Vale to change

Posted by Martin Williams on February 27, 2008 11:56 AM

IT’S all change here at the Vale Advertiser.
Chief reporter Matt Sims left for pastures new last week, leaving the team here at Rhyl to look after things until a replacement takes the helm.
It will mean juggling the Visitor and Vale for a few weeks, but as a former Denbigh reporter myself I know what a great patch it is and look forward to dealing with the area again, albeit for a short period.
I enjoyed a wonderful year at the Vale’s former High Street office in 2000, and have always missed the colourful characters, controversial councillors and traders who battle so hard to survive in rural Denbighshire.
It’s a warm and friendly area, with beautiful countryside and plenty of interesting activities that should be filling our pages every Friday.
So, if you have a story for us don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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The fast and the furious...

Posted by David Rutland on February 22, 2008 12:07 PM

IT’S become almost embarrassing for me to visit the weblog section of the North Wales Police website.
Usually I can guarantee to horrify myself at least once a month with the strange ideas, which pour from the pens of the most powerful men in the police hierarchy.
There are Brunstrom’s outlandish claims about drugs, self promotion and attempts to justify his own views on speeding.
I have been forced to watch the Chief Constable working out in the gym and being tasered.
I have endured descriptions of his long countryside walks.
The absolute gems however, tend to come from Deputy Chief Constable Clive Wolfendale and his latest entry is no exception.
The force have taken a former Arrive Alive van, ostensibly past its sell by date (considerably newer than my vehicle) and tarted it up to blend in with the boy racer crowd.
It now sports paintwork from a Martini bottle, loud stereo and white wheels.
Mr Wolfendale has described it as “pimped” and “blinged up.”
There are a few things wrong with this, even if we discount the Deputy Chief’s inappropriate use of the vernacular.
First off there’s the cost. The Deputy states that the modifications were done by sponsors and implies that the vehicle hasn’t cost the public a penny.
Wrong. Even just taking the sale value of the van (about £5,000), that’s money which could have been spent by the police on more worthwhile projects.
Secondly, does Mr Wolfendale seriously think that a “pimped” Transit van will impress anyone at all?
The van will arrive at a clandestine meeting of boy racers and park up. The boy racers will un-park and depart.
Thirdly, the police already possess the most impressive equipment on the road.
Having been chased (and caught) recently by a Volvo V70, capable of a little over 150mph, I can personally attest to their speed, eye catching bodywork and exceptionally loud, roof-mounted speakers.

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Waiting for Anwyl...

Posted by David Rutland on February 22, 2008 11:23 AM

I’M not an angry kind of person and it takes quite a lot of provocation to wind me up. But one thing sure to make me lose my natural cool is being messed about by other people for their own agendas.
Take this morning for example. A meeting was arranged between the Anwyl management and local councillors over a controversial fence erected on one of the only pieces of green land on the Park View Estate in Rhyl.
The Visitor has been covering this story since its erection and arranged, through Cllr Brian Blakeley, to cover this meeting on location along with our photographer Tony Mottram.
So there we were, 9.25am. Freezing cold standing in the car park beside the disputed land.
9.45am and Ray Beckinsale, a member of the residents association, cruises past and mentions that the meeting is actually taking place at the Anwyl head office.
Oh, how we cursed.
We then rushed across town and made it in record time to the Mona Terrace office.
Running breathlessly to reception, we announced ourselves and were told somebody would be seeing us shortly.
We waited, and waited. And then we waited some more.
10.20am I got fed up and left. Tony stayed until 11am, when they finally emerged from the boardroom.
It’s rude. It’s bad manners.
I don’t know if it was a deliberate ploy to keep us in the dark while they conclude their business behind closed doors.
Perhaps a plot to make us feel uncomfortable, or maybe revenge for all the negative publicity the company has received of late.
Perhaps it makes them feel powerful.
But if anyone thinks that treating reporters like that will either make the story go away, improve the publicity or do anything other than make us even more determined to dig deeper, then they are mistaken.

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High Street Blues

Posted by Martin Williams on February 21, 2008 10:58 AM

We all love a good tracksuit. Oh yes.
And it seems townsfolk in Rhyl are no different.
On my way into work today I spotted nine people wearing shell-suits. Nine!
And that was just driving from the blue bridge to Russell Road.
The shell-suit is a funny thing. I’ve personally not worn one since a trip to Lourdes with Blessed Edward Jones High School in 1991 (don’t ask), and to be honest I didn’t even realise they were still being made.
Not only do they look garish and out-of-date, but what’s the appeal of being audible to those half a mile away? That 'swooshing' sound they make goes straight through me - it sounds like a packet of crisps being thrown at a bean bag over and over again.
Anyway, after leaving my car I strolled over Vale Road bridge and onto the High Street, where many other weird and wonderful sights met my gaze.
A lady cycling along the pavement almost knocked over a pensioner (I caught her, it was ok) and then yet another tracksuit-wearer, with a crazy-looking canine.
Tied up outside the Visitor office, the poor thing was barking and cold.
The dog looked all right though.
Rhyl town centre is a place for shoppers, workers and tourists, yet some people seem to think it’s the ideal place to walk their dog. I don’t get it.
Leave the animal at home, and if you are going to walk it take it to the park, or the beach, and please remember to pick up its mess.
I don’t want to walk along the High Street and have to avoid seagulls, dribbling Dobermans, cyclists and a tornado of litter.
There should be no dogs in the town centre and those litter bins need replacing. I know how hard the lads and lasses at Denbighshire’s street cleansing team work because I spent six great months with them several years back. It was the hardest job I’ve ever had.
The bins need covering at the top because the sea breeze blows the rubbish around the streets. It’s a simple solution if anybody wants to take note of it.
Anyway, back to work.

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Speaks volumes

Posted by Martin Williams on February 20, 2008 12:41 PM

My story in last week's edition, which referred to Denbighshire as 'Anwylshire' because of the amount of planning applications they've been successful with, has caused quite a stir.
We've received calls and e-mails from dozens of readers who feel Anwyl Construction is bullying the council into giving the green light to every request they make.
Being a journalist, readers often fail to grasp that the contents of a story are not the opinion of the writer, they are merely the facts and figures, usually bolstered by the comments of relevant parties.
However, I was quite amused this week when the company responsible for Anwyl's public relations sent me a press release headed: "County rewards top home-builder".
I assumed it was Anwyl and was quickly proved right, but then I discovered what the award was for - The Denbighshire Building Awards Volume Housebuilder of the Year!

Make of that what you will.

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Something for nothing.

Posted by Martin Williams on February 13, 2008 12:50 PM

A woman came into the office a matter of minutes ago and begged for a free newspaper.
When told that we no longer give away bundles of free papers from our Rhyl office she replied: "You're losing your trade" and stormed out.
Excuse me. What trade? You wanted a free newspaper.
Everyone wants something for nothing these days, nobody is willing to pay for anything.
And correct me if I'm wrong but for decades the Visitor has been free, but only through your letterbox.
I know, I know, many of you aren't receiving it, and if that's the case call 0151 3304956 and tell our distribution office. It seems we do have paperboys but some of them can't be bothered to deliver them.
If that's the case call the same number and inform us.
Anyway, back to my rant.
We were giving away dozens of newspapers every week from our base in High Street. We don't any more because people were taking advantage of it.

"Can I have four copies please? One for me, one for my husband, the dog likes to chew on it and I send one to my cousin in Barnsley."

We have to make a living, just like anyone else. We are a business at the end of the day, not subsidised by the council as one reader expected this week. We distribute well over 20,000 newspapers across the region every week. I know the opposition do the same but let's be honest, it's the Visitor that gives you the hard news, the exclusives and an award-winning sports section courtesy of Dave Jones.

And to those of you who refuse to pay 60p and will not call the phone number above: The Visitor costs about the same price as a bar of chocolate, about half as much as two litres of cider and three times as much as a trip to the toilet. Think about it.

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Shut that door..

Posted by Martin Williams on February 13, 2008 12:16 PM

It's cold at this time of year, isn't it?
It's even colder when people have no manners.
"What are you talking about Martin?"
Well, this is basically just a quick note to all those who come and see us at the Visitor office on Rhyl High Street.
Many of you place adverts, some of you ask for a free newspaper (though we no longer give them away) and about 60% of you burst in and leave the door wide open.
All we ask is for a little manners, a little grace.
It's cold out there? It's even colder in here, trust me.

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Save Our Shows

Posted by David Rutland on February 11, 2008 3:11 PM

RHYL’S Pavilion Theatre is under threat and we at The Visitor need your help to convince Denbighshire County Council to reject plans to cut it’s budget.
The 1,031 seat venue which opened in 1991 brings in top class acts every year to entertain locals.
Highlights from the last year include singing sensations Paul Potts, Ray Quinn and Beverley Knight, musical extravaganza 42nd Street, Footloose and Guys and Dolls as well as numerous community theatre projects, amateur dramatics and school productions.
But that could all change if a proposed funding cut by Denbighshire County Council of £40,000 in is passed as part of the budget.
The cut means that The Pavilion will almost certainly lose substantial funding from other sources and be forced to close down within three years.
This can not be allowed to happen.
Already letters of support have come in from some of the groups using the theatre and a number of councillors have expressed their concern.
But that may not be enough and The Visitor is mounting the Save Our Shows campaign to put pressure on the county council and force them to reconsider the savage cuts.
We want you to play your part by getting in touch with us and saying what The Pavilion means to you and to your community.
Seven Year old Ellen Bickerstaff has performed at the theatre and added her voice to the campaign.
“Please can you ask the council not to close the theatre because me and my friends from the Gay Harris Dancers do our shows there,” she wrote. “I have just been doing Aladdin which was amazing and if we didn’t have a theatre, we wouldn’t be able to dance and have fun.
“My sister will be starting to dance soon and if the theatre closes, she won’t be able to go on stage and she will be very, very sad.”
Show your support by writing to: Save Our Shows, The Visitor, 84 High Street, Rhyl, LL181UB. Email: david.rutland@northwalesnews.co.uk or text 07895422535.

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Apathy and disappointment by the seaside...

Posted by David Rutland on February 1, 2008 11:08 AM

I rushed into work on Wednesday morning, determined to catch the first of the calls that would be flooding in about the stories in this week’s Visitor.
We covered the possible or probable closure of Rhyl’s last great attraction, the pavilion Theatre.
We had an in depth interview with Catherine Britten over the progress her school had made since being taken over and a call for road safety measures outside that same school following a little boy being run over.
I was even expecting some feedback over the controversial Gele lead, which featured a giant inflatable banana.

But I was disappointed.
We’ve had one phone call from a county councillor about the Pavilion and an email from the same person to back it up.
As of Friday Morning, we’ve had one anonymous email from a person concerned with road safety outside schools.

Is it apathy? Is it lethargy? Do the people of Rhyl not care about the future of their town and the safety of their children?

Another fine example of the this attitude came to me on Tuesday night when I attended what was billed as The Great Soapbox Debate.
Held at Rhyl Town Hall, the event was publicised by a campaign in which the town’s West Ward was blanketed by over 2,000 individually delivered flyers.
The idea was to get residents involved in the local democratic process, to give them a chance to understand the democratic process and to put to the test their future representatives, forcing them to defend their ideals.
It was pathetic - 11 residents turned up and one of those was married to a candidate.
And despite invitations being sent by registered post to all town and county councillors, only two made it to the meeting. Mark Webster, currently representing Rhyl on Denbighshire and Mike Espley, who hopes to usurp him.

But don’t get me wrong, I have the utmost respect for Cllr Webster, Mr Espley and the 11 people who could be bothered to attend.
They at least care something about their town.

To the rest of you: If you don’t make any noise, your voice won’t be heard.

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