AM calls for "joined-up thinking" over Olympic training

* Ken Skates AM.

Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for more joined-up thinking in training the local Olympic athletes of tomorrow.

Mr Skates said the medal haul achieved by North East Wales athletes like Tom James, Chris Bartley and Jade Jones proved that shared access to elite training centres in the North West of England had been crucial to their success.

The Clwyd South AM said more thought needed to be given to developing elite training venues in North East Wales as well as giving talented young athletes greater access to world class training and support over the border.

Both the Welsh and UK Governments have said they want to capitalise on the success of the games and the AM said a cross-border strategy to develop elite sport in Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire would pay dividends.

Mr Skates said: “The huge success of our athletes from North East Wales at the Olympic Games has been an inspiration to us all. Many of them use training venues in the North West of England such as Jade Jones who trains at the GB Taekwondo Academy in Manchester on the World Class Performance Programme.

“The Welsh and UK Governments have both signalled the importance of future sporting success and to re-working their strategies for sport to encourage success at the Rio games in 2016. We need to think about how we can improve our sporting infrastructure in North East Wales and make it easier for local athletes to benefit from the facilities and training that can breed further success.

“A large part of this should be seeing the cross-border links that have developed and strengthening them. As a cross-border region including the North West we have some of the best cycling, rowing, martial arts, curling, skating, canoeing, sailing, climbing and football venues in Britain.

“All of our future medal winners need to train at world class venues and where they can be developed or enhanced at places such as Glyndwr University or the Racecourse I will be encouraging us to do that. However we also need to utilise the facilities on our doorstep across the border too.

“This will not only benefit our future Olympians from North East Wales but also help us attract talented young athletes from the North West of England to train here. As far as participation in sport is concerned, the border is irrelevant and co-operation is critically important.

“I would encourage councils, sports organisations and governments to work together more than ever before on facilities that people on both sides of the border can use together.”

Mr Skates said a regional strategy for elite sports development should be examined, with North East Wales working with Cheshire, Merseyside and Manchester.

A Wales North East/England North West strategy could deliver enormous improvements for the development of elite and grassroots sport.

Transatlantic couple board the Wedding Belle

* Kristie and Duvain on the platform.

* The steam engine with its special nameplate.

Bride is from Fort Worth, Texas

There was a definite transatlantic flavour to an event at Llangollen Station this afternoon (Friday).

After being married at the nearby English Methodist Church just a little earlier Duvain Ashe-Kenny took his new bride Kristie for a train ride on the world-famous steam railway through a rain-swept Dee Valley.

Kristie, 34, is from Fort Worth, Texas and the 39-year-old Duvain hails from Denbigh, although he is originally from Liverpool.

The couple, who will now make their home in the US, met three years ago at a Thanksgiving Day party in Keller, Texas.

Because Duvain was living in Wales at the time they conducted a long-distance romance.

On the 3pm train from Llangollen, which bore a “Wedding Special” nameplate on the engine, they were accompanied by friends and relatives who occupied a specially reserved carriage.

The newlyweds, who later enjoyed a wedding reception at the Royal Hotel, chose Llangollen for their big day as Kristie can trace her roots back to the area.

The bride wasn’t the only visitor from across the Atlantic today.

Earlier, 89 American and Canadian passengers from the cruise ship Prinsendam, which docked at Liverpool, boarded the 1pm train for a trip along the line to Carrog.

llanblogger man's Moors Murders memories

* Ian Brady.

Late update (Saturday):
We are sad to note that Keith Bennett's
mother, Winnie Johnson, died yesterday
following a long illness.  

Llanblogger editor Phil Robinson gives his personal recollections of the Moors Murders – a case which is sensationally back in the headlines today after it was revealed killer Ian Brady may have finally revealed details of where one of his victims, 12-year-old Keith Bennett, is buried.

Any mention of the Moors Murders takes me right back to Manchester in the mid-1960s.

Because that is the place where I was born and spent the early part of my life.

More specifically I came from Gorton – now a fright of urban decay full of social problems almost indistinguishable from other inner suburbs of that sprawling north western metropolis, but back then a tough but reasonably pleasant self-contained and close-knit satellite town on the edge of the city.

Gorton is the place notorious for its association with the Moors Murders when, from 1963-66, local girl Myra Hindley and her Glaswegian boyfriend Ian Brady went on a killing spree comparable in its awfulness with the homicidal crimes of Jack the Ripper around 80 years before.

The evil pair were responsible for the murders of five youngsters who were sexually tortured before being killed and buried on Saddleworth Moor, just a few miles outside Manchester in the foothills of the Pennines.

Pauline Reade, 16, disappeared on July 12, 1963, and John Kilbride, 12, was snatched in November the same year.

Keith Bennett was taken on June 16, 1964, after he left home to visit his grandmother.

Lesley Ann Downey, 10, was lured away from a funfair on Boxing Day 1964, and Edward Evans, 17, was killed in October 1965.

Brady was jailed for life at Chester Assizes in 1966 for the murders of John, Lesley Ann and Edward.

Hindley was convicted of killing Lesley Ann and Edward and shielding Brady after John's murder, and jailed for life.

In 1987 the pair finally admitted killing Keith and Pauline. Both were taken back to Saddleworth Moor to help police find the remains of the missing victims but only Pauline's body was found.

Keith’s body was never found – to the devastation of his mother Winnie Johnson who has fought a 40-year battle to persuade both of her son’s killers to reveal where his body lies.

Greater Manchester Police are now investigating whether Brady has written a letter to be opened on his death revealing the location.

Jackie Powell, 49, who was appointed Brady's mental health advocate in 1999, was detained in south Wales on suspicion of preventing the burial of a body without lawful exercise.

But detectives examining documents seized from Ms Powell's home have so far found no evidence to suggest Brady disclosed the location of Keith's body. And Ms Powell has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Unlike the Ripper killings, there was never any reign of terror when it came to the Moors Murders during which people waited in fear for the next victim to be claimed.

Back then we knew absolutely nothing of the heinous crimes until after the killers were caught, immediately following the slaying of Edward Evans at a council house in Hattersley to which the couple had moved following the demolition of their slum home in Gorton.

But that didn’t stop the rumour mill turning at full speed as soon as the arrests were made – hardly any of the wild stories being true it later transpired as the full and ghastly tale unfolded at the trial.

Fact was much stranger and horrific than fiction.

I remember it all so clearly because at time my family and I lived only a few terraced streets away from where the murderous couple were based and I was well within the age range from which they were selecting their victims – that selection taking place within a small radius of the area where I played and went to school.

My mother worked with the mother of Pauline Reade and shared her sorrow when her daughter first went missing.

When I look back there is a definite “there but for the grace of God ….” feeling about it all.

When I started work as a reporter on the local paper the murderers had been behind bars for just a couple of years and the subject was still a hot topic of conversation around the office.

A tale often told by my colleagues concerned the local unpaid freelance who was first to dash in and tell the news editor that a string of child murders had taken place and were being linked to a local couple.

Notorious for his flights of fancy, he wasn’t believed and was only proven right when the regional and national press broke the story soon afterwards.

I was reacquainted with the case when a paper for which I later worked for asked me in 1987 to cover the return of Myra Hindley to lonely Saddleworth Moor to give guidance to the police on where some of the bodies had been buried.

She came in by helicopter and it was quite a scrum trying to get anywhere near what was happening, I recall.

Who knows whether there is any foundation to the latest twist in this long-running and dreadfully sad saga.

But I hope there is if only for the sake of Winnie Johnson.    

* There is another Llangollen link with the Moors Murders.

At the trial at Chester in 1966, Brady was represented by Emlyn Hooson QC, later to come Lord Hooson.

Between 1987 and 1993, he was the President of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

 

Ambulance service under pressure from 999 time-wasters

The Welsh Ambulance Service and Emergency Departments (ED) across Wales are coming under sustained and unusual pressure this summer due to inappropriate 999 calls, Wales’ Acting Chief Medical Officer and the Medical Director of NHS Wales, Dr Chris Jones, has warned.

A combination of increased 999 call volumes and a rise in attendances at Emergency Departments has caused increased pressure over the past few weeks.

The NHS in Wales has released details of a number of inappropriate calls made to the 999 ambulance service in recent months.
They include:

• A Woman who dialled 999 after being bitten on the finger by a hamster;
• Two separate 999 calls recently for males with hangovers following a night out;
• Afternoon calls where patients have injured themselves the night before but didn't feel it at the time as they were under the influence of alcohol. As the alcohol has worn off they found themselves in pain so dialled 999;
• A woman phoned 999 saying she had a bad hand wound and was bleeding badly. A 999 ambulance crew arrived to find she'd had a minor scratch on the hand by her cat and was worried it might get infected;
• A man had been to the GP in the morning and had been given ointment to rub on his back. He later phoned 999 and said he had a back problem. A crew turned up and he answered the door. Crew asked 'we thought you had a back problem?', to which the man replied 'I have. I haven't got anyone to rub this ointment on my back!'
• A crew responded to a member of the public who said he was ill with stomach pains at pub in the centre of Cardiff. The crew conveyed him to UHW only for him to jump out at A&E and say 'thanks for the lift mate' and he ran off never to be seen again!

Dr Chris Jones explained that not everyone attending emergency departments or calling 999 are emergencies.
He said:

“ We are seeing a growing number of inappropriate emergency calls to the Ambulance service. A 999 call should only be made in the event of a serious medical emergency, such as when life is in immediate danger. All emergency health services are very busy and patients should only attend Emergency Departments (A&E) if they are very badly hurt or if they become very seriously ill.
“Patients have a role to play in helping ease this current pressure on emergency services by Choosing Well. This ensures patients will get the best treatment, and allows busy emergency NHS services to help the people who need them most.
"I'd urge people who need NHS care and are unaware of which service to access to consider using other services, such as NHS Direct Wales, by downloading the new, free Choose Well app for the iPhone, contacting GP out-of-hours services or visiting local pharmacies to self care at home."

Group seeks answers over Llan health shake-up

* Mike Edwards

llanblogger exclusive

Community group Keep Llangollen Special have called for a meeting with local health chiefs to seek answers to a number of vital questions surrounding the proposed closure of the Cottage Hospital and its replacement with a new health centre.

Group chair Mike Edwards has issued the following statement, which llanblogger bring you here, unedited:     

As Chair of Keep Llangollen Special a constructive Community Group I would like to

comment on recent speculative comments about the proposals recently published by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in relation to rationalisation of their services across the whole of their area.

Firstly this document takes quite a bit of absorbing because it extends to 139 pages

covering the Authority wide revised service delivery proposals and only outlines in specific sections how those revisions affect Llangollen.

Therefore before taking a definitive view on these proposals the Group consider they need further information and we have requested a meeting with representatives from BCUHB to find out what exactly is proposed and the timing of these proposals.

We also propose to meet with relevant local stakeholders to confirm that they have been properly consulted and what their views are on the proposals.

We are also speaking with our democratically elected representatives particularly Ken Skates AM, Councillors Rhys Hughes, Stuart Davies and Phil Thane, the latter being a member of Keep Llangollen Special.

I wish to make it clear that Mr. Skates has been helpful in seeking information and clarification from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which has enabled us to discover:

1. The Llangollen Community Hospital is likely to close early in 2013 and the Health

Board propose to sell the property;

2. Their Home Enhanced Care Scheme is already apparently progressing well and

BCUHB envisage all health services will ultimately delivered from a new Primary Care Centre;

3. However the Health Board have to submit a full business case to Welsh Government to acquire the former Woodlands Hotel now referred to as Riverside Lodge where they propose to build the Primary Care Centre.

They will also need to obtain planning consent for the development;

4. This means that the Health Board envisage the new health centre would not be open until late 2014/early 2015;

5. The local GP practice would apparently prefer a hospital with beds, but the Health

Board have not been specific that the new centre would include such facilities and refer to in-patient care being provided in Chirk and/or in nursing homes (no locations defined):

The big concern with these proposals is that the Llangollen Community Hospital is likely to close very soon, but the replacement Primary Care Centre will not open until 2015 without allowing for delays in BCUHB's scheme.

It is also of great concern that the Health Board­ seem not to wish to include in-patient facilities which will lead to Llangollen residents (patients and relatives) having to travel out of town to Chirk, Wrexham or wherever.

There is also a fear that services will be lost in the two year period between

closure of the existing hospital and opening of the new Health Centre.

The current Health Centre in Regent Street is conveniently located in the centre of town enabling able bodied patients to walk to see their GP, be it from the A5 or Abbey Road side of town.

Location of a centre at the Riverside Lodge will fail Welsh Governments Planning

Policies in relation to sustainability because it will increase vehicle journeys being located on the edge of the built up area on a busy main road with either narrow or no pavements making it extremely difficult for patients to visit.

If the Health Boards Scheme goes ahead we need assurances that capital receipts from the sale of the hospital and Oakleigh will be re-invested in Llangollen and that these sites will be developed for users which are acceptably to the Community. There will also be a question as to what happens to the existing health centre after the GP Practice moves out and that there are no knock on loss of facilities out of the town centre such as Pharmacy, Dentistry which the Health Board mention may be relocated to the new "Out-of-Town” Primary Care Centre.

These proposals could further endanger the vitality and viability of the existing town centre.

There are many questions to be answered and it is hoped that a forthcoming public

consultation by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will provide Llangollen

residents with acceptable answers. Keep Llangollen Special will keep residents informed as further information is provided and our questions are answered. 

Mike Edwards

Chair Keep Llangollen Special

The full BCUHB report can be seen at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/861/opendoc/194480

Llangollen Cottage Hospital is referred to on pages 41 and 42.

BBC broadcasts live from Ysgol Dinas Bran

BBC Breakfast News was broadcasting live from Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llan this morning as the A Level results were announced.

The reporter stopped one young man as he came into shot and asked him if he was prepared to open his results envelope live on air.

The student, named Chris, seemed a little stunned but agreed to it.

When he tore open the envelope he seemed pleased with what he had achieved and declared they were “good”.

Headteacher Alison Duffy was then interviewed and described the school’s’ results as “absolutely wonderful”.

She said exam boards had this year made this year’s A Level papers harder but that Dinas Bran students had risen to the challenge and done a “fantastic” job.

She added that she and fellow staff members had been talking to parents about the results and looking at different options for what students could do with them.

Student Chris said that with his good set of results he might head for a place at Aberystwyth University.

Railway hails successful Thomas the Tank events

                                * Thomas the Tank events at Llan Railway were a success
                                                     despite other diversions.

Llangollen Railway says last week’s Thomas the Tank events it hosted were a success, despite people staying at home to watch the Olympics on TV and a weather forecast that didn’t predict much sun. 

Railway spokesman George Jones told llanblogger: “Our considered opinion is that it was a successful six days for the Day Out With Thomas event but not a record breaker in terms of attendance at Llangollen.

“It was notable that the attendance was generally from within our normal 50-mile radius catchment area with relatively few from further afield in England as we might expect in August.

“Overseas visitors were noted from Holland, Spain, France, China (Shanghai) and a Japanese family living in Germany - again less than usual at this time of year, although visitors from other European countries and North America, Australia and New Zealand were noted on other days.”

He added: “It is thought a combination of the Olympics, (was everyone supposedly watching TV?) the weather forecast (not necessarily accurate for North East Wales) and perceived lack of spending money may have impacted on the number of visitors.

“One hopes the post-Olympic period will reverse some of this trend but a journey around North West Wales last week seemed to confirm a generally depressed summer trade.”

Building on the success of last Friday when 150 Americans stopped off at the station when their cruise ship, the Carribean Princess, docked in Liverpool, the Railway welcomes a similar group of tourists tomorrow (Friday).

At around 1pm, 135 people from the Intercruises ship “Prinsendam” will arrive at the station to enjoy a trip along the line to Carrog.

This Saturday (August 18) the Railway is hosting  a special event called “Murder at the Speakeasy”.

When the joint’s popular singing star is found murdered in her dressing room things take a nasty turn for everyone present – and that includes the audience.It starts at 7pm and food is served on platform 1 at 7.15pm.

Themed dress optional and there’s a chance to win a bottle of wine for the best outfit.Tickets are £26 per person and includes food and a return journey.

Book on line at https://sales.webticketmanager.com/llangollenrailway - no booking fee for online bookings – or telephone 01978 860979. There is a £2.50 booking fee for telephone sales.

Firm's Olympic contribution praised

* Ifor Williams trailers were used at London 2012.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has congratulated local firm Ifor Williams Trailers - where a number of Llan people work - for their pivotal role in making the London Olympics a roaring success.

The company’s trailers, which were used throughout the Olympic venues, proved to be invaluable and without them, the events simply could not have taken place.

Mr Skates said: “I want to congratulate Ifor Williams Trailers on their first rate performance at the London Olympics.

“Their products played an essential role in making the Olympics a success and the company and its staff should be justifiably proud of their hard work.

“As is so often the case, the magnificent spectacle that we see simply would not have been possible without the hard work of so many people behind the scenes.

“Ifor Williams Trailers’ dedicated team deserve a big pat on the back for their role in making the London Olympics a success.

“I’m sure everyone involved is extremely proud to be part of such a momentous occasion, and to fly the flag for Wales.”

In all, more than 150 of the company's trailers were used directly during London 2012, and 40 flatbed trailers were used to transport materials and props during Danny Boyle's spectacular opening ceremony. The firm's trailers were also used during the closing ceremony.

Ten of their employees attended the technical rehearsal at the invitation of the organising committee of the London Olympic Games the night before the opening ceremony. As well as being impressed to see so many of our trailers, they were "blown away" by the show.

Witnesses sought to burglary

Detectives are looking for the public to help them following a burglary in Hand Terrace, Chirk earlier this morning (Wednesday 15^th August).

Shortly after 3am a man disturbed an intruder in his home resulting in him sustaining a minor injury to his leg. The victim, a local man in his 50’s, received hospital treatment, but was later released.

The intruder described as a male approximately 5ft 10 tall, of slim build and wearing dark clothing made off with a toshiba laptop and a small amount of cash.

Investigating Officer Detective Constable Clare Foreman of Wrexham CID said:  “We would like to hear from anyone who was out and about in Chirk during the early hours of this morning and saw any suspicious person or activity to contact with us on North Wales Police 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Protest group responds to AM's health service statement

Llangollen Protest, the campaign group which opposes the closure of Llan Cottage Hospital, has issued its official response to a statement on the issue from Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates, published earlier today by llanblogger. 

Unedited, it reads: 

“I'm at a loss to understand Mr Skate's claim to be representing the community's views to Betsi Cadwaladr.

“At the public meeting, although he was not invited to speak, it was by very definition, public, and he had the same right of entry as everyone else.

“Had he attended, he would have been left in no doubt whatsoever what the residents' views are.

“Perhaps he would be good enough to cease negotiating with Betsi Cadwaladr until the results of the referendum are in, and then there can be no doubts.

“I am also concerned at his insistence on diminishing the importance of the Powys Fadog project as merely a Martial Arts centre.

“Perhaps he should read about the project or speak with Pol Wong before writing Constituency Updates which display so little understanding of the facts.

“I am greatly alarmed, in fact, that he should write such blatantly misleading and undeniably incorrect statements as "a damning report recently condemning the previous idea of converting it into a Shaolin martial arts centre".

“There is no such report. In fact, the idea itself, which Mr Skates disparages, has never met with anything but high praise.

“Indeed, who would, or could, condemn the idea of a community hub with childcare facilities, social facilities, Welsh language tutelage as well as proven benefits in youth training, among other good intentions?

“In the recent past, Mr Skates has also claimed to have negotiated with Sainsbury's on behalf of the community - once again without consulting a single person first.

“I would ask Mr Skates to kindly cease and desist trying to obtain benefits for the community, at least until we've found out what his idea of benefits are and whether we, the residents, would actually consider them to be of benefit to us.

“Mr Skates must be sharply reminded that he is a representative, not a delegate.”

Llangollen Protest

What a difference a few days make

This gloomy picture lookingis towards Castell Dinas Bran, taken on Wednesday morning as the rain began to fall on the town, comes in stark contrast to the ones brought to you by llanblogger last Friday showing tourists basking on the sun-soaked rocks of the Dee at Riverside Park.

The BBC forecast heavy rain to the southwest will spread across the region through the morning. This should clear northeastwards before the evening, with brighter conditions following behindheavy rain to the southwest will spread across the region through the morning. This should clear northeastwards before the evening, with brighter conditions following behindsays the rain will clear later, with further showers heading our way tomorrow (Thursday).

* Gloomy Wednesday.

                                                                   * Fantastic Friday.
                                   

Tesco "pull out of superstore plan", says report

People opposed to Sainsbury’s opening a new superstore in Llan may be interested in a story in today’s Daily Post, which says Tesco will not now be setting up shop in Llanwrst.

You can see it at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/08/15/tesco-back-out-of-llanrwst-superstore-plans-55578-31624571/

Assembly Member states his case on future of Llan health's facilities

* Clwyd South AM Ken Skates.

llanblogger exclusive

Llan’s proposed multi-million-pound new health centre could be up and running by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

That is the prediction of local Assembly Member Ken Skates in his fullest statement yet on the future of health services in the town, requested yesterday (Monday) by llanblogger.

In the statement the Labour AM for Clwyd South also claims the planned centre would make “better use” of the site of the derelict River Lodge on the A539 approach to the town – the spot currently earmarked for its construction – than a “martial arts centre”

* (see note below)

And Mr Skates says he “shares the concerns” of local people about the possible loss of Llan Cottage Hospital.

The proposal to close the hospital and replace it with a new health facility was revealed in a report from the local Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last month, which has sparked controversy in the town.

Campaign group Llangollen Protest, which opposes the closure of the hospital, organised a public meeting on the issue at the Hand Hotel last Thursday evening, which was attended by over 70 people.

Of those present, a majority of 51 voted for a local referendum to be held on the closure and Llangollen Protest is now pushing that forward.

No-one voted against the referendum call although six abstentions were recorded.

Mr Skates was not invited to the meeting, so was unable to state his position on the issue.

llanblogger therefore asked him to submit a statement, which we publish unedited below: 

Ken Skates AM said:

“The proposed remodelling of healthcare services in Llangollen is a very important issue indeed. The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board need to get this crucial consultation process right and develop a set of health services that work for both the town and its people

“Plans have been announced for the creation of a brand new health centre for Llangollen and I welcome this. Improving healthcare in Llangollen has been restricted by the limitations of the town’s existing health and social care buildings and these proposals would see the dilapidated River Lodge Hotel converted into a 21st Century facility offering an enhanced range of primary, community, social care and voluntary sector services. Having examined the options, I believe this represents a much more sensible and constructive use of taxpayers money than the alternative proposal to use the site as a Shaolin Martial Arts Centre.

“The prospect of the cottage hospital is understandably an important issue and I share residents’ concerns about the potential loss of services, which is why I have sought clarification from the Health Board on a number of issues. They have confirmed that should a new health centre be given the go-ahead, it would provide the GP services, district nursing, health visiting, midwifery services, learning disability, outpatient and minor injury services that the town needs.

“It would also provide mental health services – which have been absent from the Llangollen area since the Oakleigh facility was closed a number of years ago – and Audiology services, which Llangollen residents currently have to travel to Wrexham Maelor to access. The Health Board has also provided reassurances that plans are in place to ensure a seamless transition from the current cottage hospital site and, subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise, would seek to begin work on the site by the end of 2013 with the new health centre open by the end of 2014/early 2015.

“I can understand the concerns have been expressed about the issues of beds and I have raised this with the Health Board. They have assured me that they are examining the options available to provide care for patients who cannot remain at home but do not need to be in hospital. Should the Health Board move towards commissioning beds in local nursing homes, I will once again push for assurances that, not only will the homes be local to Llangollen, but that the Health Board commits to funding the beds into the future.

“I will continue to lobby the Health Board to ensure that all the services that are currently based in Llangollen remain here and that additional services that will benefit the community are given space in a new health centre. I am having regular meetings with officials at the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to feed back the issues raised with me by local people. The consultation needs to be comprehensive, transparent and robust, taking full account of everyone’s views to ensure we get the right result for people in Llangollen.”

* The group Powys Fadog, which had been the lease-holder, had proposed building a comprehensive community facility in the old River Lodge building. This, it says, would have provided much more than martial arts but would also have encompassed a community and Welsh cultural centre, creating jobs for local people. Powys Fadog, represented Shaolin monk Pol Wong, claims its plan was thwarted by the Welsh Government.

Travelling troupe gets lost in music

* Travelling Troupe on the run. Picture by courtesy of Barrie Potter.

Llangollen Operatic Society Troupe will present their annual Showcase Lost in Music at Llangollen Town Hall on 14^th and 15^th September.

This is the mobile musical group’s third Showcase and they promise it will be even more spectacular than before with a myriad of medleys and numbers, ranging from sublime opera to rousing rock.

Tracey Rawlinson, one of the troupe’s managers said: “Lost in Music is our most challenging programme to date and we are hugely excited about it.

“The troupe has gone from strength to strength over the past year and we have been delighted with the amount we have raised for society funds, not to mention the fun we have had in the process.” 

Tracey added that the troupe’s endeavours were only possible because of the hard work and commitment from Musical Director Elen Mair Roberts and the tireless efforts of the members and all those who support them.

She said: “Some days it feels like a second full time job but the pleasure on the faces of our audiences and the adrenaline rush of performing to a packed venue more than makes up for it.”

The cabaret-style evening, which also features a live band of talented local musicians, is designed to give audiences a taster of what the troupe could add to a function or event.

Cheese platters and wine served at tables will help make for a really relaxing evening. Following the performance, there will be the chance to chat with troupe members and find out more about what the group has to offer.

The Showcase will follow hot on the heels of the troupe’s performance at The Barmouth Arts Festival, where the group has been invited to give an exclusive performance at the town’s Dragon Theatre on Friday 7^th September.

“These are busy times for us”, said Tracey, “but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”  

·         Tickets for Lost in Music are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre or Jades Hair & Beauty at £8 per person (£5 for 16 years and under). Alternatively, please e-mail Troupe@llangollen-operatic.co.uk.

Wild Pheasant sold, says report

* The Wild Pheasant Hotel. 

                                                                                   

Llangollen’s prestigious Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa has been sold for around £2.2 million, the Leader is reporting today.

The complex, off the A5, was part of the hotel empire run by businesswoman Stephanie Booth until the group crashed in July last year.

The Wild Pheasant continued to trade during its period in administration and has just been sold by the Manchester office of real estate advisers  Colliers International to investor Asif Siddiqui, says the report.

Despite being in administration, the hotel generated a turnover of £1.4 million in 2011 and made a trading profit of £308,000.

The property combines an original 19^th century hotel with a modern luxury bedroom and spa wing.

It has 46 en suite rooms, a function room which can cater for up to 200 people, the 60-seat Yew Tree Restaurant and the courtyard bar.  

Its sale follows that of other hotels in the former Llangollen Hotels group, including the Bodidris Hall at Llandegla to a private buyer for an undisclosed sum in November last year and the Chain Bridge Hotel in Llan to Surrey businessman Seamus O’Keefe for £500,000 this June.

Elderly missing out on vital services, says WRVS

Report claims confusion

surrounds services

Older people in Wales are missing out on the essential services they need to recover after a stay in hospital because of confusion around what constitutes reablement services, according to a new report by older people’s charity WRVS.
The report, Getting back on your feet: reablement in Wales which examines reablement services available across Wales – those services that help people with poor health live as independently as possible in their own homes – found that there are huge inconsistencies in the services delivered by local authorities and health boards. This is despite the Welsh Government identifying reablement as a vital part of social services reform.
A key finding of the report was that there is a tendency for health boards and local authorities to concentrate on services that focus on improving physical well-being, to the detriment of those which address emotional and social well-being; services which can be just as important when nursing a patient back to full health.
The report calls on the Welsh Government to develop a reablement framework for Wales, outlining what exactly is meant by reablement and what features public bodies should provide. This includes services to tackle isolation and extreme loneliness, which can lead to a severe decline in well-being.
The serious consequences of loneliness and the importance of such services were highlighted by recent WRVS research, Loneliness rife among older men, which identified that Welsh men over the age of 75 who live alone are the loneliest in Britain and as a result of feeling extremely lonely are likely to suffer from depression.
The report also shows that because there is no standard definition of ‘reablement’, there is confusion surrounding which services fall into this category, resulting in the appearance that some local authorities spend ten times more per head of population than others.
Examples of good practice include the local Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which recognises the role of befriending services as part of reablement.
Previous research (Social Services Improvement Agency (2011) Better Support at Lower Cost, Cardiff: Social Services Improvement Agency) has suggested that reablement services such as those provided by WRVS which tackle loneliness and isolation play a vital role in reducing the need for home care and in decreasing hospital admissions. These services see volunteers paying visits to older people, accompanying them on shopping trips and making sure they pick up any prescriptions from the doctor.

"Older people are at their most vulnerable after a stay in hospital and need services that focus on not just their physical well-being, but their social and emotional well-being as well. The Welsh Government is right to identify reablement as a vital part of social care in Wales but they now need to clear up any confusion about what services should be offered by public bodies. Until there is a standard framework for public bodies, older people in Wales will be missing out on essential services which have a real effect on their health and can keep them out of hospital.

Dr Ed Bridges, WRVS Public Affairs Manager for Wales, said: "Through our work with older people, we know that services that focus on emotional and social well-being, such as those that encourage increased social interaction, are hugely beneficial in combating health problems. We’d like to see more services such as befriending, occupational therapy support and home adaptations which mean older people can stay happy, healthy and independent, and out of hospital for longer."

The report makes a number of recommendations, including:

• Setting up a mechanism to measure well-being which looks at not only medical health, but also emotional and social well-being, both crucial to a person’s quality of life.
• Creating a central source of funding for reablement services, whilst still allowing services to be delivered in a flexible way which respond to local need.
• Involving the voluntary sector to ensure a multi-sector approach to providing social support services.

Download a copy of Getting back on your feet: reablement in Wales

Doctors do not support hospital closure plan

* Closure threatened Llan Cottage Hospital

Doctors in Llangollen have declared their “disappointment” and lack of support for the controversial plan to close the local Cottage Hospital.

A representative from the practice was unable to take up the invitation to attend last Thursday’s public meeting about the issue called by the campaign group Llangollen Protest at the Hand Hotel.

At the meeting, on which the platform was occupied by North Wales Assembly Members Llyr Huws Gruffydd  (Plaid Cymru) and Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservative), 51 of the 70-plus local people present voted in favour of a referendum being held on the closure proposal put forward by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last month.

Llangollen protest leader Martin Crumpton has now lodged an official request for the vote to be held.

He also requested a statement on the issue from the doctors.

This has now been sent to him in the name of Dr J R A Davies and partners and it says: “As a Practice, we are very disappointed that the Health Board has plans to close Llangollen Hospital.

“We do not support the closure, having fought for many years to keep the hospital open.

“Whilst being aware of the financial constraints, we would hope that all patient services can be maintained in Llangollen.”

Both AMs who were on the platform said they were against the closure plan.

However, Mr Crumpton said at the meeting Clwyd South Labour AM Ken Skates had not been invited because he was not amongst the opponents of the proposal.

"Wicked stage" talk enthralls church group

Theatre stalwart speaks in Llan 

Members of the “This and That” social group at Llangollen Methodist Church were treated to a talk by well-known stage entertainer Heather Game at their meeting in the Memorial Hall on Monday evening.

Mrs Game has been a stalwart of the amateur stage in North Wales and the Midlands for the past 50 years and her long career also included a venture into the professional world when she did stints on television and in films.

For many years she ran her own stage production company based in Shrewsbury and she is also the author of a book entitled “Life Upon the Wicked Stage” which chronicles her life and career.

Her hour-long talk was based on her book and included many interesting and amusing anecdotes which at times brought hearty laughter from the audience.

In one of her first appearances on stage, in a village hall production playing the title role in Snow White and Seven Dwarves, she told of how members of the WI were perched precariously on their knees to play the dwarves when an inadvertent shove in the ranks brought the last one in line sprawling against the scenery.

In another amusing tale Mrs Game recalled how while wearing hair braids built around wire inserts in a subsequent production, one of these sprung up as she was being lifted in a dance sequence and smacked her male partner in the face.

There were also stories from Mrs Game about the joys and tribulations of on-stage kissing sequences.

She told how on one occasion she ended up herself wearing the stick-on moustache of the man she was kissing and, on another, how her face turned bright yellow when it ended up smeared with the stage make-up  of the actor playing the King of Siam.

After overseeing – and appearing in - many successful productions at the old Music Hall theatre in Shrewsbury, Mrs Game ceased leading her production company a couple of years ago.

However, she still sings regularly with a number of local companies and tours the region to give her highly entertaining talks.  

Views sought on new natural resources body

Environment Minister, John Griffiths is keen to hear views on how the new body that will manage Wales’ natural resources should operate and exactly what powers and duties it should have.

Monday 13 August 2012

The Minister has launched an eight week consultation which invites further views on specific aspects of the powers and functions of the new body that is due to become fully operational on 1 April 2013.
The new body will replace the Environment Agency Wales, The Countryside Council for Wales and the Forestry Commission for Wales. Its aim is to ensure the most sustainable and effective management of Wales’ natural resources, to deliver a more streamlined way of working and to cut unnecessary duplication to a minimum.
It is estimated that over ten years the body will deliver up to £158 million in benefits before costs, freeing up resources for front line delivery.
The Minister said:

“This new body has a vital part to play in ensuring the health of Wales’ environment and its economy, so it is vital that we get the detail right.
“The new body must maintain the crucial work of three existing bodies in protecting Wales’ natural environment, maintaining its cultural and historic landscape and ensuring access to its countryside and coast. Importantly, it also needs to develop to meet the challenges of the future.
“I want to ensure that the new body has clear duties and powers necessary to deliver for Wales. This additional consultation will provide us with further views to shape the new body and I would urge those parties with an interest to feed into the process."

The consultation is split into two parts. The first looks at the overarching duties of the new body and specifically those relating to natural beauty, conservation, access, protection of historic landscape and forestry. These are areas where a number of duties have to be brought together and reconciled, rather than simply transferred.
The second part of the consultation will consider the legal and working arrangements of the body. These include: cross-border issues; regulation and enforcement, monitoring and sampling of cross-border sites and impacts; emergency response including the transfer of powers under the Control of Major Accidents and Hazards Regulations (COMAH); and transitional arrangements e.g. measures to transfer ongoing prosecutions, existing decisions and permits to the body.
The consultation builds on previous consultative work which looked at arrangements for establishing the new body and considered how it should best be directed. It will run until 5 October 2012 and its results will help to shape the Second Order, which will come into effect on 1 April 2013, when the body becomes fully operational.