Annual Report of Old Colwyn East Residents
for the Year June 2006 to June 2007
This report is produced as a statement of the work done by the association and representations made to various bodies during the year on behalf of residents of Old Colwyn.
It is not an exhaustive list but details many of the important issues we have dealt with.
June /July 2006
We learned of an intention to create double yellow lines at corner of Cefn and Station Road. These lines were later installed by Highways.
This was an issue that we had raised with Highways the previous year.
Crime in the park Damage to Wynn Gardens, Tan y Coed Gardens and the Min y Don Park Living Memorial.
The Old Church house change of use. ~ Objections had been raised because of the local present and future parking problems in Old Colwyn including the taxis in Cefn Road. Planning permission was granted for the change of use to a Pay and Play Centre for Children. The Chair said that we just have to wait and see how the village copes with the extra traffic and whatever goes on.
St John’s Community Garden ~ Awarded Gold Award in Snowdonia Wildlife Garden Competition
Damage to Trees in Min y Don - Suspect arrested and a prosecution is hopeful
Drinking in the public parks is being followed up. New signs are being erected.
Interchange Building now open ~ opposite NISA garage. Police are due to be housed there soon when IT has been sorted.
July / August 2006
St John’s Church Community Garden awarded a Green Pennant by Civic Trust
Sgt Kelly acknowledged the damage to parks which is occurring and underlined the police commitment to deal with the issues as they arise.
He spoke of an interesting addition of a passive drugs dog to the policing team.
He went on to say that he has made application to Housing and Licensing Departments for funding towards standalone CCTV systems which can then be open for bids as to siting and monitoring. If anything occurs, the police can check the CCTV for evidence.
Police were not hopeful of speed gun being available in the short term.
Incidents of arson ~ especially on bins and articles near to homes a problem
Two car crimes in Llanelian Road and two persons had been arrested.
Sgt Kelly spoke of a report by a member of the public with reference to youths misbehaving in Wynn Gardens, He had attended and spoken to the young people who were from good families. The police had some leads on the people who had caused the damage. It was important he confirmed for people to phone in when they see things occurring.
Wynne gardens – The Council has had the graffiti cleaned off the sculpture and Cllr Cossey has kept it clear and oiled during the Britain in Bloom period. They are thanked for that.
A new barrier pillar has been erected by the council in Min y Don Park to prevent driving of motor vehicles in the park.
St John’s Church garden ~
· judged 2nd in the public buildings frontage and gardens category in Wales in Bloom last month.
· Awarded a certificate marked “outstanding” in Wales in Bloom neighbourhood awards
· It was judged in the Britain in Bloom competition in support of Old Colwyn’s entry representing Wales in the small community section.
David Jones MP for Clwyd West attended as speaker.
Mr Jones spoke of his delight in being present at the meeting. He spoke of himself as a channel for people to use to convey their concerns to those people further down the line. He spoke of his great attachment to the association through the secretary who keeps him closely informed of local issues.
August / September 2006
~Local Crime ~ An incident happened recently where two local youths were throwing large stones at property in Beach Road including the butterfly garden panel. Youths were reported to police who identified and dealt with the offender (Yellow Card).
Queens Court ~ Potens appealed to Welsh Assembly.
Decided ~ Write to object as our conditional support was based on a list of excluded case types being produced for consultation and that was not done.
Police front line Officers into the Operations Room.
General support in May that we write to protest that there are PCSOs being taken on to do police work and fully trained police officers are taken off the front line to do work in the control room asking for an explanation as to why other personnel cannot do the work if it is temporary and how long that is likely to be the case as 30 applicants have been interviewed and none have been offered a job? This raises concerns for general front line policing when there a so few front line resources. A Reply was received after three months. It was interesting to note a statement that the control room is considered by the police as front line policing. When allied with the quote that the police have more officers on the front line than at any other time. Front line does not mean walking the street or attending to incidents, it can mean anything. But it is stated as if to mean officers on patrol. Such statements should always be treated with suspicion.
There has been an increase in the amount of graffiti over the last couple of weeks. The police have made an arrest and are progressing enquiries.
Notices are slowly appearing around the village denoting designated areas for the control of public drinking of alcohol. This was welcomed
Re~cycling is rolling out into Old Colwyn.
Kennedy Court – A decision has been taken to appoint a Warden, the Chair welcomed that decision, lots of elderly people there and he said he is glad that common sense has prevailed.
Mr Brunstoms Needle Exchange.
The Chair was interviewed on a Radio Wales program about the proposed needle exchange which Mr Brunstrom intends to erect on the back of the police station in Colwyn Bay. The Chair was accused of being a NIMBY.
September / October 2006
Comments made by the Chief Constable over the machine needle exchange issue. We wrote to the police authority to ask that the chief’s comments describing our association as nimbys and blackmailers be referred to the professional standards committee.
Antisocial behaviour problems in Beach Road on a Friday evening may be associated with youths returning from the beach area.
A spate of fires in bins including the recycling bins at Berthes Road car park and the police have had a suspect, though the offences remain unresolved at the moment.
The Police had mounted a morning operation in Llanelian Road to target speeders and this would also be happening in Llysfaen Road.
The Jumpin Jungle, Cliff Road.
As a result of a question by a member with reference to the new use in particular reference the removal of asbestos during improvements from the roof and basement A letter was sent to the public protection department. Reply received Residents were pleased to note that the owner has undertaken to remove the asbestos in a controlled manner.
St John’s Church Community Garden has been judged third in Colwyn in Bloom, (Churches section).
Speakers Cllr Mike Priestley, Conwy Cabinet member for the Environment and Mr Tony Sykes, the Waste Strategy Manager of Conwy County Borough.
Recycling has rolled out into Old Colwyn. As a result of questions last month Councillor Cowans organised for the speakers to attend to give an overview of the scheme and answer questions. This talk did much to help allay feelings of disquiet over the introduction of recycling
The Association was asked to comment on the proposal of a one kilometer 6 metre wide cycle/general purpose track though Eirias Park. This will link in with the proposed woodland project on the east side of the park. This issue was discussed and supported
Gating of alleys ~ Cllr Cossey commented with reference to the Llawr Pentre underpass that there are proposals to allow the gating of certain alleys and this may be a possibility. There are other alleys for consideration to prevent antisocial behaviour.
Councillor Cossey showed the meeting the framed silver certificate awarded to Old Colwyn by the judges in Britain in Bloom, when Old Colwyn represented Wales in the competition. He said that this reflected well on Old Colwyn.
He then showed the Slate Trophy 1st prize awarded to Colwyn Bay in Wales in Bloom in the large town category. He said that Colwyn had achieved 20 other awards in the competition to its great credit.
October / November 2006
Mr Brunstoms Needle Exchange, answer from Police Authority.
There was an extremely long and full debate and the Committee resolved as follows:-
(1) Not to take any further action on the grounds that the matter would not give rise to criminal or disciplinary proceedings, even if proven
(2) That the Chair of the Professional Standards Committee should discuss with the Chief Constable the choice of words which the Chief Constable uses in his web logs
(3) That the Chair of the Authority should discuss with the Chief Constable the issues and implications arising from the use of web log sites by the Force. Thank you for drawing this matter to the attention of the Police Authority.
We felt that the community has a right to expect that his comments should not directly offend people who are acting lawfully. Finalised
CBM Katherine Parmley obtained a £250 grant from the Police and Community Trust for a strimmer for the St John’s Garden.
Speeding ~ we were still awaiting a police operation to combat speeding around the back roads in Old Colwyn at the weekend in the evening
Taxis in Cefn Road. Councillor Cowans invited the secretary to attend a site meeting with him in Cefn Road together with representatives of the departments concerned.(Licensing and Highways Dept.) the meeting had been called by Councillor Cowans re complaints from businesses about taxis dominating the parking in Cefn Road.
The secretary reported that the meeting had been a successful airing of the problems and Licensing Dept. had decided to make a high profile taxi rank directly outside the taxi offices. They had talked of placing a shelter there also but there were other issues affecting this such as too much street furniture at present.
Highways are going to prepare consultative documents and hopefully we will have an input in the process.
November December 2006
On 13th November the following blog was put on the police website from the Chief Constable~
While walking around on patrol with the local Sergeant last weekend I took the opportunity to have a look at what has achieved, literally on the ground, in the area. Colwyn Bay has had a bit of a bad press over the years, and for a long while it was thoroughly deserved. But things are getting much better. There is an extremely active and very committed Residents’ Association who deserve great praise. They have campaigned tirelessly for the area and they now have quite a lot to show for it, and to be proud of.
I use the word pride deliberately. Civic pride was a concept well known in Victorian and Edwardian times (just look at the standard of the buildings they put up). But somewhere along the line we lost the plot. We gave up, as a society; yet civic pride is enormously important in influencing standards of behaviour and the quality of our lives
The attached photos show what can be done, to create with minimal resources a feeling of pride, of well-being, a ‘spirit of place’ - and done by local people themselves. It is no exaggeration to say that this sort of thing has changed the ‘feel’ of the area for the better. Walking round, even at night, I could not help but be impressed - literally a heart-warming experience.
We in the police have played our part. Even as recently as a couple of years’ ago the police in this patch were being criticised for not caring enough about these sort of issues, for not paying enough attention to the anti-social behaviour that blighted these residential streets and so easily prevents the sort of wonderful community improvements illustrated in the photos. We were seen as insensitive, not listening, and most importantly not caring. But no longer. Local police commanders have got a grip, real Community Policing has arrived, and the difference is there to see and to be photographed. Real community endeavour, integrated with good on-street policing, and civic pride recreated. This is what it’s all about, and I’m glad that we are able to be a part of it.
None of this happens without energetic local residents, organised into effective Associations. There should be more of them, power to their elbows.
It was generally felt that this was a welcome comment from the Chief Constable
Speeding ~ The police mounted an operation during the month to combat speeding, antisocial driving and drink driving. This was welcomed.
St John’s Church garden ~ The Residents’ Association was short listed in the Tourism class, for the Tidy Wales Award, a National Competition. There were three finalists in the class and the association was awarded a finalist’s certificate. All the certificates associated with the project are permanently displayed in St John’s church.
Letter to M P about the credibility of the Chief Constable ~ The letter dated 2nd March 2004 detailed five areas of concern about the credibility of the Chief Constable following decisions and public statements which he had made. The Police Authority replied at the end of April 2004 and was dismissive of our points and sought to introduce their own issues. Hazel Blears at the Home Office was dismissive of our concerns and once again sought to introduce her own agenda. She finished by telling us to contact the Chief Constable or the Police Authority. Their letter was on the file for her to read.
We asked our then MP to take the letter back to the Home Office and later, our present MP David Jones re-addressed the matter with the Home Office on our behalf. Once again Hazel Blears replied in a dismissive manner directing us to take the matter up with either the Police Authority or the Police Complaints Authority.
We decided that we had come a full circle~ The Police Authority was unreceptive, so was the Home Office. We cannot make a complaint against police as Mr Brunstrom is doing something which is supported by the P.A. We criticised his credibility and that stands just as much today as then.
Needing closure, we decided that we have been treated with a lack of simple good manners. We have a logical point of view which was backed up with evidence. And this should be acknowledged fully and properly not treating our questions as if they had never been asked and selecting certain areas for reply.
The committee decided that the best way of finalising the matter is to post the letter on the Residents Association website where it can be read and people can make up their own mind.
Drugs distribution was still evident in our area. Bod Difyr still remained a feature with known people frequenting even though we had been given assurances of improvements. The owners of Bod Difyr and the Police coordinated to remove the offending people from the flats.
We wrote to the Police Authority in support of their stance about a National Police force for Wales.
December / January 2007
We were informed that 120 police staff redundancies had been achieved because of Home Office decisions on funding. ACPO had now directed that eight staff from each of the 3 divisions will work in the central control room. The result was that at the end of January, CBM Katherine Parmley would leave Old Colwyn to work in the control room in St Asaph.
It was resolved to write and ask for the matter to be reconsidered.
Antisocial behaviour by groups of persons in the Village.
There is an amount of gang activity which is happening on the streets of Old Colwyn in the evenings.
There is boisterous activity sometimes fighting which is worrying to residents. The police are aware ~ Members were asked to inform the police of anything; otherwise they will not know and cannot do anything if they do not know.
Stakeholder discussion on the Colwyn Bay Coastal Strategy Report.
The following were issues for discussion:
1.With particular reference to the Old Colwyn end of the promenade, which of the four options should we support and why?
2. What was the most important issue to be covered by the preferred option for Old Colwyn Promenade?
3. What issues are there which relate to the various options that affect their suitability for Old Colwyn Promenade?
The result of our deliberations was sent to the Council.
January February 2007
Help was given to Councillors Squire and Jones ~ Petition against the removal of CBM from Old Colwyn, 450 signatures in three days and they presented it at Police HQ.
Superintendent Terry Kellaher kindly agreed to speak to the secretary about local policing. The meeting was minuted and reported to the association.
Appeal by the Jumping Jungle, Cliff Road.
Planning permission was granted for Sunday opening from 12pm until 4.30pm. Ongoing planning application to install an access ramp across the front of the building. The owner states that CCTV will be used to ensure the building is not abused by vandals and also states that parking will not be an issue that creates difficulty for the village and residents. Matter Resolved.
Documents requested from North Wales Police under freedom of information
A copy of the last questionnaire compiled by a specialist market research company called SWIFT and circulated to 1500 people as a representative sample of the public in North Wales. This questionnaire apparently asked questions of the population sample and these results are used as part of the consultation process by the Police and Police Authority
A copy of the executive summary of the results of the latest survey carried out by SWIFT, received by the North Wales Police (or Police Authority) and used by the Chief Constable and the Police Authority to support a statement that overwhelmingly, the public of North Wales want to pay more for local policing.
Reference quote from Y Glas A specialist market research company questioned 1,500 local people and most said that having more bobbies on the beat was more important than saving a few pennies of council tax. • Would be happy to pay an increase of 39p a week in their Council Tax to fill the gap in police funding.• Almost half – 46% - would be happy to pay 41p more.• And 61% said they feel safer with more bobbies on the beat.
February/March 2007
There was an emergence of “army games” in Tan y Coed gardens. Foul language and running over the flower beds and through shrubs etc. It was reported to the police who warned some of the people concerned. It became apparent after reporting to the police that this had been causing major concern to the people in Beach Road for a week.
The aftermath is damage ~ scars down what were ivy covered banks. The fences on Cliff Road have come in for particular attention and in several places along, the chain link fencing is trodden flat. Resolved by committee ~ to write to the council and ask that they consider replacing the chain link fencing at various places along Cliff Road, to stop the access and because it looks a mess.
It was resolved at a committee meeting to write a letter to David Jones MP and our Assembly Members about policing. Mr Brunstrom states that he gets green lights from HMI and auditors for management and also high in league for lower crime etc. If he is managing so well why is government not funding properly. If he is not managing so well, why is he getting green lights from watchdogs?
Incident Number H041547 of 1st March 2007 ~ ongoing ~Ivor’s shed and wall
The police were informed that we had a problem at the rear of 19 Station Road, Old Colwyn which is opposite the rear of Somerfield.
1) The access to the area is too easy , although muddy, we need that stile to be bricked up please or some other action to prevent access.
(2) It is being used as a drinking den by underage youths.
(3) They are causing on going damage to Ivor's property and they obviously feel free to enter his garden and help themselves to timber and fence panels
(4) They are causing environmental damage, which undoes the good work done by local people, They have been told of this and continue.
(5) The youths are throwing rubbish down the banks which had to be cleared by residents.
(6) Ivor is being caused untold distress and harassment.
Letters were written via our MP and AM in support of the police regarding the allegation by the police that the Government were under funding the police. The question asked of the Government was what way is this to run a police force?
Queens Court ~ Planning permission was granted, It was discussed and decided that we will keep a watching brief on this issue. CSIW will now manage these premises after a great deal of refurbishment has taken place. For the time being, this matter was closed.
Swift 1500 consultation document. The document was received under freedom of information. From the 1500 questionnaires sent out, there was only a 57% response. The answers to the very leading question about paying more for police officers had been used by the Police Force as an overwhelming mandate to increase the precept in excess of the 5% capping limit.
Some of the statements in the question were misleading, one such statement is ~ All police forces must spend money in 2007/8 on increasing protective services. There is actually a time scale of 2011 for this element and a good chance that Government may fund it with sufficient lobbying.
B&Q granted us goods to the value of £250 for St John’s gardens. This is a great help to our on-going stewardship of the garden.
March/ April 2007
There had been recent problems in Min y Don Park and the police are coordinating a team response with partners to introduce lighting and possibly trim hedges to deter future offending.
Police referred to Ivor’s sheds which had been a focus of unwelcome attention recently. They had been damaged and used as a drinking den by youths who had also caused damage and littering of the bank below in Beach road. A police operation had been coordinated with Community Services and CCBC Parks and Gardens. Councillor Cossey had arranged cage skips and the sheds had been removed. He thanked the secretary for the work that he had done to help.
Making Tracks is a not for profit organisation linked to British Rail and they will do works to the wall in Station Road and CCBC Parks and Gardens have agreed to instate a fence at the top of the Park bank below Ivor’s land. In all once the operation has finished, it will make a huge difference to the centre of Old Colwyn and has removed a public order problem.
~Fence damage ~ we had written to the council to ask that they consider replacing the chain link fencing at various places along Cliff Road, the work was carried out
Berthes Road / Min y Don Park ~ has been a problem recently with youths drinking and recklessly throwing their bottles and other articles over the bank into Beach Road. The police had targeted the park over the Bank holiday and this had been appreciated by residents and had a beneficial effect. The police are thanked for their intervention.
Interview by the secretary with the retiring financial director of North Wales Police, Mr Tom O’Donnell. This was in connection with a reply from the Police Minister Tony McNulty about the funding granted to North Wales Police who had stated that they had been under funded by the Government. We wrote to him via David Jones MP. The Committee is very grateful to David Jones MP for the trouble that he went to ask for and secure a reply from the minister.
Our Chair commented that it is believed that the letter and record of interview with Mr O’Donnell shows that the North Wales police has not been under funded but has instead been well funded in previous years but has realised that it has got to get itself into better shape to cope with lower funding in future years.
The Swift 1500 document was leading, to encourage respondents to say that they would support paying more money for local policing. This type of questionnaire is an unfair type of manipulation of the facts. It was designed to give an answer which would then be used as a mandate to attempt to raise the precept by more than 5% which was generally seen as the norm. One could say that it has been used once too often.
The 120 persons pensioned off by North Wales Police was not so much because of under funding but more a case of restructuring the force to be more flexible to its’ new circumstances.
There is little doubt that money has been poured into certain areas of the force such as the Control room and the vehicle running costs which are overspent in the 3rd quarter by £1.3M. Our CBM was taken away and under funding was quoted as the reason. The Chief Constable then made a statement at the precept meeting to the effect that deployment of more police officers to the Control Room was already intended, to change the mix of Officers and Police support staff.
This whole issue had a feel of Police SPIN about it and is most unsatisfactory. We expect openness and transparency from both our Chief Constable and Police Authority.
North Wales Housing Association gave us a management grant for £250 for the running of our association for 2006 / 7.
The Chair spoke of problems he had experienced getting through to the police recently with the switchboard
The Chair Continued by saying that he was pleased that Sgt Kelly and his team were delivering what had been promised some time ago and thanked him for that.
The secretary seconded the vote of thanks to the local team for the way in which they have intervened and taken issue with various problems recently.
A local resident complained of having missiles thrown down from Min y Don Park into her garden.
She has had irrigation pots and bottles thrown down. There were gangs of youths and girls drinking in the park in the evening. Bottles were found smashed against the wall of the pavilion in the park.
Trees were uprooted, the council were called out to pick them up because the roots were open to the air, and they had to be replanted.
This irresponsible behaviour is affecting the lives of local people causing harassment, alarm and distress and is not acceptable. It is happening on a regular basis.
April/May 2007
Speeding ~ The police want volunteers to train with and use a speed gun in communities. The Chief Constable was reported in the news recently that part of his strategy for dealing with antisocial behaviour and associated problems was to have more use of speed guns by communities. The secretary stated that the initiative started off in Pentrefoelas where there is through traffic, much of the traffic in Old Colwyn is local and there are a lot of groups of youths that wander the streets. This initiative in Old Colwyn could well bring such volunteers into a confrontation situation. He added that the idea was good in principle but that any volunteer should be aware of the dangers involved.
Reference damage caused by drinkers to sheds and wall in Station Road, the police were thanked for their coordinating efforts.
The secretary welcomed what we are seeing here as the start of the long promised Dyna Ddigon campaign in action. The Local Policing Team is working hard with partners to make changes which will impact on antisocial behaviour. He also added that his thoughts are, that as people see the changes taking place, there will be a change of mood and people will start to report issues again.
The Police Post in the Interchange Building was finally now open for the police officers to use.
May/June 2007
This last month has been hot and has been dogged by groups of youths and girls drinking in the street quite openly and also carrying boxes of cans and bottles to Parks and various locations. The drink is consumed and the receptacles are left for someone else to pick up. Bad behaviour has been experienced in the centre of Old Colwyn and in Berthes Road. There has been a promise of work on Berthes Road and Min y Don Park to improve the situation with lighting but that has foundered at present due to a lack of funding.
The police cannot be everywhere all of the time.
A drunken incident at 2.30am on Saturday 9th June outside St John’s Church involving bottles being smashed was attended by police answering the 999 but when the caller rang back on the non emergency number later for more help he was left waiting 25 minutes without answer.
The police are investigating the matter but it gives a poor message when the public are being asked to ring in when they see anything happening.
In all it has been a busy year and the Association has been active in various ways for the good of the community and we have continued to achieve our objectives as an association.
Our thanks to the Conwy County Parks and Gardens Dept which has been very supportive
To Conwy County Council Highways and Environmental Services which have been very responsive on a number of occasions. Special thanks to Chris Perry for his support in Old Colwyn throughout the year.
To Colwyn local policing team for their general level of care and for their coordination efforts with various long standing problems.
To Colwyn local policing team for their general level of care and for their coordination efforts with various long standing problems.
To Community Services team for work they have done around the village to improve and maintain the environment.
To Making Tracks, a not for profit organisation linked to network rail who have worked recently to rebuild a wall in Station Road, Old Colwyn, Cllr Cossey also arranged for sand and cement for the operation and Daniel Civil Engineers who supplied the tools, Somerfield supplied some drinks.
To our local Town and County councillors who act as our conduit in our various representations to council bodies.
To North Wales Housing for their continuing support.
To B&Q for their support with the St John’s Church Garden.
All the people who have contributed with work or in kind in St John’s garden.
I commend this report to the meeting as a record of the work carried out during the year
2006 / 7
David Curtis
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