FLASHBACK #7

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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The faded picture above has a charm of its own. It dates from about 1925 and shows the children’s cycling track on the prom. The track was in Queens Gardens, which was opposite the Queens Theatre and Ballroom (now Queens Market). In the background to the left is the original Rhyl Pavilion theatre, which opened in 1908.

Cycling the same way round a roundabout in that rather sedate fashion may seem old hat in this skateboard era, but simple pleasures endure. The track was still there 30 years later when I was going large on the prom. Some of the tricycles had minds of their own, I recall – rather like supermarket trolleys of today.

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NEIGHBOURS FROM WHERE?

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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In a recent edition of ‘The Journal’ there was a story about Clwyd Alyn Housing Association’s policies on antisocial behaviour. Clwyd Alyn is the biggest landlord in the Bodfor ward; I’m a Clwyd Alyn tenant and, by talking to others, I know that the neighbours issue is always current.

Clwyd Alyn deserve a high level of complaints. They knowingly give accommodation to people with behavioural problems and make a lot of money out of it. Clearly, a proportion of their tenants are addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs and are mentally ill and maybe have a history of offending and/or eviction.

Giving shelter to people like these may be profitable, but what does it do to streets such as Princes Street, Edward Henry Street and so on? There is a beautifully restored property in Edward Henry Street as a result of a project said to have cost nearly £1.5 million. Inside are small business units intended for starter companies, and spaces for community use. No takers so far.

A large number of Clwyd Alyn properties have very little in the way of sound-proofing. Neighbours are bound to get on each others’ nerves, but in many cases this is not because of what they are doing but because the landlord has failed to provide adequate protection against disturbance.

Genuine cases of antisocial behaviour do exist, of course. If you are a Clwyd Alyn tenant with rowdy and/or unpleasant neighbours, or if you are a resident living close to a troublesome Clwyd Alyn property, you are advised to phone 0800 1835757 as the first step towards finding a remedy.

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MESSAGES

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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There is still reluctance in some quarters to recognise that although alcohol is a legal it’s just as much a drug and just as damaging – in many cases more damaging – than illegal drugs. Alcohol remains a nudge-nudge joke amongst its users, but there is nothing more corrosive in a community than this stuff. It damages lives and destroys families.

During a survey carried out by Rhyl Youth Action Group (RYAG) last year, nearly 700 young people who live in Rhyl were asked a number of questions. One was, “What things do you dislike most about Rhyl?” The second most frequent answer – only narrowly defeated by Litter/Rubbish – was Drug/Alcohol Problems.

Pity, therefore, that a councillor seems to be running a campaign in Rhyl in favour of alcohol use, along the lines of wanting to ‘keep our pubs and clubs in business’ and wanting them to stay financially accessible – by which I think he means cheap. This championing of a problematic drug seems to me highly irresponsible.

This week I was pleased to note that the Westminster Government has reversed the downward classification of cannabis and returned it to Class B status. Cannabis users talk in terms of ‘sensible use’ and ‘social use’ just as alcohol users talk of ‘sensible drinking’ and ‘social drinking’.

For the sake of young people, we ought to be sending a clear message: Kick all this stuff out of your life; you can live perfectly well without it.

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UPBEAT

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Pictured above are members of Rhyl Youth Action Group (RYAG) whose HQ is on the corner of Wellington Road and Elwy Street in the Bodfor ward, picking up a zoom award for the group’s DVD titled ‘Rhyl’s Revival’ as best documentary 2009 at the Wales International Young People’s Film Festival.

The DVD runs just over 12 minutes and was shot on the seafront, in the town centre and various other places in the west and south west. Its message is that Rhyl is a good place to grow up, there’s plenty to do and the current regeneration effort means that the town has a promising future.

The film is well sorted and edited. I have no hesitation in sending my compliments to all concerned. It’s the best advert for Rhyl that I’ve seen for a long time!

RYAG's telephone number is (01745) 344866, email address: admin@ryag.org.uk

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DIG THIS

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Archaeologists don’t look like Sir Mortimer Wheeler anymore. This is a picture of Sarah E. Pevely, Community Archaeologist for North East Wales (Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham).

Sarah is from Rhuddlan and is 8 months into a 2-year contract funded by HLF (Heritage Lottery Fund) and the three county councils. The work involves going around schools and working with history teachers doing talks, games, projects, workshops. Celts and Romans are two of the popular topics; she is shown here holding a replica Roman helmet.

Sarah advises existing archaeological digs and could handle all sorts of enquiries about archaeology - or tell you how to be an archaeologist. Perhaps you’ve found something interesting that may be more than 300 years old and would like to discuss it? Contact Sarah via Rhyl Library(01745) 353814, or on her work mobile 07917-553-189, or by email: sarah.pevely@denbighshire.gov.uk

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DOUBLE UP

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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The picture above is from the collection of Rhyl Library. In this aerial shot you can see the double fun fair as it was in 1960.

In the foreground is the Ocean Beach site; bottom left is the main entrance on the corner of West Parade and Sydenham Avenue, and bottom right is the doomed Ritz Ballroom.

In the background is Marine Lake with its Figure Eight Rollercoaster, and an enclosed track for speed boats. You can see a motor launch snaking away with group of passengers for a trip round the lake.

Ocean Beach and Marine Lake fun fairs were combined under the name Pleasure Beach. The complex was managed on behalf of Rhyl Amusements Ltd by Mr Eric Hughes whose book ‘Rhyl at The Fun Fair includes this picture and many more.

‘Rhyl At The Fun Fair’ is out of print but you could see it at Rhyl Library (01745) 353814.

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SHOPMOBILITY

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Pictured above is Mark Webster. He and his wife Coral run the Rhyl Shopmobility project. They hire out and/or sell shopping scooters (and wheelchairs) and do repairs and servicing. Hire charges work out cheaper if you join as a member, and there are special rates for long hires.

They can do small repairs or full service on a range of carriers from manual wheelchairs up to fast (8 mph) scooters. They help to train unemployed people as admin workers and mechanics as well, so the project is of tremendous value to the community.

Rhyl Shopmobility is at 155 High Street. If you can get there on foot, you would walk down the Marks & Spencer side of High Street in the direction of the railway, and keep walking – past Apollo Bingo and Dudley Arms - until you can’t go any further.

There is a customers’ car park and a big public car park nearby. For further information including opening hours and current prices please phone (01745) 350665.

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BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD #1

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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This picture above shows a Victorian submarine with a Rhyl connection. It’s the ‘Resurgam’, which was designed as a weapon rather than a passenger vessel. It was built in Birkenhead and launched on November 26th, 1879.

The Resurgam was on maiden voyage from there to Portsmouth when it developed mechanical problems and docked at Rhyl for repairs. One windy night the submarine was towed back into deep water by a steam yacht.

Then the steam yacht developed engine problems and – to cut a long story short – before they had got very far out from Rhyl, the submarine sank. ‘Resurgam’ is latin for ‘I shall rise again’. It didn’t that time.

To read the story in greater detail, please click on the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resurgam

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FLASHBACK #6

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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The picture above shows the Marine Lake Fun Fair in the early 1920s. The picture was taken from the Wellington Road side of the lake; the miniature railway line is just visible to the left.

In the background of the picture - to the right - the ‘Canadian’ Water Chute was the first novelty ride. You would get in a big flat-bottomed boat and be raised in a lift then shoved down the chute with an oarsman behind you to steady the boat as it hit the water.

After a few years the water chute was closed following a fatal accident. Many early 20th century fun fair rides would fail to get past the army of risk assessors that we have today! Most of the other rides at Marine Lake were created by clever Yorkshire-born engineer Albert Barnes.

In the background - to the left - the big white structure is the Figure Eight Rollercoaster. It was built by Mr Barnes, and he also built miniature locomotives at his Albion Works in Rhyl. Mr Barnes became a Rhyl Urban District councillor eventually and was a man
of many other parts. His contribution to Rhyl was enormous and seems to have been largely forgotten.

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PING PONG

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Shown above is the top half of a Labour Party leaflet circulated recently. It refers to Denbighshire council proposals to cut back on street and cemetery maintenance to save money. “The Vale of Clwyd Labour Party,” says the leaflet, “believes that with sand dunes and sand banks in our town centres, weeds growing in the high street, flower beds pulled up the only missing is tumbleweed blowing down the high street.”

Say No to Tumble Weed towns, it says. Sign our petition, it says. Well, Denbighshire council agreed the cuts anyway, as they reluctantly have to do from time to time when budget management becomes an issue. You should think twice before putting your name and address on a political party’s leaflet, or you may be treated thereafter as a party supporter and sent all kinds of bumf – especially when a General Election is in the offing.

The Conservatives’ newsletter dated Winter 08, tended to claim ownership of public concerns about the Pavilion Theatre and Rhyl High School; the implication was that Denbighshire and/or Labour were getting things wrong or didn’t care. Tory publications such as this call for your support and – of course – for your name and address. Be alert to the likelihood of your vote being targeted when the Cameron-Brown ping pong match begins.

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THE ARCHERS

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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One of Rhyl’s best-publicised residents is David Archer, known locally as ‘Archie’, who was recently convicted of his 299th offence which was stealing a bottle of champagne from Marks & Spencer
in Llandudno.

His ineptitude as a thief seems never to have led him to try some other profession. He is said to have spent in small instalments the equivalent of two life sentences behind bars. The cost to the public in terms of police resources, courts, prison, probation, rehabilitation and other services, must be gigantic.

Some commentators may seize upon his case history as evidence that ‘prison doesn’t work’. I would say that prison does work;
when he is behind bars he is unable to commit offences against the community.

What would you do with the Archers of this world?

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WED 30th OCT 2009 UPDATE: This week The Visitor newspaper reported that Mr Archer has been jailed for 12 weeks for attempting to steal a Cancer Research collection box from a pub in Colwyn Bay. It was his 318th conviction.

TUE 29TH DEC 2009 UPDATE: In yesterday’s Daily Post, Dan Beavan reported that Mr Archer had been convicted of 321st offence: stealing two bottles of whisky. He was ordered to spend a day in jail and pay £85 costs.

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MR CHEETHAM

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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In Rhyl just over 100 years ago, visitor numbers were high and many business opportunities suggested themselves to the town’s entrepreneurs. Arthur Cheetham was versatile. Down on the beach he gave lectures on phrenology and would read your character by feeling the bumps on your head. He was a photographer, a retailer of stationery, a printer, and he loved scientific novelties. Hardly surprising therefore, that he started making films as soon as the technology became available.

Mr Cheetham made films around the streets of Rhyl and elsewhere in North Wales, and exhibited them locally to astonished audiences. Moving pictures! Imagine seeing them for the first time ever! Arthur Cheetham was an enterprising man and a genuine movie pioneer. You can read more about him in the book ‘Glorious Rhyl - a peep at the past’ by Philip Lloyd, published in 2002.

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MILLER'S CROSSING

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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Today the good citizens of Rhyl picked their way carefully across icy pavements and took a swipe at me in passing, being clearly of the opinion that we town councillors should see to it that county councillors should see to it that the relevant head of department at the county council should see to it that the staff throw grit on every inch of pavement across the entire county as soon as the temperature drops to zero.

Denbighshire County Council’s Chief executive Ian Miller (pictured above doing a publicity stunt in Rhyl, January 2003) may or may not have agreed with the public on this point or commiserated, perhaps, with townspeople who went for a bus today and found the bus station closed for renovation (for ‘up to’ nine months) and buses departing from other locations. We’ll never know. Mr Miller resigned last November.

Mr Miller had an excellent prose writing style; it was almost a pleasure to receive from him – as I did on more than one occasion - a letter or email saying no. He resigned without explanation just before an inspector’s report revealed that the county authority was performing badly (blog posts passim). Mr Miller offered no explanation for his departure, and he was not required to work a period of notice. What’s more he is said to have received a handsome pay-off.

Labour and Conservative MPs, AMs and councillors – and the press – found themselves in rare agreement that details of the settlement should be made public. Denbighshire refused on the grounds that the information was personal to Mr Miller. That did not surprise me.

Once, I enquired of North Wales Police about the circumstances under which an officer had left the force; I was told that the police could not provide that information – even under the Freedom of Information Act ­­– because it was personal to the officer in question. Not long ago I phoned Denbighshire council offices to find out the salary of a particular council officer and met with a similar response:

‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you that. It’s personal, you see,’ explained a nice lady with a lilting Welsh accent. ‘In that case, what general grade or salary band would he be on?’ I asked.

‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you that, either. He’s the only one on it, and therefore the information would still be personal.’

I sighed and stabbed the wallpaper with my pen. ‘That information must have been in a newspaper advert for the job vacancy. Can you tell me what newspaper and when it appeared?’

‘I’m sorry I can’t tell you that.’

I drummed my fingers on the messed-up wallpaper and told her, ‘Well, I’m glad I didn’t marry YOU. You would never tell me ANYTHING. I’d say, did you have a nice day at the office dear, and you’d say: I’m sorry I can’t tell you that!’

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FLASHBACK #5

THIS IS THE BLOG OF COLIN JONES, RHYL TOWN COUNCILLOR: BODFOR WARD
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The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own and not the views of the town council.
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At the top of High Street, the Clock Tower which stands in splendid isolation on a traffic island, looks as if it has always been there. Well, it hasn’t. The Clock Tower was established in 1948 and its original position was on the promenade walkway a few yards north east of where it is now.

The picture above shows the Clock Tower in its old location. In the background to the left of the photo is the Gaiety Theatre (previously named the Pier Amphitheatre). In the foreground, Professor Ted Green delivers the tale of ‘Punch and Judy’ to an unreconstructed audience.

The picture is dated 1982. I lifted it shamelessly from Chris Somerville’s marvellous web site about ‘Punch and Judy’ shows: http://www.punchandjudy.com/

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