Heroes of the ocean wave

Posted by North Wales Weekly News team on August 27, 2008 4:30 PM

By Judith Phillips, Reporter

EVERY now and again stories crop up which make you aware of the selflessness of volunteers who give up their time freely to help others and sometimes put their lives at risk in the process.
This week the brave members of Llandudno's lifeboat crew have put to sea in appalling conditions twice in two days to save a total of five people whose lives were at risk when their vessels experienced problems in dangerously rough seas.
On the first occasion on Monday the all weather lifeboat Andy Pearce was at sea for a total of 10 hours after an historic wooden hulled former fishing boat with three men on board got into trouble near the Rhyl Flats wind farm site. The lifeboat battled against 12ft high waves to tow the vessel safely into the Conwy estuary.
Less than 24 hours later the Andy Pearce was launched again, this time to go to the aid of a terrified husband and wife whose yacht was floundering helplessly, pounded by huge waves in a force eight storm 30 miles out into the Irish Sea.
A rope attached to marker buoys was entangled with the vessel's propellor and steering gear. Without a thought for his own safety RNLI crewmember Tim James was lowered into the sea at the yacht's stern and attached to a safety harness, and spent one a half hours in the icy sea trying to cut the rope free.
At times he was completely submerged by the waves and all the time he was at risk of the yacht crashing down on him, with possibly fatal consequences.
Meanwhile the lifeboat crew under the command of deputy second coxswain Graham Heritage kept the lifeboat close by ready to swoop to his assistance if needed.
It was a rescue operation to match any in the annals of the long and illustrious career of Llandudno lifeboat station and left me in awe of the courage and determination of these brave men who were at sea for 12 hours until finally the yacht was escorted to its mooring at Conwy marina.
The RNLI say their names will be put forward for awards, and quite right too. Such heroism and devotion to other human beings makes a welcome contrast to the tales of wanton vandalism and violence which often make up our daily fare.

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Post Office closures threaten community life

Posted by North Wales Weekly News team on August 27, 2008 4:13 PM

By Samantha Castle, Reporter

THE livelihood of rural post office businesses like Awelon Stores in Pentrefoelas, who I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with for my Issue in this week's edition of the Weekly News, now lies firmly in the hands of fate.
At the end of July it was revealed that 52 post offices across North Wales are earmarked for closure before the end of the year, and a further 14 to be replaced by mobile outreach services. The public consultation will run until September 15 before Post Office Ltd makes its final decision.
I travelled down the Valley to the closely-knit community of Pentrefoelas to spend some time meeting the local people who use the village post office, which doubles up as the only village shop, to evaluate exactly how the shake-up will affect their lives.
Everyone I spoke to, young and old, were just as concerned that they would lose postmaster Mark Tuck and his partner Sonja Taylor and their twin daughters from the village as they were about losing the thriving post office, general store and cafe.
Mark and Sonja only took the business on two years ago under the impression they were making a sound investment and they soon settled into village life, enrolling their twin girls Sunia and Linnaea into the local school.
But now they face the prospect of going out of business if and when the part-time post office facility is replaced by a weekly outreach service. And under a cruel clause in the postmaster's contract he is denied the opportunity to offer any post office services, including pay-point, mobile phone top-up, and even the selling of stamps, for 12 months.
Mark and Sonja simply can't see the rest of their business surviving without keeping the trade the current post office generates.
A public meeting with a representative from the post office, MP David Jones and AM Darren Millar will take place on Thursday, August 28 at Cerrigydrudion school at 7pm where it is hoped an agreement will be reached regarding the outreach service and the postmaster's contract clause.
In the meantime, during the public consultation period it is up to the public, people like you and me, and anyone who ever uses a local post office, rural or suburban, to show your support by opposing the proposals and sharing your views. People like Mark and Sonja and all the people affected by these proposals are depending on it.
To share your views on the proposals either write to Freepost Consultation Team or e-mail consultation@postoffice.co.uk

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Great Orme litter mountain

Posted by North Wales Weekly News team on August 20, 2008 3:25 PM

By Judith Phillips, Reporter

LLANDUDNO'S Great Orme is one of our area's greatest natural assets. Its views, which on a clear day extend as far as the hills of Cumbria, are world renowned, and its other attractions include the 4,000-year-old copper mines - reputed to be the oldest industrial site in Europe - unique fauna and flora, including a rare species of butterfly and the feral goats, the tram, which is one of only three of its kind in the world, and the cabin-lift.
So why is it there are people who have little regard for its wild beauty, and use it as a dumping place for their litter, and fail to clean up after their dogs? Last Friday we took our grandchildren for a picnic at one of our favourite spots just above St Tudno's Church.
First we had to search for a spot to lay our rug which was free of the dog excrement which was scattered around. That achieved, we ate our sandwiches and packed the foil wrappings carefully away in the boot of the car. Assuring ourselves the spot was pristine, we then set off to walk to the summit.
Returning an hour or so later we found that other picnickers had driven off leaving a pile of unwanted food and wrappings on the grass close to our car, attracting a gaggle of raucous seagulls who were enjoying the feast.
Nearby my husband picked up two disposable barbecue trays, several drinks cartons, cans and takeaway food trays and then looked round for a litter bin to place them in. To his surprise there wasn't one, even though this is a popular picnic spot where the council has thoughtfully provided a couple of picnic tables and benches. The lack of a bin doesn't excuse those who thoughtlessy dump their litter or fail to pick up after their dogs, but it obviously doesn't help the situation.
At this point I have to say that I'm sure the vast majority of dog owners and picnickers are thoroughly responsible, but I would appeal to the small minority who aren't to think twice before they violate our beauty spots in this way. How would they like it if I dumped beer cans, polystyrene trays and cardboard cartons on their front gardens? Have they no regard at all for our natural environment?
And a final request to Conwy County Council: please provide more litter bins on the Orme and empty them regularly. Other than those at the summit complex and the halfway tram station there are none as far as I'm aware. One at the picnic spot near St Tudno's Church would be welcome, as wouldone at another popular picnic site and litter blackspot at the "tank tracks" off Marine Drive near the Rest and Be Thankful Cafe.

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