. The top two pictures show the area as it was, overgrown and a litter trap. We also had anti social behaviour in this area, drinking, graffiti etc. To the left of the pictures you can see a concrete wall and below that is the A55, my fear was that an incident could happen here.

The grant has paid for a camera, you can just make it out on one of the lamp posts and landscaping. I feel the area is looking better and more open. This project will be completed soon with some planting of a couple of trees and a couple of bench seats. This project was supported by Conwy CBC's Environment and Regulatory Services departments, Welsh Government and North Wales Police. Thanks to all for supporting and making this area safer and greener.

Marl Ward Work

2011-11-17T09:12:00.000-08:00

Quite a lot of work going on around my Ward at the moment and this is connected to The Llandudno Junction Regeneration Project. The photo of the new bin, which are being replaced throughout Junction is down by the New Asda, this area was overgrown and attracted litter, now re-turfed and looking a lot better.

Llandudno Junction is also having some new road signs, some of our pavement area's are being renewed, new street lights down by the Weekly News Roundabout and we have replaced the old galvanised railings in that area with new green powder coated ones.

Opposite Asda the retail unit shop fronts have been renewed and I am awaiting a new community notice board which will be placed by the little park just opposite the train station.

There are more works to come, but it is fair to say what has been achieved has taken time and has been supported by my Pensarn Council Colleague Meirion Hughes from day one and fully supported by my Ward Colleague Sue Shotter. It has been a great team effort to get to this stage, I also wish to thank the Council Officers for all their hard work during this ongoing project especially Tim Pritchard.

Today I also contacted probation services to help me with a few areas that are in need of a clear up.

Next week also See's a meeting with residents and a developer on my ward to address some concerns, Llandudno Junction Community Club, 23rd November at 6pm. Any issues regarding Albini House building site will be discussed and of course anyone who has an issue is welcome to attend.

A Day of Two Halves

2011-11-05T12:12:00.001-07:00

This morning I spent some time with Allotmenteers from our new site in Tan Y Bryn in Rhos-On-Sea, assisting with a clear out, allocating new plots, we also gave them some of our "Conwy's best" Compost (Compost made from our Parks and Gardens).

This afternoon I spent some time with Senior and Junior members of our community in Llandudno Junction, organised by Conwy Youth Services. Our young people organised an event for their elders, bingo with prizes donated from our local business's, tea, cake and sandwiches made by our young people, a raffle and a dance show from Llandudno Junction's Crystal Jets.

I was proud to be part of this event, witnessing our young people look after and respect their elders. It really is the minority that spoil it for the majority.

My Thanks go to Tommy, Ronnie and Donna from the Conwy Youth Service, Yvonne from Tesco, Pete our PCSO, all the various business people in Llandudno Junction who donated prizes, Llandudno Junction Crystal jets for entertaining, my council colleagues Meiron Hughes and Sue Shotter, Conwy Town Council Mayor Anne Roberts and lastly but by no means least, our young people in Llandudno Junction. They really did our senior residents proud.

Recycle More 2nd Quarter Results

2011-10-31T11:41:00.000-07:00

I received Conwy's first full quarter recycling figures today which included the new weekly collection service. I am very pleased to announce that residents in Conwy are now recycling 54% of their waste. I have to be cautious with this figure as this quarter is usually the busiest due to green garden waste.

This result is up 10% from last year and looks promising to hit the statutory target of 52% by 2012/13.

There is still more to do, we are working on introducing kerbside recycling in the rest of the County. Currently some rural areas do not receive this service and it is hoped that this can be resolved in late 2012. We estimate that there are around 5000 households not receiving this service and when they do it will give Conwy an extra 2% on top of our current figures.

The difficult challenge then is how to get to 70% recycling by 2025.

Well done to everyone who participates and of course our staff.

Conwy Food Festival

2011-10-23T02:37:00.000-07:00

Popped over to Conwy yesterday and have to say it was probably the busiest I have ever seen the Town, in fact when talking to locals, this was one of their first comments.

There were also a few saying that the £7 entrance fee was a put off and they were not willing to pay it, one suggested a discount for locals. That said, the marquees were absolutely Jam Packed and in some instances too busy for my wife and I to go in.

Hopefully the weather will hold up for them today as I feel this will probably be one of the busiest feast's Conwy has seen. This event really shows Conwy off to its full potential. There were also lots of street entertainers which added to this event and lets not forget the food!!!

Believe it or not, with all the various stalls from all over Wales, I ended up going home with "Edwards of Conwy Sausages", well they are the best you know.

Well done to Jane Hughes and her team for organising this event!!

Still having problems with receiving comments.

Street Washing

2011-10-14T06:09:00.001-07:00

We have been testing some equipment this week in order to tackle the chewing gum issue and as you can see the results are an improvement in the appearance of the pavements, this equipment does not use any chemicals, it uses heated water and there is also adjustable pressure.

Reality is that to take this forward I will need to work with different partners as this type of work is manually intensive. I have already had a business offer to pay for their frontage to be cleansed and I have asked to set up meetings with others. I will keep you posted.

On another note I am having problems receiving comments, hopefully this will be sorted soon.

Ward Work

2011-10-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Recently I asked the Community Payback Team for some assistance with a couple of "Grotspots" around my Ward and today spent a couple of hours with them addressing these issues.

Two areas of my Ward were cleared of overgrowth and Litter. Believe it or not, the photo above had a flattened Sofa in the scrub and about 8-10 bags of builders rubble.

The team also addressed some graffiti issues in some other locations around the Ward.

Feedback from residents is good and I have sent an email to the Area Manager in Probation Services thanking today's team. All in All a positive experience.

Colwyn Bay Water Front

2011-09-07T05:40:00.000-07:00

This image is the latest from and courtesy of K2 Architects who have been appointed to design and deliver Colwyn Bays new watersport hotspot on the new improved Sea Defence on Colwyn Bays Promenade. http: www.k2architects.co.uk

This is work in progress and some things will change such as the beach, there will be more beach exposed at high tide than shown here by the steps (right hand side) and the Rock Groyne will connect to the improved Sea defences in order to hold the beach and act as a breakwater.

This work is scheduled to be complete around this time next year (Depending on Relevant Permissions), the actual sea defence work should be complete within a few weeks. There will be another event to update residents in the near future, probably in Eirias Park Leisure Centre. I will publish more regarding this event as soon as I have the information.

Ward Leaflet

2011-09-02T14:37:00.000-07:00

Busy delivering our latest Ward Newsletter this week and meeting residents, it's hard work but feedback is good. Hopefully break the back of the delivery tomorrow.

Ysgol Aberconwy

2011-09-01T13:40:00.001-07:00

Some final adjustments still to come but these results are not expected to change much either way.

Excellent Results from Ysgol Aberconwy.
I wonder if the BBC will cover this story??

Well done to all involved.

One for the Diary

2011-08-31T04:38:00.001-07:00

Open Afternoon

COME AND MEET SOME OF THE WALTON CENTRE'S DOCTORS, NURSES,STAFF AND GOVERNORS WORKING IN NORTH WALES.

Colwyn Bay

Talk by consultant neurologist Dr Rhys Davies:
Dealing with a head pressure: the clinical neuroscience team

2.00-4.00pm Thursday 22 September Colwyn Bay Cricket Club, Rhos On Sea LL28 4LR

To book a place, please email: communications@thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk
or call the reservation answerphone: 0151 529 4188

This event is free: Included; Refreshments, Wheelchair access, Parking, short DVD about The Walton Centre and the Latest Newsletters.

Special Council Meeting 8th September

2011-08-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Special Council, Thursday, 8 September 2011 10.00 am

This is a really important meeting. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the NUMEROUS concerns that have been raised across the County in relation to the Local Development Plan.

I have received many representations regarding two plots of land in the Marl Ward and will make my and the Marl Ward Residents views known at this meeting.

The North Wales Residual Waste Treatment project

2011-08-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

Waste Treatment Consultation

The North Wales Residual Waste Treatment project (NWRWTP) has been set up to manage residual waste (the waste which is left over after recycling and composting as much as possible) generated in the five local authorities, and reduce landfill as much as possible.

The Partnership is now undertaking a consultation process, where we want to hear your views on key aspects of the project. A series of drop in sessions have been organised across the partnership area for residents to come for an informal chat and ask any question you may have.

Conwy Drop in Session

Tuesday 30 August: Conwy Business Centre, Llandudno Junction 2-7pm

Aberconwy Election Result

2011-05-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

My Congratulations go to Janet Finch Saunders AM for winning this seat, she worked hard and fought a clean fight.

Janet Finch Saunders Conservatives 6,888

Iwan Huws Plaid Cymru 5,321

Eifion Wyn Williams Labour 5,206

Mike Priestley Lib Dems 2,873

I raised the vote in Aberconwy for the Libdems by 5% and contributed to assist Aled Roberts in his election for one of the four Regional seats. I supported Aled to become our number one for the list and feel that he will make an excellent AM, Congratulations also go to him.

In the current circumstances with the national picture, I am happy with the result although would have liked a few more votes, I believe the Labour leaflet that I have posted on previously certainly cut my vote in Junction where they seemed to have concentrated on delivery.

Thanks to all that voted for me and also my team and especially my Agent Christine Humphries. Last but certainly not least thanks to my lovely wife Lorraine and my two girls for all their support, I am a very lucky man to have the three of you!!

MIKE

Labour Leaflet

2011-05-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

A very sad side to the Election was seen this week with a leaflet being distributed by Labour supporters with a section regarding myself which is totally untrue.

I have sought legal advice and believe that they have committed an offence under Section 106 of the representation of the people act 1983. A letter stating this was handed to the Labour Candidate today at 11:50am stating that the article was untrue and asked that they immediately cease their distribution of this leaflet. They were still delivering this leaflet today at 3pm.

I have great difficulty with this Labour candidate now and how he will work as an Assembly Member for the people of Aberconwy when he distributes such misleading information. I have also been advised to report this to the police.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-30T13:24:00.001-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.

Following the expensive reorganisation of the NHS in 2009, it has been revealed by a Freedom Information Request that top NHS executives who were moved into new jobs following the reorganisation have had their six-figure salaries protected for up to 10 years.

More than 120 former NHS directors and managers have been redeployed elsewhere in the health service and the Welsh Assembly Government following the changes negotiated with trade unions. But they will have their salaries, which are as high as £195,000 a year in some cases, protected for years.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-30T13:21:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.

Official figures released in February revealed that Wales is still so poor that it may qualify for the highest level of European funding yet again, confirming that the Labour-led government has wasted opportunities to boost the economy of Wales over the last decade.

Since 1999, Wales has spent £5 billion on regeneration, which is the equivalent of £1,600 for every person living in Wales. European funding is aimed at lifting people out of poverty and boosting economic development and regeneration. Despite £5 billion being spent, Wales is still poor enough to qualify for another round of funding.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

In Autumn last year, under pressure from Kirsty Williams, the First Minister was forced to reveal the £500,000 shocking cost of commissioning McKinsey to produce a report on the future of the NHS. The report was never published and was described by the Government as 'a little discussion paper' and ‘a compilation of slides’. The UK government spent just £46,000 commissioning a similar report from McKinsey.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-28T00:38:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.

Since 2007, the Labour – Plaid Government has spent nearly £15 million on a computer project that is supposed to assist in development and delivery of policy however this expensive project has been branded by senior WAG civil servants as “a total waste of money”.

The IDEAS Programme is supposed to improve financial management across the organisation however it has resulted in civil servants criticising the programme stating that it undermines the role of specialists within the civil service and leads to greater inefficiencies.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-24T05:17:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

Figures released by the Welsh Liberal Democrats last autumn revealed that many of the Labour-Plaid government's flagship Technium projects made massive losses. Freedom of Information requests revealed a loss in excess of £5.4 million since 2001.

The Technium scheme was a flagship government project founded in 2001 as an attempt to develop a series of sites where science and technology businesses could be nurtured.

Mike Priestley, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberconwy said:

"Despite a number of individual successes, overall the Technium project has made losses of over £5.4 million. Some individual projects have made huge losses. Port Talbot has lost £2.2 million and so has Technium Cast in Bangor.

“The Technium project has been widely criticised, including by the Government’s own Economic Advisory Council. Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued for a much closer relationship with the universities to help create more organic clusters of expertise and innovation. Instead, the Labour-Plaid government ignored expert advice and have presided over a colossal waste of tax payer’s money.

“When every family, charity and business is making every pound stretch that little bit further, Wales needs a government that does the same. Labour and Plaid Cymru have turned waste, incompetence and inefficiency into an art form.”

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are continuing to expose, on each day of the election campaign, examples of the waste and inefficiency of the Labour-Plaid government during their four years in power.”

Waste Watchers

2011-04-23T08:08:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

Back in 2009, the Labour-Plaid government came under fire from business leaders and politicians for spending more than £300,000 on staff “away-days” during the economic downturn.

Among the most expensive individual events, revealed by FOI were:

· an away-day for human resources staff at the Miskin Manor – a luxury hotel on the outskirts of Cardiff – costing £16,177

· a health department meeting to “improve effectiveness”, which cost the taxpayer £11,024.57;

· visits by members of the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service to the Falcondale Mansion Hotel, Lampeter, at a cost of £6,124.45.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-22T11:07:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

It was revealed last October that Wales won just £570,000 worth of Tier One Olympic Contracts compared to £17 million for Northern Ireland and £22 million for Scotland. Freedom of Information requests placed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats revealed that there had been no written correspondence between the Welsh Ministers and the Olympic Delivery Authority in the last three years.

Welsh firms are missing out on multi million pound Olympic contracts as the Scottish and Northern Irish governments leave Wales trailing.

The Minister for Economy and Transport, Plaid Cymru's Ieuan Wyn Jones, wrote to his Northern Ireland counterpart bemoaning Wales' lack of success, stating 'The amount of Welsh companies who have successfully won business via the CompeteFor Portal is lower than we hoped'. However, Ieuan Wyn Jones had not written to the ODA himself.

A Good Day Canvassing

2011-04-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

A great day canvassing today, really positive comments and we ran out of window posters. We usually take the posters for residents to place in their windows to demonstrate support, running out this morning was a first for us.

One thing that is coming out strong on the doorstep is that people want to know where the candidates live, that was not such an issue in the parliamentary campaign. I find this fact very interesting because only 2 of the 4 candidates live in the constituency.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-21T11:42:00.001-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

A bridge too far? It was revealed last August that the Labour-Plaid government spent £190,000 on a bridge to help dormice to cross a by-pass near Pontypridd. Newport built a similar dormouse bridge for just £22,000.

Fixed Penalty Notices Dog Fouling

2011-04-20T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last Month 5 FPN's were issued to people failing to pick up their dogs mess.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-20T10:46:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

It was revealed last January by the Wales Audit Office that major road and rail projects in Wales have cost substantially more and took longer than expected to build.

The Wales Audit Office report into 18 major projects found the total cost rose from an estimated £366m to £592m, with final projects costing an average 61% higher.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

More than £22m has been wasted by the Welsh Assembly Government on training teachers who do not go on to teach in Wales.

Figures released by the Welsh Liberal Democrats in August 2010 revealed that between 2004/05 and 2007/08, Wales trained an excess of almost 3000 teachers, at a cost of over £7500 per surplus teacher.

Commenting on the figures, Mike Priestley, Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate for Aberconwy, said:

"At a time when budgets are stretched, it is wasteful and irresponsible for the Labour-Plaid government to spend taxpayers' money on teachers that Wales does not have vacancies to employ.

"With education spending already £604 per pupil less than in England, Wales can ill afford to be subsidising the English education system. In maths, for example, we have trained 133 teachers at a cost of £1.1 million who are not teaching in Wales at all.

"The Government were advised in the 2006 Furlong Report to cut the number of training places in half but this advice was ignored. The Education Minister stated in 2008 that she would be supporting a reduction of 50 per cent of training places in primary and 25 per cent reduction in secondary training places, but this saving has not taken place.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

It was revealed last August that the legal cost of the Labour-Plaid Government's fight to challenges to its planned badger cull pilot was more than £57,000, with nearly £20,000 paid towards the Badger Trust’s costs.

The Labour-Plaid government’s badger cull order was overturned by the Court of Appeal as they said it was wrong to make an order for the whole of Wales when the Government consulted on the basis of an Intensive Action Pilot Area (IAPA) which only supported a cull on evidence within the IAPA.

The assembly government had to pay £57,000 for losing the legal challenges to its planned badger cull.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Last February, it was revealed by the Welsh Liberal Democrats that health bosses in North Wales had been taking advantage of a £1.1m subsidy for leased cars to run top of the range Jaguars, sporty Audis and BMWs. The Betsi Cadwaladr health board pays out £2m-a-year for a car leasing contract.

Some £940,000 of that is recouped from payments from staff who choose to top up the subsidy to run a higher specification vehicle than standard.

The list of leased vehicles, published under the Freedom of Information Act, contained a £24,000 Alfa Romeo costing £5,311-a-year; a £36,000 Audi costing £8,188-a-year; BMW 3-series Sport at £7,098-a-year; and four Jaguars, including an XF S-Luxury worth £39,000 and leased at £8,748-a-year.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-15T11:58:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

It was revealed last month that the cost of running empty office space across the Labour-Plaid government estate cost over £1,200 a day. The total amount of vacant space within the Assembly Government’s administrative estate stands at 1,817 square metres.

The total annual running costs – including rent, rates, service charges, utilities, cleaning and maintenance – was £449,927 “as at March 31st 2011”. That’s up from £344,173 the previous year, when the total vacant space was 1,441 square metres.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-14T12:39:00.000-07:00

WASTE WATCHERS

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign.

In August 2010, it was revealed that the Labour-Plaid government had spent more that £400,000 in a year on external PR companies while employing 25 full-time PR and communications staff. A Freedom of Information request revealed the Labour-Plaid government used external PR firms from April 2009 to March 2010.

Waste Watchers

2011-04-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Liberal Democrats will expose an example of the waste and inefficiency of Labour and Plaid Cymru in government on each day of the Welsh general election campaign

Last November, it was revealed that £3.5 million of Welsh Government money had been spent in the last three years on ‘climate change awareness’, rather than programmes that directly reduce carbon emissions. Grants include £20,000 over two years for an annual newspaper supplements on climate change and over £0.5 million a year to the Sustainable Development Commission and Cynnal Cymru.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats estimated that this money could have paid for around 1000improvements to homes in fuel poverty through the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme making an immediate impact on carbon emissions.

Nick Clegg Visits Llandudno Junction

2011-04-08T13:11:00.001-07:00

We had a great day today with Nick Clegg coming to support my Welsh Assembly Campaign.

Nick told everyone that:

These are difficult times for people across Britain, but this week has shown that this can also be an opportunity to reshape Britain into a fairer, more equal and greener country.

Labour's financial legacy has left our country needing to borrow an extra £400million, every single day, just to get by. Labour also left us paying £120 million in interest on our debt each and every day - for that we could build a new primary school every hour.

Conwy’s share of the country’s debt now stands at a dangerous £3.92billion and something needs to be done.

But despite all this, Liberal Democrat policies coming into action this week are making a positive difference to people’s lives.

Over the last seven days in Conwy, thanks to Liberal Democrats:
42000 people are getting a £200 income tax cut - benefiting 23 million people across the country
2200 people have been lifted out of paying income tax altogether, with more to come
pensioners have been given an extra £4.50 a week – and those retiring from today will be on average £15,000 better off over their retirement.
Liberal Democrats in government will not stop there.

This week also saw Pensions Minister Steve Webb announcing that the Government will be introducing a simple, flat-rate state pension of £140 to replace the current complicated, unfair and means-tested system.

Business Secretary Vince Cable is cutting regulation to promote small business and create jobs.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Chris Huhne revealed that Britain will be hosting the 2012 Clean Energy Summit - putting Britain at the heart of the Green Energy Revolution.

The Liberal Democrats have entered government at one of the most challenging times for the country. We did not choose the moment but we have not shrunk from our responsibility to act in the national interest. We will not miss the opportunity we have to build a greener, fairer and more liberal Britain.

Nick was very well received by all and I thanked him for taking time out to support my campaign.

Dog Fouling Fixed Penalty Notices March

2011-04-01T01:54:00.000-07:00

I have had a meeting this week with Regulatory Services and discussed various ways of tackling this issue, from Education to fining. I will feedback on this later as it was a very comprehensive and productive meeting.

Fixed Penalty notices issued 1st March to 31st March (Fines)

Dog Fouling 22
Dropping Litter 2

I can also confirm that there will be more activities in relation to tackling this type of problem in the near future.

Interesting Estimates

It is estimated that one in three households include a dog, with around 100,000 households in Conwy and Denbighshire, it is estimated that we have around 33,000 dogs.

Each dog potentially produces, a conservatively estimated, 100 grammes of waste a day, collectively around 3.3 tonnes per day or just over 1200 tonnes per annum.

So just the mindless minority not picking up after their dog is quite a problem.

Welsh Assembly Campaign

2011-03-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

Well today see's the start of delivery of my first leaflet constituency wide and my team and I have been busy working on three other leaflets with maybe two more to follow.

We have our office up and running in Llandudno Junction and plans are now in place to step up our Welsh Assembly election campaign.

Quick Update:Dog Fouling

2011-03-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

Spoke to our PCSO (Police Community Support Officer) today and he informed me that another morning was spent yesterday tackling dog fouling. A number of people were spoken to and I believe 3 fixed penalties were issued to people not picking up after their dogs. This was on the Deganwy to West Shore section of the cycle track. Varying excuses ranging from "I didn't see the dog do it"!! to, I was not paying attention as I had to text my friend.

Yesterday, I had a ward walkabout with my colleague Councillor Sue Shotter and as we were walking by the Weekly News, we witnessed 2 dogs doing their business as their owner walked ahead oblivious. It was pointed out to her that her dogs had made a mess and the embarrassed owner picked it up.

I will post more on this issue.

Welsh Spring Conference

2011-03-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Off to Cardiff for our Welsh Spring Conference tomorrow. One thing that I have noticed is the increased security, photo ID and passes in all sections of the building, I suppose this is the price you have to pay for being in government.

I will be proposing a motion to Conference and will blog this later on how it went.

Lot's happening locally, the fruits of our work should shortly be seen. Spoke to a resident today who at the Marl Ward Election voted Labour but confirmed support for me in the Assembly Election (That was good to hear). Other political party supporters are being very positive towards me for differing reasons. We have our plans in place and I am very grateful to my team for their support and dedication, especially Christine Humphreys my agent, She is an absolute star.

If people put their faith in me, I promise to repay them.

Charity Skydive

2011-02-28T11:35:00.001-08:00

Doing some Computer Housework and came across these two pics of a charity Skydive I completed in aid of ClicSargent. What a great experience this was and one I would recommend to anyone who is looking for fundraising ideas. The plane landed before we did!

Celebration

2011-02-10T08:54:00.001-08:00

Today I celebrate being on this planet for 45 years. This morning I was greeted by my wife and 2 girls, given a couple of Birthday presents and a mug of Tea.

The best gift for me was being part of that moment.

Nothing more to add.

Colwyn Bay Sea Defence

2011-02-06T05:55:00.001-08:00

Should be an announcement early this week regarding this project, it may well be in the Daily Post on Monday.

Marl in Spring

2011-02-06T04:10:00.000-08:00

Just come home from a very windswept walk around Marl Woods with my wife and "Jelly" the dog, it really is a walk to be recommended. The wild garlic is sprouting, wild Snowdrops and another week or so the Daffodils will be in bloom. The "Catkins" are also out and the lambs jumping around and chasing each other and playing in the fields.

I can remember as a kid, Marl used to be yellow and white with the daffs and snowdrops followed by the lush green of the wild garlic again followed by white as the garlic flowers. I really do enjoy this time of year.

Down side just had to bath the dog after she rolled around in some horse muck.

*"Cut The Crap"

2011-02-04T09:42:00.000-08:00

* Title courtesy from Richard.

Just a short update regarding Dog Fouling and the minority of irresponsible owners who do not/refuse to pick up after their dogs.

6am this morning Police and the Council's Enforcement Team patrolled in Llandudno Junction. Feedback I have is that over twenty owners were observed and no offences witnessed, that said all were spoken to and asked if they carried bags, all did.

The team have informed me that most of the people questioned felt that this action was long overdue. I have asked that I be informed of fixed penalties issued in Conwy over the next few weeks in order to publish on this blog.

Memories

2011-02-02T00:36:00.000-08:00

Funny things memories, I arrived home after 9pm last night after attending the Save our Civic Hall meeting in Conwy with a bag of chips for supper.

Up this morning just after 6am, girls off to school, dog and rabbit fed and the crow who screams out every morning around 7am. Chauffered the wife and her colleuge to work and then travelling home I started to grin and was remembering my eldest daughter at an early age one Christmas eve saying to my wife and I, "I can't wait for Father Christmas and his Radiators to come to our house". Still smiling as I write this!!

I wonder what triggers these memories off?

Cleanest Streets

2011-01-29T03:45:00.001-08:00

Conwy has again been recognised for having the "Cleanest Streets" in Wales. This time we are joint 1st with Monmouthshire. This is a great achievement and I would like to thank all the staff in the Street Scene Department for their hard work.

Up to 150 streets and roads are picked at random and inspected independently by inspectors from Keep Wales Tidy. They look for Dog Fouling, Litter and Graffiti. Litter is set into 4 categories, smoking related litter (SRL), drinks, confectionery and fast food.

I am very pleased with this result as the staff have been working hard to catch up after the adverse weather.

We have a problem with irresponsible dog owners not picking up after their dogs and this has been worse lately due to, in my opinion, the dark mornings and early evenings. These irresponsible owners must feel they are not being seen so they can leave their dog mess behind.

I am Working with Cllr Philip Evans on an operation to tackle this very issue and very soon we will have a multi agency team cracking down on this. This team will consist of Environment and Regulatory Services in Conwy CBC and the Police. They will hit "Hotspots" and anyone caught leaving their dogs mess or littering can expect a fixed penalty.

If you have a problem regarding Street Cleanliness, please report it to our Environment Department on 01492 575337

Marl Ward Election Result

2011-01-21T10:55:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to County Councillor Susan Shotter for a fantastic result in this election, we knew from the feedback on the doorstep that we were going to win, if the vote came out and thanks to the wonderful people of Marl, they did!!

Percentages as follows:

Turnout 31.3%

Susan Shotter Welsh Liberal Democrats 40.4%
Julie Fallon Conservative 28.1%
Mike Pritchard Labour 22.5%
Jason Landy Independent 9%

This is a Welsh Liberal Democrat Gain from the Tories. Sue in her acceptance speech acknowledged her opponents and thanked her agent Christine Humphries and all the team that assisted her in this great victory.

I feel This result has shook the Aberconwy Tories to their roots.

I look forward to working with Sue in the Marl Ward and representing the people of Conwy.

Well done once again Sue, a worker a winner!

Susan Shotter for Marl

2011-01-16T02:22:00.001-08:00

I joined Sue on her campaign to become the next County Councillor for the Marl Ward yesterday. The weather was absolutely atrocious and we all got soaked, that said eight volunteers braved the severe conditions and residents appreciated the commitment from Sue's team.

Sue really is getting a positive response on the doorstep and when asked by residents, I was able to endorse her. I believe if elected Sue and I will be very effective for the residents of Marl and Sue really does look at the bigger picture, for example, she wants to scrutinise the Winter Gritting programme for instance.

I have been browsing some of the blogs and it really saddens me to see gutless anons having personal attacks on Sue and indeed the other candidates. Sue's campaign like all our campaigns, will not be drawn into the gutter and I believe that to be the right and proper way to conduct campaigns. You have to wonder what is wrong with these sad individuals.

Anyway feedback is positive from postal voters and there is still much to do, I will be able to assist Sue a little more this coming week but the rest of today is with the family, as we feel Sunday should be a day of rest and have never delivered or canvassed on Sundays. Full English (can't beat Edwards of Conwy) and time with the family, Sundays should not be more complicated than this!!

Marl Ward Election

2011-01-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

A few comments on the blog regarding the candidates in the Marl Ward election next Thursday 20th January. I refuse to be drawn into criticising the candidates.

The only candidate I endorse is Susan Shotter, together I believe we would be an effective and hard working pair for the Residents of Marl and I believe the residents deserve this. I can say this because I know Sue and have worked with her for some time now, she is enthusiastic, keen, intelligent and like me wants to make a positive difference in the ward and the County, Sue is a peoples person who listens and that in itself is a quality, she also has a determination to help people.

I hope this clears up my view on the matter and why I endorse her.

Assembly Contact email

2011-01-09T03:26:00.000-08:00

My Welsh Assembly campaign contact email address is mp4am@aol.com

Marl Ward Election 20/01/2011

2011-01-08T11:54:00.000-08:00

We have been out today canvassing and delivering leaflets for the forthcoming election in the Marl Ward. Our candidate, Sue Shotter, is being well received on the doorstep.

Colwyn Bay Waterfront

2011-01-06T09:22:00.000-08:00

I attended the public consultation event for the Colwyn Bay Watersports Hotspot Design Competition today at The Leisure Centre in Colwyn Bay. I was pleased with the turn out with over 300 people attending as of 4.30pm and the event continues until 8pm tonight, we have also had a positive response via the Web.

This event is an opportunity for people to have their say regarding the Promenade.

You can see the 6 entries here.
href="http://www.conwy.gov.uk/doc.asp?cat=143&doc=27652&Language=1">

Cost of Credit

2010-12-31T15:28:00.001-08:00

This was advertised on TV today, first I have seen it, apparently it's been running for some time.

Look at the APR!! WOW!!

Christmas Present

2010-12-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

A nice little surprise for Christmas!! My wife bought us tickets for Vinopolis in London for my birthday weekend, really looking forward to this. Below is an extract from their website. We have booked the Celebration Tour.

http://www.vinopolis.co.uk/winetours/celebrationtour.php

The Vinopolis Celebration self guided tour is our premium wine tour, designed for those with a thirst for fizz and a taste for the luxurious.
After taking part in a tutored 'How to Taste Wine' to brush up on your tasting technique you can sample 6 regular wines and a variety of premium wines from around the world, 2 whiskies in our whisky room, and finally 3 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagnes in our Champagne bar before indulging in a Bombay Sapphire cocktail. All the Vinopolis self guided wine tours are laid out around the wine producing regions of world including France, Italy, Australia, California, South Africa and some lesser known regions such as Georgia.

For the visitor who enjoys the finer things, this package includes:

•Admission to the Vinopolis Wine Tour
•A 'How to Taste Wine' session
•6 regular wine tastings
•3 premium wine tastings
•3 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne tastings
•2 whisky tastings
•2 beer tastings
•A Bombay Sapphire cocktail
•A Vinopolis tasting notebook
Approximate duration: 3 hours

A Very Merry Christmas To You All

2010-12-24T11:39:00.001-08:00

May I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful and healthy New Year.

Conwy Town Councils Christmas Parade 24/12/2010

2010-12-23T03:39:00.000-08:00

I have just taken a message from Conwy Town Council asking if I could pass on this sad news that they have had to cancel this event due to the Weather conditions.

Can you all pass on this info via your Blogs, Twitter and Facebook.

Mike

Update Refuse/Recycling Collections

2010-12-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

Today due to the weather conditions NO collections of Refuse or Recycling were made, refuse collectors will try and catch up over the next couple of days and the advice is please leave your Bin/Box out.

Any problems please phone 01492 575337

Refuse/Recycling Collections

2010-12-21T10:46:00.000-08:00

There is disruption to Refuse & Recycling collections across the County due to this severe weather. The advice is to leave your bin/box's out and they will try and empty them as soon as possible. If you have any concerns please phone 01492 575337

I will update you in the next couple of days as I receive more information.

Postage Rates

2010-12-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

From April 2011 the Royal Mail will raising the price of stamps:

1st Class will rise 5p
2nd Class will rise 4p

I must say that I still like receiving hand written letters but these are now very far and few between.

Has anyone noticed that credit card and loan letters have increased recently and before the recession our household must have received at least half a dozen a week.

An old boss of mine could tell the state of the economy by looking at the amount of franked mail in the Mail Centre, he said that one house sale used to generate up to 30 letters, not sure if that is the case these days with couriers and email.

Driving Home For Christmas

2010-12-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

Posted earlier about a Christmas party in the Community Club on Victoria Drive in Llandudno Junction, little did I know that it would take over an hour to get home.

The picture is from my stationary car outside The Killer (Station Hotel) opposite the Railway Station. I could not get up "The Hill". The last time I witnessed this type of Snow cover on Conwy Road was when I was a Kid and tried to charge motorists for assisting them to get up the hill by pushing them up. (Never made much money!!)

Senior Residents Christmas Party

2010-12-17T10:25:00.000-08:00

I helped out today at this event and have to say it was well attended and appreciated by all our senior residents. My thanks to Cor Meibion Maelgwn for entertaining us and special thanks to all at the community club that made the day happen.

This is the 3rd Christmas party and the feedback from residents is, "Long may it Continue". The choir sang and the Snow fell, it was great.

I couldn't help thinking about my late Mum, suppose it's the time of year.

Merry Christmas to you all
Nadolig Llawen
Mike

Marl Ward Election 20/01/2011

2010-12-17T09:54:00.000-08:00

Today nominations closed for the second seat on the Marl Ward. I can confirm that the following people are standing for this seat:

Susan Gail Shotter - Liberal Democrat
Mike Pritchard - Labour
Julie Fallon - Conservative
Jason Robert Landy - probably Independent but not known

http://www.conwy.gov.uk/upload/public/attachments/439/Statement_of_Persons_Nominated_MARL_20_01_11.pdf

I will be working alongside Susan Shotter during the election which is to be held on 20th January and I fully endorse her. I have known Sue for a number of years and believe that we together can represent the whole of the Marl Ward as a team, something I haven't had for the last couple of years. Sue is a very approachable, polite and enthusiastic person who will represent the ward effectively.

Busy Day

2010-12-14T00:22:00.000-08:00

Today I have Cabinet meetings all day, then off to The Walton Centre in Liverpool for an early evening meeting. I am keeping a close eye on the review of Trauma care in England and how it may effect North Wales, especially head trauma.

A Varied Day

2010-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

Enjoyed the variety of today's activities.

10am we opened up some new allotments in Rhos on Sea. (See previous post)

11.30am it was off to the Welsh Mountain Zoo to feed a couple of camels some of Conwy's Willow. This is difficult to shred in order to compost as when it goes through our shredding machine it tends to wrap around the blades and can cause serious jams. Any willow cut in our parks and gardens is set aside and bulked up and delivered to the Zoo and fed to the Camels, they love it and this saves us money and time from clearing our shredder.

1pm I helped out at Tescos in Junction bag packing in aid of Clic Sargent, Cancer and Leukaemia in Children, this charity assisted my wife and I when our daughter was poorly a few years ago, so we try to support them as often as possible.

Every day 10 families are told their child has cancer. As the UK's leading children's cancer charity, ClIC Sargent is the only organisation to offer them all round care and support.

New Allotments

2010-12-08T00:30:00.001-08:00

On Saturday 11th December there will be a ceremony to officially open some new allotments in Rhos on Sea (off Tan y Bryn Road).

There are 72 plots in total including 12 that are DDA compliant, I have been informed that most plots have been taken up and that we have 7 DDA Raised plots left. The event starts at 10am and finishes at 2pm. I am in attendance but will be whisked off to feed some "Camels" at the Welsh Mountain Zoo, this is to do with some of our green waste. I will update on this after the event if I survive! (You never know I might be placed in the LION enclosure by mistake!)

RTC Marl Ward

2010-12-05T11:20:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning I received a call at around 08.45 informing me that a bus carrying passengers had skidded off the road and into a garden on Victoria Drive. I understand that there is to be an investigation into this matter, early information is that passengers have praised the efforts of the driver and that if it were not for a garden wall and conifers the bus may have hit the property. It is also reported that there was some black ice in this area. The driver was shaken by this incident and also I believe that an elderly passenger was taken to hospital. I have asked for a welfare check on this passenger and as of yet have not been informed.

This is serious enough but really could have been so much worse. My thoughts are with the injured passenger and driver at this time.

Working Together

2010-11-18T15:52:00.001-08:00

I have been sent this picture from a police officer tonight. This is from a couple of weeks ago and is covered in the local paper today and also ties in with a letter that I wrote a couple of weeks ago praising this event.

Basically, our young people looked after our more senior residents on a Saturday afternoon and it was a great success. I left the event proud to have been part of it and to be honest the picture does not do the attendance proud, there were about 35senior residents and about 15 younger residents, having said that the smiles say it all.

Cometh the Frost, Cometh the Fuel Rise

2010-11-18T14:47:00.000-08:00

Well the first hard frost has arrived along with an email informing me that my Gas and Electric bills are to rise by 7%. The next thing I will expect in the post is a very special offer, asking me to sign up for a freeze in price rises for the next 2 years!!! (only to see a decrease in energy prices in the following Spring and a penalty clause of about £70 for getting out of the contract that was suppose to save me money)

Prices are going up but we want to help manage your energy costs

Dear Mr Priestley,

We’re committed to providing you with competitive prices. Over the last year, we’ve kept our energy prices as low as possible and were the first major energy supplier to drop our gas prices in both 2009 and 2010. We have also been on average the cheapest major supplier for standard electricity for 75 out of the last 77 weeks*.

The cost of supplying and delivering gas and electricity to your home has been going up and has considerably increased in the last few months. This is an issue facing all energy suppliers. Unfortunately, as a result, we have to increase our prices. Your new prices come into effect on 10 December 2010. Learn more about your new prices

Find out more ways we can help you manage your energy costs

Thank you for being a customer. You are important to us

YEAH RIGHT!! and what have your profits been during this very difficult time

Mike

Future of Policing in north Wales

2010-11-18T05:47:00.000-08:00

I received this email from north Wales Police today:

We are writing to update you on our progress in managing the impact of changing finances, and to reassure you that we will continue to provide the highest possible level of policing service to North Wales.

North Wales Police Force and North Wales Police Authority have jointly produced a briefing document. This document is available from our website: www.nwalespa.org. The intention is to clarify some of the challenges we know we are facing, to be open about issues which are yet to be resolved and to initiate a dialogue between ourselves and our communities. Policing and the safety of North Wales is our reason for being, and we want to reassure you that we will do everything possible to minimize the impact of these financial cuts on the services we deliver, but the reality of the situation means that there will be some significant changes in the near future.

We want to be open, honest and transparent with our communities, our staff and Officers. We already know that we are facing unprecedented financial cuts, and we want to ensure that we become more efficient where possible, but the scale of the challenge goes beyond efficiency savings as we know them. Over the next few years we will have to:

· change the way we deliver services,

· review all of our activities,

· prioritise some activities and stop other activities

· reduce our workforce

· reduce our non-staff costs (such as vehicles, premises, information and communications technology)

We are here to serve and protect North Wales, and we want North Wales to aid us in managing the changes that we must face, by providing constructive feedback, by asking questions of us, and being open about your concerns. Although our financial situation has changed our priority has not, we still want to ensure that you have trust and confidence in North Wales Police.

The Government is expected to announce funding allocations on 8 December and further information will be provided on our website as soon as possible after that. We will be sending an update to everyone receiving this email direct from us – if it has been forwarded to you and you want to receive updates, please email us at consultation@north-wales.police.uk or you can write to us at Future of Policing Consultation, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL29 8AW.

The Police Authority will be finalising the budget for policing in North Wales on 11 February. We will be agreeing policing priorities for the year ahead at the same time. We will take account of all views received by 27 January (contact details as set out above), but we prefer earlier responses as this will enable us to incorporate views into our planning – particularly in relation to a new district structure.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Polin

Prif Gwnstabl / Chief Constable
Alun Lewis

Cadeirydd / Chair
Tal Michael

Prif Weithredwr / Chief Executive

Dear All

Rydym yn ysgrifennu atoch i’ch diweddaru ynghylch y cynnydd rydym yn ei wneud o ran rheoli effaith y sefyllfa ariannol, ac i dawelu eich meddwl y byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu’r gwasanaeth plismona o’r radd flaenaf i Ogledd Cymru.

Mae Heddlu Gogledd Cymru ac Awdurdod Heddlu Gogledd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu dogfen friffio ar y cyd. Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael ar ein gwefan: www.nwalespa.org. Y bwriad ydi egluro beth yw rhai o’r heriau yr ydym yn eu hwynebu, i fod yn agored ynghylch materion sydd heb gael eu datrys eto ac i gychwyn deialog rhyngom a’n cymunedau. Plismona a diogelwch Gogledd Cymru yw’r rheswm dros ein bodolaeth, ac rydym eisiau tawelu eich meddwl ein bod yn gwneud popeth y gallwn i leihau effaith y toriadau ariannol hyn ar y gwasanaethau rydym yn eu darparu; ond mae realiti’r sefyllfa yn golygu y bydd yna rai newidiadau sylweddol yn y dyfodol agos.

Rydym eisiau bod yn agored, yn onest ac yn dryloyw gyda’n cymunedau, ein staff a’n Swyddogion. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod ein bod yn wynebu toriadau ariannol heb eu tebyg, ac rydym eisiau sicrhau ein bod yn datblygu i fod yn fwy effeithiol lle’n bosibl, ond mae graddfa’r her yn mynd y tu hwnt i wneud arbedion effeithiolrwydd yn unig. Dros y blynyddoedd nesaf bydd rhaid i ni:

· newid y ffordd yr ydym yn darparu gwasanaethau,

· adolygu ein holl weithgareddau,

· blaenoriaethu rhai gweithgareddau a rhoi’r gorau i weithgareddau eraill

· lleihau ein gweithlu

· lleihau costau nad ydynt yn rhai staff (megis cerbydau modur, adeiladau, technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebiadau)

Rydym yma i wasanaethu ac amddiffyn Gogledd Cymru, ac rydym eisiau i Ogledd Cymru ein helpu ni i reoli’r newidiadau y bydd rhaid i ni eu hwynebu, drwy ddarparu adborth adeiladol, drwy ofyn cwestiynau, a thrwy fod yn agored ynghylch eich pryderon. Er bod ein sefyllfa ariannol wedi newid nid ydyw ein blaenoriaeth, rydym eisiau parhau i sicrhau bod gennych hyder a ffydd yn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru.

Disgwylir i’r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi’r dyraniadau ariannol ar 8 Rhagfyr a bydd rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael ar ein gwefan cyn gynted â phosib ar ôl hynny. Byddwn yn anfon diweddariad at bawb fydd yn derbyn yr e-bost hwn yn uniongyrchol gennym ni - os yw’r e-bost hwn wedi cael ei anfon ymlaen atoch a’ch bod chi eisiau derbyn diweddariadau, anfonwch e-bost atom consultation@north-wales.police.uk neu fe allwch ysgrifennu atom i Ymgynghoriad Dyfodol Plismona, Glan y Don, Bae Colwyn, Conwy LL29 8AW.

Bydd Awdurdod yr Heddlu yn dod i benderfyniad terfynol ynghylch cyllideb blismona Gogledd Cymru ar 11 Chwefror. Byddwn yn cytuno beth fydd y blaenoriaethau plismona ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod ar yr un pryd. Byddwn yn ystyried yr holl sylwadau y byddwn wedi eu cael erbyn 27 Ionawr (manylion cyswllt fel yr uchod), ond byddai’n well gennym dderbyn ymatebion ymhell cyn hynny gan y byddai hynny’n ein galluogi ni i gynnwys y safbwyntiau hynny yn ein cynlluniau – yn arbennig mewn perthynas â strwythur newydd yr ardaloedd.

Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed oddi wrthych.

We are writing to update you on our progress in managing the impact of changing finances, and to reassure you that we will continue to provide the highest possible level of policing service to North Wales.

North Wales Police Force and North Wales Police Authority have jointly produced a briefing document. This document is available from our website: www.nwalespa.org. The intention is to clarify some of the challenges we know we are facing, to be open about issues which are yet to be resolved and to initiate a dialogue between ourselves and our communities. Policing and the safety of North Wales is our reason for being, and we want to reassure you that we will do everything possible to minimize the impact of these financial cuts on the services we deliver, but the reality of the situation means that there will be some significant changes in the near future.

We want to be open, honest and transparent with our communities, our staff and Officers. We already know that we are facing unprecedented financial cuts, and we want to ensure that we become more efficient where possible, but the scale of the challenge goes beyond efficiency savings as we know them. Over the next few years we will have to:

· change the way we deliver services,

· review all of our activities,

· prioritise some activities and stop other activities

· reduce our workforce

· reduce our non-staff costs (such as vehicles, premises, information and communications technology)

We are here to serve and protect North Wales, and we want North Wales to aid us in managing the changes that we must face, by providing constructive feedback, by asking questions of us, and being open about your concerns. Although our financial situation has changed our priority has not, we still want to ensure that you have trust and confidence in North Wales Police.

The Government is expected to announce funding allocations on 8 December and further information will be provided on our website as soon as possible after that. We will be sending an update to everyone receiving this email direct from us – if it has been forwarded to you and you want to receive updates, please email us at consultation@north-wales.police.uk or you can write to us at Future of Policing Consultation, Glan y Don, Colwyn Bay, Conwy LL29 8AW.

The Police Authority will be finalising the budget for policing in North Wales on 11 February. We will be agreeing policing priorities for the year ahead at the same time. We will take account of all views received by 27 January (contact details as set out above), but we prefer earlier responses as this will enable us to incorporate views into our planning – particularly in relation to a new district structure.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Polin

Prif Gwnstabl / Chief Constable
Alun Lewis

Cadeirydd / Chair
Tal Michael

Prif Weithredwr / Chief Executive

Dear All

Rydym yn ysgrifennu atoch i’ch diweddaru ynghylch y cynnydd rydym yn ei wneud o ran rheoli effaith y sefyllfa ariannol, ac i dawelu eich meddwl y byddwn yn parhau i ddarparu’r gwasanaeth plismona o’r radd flaenaf i Ogledd Cymru.

Mae Heddlu Gogledd Cymru ac Awdurdod Heddlu Gogledd Cymru wedi cynhyrchu dogfen friffio ar y cyd. Mae’r ddogfen hon ar gael ar ein gwefan: www.nwalespa.org. Y bwriad ydi egluro beth yw rhai o’r heriau yr ydym yn eu hwynebu, i fod yn agored ynghylch materion sydd heb gael eu datrys eto ac i gychwyn deialog rhyngom a’n cymunedau. Plismona a diogelwch Gogledd Cymru yw’r rheswm dros ein bodolaeth, ac rydym eisiau tawelu eich meddwl ein bod yn gwneud popeth y gallwn i leihau effaith y toriadau ariannol hyn ar y gwasanaethau rydym yn eu darparu; ond mae realiti’r sefyllfa yn golygu y bydd yna rai newidiadau sylweddol yn y dyfodol agos.

Rydym eisiau bod yn agored, yn onest ac yn dryloyw gyda’n cymunedau, ein staff a’n Swyddogion. Rydym eisoes yn gwybod ein bod yn wynebu toriadau ariannol heb eu tebyg, ac rydym eisiau sicrhau ein bod yn datblygu i fod yn fwy effeithiol lle’n bosibl, ond mae graddfa’r her yn mynd y tu hwnt i wneud arbedion effeithiolrwydd yn unig. Dros y blynyddoedd nesaf bydd rhaid i ni:

· newid y ffordd yr ydym yn darparu gwasanaethau,

· adolygu ein holl weithgareddau,

· blaenoriaethu rhai gweithgareddau a rhoi’r gorau i weithgareddau eraill

· lleihau ein gweithlu

· lleihau costau nad ydynt yn rhai staff (megis cerbydau modur, adeiladau, technoleg gwybodaeth a chyfathrebiadau)

Rydym yma i wasanaethu ac amddiffyn Gogledd Cymru, ac rydym eisiau i Ogledd Cymru ein helpu ni i reoli’r newidiadau y bydd rhaid i ni eu hwynebu, drwy ddarparu adborth adeiladol, drwy ofyn cwestiynau, a thrwy fod yn agored ynghylch eich pryderon. Er bod ein sefyllfa ariannol wedi newid nid ydyw ein blaenoriaeth, rydym eisiau parhau i sicrhau bod gennych hyder a ffydd yn Heddlu Gogledd Cymru.

Disgwylir i’r Llywodraeth gyhoeddi’r dyraniadau ariannol ar 8 Rhagfyr a bydd rhagor o wybodaeth ar gael ar ein gwefan cyn gynted â phosib ar ôl hynny. Byddwn yn anfon diweddariad at bawb fydd yn derbyn yr e-bost hwn yn uniongyrchol gennym ni - os yw’r e-bost hwn wedi cael ei anfon ymlaen atoch a’ch bod chi eisiau derbyn diweddariadau, anfonwch e-bost atom consultation@north-wales.police.uk neu fe allwch ysgrifennu atom i Ymgynghoriad Dyfodol Plismona, Glan y Don, Bae Colwyn, Conwy LL29 8AW.

Bydd Awdurdod yr Heddlu yn dod i benderfyniad terfynol ynghylch cyllideb blismona Gogledd Cymru ar 11 Chwefror. Byddwn yn cytuno beth fydd y blaenoriaethau plismona ar gyfer y flwyddyn i ddod ar yr un pryd. Byddwn yn ystyried yr holl sylwadau y byddwn wedi eu cael erbyn 27 Ionawr (manylion cyswllt fel yr uchod), ond byddai’n well gennym dderbyn ymatebion ymhell cyn hynny gan y byddai hynny’n ein galluogi ni i gynnwys y safbwyntiau hynny yn ein cynlluniau – yn arbennig mewn perthynas â strwythur newydd yr ardaloedd.

Edrychwn ymlaen at glywed oddi wrthych.

Recycling Targets in Wales

2010-11-16T04:34:00.000-08:00

Wales is set to become the first country in the UK to introduce statutory targets for recycling for local authorities. Welsh Assembly Government recently passed legislation which introduces legally binding targets for the amount of municipal waste that councils recycle or compost.

Conwy currently recycles and composts around 43% of its waste. The next target is to recycle and compost 52% by 2012/13 with an overall target of 70% by 2024/25, failure to meet the statutory target will incorporate a fine of £200 per tonne over this limit.

Conwy is looking to introduce improvements to its recycling collections and in the spring of next year, the improvements will include a weekly collection of:
Cans
Paper
Glass
Plastic
Cardboard
Household Batteries
Tetra Packs
Food

Conwy will also be collecting Garden waste and your black bin every other week.These improved collections will assist us to reach and go beyond the 52% for 2012/13.

I believe that these targets can be met but will be a challenge that needs a partnership approach, Residents, Conwy Council and Welsh Assembly Government working together in order for this to be achieved.I believe that jobs will be created in the recycling industry and Councils can make some money from selling the "Resources" it collects, it will also reduce our impact on our planet and the damage that we are currently doing to it. After all the damage to our planet will have to be faced by our children and grandchildren.

Tuition Fees

2010-11-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

I have today written to congratulate our new party president Tim Farron MP, I can say that I did vote for him and we have something in common and that is we are against the rise in tuition fees. I have offered my support in opposing this issue.

I agree that difficult descions have to be made, but this in my opinion is a wrong one and it saddens me to see MPs signing the pledge against this during the election campaign.

I think it has to be pointed out that it was Labour that introduced the fee system and they also set out the terms of reference for the Browne Review and there seems to be a little confusion and disagreement between their leader and Shadow Chancellor on moving this subject forward. I also believe that education should be free up to and to the end of the first degree. Education in my view benefits us all in so many ways. These students are our future Business Leaders, Lawyers, Doctors, Nurses, teachers and so on and they will have such a positive role in our communities in the future.

I cannot support a policy that will leave students with tens of thousands of pounds of debt when graduating and I also feel that this will put off many prospective students from going into further education. I feel we need to take a step back and really look at this policy and its implications. Yes money is very tight but surely there could be other ways of funding this, such as a graduate tax or more sponsorship from Corporate Business? Another question, could some money come out of the Trident Project, help or assist in this area?? There are some good points in the Browne Review such as a quarter of graduates would pay less under this system than the current one, you would not have to start repaying until you were earning over £21,000 but I still feel trebling is wrong and wonder what council tax payers would say if we said we were to treble this tax. The above are my views and my views only which I believe are shared with many other Liberal Democrats and this is why I feel this system needs to be looked at and reviewed. I welcome feedback regarding this issue and have taken on board the views from people such as Chris. I for one do not want to throw out the baby with the bath water, but feel the fees need addressing.

Marl Ward Focus

2010-10-30T05:41:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the Team this morning. In not great weather we were able to deliver over 1000 leaflets. I enjoy delivering around the ward as it is a great chance to talk to residents and listen to their views and issues.

I have already had 2 telephone calls and a return slip pushed through the letterbox with a ward issue.

North Wales Liberal Democrat Fundraiser

2010-10-30T05:34:00.000-07:00

I am out tonight at a Fund Raising dinner, our special guest will be Dr Vince Cable MP. I will post on this after the event.

RHS Tatton 2010 Costs

2010-10-30T01:42:00.001-07:00

Below is a breakdown of the Environment departments costs for this years event. This year was another great success and I was particularly pleased to see our tourism brochures being distributed to the 10's of Thousands of visitors.

I hope this is enough information for Anon and I also hope that residents see the promotional work for tourism that has been taken advantage of. I cannot guarantee our attendance at this event into the future, which I believe will be a missed opportunity but perhaps we could look for more sponsorship.

The cost breakdown is as follows

Bedding plants (Sponsored by Ball Collgraves) No Cost

3D Figures £1200.00

Transport £1000.00

Total Charged £2,200

Nursery

Compost £80.00

Plant production 32hours @ Scale point 17 Paid 8.72+3% on cost =£0.39

Total hourly rate (£8.98.)

32 hours @ £8.98 = £287.41

Total Charged £367.41

On site build up

Saturday

Build up 33 hours @ Scale point 17 Paid at enhanced rate 1.5 (£13.08) +3% on cost =£0.39

Total hourly rate £9.12

Total hours 33 x pay rate =£300.82

Uncharged labour 11 @ scale point 38 £16.55

Total uncharged labour (£181.00)

Total Charged £300.82

On site build up

Sunday

Build up 33 hours @ Scale point 17 Paid at enhanced rate x2 (£17.44) +3% on cost =£0.52

Total hourly rate £17.96

Total hours 33 x pay rate =£592.68

Uncharged labour 11 @ scale point 38 £16.548

Total uncharged labour (£181.00)

Total Charged £592.68

On site break down

Sunday

Break down 5 hours @ Scale point 17 Paid at enhanced rate x2 (£17.44) +3% on cost =£0.52

Total hourly rate £17.96

Total hours 5 x pay rate (£87.20)

Uncharged labour 5 @ scale point 38 £16.548

Total uncharged labour (£82.74)

Total Charged £87.20

Grand Total Charged = £ 3548.11

Wedding Anniversary

2010-10-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

Today my wife and I will celebrate 17 years of Marriage and according to tradition I need to celebrate this with a gift. I googled 17 year anniversary and it came up with two gift ideas. A traditional gift should be a watch or a modern gift of a piece of Furniture. So god only knows how today will pan out.

It scares me how 17 years have flown by, but on the whole they have been 17 good years with two beautiful girls coming into the world because of our marriage. It makes me feel very proud as they are both a credit to my wife and I (even though sometimes they call me Mike instead of dad). Call me old fashioned but when I said the vows "In sickness and in health til death do we part" I meant them.

I also find myself today thinking of my of my late Mum.

Today will be a celebration of our marriage. Lorraine wants to start off by going to the food festival in Conwy to buy some good local produce for dinner tonight with our two girls.

Smoking Related Litter

2010-10-18T00:38:00.001-07:00

A couple of months ago I was contacted by a resident and asked if I could help her son who had been issued with a fixed penalty for discarding his cigarette in the street. I told the lady that I could not help her son as I felt he deserved the fine, she asked me if I was a smoker, I replied no but I used to be. She said that ex smokers were the worst and hung up.

I was in Colwyn Bay on Thursday and noticed this pile of "cigarette ends". I personally believe that such premises must provide a means of disposing the cigarette ends and have reported this particular incident.

In Conwy we have two unannounced independent street cleanliness audits each year where up to One Hundred and Fifty streets are inspected and given a grade of 1, 2 or 3, 1 being clean and tidy and 3 having noticeable litter. These audits are carried out by Keep Wales Tidy and not only look at litter but also look at Graffiti, dog fouling and fly posting. The biggest problem that transpires from these audits every time is smoking related litter.

I have noticed now lots of cars do not have ashtrays and have lost count the times that I have seen motorists flicking their cigarette ends out of their windows. This is a big problem nationwide that needs addressing. Perhaps an extra charge on cigarettes to assist with the cleaning up???

Allotments

2010-10-12T10:14:00.001-07:00

One of Conwy's corporate commitments is to provide more allotments for our residents. I am pleased that we will soon be offering up to 60 plots to people on our waiting list including up to 12 plots that are raised and can be accessed by residents with disabilities.

We currently have 355 people on our waiting list and will offer these allotments to people within a 3 mile radius, who have been waiting longest. This site will have its own water source powered by a solar pump and is situated off Tan Y Bryn Road Rhos-on-Sea. I am looking to open this site in December and will have an open day. Anyone wanting to enquire about allotments can do so by phoning 01492 575337.

Family

2010-10-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

After a very busy and productive day yesterday I arrived home and was asked if I would like a "cuppa".
It arrived in this Mug that my girls gave me a few years ago for Fathers Day, not a lot more to add to this really, I just had a nice feeling. I am a very lucky man to have such a great loving family.

Marl Ward Clean-Up

2010-10-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

Before, The path from Marl Drive to Glyn Y Marl Road

After, Residents can now access St Michael's Church and the Doctors on Glyn Y Marl Road, without the detour up The Hill on Conwy Road

A very busy day today, we filled around 5 skips, we cleared this path above and also some land at the rear of 8-2 Victoria Drive. We gave out around 2 tonne of soil conditioner (Compost to me!!). All in all very successful and some great feedback from residents.

Spending a Day on my Ward

2010-10-06T00:17:00.000-07:00

Today is an Environmental clean up day on my Ward and I will be spending the day assisting with picking up litter with the pupils from Ysgol Maelgwn and hopefully clearing a footpath with probation services.

I do enjoy these days as you can physically see the difference that has been made at the end of the day. Will post some photos later.

Press Release

2010-10-05T05:15:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to share this press release that has gone out this morning. I was informed of my selection late yesterday. My family as ever are very supportive of my decision to stand and I would like to place on record at this very early stage my sincere gratitude.

MEDIA NOTICE

Aberconwy Lib Dems

Having polled more votes than Plaid Cymru in the recent General Election, Aberconwy Libdems are targeting the Plaid held Aberconwy seat for the Welsh Assembly.

The result of their candidate poll was announced late on Monday with local Councillor Mike Priestley of Llandudno Junction selected with the overwhelming support of Liberal Democrat members.

Mike more than doubled the vote, gained by the Libdems in the last Assembly Election in Aberconwy and supporters are confident that with the retirement of popular Plaid AM Gareth Jones that they can also obtain more votes than Plaid at the Assembly election to be held on Thursday, May 5 2011.

Mike holds the Conwy County Borough Council Environment portfolio and was recently elected a Foundation Governor, representing north Wales, of Liverpool's highly esteemed Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

quote

2010-10-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. -Eleanor Roosevelt

The Marl Ward

2010-09-30T12:33:00.000-07:00

One part of the job I really enjoy is getting out and about meeting residents on the Ward. The best way to meet residents is when delivering Ward News Letters. Today whilst out delivering I must have spoken to around 30 people and picked up a few issues to resolve along the way. Whilst delivering Victoria Crescent I had the chance to bump into a constituent that I knew was a great Gardener and shows vegetables and flowers in many Horticultural shows. I asked if he had anything on the go at the moment and he invited me into his garden. What a little oasis it was with Leeks 4ft tall and this Dahlia the size of a football, he also had some beautiful gladiola.

Sorry to ramble on but as I said I do really enjoy walking the Ward, if not delivering leaflets I take "Jelly" our dog for a walk.

Some messages of good will regarding my appointment at the Walton Centre were also made today as well as a concern from a resident about a neighbours mental health, you really do not know what's coming next. That said I have enjoyed getting out and about and hopefully getting a little fitter!!!.

The Walton Centre for Neurology & Neurosurgery

2010-09-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

I have recently been elected Governor at The Walton Centre, Liverpool. This is an honour for me as I will be representing the people of North Wales. The Walton Centre is now a Foundation Trust. Achieving foundation trust status means that the centre has greater freedom to decide locally how to tailor its services for the benefit of its patients. It is also more accountable to the communities it serves and this is where the role of governor comes in. Basically a governor is a critical friend to the trust. The Walton Centre is committed to being an international centre of clinical excellence in the treatment, provision, research and education of neurological care.

The Walton Centres aim is to become the UKs premier provider of specialist neurosciences services. I have been to Liverpool twice, one for an induction and the second time for the trusts AGM and my first governors meeting.

I stood for this position for a number of reasons. One, this centre saved my daughters life. Two, I led on a petition against the stupid Plaid/Labour proposal to send North Wales Neuro patients down south to Cardiff or Swansea for treatment. Three, I also promoted the Centre to become a foundation trust.

We should be proud here in North Wales as we have the second highest number of trust members out of the four constituencies. The membership is as follows:

Cheshire 984
Merseyside 3,122
North Wales 1,738
Rest of England and Wales 1,006

Anyone can be a member of the foundation trust, it doesn't cost a penny and you do not have to give any commitments whatsoever. You can join by following this link http://www.thewaltoncentre.nhs.uk/Members/become-a-member.asp

I believe the Walton Centre will be sending out a press release this week regarding my election success.

Ward News, Environmental Clean up

2010-09-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

I will be assisting with this "Environment Day" on October 6th. All properties in the area to be covered by this event will receive this leaflet in good time to prepare. Environment days are very popular and we carry out one a month in different wards.

The main areas to be covered are Victoria Drive and Marl Drive and all side roads.

Bring your waste to the community club (Formally The Hotpoint Club) on Victoria Drive. If this is not possible you can pre-book a collection by ringing the Environment team on 01492 575337 or email environment@conwy.gov.uk.

Night out

2010-09-12T03:03:00.000-07:00

My wife and I spent the night with friends in Deganwy last night, we started off with a drink in The Deganwy Quay Hotel and then enjoyed a fantastic meal at Paysanne restaurant.

We felt the service was great, the atmosphere was relaxing and the food was excellent.This restaurant really is a little French gem.

www.paysannedeganwy.co.uk

Paysanne Country Restaurant
147 Station Road
Deganwy
Conwy
LL31 9EJ

Conwy Honey Fair Monday 13th September

2010-09-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Another great event in the Calendar is the Honey Fair in Conwy, this will be held in Conwy High Street and Lancaster Square on Monday 13th September, between 9am and 4pm.

Below is an extract from the fairs website and what they welcome:

Honey and hive products.

Plants and seeds.

Local crafts appropriate to the theme of the Fair, eg. Bees and honey and plants.

Home produce: jams, pickles, cakes, pies, fruit etc.

Charities selling their own new merchandise or any of the above.

High Street shopkeepers’ own stalls outside their shops.

This Fair dates back more than 700 years to the reign of Edward 1st, when local beekeepers were given the right to sell honey within the walls of Conwy. I believe they were only allowed to sell on September 13th from Midnight to Midnight.

"Sounds like Eddie was a generous King"!!

I look forward to attending and buying some local produce.

Maesdu Bridge Open Today at 4pm

2010-09-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

The long awaited opening of Maesdu Bridge will take place today at 4pm.
There is still some minor work to take place over the next two weeks but I am informed that these works will need little or no traffic management.

Farmers Market

2010-09-07T13:25:00.001-07:00

I hope to attend this tomorrow and purchase some fresh produce and it's been pointed out to me that the date tomorrow is 8.9.10.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

2010-09-07T10:20:00.000-07:00

I noticed the choose well logo on this information leaflet.

Choose Well
The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is launching a campaign aimed at informing people about where to get the best treatment should they become unwell or are injured.

The Choose Well Campaign will encourage patients to make the right decisions in order to receive the most appropriate and timely treatment.

Not much Choice when you close a facility but is this a sign of the times?

Betws-y-Coed

2010-09-06T10:11:00.001-07:00

Well, most of the family made it up to Betws-y-Coed and we had lunch in the Pont-y-Pair Hotel, I can't comment on the restaurant as we had bar meals. I started with Pigeon Breast salad with a raspberry dressing and I must say it was gorgeous, I followed that with a mixed grill which was enjoyable. My wife and daughter shared a Garlic bread with cheese and they both said it was one of the tastiest garlic breads they had ever tasted, for mains my wife had Ham and Mushroom pasta, again very tasty, my daughter had a home made burger as daughters do!!

I will go back and this time eat in the restaurant, probably in the winter time, when I would expect the Hotel to be very cosy.

Welsh Assembly Government Open Day

2010-09-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

The Welsh Assembly Government will be hosting an open day for the public at its new office in Llandudno Junction on Saturday, 25 September. You can pop in anytime between 10.00am and 4.00pm.

Llyn Crafnant

2010-08-30T08:18:00.001-07:00

What a great peaceful afternoon I have had with my family.

St David's Hospice Dawn Walk

2010-08-22T03:59:00.000-07:00

This morning 3.30am my wife was up and ready to take part in this very important fund raising event for St David's Hospice. After registration at 4.15am, about 3-4 hundred women set off from Ysgol Aberconwy to St David's in Llandudno and back, a total of just over 9 miles.

My wife told me that the event was very well organised and everyone who took part was very well looked after at the half way stage.

St David's Hospice hope to raise £50K from this one event.

Farmers Market Conwy Quay

2010-08-22T03:14:00.000-07:00

The next Farmers Markets on Conwy Quay are to be held on September 8th & October 6th, both are Wednesdays and will be between 08.30 to 13.00. The first Market was held earlier this month on the 4th and if the standard is maintained I would recommend you pay it a visit.