Category: News

SCAM WARNING

SCAM WARNING

Please be aware of a current doorstep scam working the area. These are calling themselves ‘Keep Britain Working’ or ‘Nottingham Knocker’s’ which are a very similar outfit (if not the same).

They are doorstep callers who target areas offering small household products for sale. These callers may claim to be ex-convicts attempting to mend their ways or ex-servicemen. However, they are not part of any recognised rehabilitation scheme.

Please warn your communities, particularly elderly or vulnerable neighbours, not to open the door to strangers or to buy or sell on the doorstep. Some doorstep callers may offer poor quality goods at inflated prices and if a caller is not genuine, they may be gathering information for future crime.

How do they work?

The sellers may say that they are on a ‘rehabilitation course’ arranged by Probation Services or other organisations trying to find people work. This is not the case, and often they are known criminals. Probation Services do not run such schemes.

They may show a card which claims to be a ‘Pedlars Licence’ or work permit. This is not valid and they are breaking the law if they are using anything like this. They may also hand over a card saying they are deaf or dumb.

According to the Police, the bag of household products is supplied by someone who employs them. The male/female is supplied with a full bag of household products (including the typical tea-towels!) and charged a minimal sum for the contents. It used to be £35. They can keep whatever they make, above this amount.

Usually they are deposited in an area from a transit

van and given a list of streets to work. An hour or so later they are picked up and dropped off in another location. They often work from 9am to 9pm.

They will knock on a door, offering cleaning items which they know are cheap and of very poor quality; the householder also knows they are rubbish but that is part of the scam. Many people will purchase items and pay them out of their good nature as they have fallen for their story or, just to get rid of them. There have been cases of elderly residents handing over large sums as these people can be very persistent and confrontational.

The price for whatever has been purchased usually comes to a note – usually £10. The householder disappears to get this and according to the police, this is when the scam begins. When the note is handed over, the person examines the condition and how long it took the person to get it. If it is crumpled, they accept it and move on. If it is crisp flat and new, they are much more interested and may engage the person in more conversation, to obtain details about them. As they leave they will smell the note. If it is slightly musty, it is an indication that there is more in the property.

These addresses and the addresses of elderly and vulnerable people are noted. They are then handed to the employer and there is a small amount of cash handed over for each one. These addresses are then sold in prisons and pubs. If there is a later break-in, the employer expects a further cut of the proceeds.

Police advise that in almost every case of a stop check – the people have long strings of convictions for burglary and violence. They use the skills learnt during their criminal activity to identify possible targets.

Please do not open your doors to strangers. Do not buy goods these people offer you on your doorstep

 

 

All Saints Day Was Celebrated

All Saints Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of the month, with Bert Bates giving the congregation an account of the pilgrimage that he and Gwynne undertook in walking the ‘Camino de Santiago de Compostela’. It was a most uplifting spiritual experience meeting up with the other pilgrims who were walking due to many different reasons. The common greeting was ‘Buen Camino’ and the walk was almost 180km long. Many of the congregation had sponsored their walk and the total amount raised was £610, which is to be given towards the work of charities dealing with young people and their problems. Well done Bert and Gwynne who would encourage anyone who is able to undertake this pilgrimage to give it serious thought. Having a kindred spirit to accompany you would help in the quiet rest times to discuss your feelings and to meditate on what you are about.

Remembrance Sunday: We were blessed with a fine, cold, sunny morning as we assembled in church for the service of Remembrance compiled by Ray Harris. It was a most memorable and moving act of remembering the fallen in WWI and WWII and the many wars that have been fought since 1945. Following the service in church the proceedings moved to the village War Memorial where the Vale Brass Band were playing as the procession from church made their way. Following the Silence, wreaths were laid on behalf of the Rector and Churchwardens, the Wenvoe Community Council, the Army Cadets, The Women’s Institute, the Scouts, Gwenfo School and others. The sounding of the Last Post and the Reveille all added to the solemnity of the occasion, as the community of Wenvoe once more remembered the sacrifice of its own sons in the two World Wars. The loose money on the collection plates, with a contribution from church funds came to £300 and has been given to The Royal British Legion for their continuing work in providing lifelong support with members of the Armed Forces who need help.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

The lantern has now been fitted to the wrought iron arch between the old and the new churchyard; it now awaits connection to the electricity supply. Work has continued in stabilising the gravestones found to be loose in the churchyard. Mike Tucker, our groundsman takes great pleasure in keeping the church surroundings clean and tidy and we receive many compliments from visitors on how well the church and grounds are presented.

We continue to provide ‘Welcome Packs’ to all new householders moving into the village. These are updated on a regular basis and give information on all the activities that can be found in Wenvoe. This is regarded as part of our mission to the wider community in which we live. We welcome them to join in as many of the organisations as they wish, and also to inform them that the church is there to help them through the good times and the sad times.

Jon is always available to discuss any topics in his “Open Door” sessions in church on Monday afternoons as advertised in the church newsletter and church magazine.

The Chattery meets on Thursday 12th December in the Church Hall and will have a Christmas theme with lots going on. The FREE raffle is included in the price of £2.00. All are welcome to join in for tea/coffee and mince pies etc and to chat to old friends and new.

Looking ahead to the Christmas Celebrations

A Christmas Card, giving details of all the Services at St Mary’s will be delivered to all homes in the community.

The Community Carol Service on Wednesday 18 December at 7.00 pm will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies in the Church Hall. The refreshments are provided by the Wenvoe Community Council and all are welcome.

Christmas Eve: Waiting for Jesus is at 5.00 pm and Midnight Mass is at 11.30 pm. The collections at these services are to be given to the work of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at UHW and the Food Bank in Barry.

Christmas Day: The early morning celebration of the Eucharist is at 8.00 am.

We wish all our readers a very Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Parry Edwards

 

 

A Fan of Taylor Swift

Did you think I wouldn’t hear all the things you said about me?

If you know me well, you’ll know I’m a fan of Taylor Swift’s music. Since her Fearless album (the first album I ever bought) to her most recent Lover album, I’ve followed her transition from country music sweetheart to global popstar. If you look back over some of the titles of my blog posts, you’ll find many are either lyrics or titles from some of Swift’s songs. But the one thing above all I’ve been hyper-aware of over the past ten years is Taylor Swift’s battle with the media’s perception of her.

Despite many male celebrities – including Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney (and even Swift’s ex-boyfriend Calvin Harris) – having an endless list of girlfriends, Swift is continuously vilified for her relationships and branded a serial-dater. Why do the double standards exist for male and female celebrities?

Women in the music industry are watched constantly. Their male counterparts can get away with so much, and yet if the media tells us to hate a female celebrity – we do. Swift continues to earn backlash online, but often people aren’t sure why they hate her, other than because they’ve been told they ought to. Think about it – the world loves to hate Kim Kardashian because all we’ve ever heard is that she’s an awful person. Perhaps she is, but it’s rare that we question why we hate these female celebrities, and it’s often because of the media’s perception of them.

When the MeToo movement in 2017 reached prominence, and the world began to understand the true problem surrounding sexual assault, Swift came forward about a battle she’d been having for years regarding a DJ who touched her inappropriately a few years prior. Swift went to court against this man and asked $1 if she won the lawsuit. But even when Swift had been touched without her consent, she barely garnered support. She was still vilified and told she was ‘playing the victim’.

The world seems to love to hate Taylor Swift. Even when she announced in the summer and has since reiterated the fact that the former head of Big Machine Records (the label Swift signed to from the beginning of her career and until recently) had sold her masters and banned her from buying them back, many stayed silent. Even now, as she battles the rights to music, she herself curated and wrote, many men are refusing to stand in her corner. All because we’ve been told she’s awful.

How is it that we’ve let the media control our way of thinking and why is it that sources continue to attack certain celebrities? I’m very much aware that it causes a media storm, and creates views but as I’ve said before, these are real people with real lives. Although they have offered themselves up to media interpretation, the disrespect many receive, and the utter vilification goes beyond wanting likes on a

story. It’s damaging, not only to the vilified but also to those who read the stories. It’s causing a mob mentality against certain celebrities that is harmful.

Targeting one celebrity because it has become tradition isn’t a good enough reason. Not supporting them when the unimaginable is happening to them is disgraceful. I realise they are celebrities. But they’re also real people. Taylor Swift is battling to even be able to sing the songs she wrote when she was under Big Machine Records. Songs about life experiences she poured her heart out to make. Supporting the people who are stopping her from gaining back the rights to her songs just because you don’t like her doesn’t make sense. Because it’s not just her music she’s fighting for, it’s for the many who’ve had the same happen to them.

Why there are celebrities in the world we choose to hate, I will never know. You don’t have to say you like their music or the things that they do but admitting that the things that are happening to them are unfair is good. If you wouldn’t want it happening to you then why would you encourage it happening to someone else?

Swift seems to be handling the hate well – she’s had years of it after all. Between the lyrics of her songs and her attitude, it seems she’s taken the hate and manifested it into a don’t-care attitude. But she shouldn’t have to. No one should have to be so comfortable with hate that it becomes part of their every day.

Don’t hate these people just because the telly and social media tells you to. Encouraging their downfall reflects worse on you.

By Tirion Davies

 

 

A Visit to Puy Du Fou

SHARED EXPERIENCES

A Visit to Puy Du Fou

by Sylvia Harvey

Puy Du Fou is an historical theme park near Nantes in France welcoming over 2.3 million visitors every year.

Throughout the summer on Friday and Saturday nights is La Cinescenie – this is the most amazing spectacle. It is a large theatrical performance held on one of the world’s largest stages. It involves 2,500 actors, alongside 190 horses. There are 80 technicians and it brings together 4,000 volunteers.

It is a beautiful pageant telling a story set in the Vendee region. As each scene unfolds, it just takes your breath away. With the constant action, the lighting, the pyrotechnics, it’s almost impossible to describe.

There are a number of other shows on during the day. Two special ones for me were:

Le Signe du Triomphe: A Gallo-Roman stadium performance in which the 7,000 spectators are divided into Romans and Gauls to watch Gaulish prisoners trying to win circus games in front of the Roman governor. The atmosphere is electric; clapping, cheering, booing, chariots thunder around the arena as lions and tigers prowl among the contestants. WOW!

Les Bal des Oiseaux Fantomes: Another breath-taking experience as 330 eagles, falcons and vultures swoop over the audience, with their wings brushing our heads.

I could write so much more but I am hoping others may have visited Puy du Fou and will share their experience..

 

 

Y Taith Pererin Llyn

Y Taith Pererin Llyn

 

It’s a long way from Wenvoe to North Wales, and a frustrating journey if you are in a hurry, but if you have plenty of time, and the weather is good, it is a lovely drive. Such was it one very cold autumn morning, with a hard frost that had whitened the hillsides, and the sun lighting up the autumn colours, showing mid-Wales in all its glory.

The North Wales Pilgrims’ Way (Taith Pererin) is a 134 miles long-distance path, starting in Holywell and finishing at the monastery of St Cadfan on the island of Bardsey. It had some significance in medieval times, and two pilgrimages to Bardsey were considered as good as one to Rome. The section on the Llŷn follows the ancient pilgrims’ route, and that was our goal.

We started at Clynnog, where there is a huge church dedicated to St Beuno in a tiny village, and a spring or well nearby. People with epilepsy were brought to the well and immersed in it, and then had to spend the night on the cold floor of the church. If they were in fit condition the following morning, they then continued along the coast to Aberdaron, and thence by boat to Bardsey.

We inspected the well, but decided to omit the immersion, on the grounds that we were still quite healthy. We walked from Clynnog to Trefor, hoping to get a cup of good coffee, but this was a bit optimistic, so we had to make do with a machine coffee from a Spar shop. We continued over the mountain of Yr Eifl, which had been a centre for quarrying in the days when granite was highly valued. We walked up an old incline, which would have been used to bring the stone down from the quarries, and had a marvellous view of the Llŷn coast, and across the sea to Anglesey. We then came down to the settlement of Nant Gwrtheyrn, which is an isolated community consisting of three farms and the quarrymen’s cottages. The farms are now deserted, but the cottages have been converted into modern accommodation for the Welsh Language Centre, where people can stay during language courses, or they are rented out for bed and breakfast.

It was a beautiful evening, and we watched the sun setting over the sea. The Nant is a remarkable place, and one of the most peaceful places I have ever been to. I shall have to return one day.

Next day we continued along the coast, pausing at the Tŷ Coch Inn at Porth Dinllaen, well known for its location right on the beach. In fact, there was a long queue for lunch, so we had a pint and walked out to the Coast Watch lookout and chatted to the lady volunteers there, who were keeping a watchful eye on the sea, but who seemed to welcome some company. Further on, there were seals relaxing on

the rocks, and one in the water who looked at us suspiciously and disappeared, only to reappear much closer to us, in order to have a better look.

We stayed that night in the Lion at Tudweiliog, a very comfortable pub with excellent food. Next day we walked a long day along the cliffs, and chatted to a woman going in for a swim. She claimed it was fine once you were in the sea, but we decided to take her word for it. We passed the Whistling Sands, where the sand really does whistle when you shuffle your feet in it, and continued to Aberdaron, having to cheat a bit towards the end and take a short cut, because the light was going fast. The cliff path is no place to be in the dark.

We stayed in a small hotel in Aberdaron, with a marvellous view over the beach, and asked the ferryman if we could go to Bardsey the next day, but unfortunately the weather broke that evening after three perfect days, and the sea was so rough next day that we had no wish to be in a small boat at all. It was a disappointment not to be able to complete our pilgrimage, but this was a superb walk, about 40 miles in two and a half days, and we have good reason to go back one day.

 

 

 

Christmas Reindeer Cafe

CHRISTMAS REINDEER CAFE

The local community was treated to a really lovely afternoon on Saturday 23 November when Glenys and Mike invited everyone to spend time with friends and neighbours at the Christmas Reindeer Café.

Randolph’s extended family were eagerly awaiting the arrival of people from the village who had offered to give them a home. The reindeers, handcrafted by Mike, will make a lovely addition to our garden displays for the festive season. And, for those wanting something a little smaller, the snowmen complemented Mike’s display of handcrafted gifts.

Wenvoe Crafters supported the event and it was an opportunity to buy good quality Christmas cards, decorations and balloons.

The warm and welcoming atmosphere in the Church Hall was fantastic. Hot and cold drinks as well as a very tempting variety of Glenys’ delicious homemade cakes, meant that everyone stayed to catch up and while away a very pleasant couple of hours. With John and Lowri in the kitchen, it really was a family affair.

Raffle prizes included bottles of champagne, wine and spirits, food and sweet hampers and a

handmade Christmas cake. All thirty-six raffle prizes had been generously donated by people from the village in order to support such a worthy cause.

The £440 raised will be donated to the Wenvoe Wildlife Group in order to support the many on-going projects that we read about regularly in the monthly ‘What’s On’ update.

Glenys and Mike would like to thank all of the people who supported the Christmas Reindeer Café and made the day such a success. Their thanks also goes to their family and the people who donated the raffle prizes.

Glenys and Mike have also extended a special thank you to Joyce Hoy who worked tirelessly with the Tucker family preparing the Church Hall and making the table decorations. Perhaps most importantly, Joyce also ensured that all of Randolph’s family were looked after until they were taken to their new homes.

A very special ‘thank you’ on behalf of the village to Glenys, Mike and their family for hosting the Christmas Reindeer Café. You created such a lovely afternoon and the money you have helped to raise will have a lasting impact on the continued hard work of the Wildlife Group.

 

 

 

 

 

November Planning Updates

Planning Updates

The following application have been approved.

  • 3, Whitehall Close, Wenvoe. Single storey rear extension with raised terrace (as existing) conversion of garage to habitable room.
  • Woodside Grange, Wenvoe. Works to trees cover by TPO – No. 07, 1988
  • Field House, 8, Old Port Road, Wenvoe. Single storey extension to front of property, roof reconfiguration and erection of pergolas, log store to garden room/gym.
  • 73, Heol Collen, Culverhouse Cross. A side and rear single storey extension providing an enlarged kitchen area and lounge.
  • Starbucks Drive Thru, Brooklands Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross. Car park, building and drive thru’ signage to a new Starbucks site
  • On Road outside the Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross. Display of a double-sided illuminated paper advertising panel, fully integrated into a bus shelter.

 

Capital Projects.

Community Centre library building. A revised profile of possible grant spend has been submitted to the Welsh Assembly.

Construction of the new play area at Twyn yr Odyn is in progress.

A new disabled access to the Grange Park is under construction. It is a free standing ramp to avoid damage to tree roots.

The new play area at the Redrow site is nearing completion.

Discussion between the Vale, Cemex and the Council are in progress to the future of Whitehall Quarry and adjacent land. It is hoped there could be a cemetery extension and possible recreation use.

The cricket club using the Station Road playing field erected plastic netting adjacent to the stream last summer. The supports have been removed and the

netting left which is now becoming entangled in the undergrowth. The club will be requested to remove it.

Report received on the new recycling scheme. In general, the independent monitoring body is fairly satisfied. There are minor problems reported. Large boxes are not always being collected; these should be flattened before placing with recycling. Only Vale bags and containers are being emptied; additional bags are available if you regularly have excess material. The collection of green waste at outlying locations has been causing concerns.

With a very wet autumn pot holes are expected to become a problem this winter . Potholes should be reported to Vale web site or Council

 

 

November Planning Applications

Planning applications

  • Woodside Grange, Woodside, Wenvoe. Work to tree covered by TPO. This is for additional work. Supported subject to work being undertaken by an approved company.
  • Glenburnie, Port Road, Wenvoe. Outline planning application for a care home development and associated works with all matters considered except landscaping. The Council approved the principal of constructing a care home locally but had reservations concerning traffic, the proposed access, the building line and hedgerows.
  • Former ITV Studios, Culverhouse Cross. Construction of drainage ditch. The Council objected to this construction viewing it as an extension of the present site rather than being included within their boundary.
  • Valegate Retail Park, Culverhouse Cross. 3 totem signs. These will list the businesses available on the site. No objections raised.

 

 

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