Health chiefs to discuss big shake-up on January 18

* Issues surrounding Llangollen Cottage Hospital will be discussed by the health board on January 18. 

Results of a test of public opinion are said to reveal that an “absolute majority” supports plans for new primary care centre in Llangollen.  

But there were said to be “divided opinions” on removing in-patient beds from the town’s closure-threatened Cottage Hospital. 

These results will be considered when the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) discusses a major shake-up in health services across north east Wales at a special meeting on January 18. 

News that, as part of the major changes it is proposing, the board intends to close the Cottage Hospital and replace it with a new health centre – possibly on the site of the derelict River Lodge off the A539 – and move its in-patient beds either into the community or to Chirk Hospital caused a storm of protest last summer. 

This led to the staging of two packed public meetings in the Hand Hotel.

Ahead of any decision being made, the health board carried out a comprehensive public consultation on its plans over the autumn.   

To allow board members to make up their minds on the entire change package, consultants have produced an exhaustive interpretation document. 

Running to 127 pages, this reveals that a total of 1,899 people across the region filled in an open questionnaire on various aspects of the package. 

A total of 683 people (14%) took part in a household survey on the issues involved. 

Denbighshire had the largest number of people in the region - 42% - taking part in the questionnaire, while 14% of people from the county took part in the household survey. 

In their interpretation document the consultants, Dale Hall and Kester Holmes, say that there was “absolute majority support” for primary care centre in Llangollen in the household survey and open questionnaire, while there were “divided opinions” on removing inpatient beds – 35% for and 29% against in the household survey.  

Full results were: 

Question: Do you agree or disagree that an extended primary care centre be developed in Llangollen? 

Household survey: 57% agree, 30% neither, 12% disagree

(38% of respondents answered this question) 

Open questionnaire: 52% agree, 24% neither, 23% disagree

(35% of respondents answered this question) 

Question: Community inpatient beds should be moved from Llangollen Community Hospital to local care homes or Chirk Community Hospital? 

Household survey: 35% agree, 35% neither, 29% disagree

(37% of respondents answered this question) 

Open questionnaire: 27% agree, 23% neither, 50% disagree

(35% of respondents answered this question)  

The consultation document also reports that a petition containing 1,240 signatures was sent into the board about Llangollen Cottage Hospital.

This called on the board to ‘draw up several alternatives for discussion’ rather than only status quo or closure.

A total of 89 people turned up at the three public consultation sessions held on the board’s proposals at Llangollen Town Hall in September and October, which was amongst the highest number recorded in the region.

Concerns were voiced over:

·       Transport

Distances to travel, the cost of transport and overall access

·       Transition

Current services would cease before new services in place

·       Remaining Llangollen service

Will they cope with future demand increases?

·       Funding

Is funding for the new service secure?

BCUHB chief executive Mary Burrows said: “We were very pleased and encouraged that so many people took the time and trouble to give their views.  

“The consultation feedback will be a significant element alongside other evidence that the board will consider on how best we can provide safe, effective services for the people of North Wales as a whole.” 

The board will consider the recommendations at a special meeting which will take place in the Optic Centre in St Asaph at 10am on Friday, January 18.  

The full interpretation document can be viewed at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/836/2012%2012%2024%20ORS%20BOARD%20PRESENTATION%206.pdf.pdf

Call for direct local rail link to London

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on the UK Government to restore a direct rail link between Wrexham and London.

Following the collapse of the franchise process for the West Coast Main Line last year, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced in December that Virgin trains had been awarded a two-year extension to its franchise on the line while a new tendering process was developed.

The stop gap solution also saw the UK Minister announce a new direct rail service between London and Shrewsbury, but said that the service will not carry on to Wrexham.

The Clwyd South AM, a member of the Welsh Assembly Transport Committee, said the arrangement ‘short changed’ his constituents and called for an urgent re-think.

Mr Skates said: “The fiasco over the West Coast Mainline franchise is turning out to be very damaging to passengers and businesses across North East Wales.

“We do not know what West Coast services to Wrexham will look like in the long-term and while they clear the mess up we will also be denied a direct rail link to London because the new service will stop at Shrewsbury and go no further.

“Proposals for a direct service to Shrewsbury without an equivalent service to Wrexham short changes passengers and businesses in my constituency. The previous Wrexham to Marylebone open access service was rated one of the best on the network by passengers proving there is a viable market for such a route.

“Virgin had previously stated that they would develop a Wrexham to London direct service three times a day, and the chaotic mismanagement of the West Coast franchise has now seemingly scuppered this with only a direct London to Shrewsbury service being promised out of the mess.

“The UK Government and the Department for Transport seem to have an on-going policy of ignoring North Wales when it comes to strategic rail investment. We have no plan for electrification of the North Wales mainline, we’ve missed out on a Wrexham to London direct service and we have no concrete timetable for the introduction of either.

“Other areas are much better served when it comes to rail, with serious investment being ploughed into other parts of the regional rail network. It’s time for the UK Government to start playing fair by passengers and businesses in North East Wales and start planning long-term investment and services for the area.”

The original franchise process for the West Coast Main line fell apart in October after it was discovered officials had made mistakes in their calculations over the £5 billion process.

A damning report attacked the Department for Transport over its handling of the franchise process.

Former Dinas Bran pupil bids for national fame

* Former Dinas Bran pupil Natalie Timmins is a finalist in Britain's Next Top Model.

A young actress and model who went to school in Llangollen is bidding for national fame.

Twenty-three-year-old Natalie Timmins, who attended Ysgol Dinas Bran, has reached the grand final of the 2013 Britain’s Next Top Model competition.

Born in Wrexham, Natalie grew up in Trevor and Garth and moved Oswestry in her late teens, later living in Plas Madoc.

She took A Levels in drama and theatre studies, dance and media studies at Yale College in Wrexham.

After finishing her studies last year, Natalie moved to Liverpool to enable her to attend professional acting classes.

She is also currently appearing in The Love Machine on Sky Living TV and is a main “picker” on the dating show presented by Chris Moyles.

Natalie said: “I auditioned for Britain's Next Top Model to gain a little bit of exposure and recognition to try and encourage my acting career.

“I am visiting Hollywood in the summer to audition for agents and to get work over there and at the moment I am trying to arrange some charity events to help raise money for Children with Cancer UK as part as being a candidate for the competition.”

The online voting system is now open and you can vote for Natalie on www.topmodeluk.com 

She is in the natural beauty category under Natalie T from Liverpool.  

It costs £1 to vote and all proceeds go to Children with Cancer UK.

Temporary lights on the A5

According to Denbighshire County Council, contractors Parry Construction are carrying out stone wall repairs on the A5, from the area boundary to Queen Street, Llangollen, until January 18.

 

Temporary lights will be in operation to control traffic duing this period. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Think before buying a pet, says government

 

 

 

The Welsh Government is asking people to think carefully before buying pets in the New Year.

 

Environment Minister, John Griffiths, said: "As we enter a new year some people may be thinking about purchasing a pet dog or cat.

"I would ask anyone thinking about getting a pet to make sure that they understand what is involved in looking after an animal properly, including the veterinary costs, and to ensure they know where the animal has come from.

“If you do not know where your animal has come you will have no assurance that proper care has been taken of its health and welfare nor that it has been socialised properly. This could potentially lead to behavioural problems and costly veterinary expenses.”

Wales’ Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christianne Glossop, said: “We believe that some people are buying and selling dogs and cats that have come from abroad, some of which may have travelled illegally.

"This puts the health of the animals, and the general public, at risk from diseases including rabies and parvovirus. They may also be advertised in a way that misleads the buyer regarding the animal’s history, breed or pedigree.

"I would urge anyone not to buy a cat or dog from an unknown source. If you are planning to bring a new animal into your home, it’s important that you know where it comes from and where it was born. Be particularly careful when buying dogs or cats advertised on the internet or through local or social media.”

If you are planning to buy a pet dog or cat, make some basic but important checks:

• Buy your animal from a reputable supplier. Advice on buying a dog or cat is available from veterinary surgeons and a range of animal organisations, including the Dog Advisory Council, Kennel Club, the Dogs Trust and the RSPCA
• Check the animal’s history by speaking to the previous owner. If you are buying a puppy or kitten, you should ask to see it with its mother and the rest of the litter.
• View the animal and its documentation before you buy. If it was born outside of the UK it must have either a pet passport or a veterinary certificate. The pet passport needs to confirm that it was vaccinated against rabies at the correct age. This must be done according to the vaccine manufacturer’s data sheet (normally at three months of age). For dogs, the passport should also show that it has been treated for tapeworm.
• If you have any doubts about an animal speak to your vet before agreeing to buy it.

Register your bike to help cut crime, say police

Did you get a new bicycle for Christmas? Or have you treated yourself to a new bicycle in the sales?

If so, North Wales Police are requesting that all bike owners register them to help reduce bicycle crime.

Over recent months many bicycles have been stolen from across North Wales, with many of these being specialist and expensive bikes.

North Wales Police and local Community Safety Partnerships are working in partnership with ‘BikeRegister’ - the UK’s leading online bicycle identification and registration initiative, to help reduce thefts and identify stolen cycles within North Wales.

 

Bicycles can be registered for free by providing the frame details.

 

However, options are available to purchase Bronze, Silver and Gold marking kits which offer different levels of protection.

Once registered owners can go onto theBikeRegister website with their unique password and communicate with others. A search facility for stolen bikes and so much more is also available.

If your bicycle is stolen, report it to the police on 101 and flag it as stolen on your account as soon as possible. Reporting your bike as lost or stolen helps the police match its description and return it to you.

It's not too late for a flu jab

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging those most at risk of developing serious complications from seasonal flu, and who have not already done so, to get a free jab.

Dr Sian Owen, Immunisation Lead for the Health Board, said: ‘The annual seasonal flu immunisation campaign was launched in October and is one of the largest public health campaigns which the NHS runs to protect the population from flu infection."

 

Up to this week, 68.4 percent of people over 65 in North Wales have already had their jab but the target is for 75 percent to have the jab.

 

If you are due to have your 65^th birthday before the end of March 2013 you are eligible for a free flu jab. The GP practices still have flu vaccine available to give protection to their patients against flu virus.

Leigh Pusey, Nurse Immunisation Coordinator, said: “With the announcement that the flu season has now started in the UK, it’s particularly important for children and adults who have an ‘at risk’ condition such as diabetes, heart disease or any other long term condition such as lung, kidney or liver problems to have their seasonal flu jab. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible please contact your GP to check.

 

"It’s important to remember that the seasonal flu vaccine is safe and does not contain any live virus, so it cannot cause flu. Those who had a seasonal flu jab last year will need to get a new jab this winter. As the flu virus changes every year, the flu vaccine is updated to match the latest flu viruses circulating in the community.”

Practical tips to help avoid spreading germs to others and to help avoid infection yourself include always carrying tissues, covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use and cleaning your hands as soon as you can.

 

Talk to your local GP, nurse or pharmacist to find out more or visit the NHS Choices website at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Flu-jab/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Campaign aims to create foodie heaven in region

* A toast to the new Holy Grail Ale at Valle Crucis Abbey with Robert Price from Cadwyn Clwyd and 

Ynyr Jeffreys-Evans of Llangollen Brewery.

The Hamper Llangollen and Mold food festivals and a host of award-winning producers are to star in a campaign to transform North East Wales into a foodie heaven for visitors.

 

The aim is to give tourists a taste for the area so they have an appetite to come back again - and again.

 

It's all part of the drive by Tourism Partnership North Wales to make the region a top five UK destination for visitors.

 

The renown of Welsh lamb has already travelled far and wide with the likes of American President Barack Obama and the Pope tucking in.

 

But organisers say the Food North Wales campaign is about more than just lamb, beef and pork.

 

Apart from the award-winning butchers there are bakers and brewers, buffalo herders and bee-keepers, fudge, paté and cheesemakers, and even a purveyor of garlic products.

 

They will be showcased on the new Food North Wales website that's being hailed as a gateway to gastronomic delight.

 

The campaign will be officially launched at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy Valley on January 16.

 

Carole Startin, Marketing and Events Executive with Tourism Partnership North Wales, explained: "Food North Wales is all about bringing together for the consumer under one umbrella.

 

"We have wonderful food and drink that’s produced locally. As well as our marvellous meat, there are our fantastic vegetables and heavenly bread, exquisite liqueurs and fine ales - they are part of the wonderful taste of North Wales.

 

"The website will also include information about where to eat and drink and the latest news stories about the fine food available in North Wales.

 

"We are what we eat and food is an integral part of our identity, it helps embed our unique sense of place.

 

"It therefore makes perfect sense for the food sector and the tourism industry to work more closely together than ever to make it easier for the tourist to find some quality food and drink while they’re here on holiday in Wales - and also help with their research before they come."

 

"As a perfect complement to our fine produce and truly exceptional restaurants, we have some fantastic food festivals across North Wales such as Conwy Feast, Mold Food and Drink Festival, Hamper Llangollen and the 700-year-old Conwy Honey Fair.

 

"We also have the newly established Clwydian Range Food Trail and we'd like to see more trails like this developed."

 

It was a sentiment echoed by Tansy Rogerson, the Marketing Manager of the £6.5 million Bodnant Welsh Food Centre that was officially opened by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall last summer.

 

Ms Rogerson said: "We’ve got so many fantastic artisan producers on our doorstep as well as nationally in Wales that we need to shout about them.

 

"The purpose of this campaign is to tell people outside Wales about the fantastic food on offer and to signpost them to where they can find it.

 

"Increasingly people want to know where their food comes from and we have 100 per cent traceability with our meat.

 

"By supporting local producers, we are keeping the economy going as well as keeping and creating jobs in rural North Wales."

 

Dewi Davies, the Regional Strategy Director of Tourism Partnership North Wales, is a passionate advocate of the economic benefits of promoting the food sector.

 

He said: "Our vision is to make North Wales a top five UK visitor destination and our strategy is geared up to achieve this goal.

 

"To be successful we have to provide brilliant visitor experiences and food is a central part of these experiences.

 

"There were already a number of good food initiatives in different corners of North Wales but we felt it was important to have an all-encompassing campaign highlighting all the great food stories that we have across the whole of the region.

 

"We have some fantastic producers - like Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy, Snowdonia Cheese, Patchwork Paté and Halen Môn - and we need to make information about them available in an interesting way to our visitors.

 

"As part of the campaign, we will identify those places where you can actually buy all this wonderful food - whether it is the Blas ar Fwyd delicatessen in Llanrwst, Edwards the butcher in Conwy, the Bison Grill at the Rhug estate, Hawarden Farm Shop or indeed Bodnant Welsh Food where the launch is taking place.

 

"All this fantastic food gives people another reason to come to North Wales, another reason to dwell - and another reason to make a return visit."

 

For more information go to www.foodnorthwales.co.uk

Tributes to 17 year old who died after collision

On New Year's Day we reported the sad news that a 17-year-old youth had died from his injuries after being involved in a road traffic collision in Gwersyllt.

 

North Wales Police has just posted on its website this official tribute to him from his family: 

 

"The family of 17 year old Ian Gallagher have paid tribute to the selfless, loving student who died on New Year's Day following a road traffic collision.

 

* Ian Gallagher was training to become a soldier.

Ian's parents, Alan and Andrea, his brother Phillip, sister, Beth, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have been overwhelmed by the immense support from the student's friends and the local community.

Alan said: "The messages and the outpouring of support from the communities of Denbigh, Caerwys and Wrexham have been incredible, we have been so touched by the warmth of feeling from his many friends."

A former pupil of Denbigh High School, Ian was also well known in Caerwys, where his grandparents live.

Ian was well on his way to achieving his lifelong ambition of becoming a soldier. For the past six months Ian had been a student at the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT) in Wrexham and had started his application to join the Army.

Alan said: "In our eyes he was already a soldier, we are extremely proud of him and all that he achieved. Ian was never afraid to raise his head above the parapet and stand up for the right things. He cared deeply for his family and friends and always put others before himself."

Ian had a special place in his heart for the newest member of the Gallagher family, his nephew, nine month old Riley Jay.

Riley Jay's father, Phillip (Ian's brother) said: "Ian looked out for everyone. He loved Riley, the teddy bear he gave him for Christmas is a special present which we'll keep for him until he's older."

Alan and Andrea also paid tribute to all those who helped Ian following the collision which happened on the A541 Mold Road, Wrexham, during the early hours of New Year's Day.

Alan said: "The emergency services, the medical staff, those who were with him, we are deeply grateful for everything that they did for Ian, we cannot thank them enough."

Past year third wettest on record in Wales

The BBC news website is reporting his afternoon (Thursday) that the past 12 months have been the third wettest on record in Wales, according to figures released by the Met Office.

The total rainfall for Wales during 2012 was 1,716.2mm, while the wettest year was 2000 when 1828.6mm fell.

The unseasonal weather led to flash flooding which affected hundreds of homes and businesses in north Ceredigion last June.

Hundreds of homes in St Asaph and Ruthin in Denbighshire were also hit by floods in November.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20901018

Latest local roadworks

The county council has given details of the following roadworks in the area: 

·        A5 Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights until January 31 for retaining wall works by CCBC Bridges and Structures. 

·        Bryn Howel Road, Trevor, from the A539 to Plas Yn Pentre Farm, road closure from January 21 to February 1 for bridge works by DCC Bridges. 

·        Green Lane, Corwen, road closure from January 13 to February 24 for gas works by Wales & West Utilities.

KLS chair slams "march" of out-of-town developments

The chair of a group dedicated to preserving Llangollen’s small shops has hit out at what he calls the “continuing march of out-of-town developments”.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has just called on MPs to prioritise listening to local businesses and to help halt the decline of high streets.

It has recommended that taking action against the rising cost of doing business in the UK is the number one thing that MPs should do to help high streets.

The BRC is asking them to support calls for the government to freeze business rates, which are set to rise by 2.6% in 2013.

Mike Edwards, (pictured left) chair of Keep Llangollen Special which has strongly opposed the new Sainsbury’s store planned for the town, said: “This article is clearly aimed at Westminster MPs, but applies equally to Welsh Assembly politicians.

“However, the issue of high business rates raised by the BRC whilst being a real factor for independent businesses trading in the high street, masks the real problem of the continuing march of out-of-town retail developments.

“Despite having planning policies in place to protect town centres and sustainability to discourage increased vehicle journeys these are blatantly ignored when a corporate business comes along and waves its financial muscle at LPAs and WG.” 

He added: “The First Minister in his New Year message strongly states his aim to encourage new economic developments, but this is clearly to the detriment of local independent businesses and economies.  

“Government states that they wish to involve local communities in decision making, but in practice they and local authorities treat residents of communities with total disrespect and treat anyone who makes their views known as some sort of activist and politicians tell local communities what is good for them.  

“What is the point in allowing out-of-town super stores if that decimates a vibrant town centre and leads to businesses closing down and a loss of employment in those businesses? 

“In a separate article the BRC makes reference to an improved situation in vacant shop premises in town centres, but when you look at the figures the improvement is marginal and on average 14% of retail space is still vacant in town centres up and down the UK.”

Workers will benefit from tax changes says AM

New figures show that 224,124 workers in North Wales will benefit from the Conservative-led UK Government’s changes to income tax in April 2013 and 11,720 people in the region will be taken out of tax altogether.

 

That is the claim of North Wales Assembly Member and Shadow Minister for North Wales, Communities and Housing, Mark Isherwood, who said: “These figures demonstrate how Conservatives in Government are taking tough decisions to ensure work pays.

 

"They are ensuring a fairer tax system by providing support to individuals on low and middle incomes, and by increasing the rewards to work.

“Out of the 1.42 million tax payers in Wales, almost 1.1million workers in Wales will benefit from the Conservative-led UK Government’s changes to income tax in April 2013, with 57,007 people in Wales taken out of tax altogether.

“We now look to the Welsh Government to bring forward substantive plans to invest its £227million windfall from the Conservative-led UK Government in major infrastructure projects, which will help create conditions for economic growth in Wales.

“Under Labour the UK borrowed itself into trouble, now we have to earn our way out.”

AM brands rail fare rises as "unfair"

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has branded the latest rise in rail fare prices as ‘unfair’ to passengers in North Wales.

For the 10th year in a row ticket prices in Wales have risen above inflation, with average rail fares having gone up by 3.9% across England, Wales and Scotland.

The rises are designed in part to fund major infrastructure improvements over the next few years, but Mr Skates said it was “unfair” commuters in the region were being asked to pay higher fares without a major commitment to electrify the North Wales mainline.

He said: “This is the tenth year in a row that rail fares have been hiked up above inflation. In North Wales commuters are faced with a rail fare increase as real wages are stagnating and the cost of living is rising.

“In part the justification for this latest rise is to pay for the major infrastructure upgrades that are going to be happening over the next few years. My issue with this is that rail passengers in the region have not been given any sort of commitment about when an upgrade of the mainline in North Wales might take place.

“Electrification is now being timetabled on the Great Western Line between London and Swansea, the South Wales valleys lines will be electrified too and a major High Speed Rail (HS2) route is being planned through central Englandtowards Scotland.

“However, we in North Wales have not been given any indication that the extra money we will pay in rail fare increases over the coming years will go toward funding an electrification programme of the North Wales mainline. It is only fair that major increases in rail fares being paid for by passengers and local businesses are linked to infrastructure upgrades."

 

He added: “We need to see the business case for North Wales electrification progressed urgently and then a coherent plan, backed by both the UK and Welsh Governments, to get the North Wales mainline electrified as soon as possible.

“Research by the Campaign for Better Transport has highlighted that rail fare increases have run 20% higher than real wage rises over the last ten years and I believe that any future increases in rail prices in North Wales over the next few years should be linked to a major plan to provide quicker routes for passengers in the region.”

The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and independent campaign group Railfuture have both calculated that some rail fares have increased by 50% or more in the past 10 years.

The UK Government have said further fare rises are planned for January 2013 and January 2014 of RPI plus 1%.

Local journalist's spooky new e-book

* The cover of Spooky Man by Garth ap Thomas.

A local journalist has had his latest book published online.

Garth ap Thomas, who lives in Denbighshire and used to cover Llangollen when he worked on the Vale Advertiser from 1998-2006, is the author of Spooky Man, an e-book comedy-mystery story, which is available on Amazon.

When a manhunt involving armed police officers takes place in a remote Scottish village the Daily Gazette sends Maddie Jones to cover the story.

* Garth ap Thomas.

But Maddie's investigations reveal there is more going on than the search for a fugitive wanted for murder. She discovers evidence of a Government military project researching Extra Sensory Perception which has gone badly wrong.

To try to find out more Maddie enlists the help of stage psychic Simon Hall. The duo soon realise a killer is on their trail – but just who is it?

Spooky Man is a follow up to Am I Psychic? – Garth’s first e-book featuring the adventures of Maddie Jones and Simon Hall.

Further details are available by logging on to his website at www.garthapthomas.com.

Here, Garth has given llanblogger permission to bring you an extract from Spooky Man ….

“Madeline Jones. Stay there, don't move a muscle,” screamed the warning from the security guard. 

Maddie had been walking briskly through the car park in an attempt to get away from the office building as quickly as possible, but now she knew she'd been caught. She turned round with a feeling of deep dread, to see Kevin running up towards her. 

Kevin Thomas was the newest recruit to the security team at the Gazette offices, the newspaper where Maddie worked as a reporter. They were the same age, 19, and Maddie feared he fancied her.  

This was awkward as she definitely didn't reciprocate. Just because he was a security guard Kevin acted as if he was a special agent for the FBI, so immature. And a big head as well. 

Maddie had finished a tough day at work and now just wanted to get home, take a soak in the bath, have something to eat and watch a bit of TV.

After being spotted by Kevin on her way out she'd initially ignored his calls to come back. But as the barking continued, getting louder and more insistent, she realised pretending not to have heard was not an option. 

Maddie hoped Kevin wasn't going to ask her for a date. She'd heard he'd just split with his girlfriend and had been trying to persuade virtually any female at the Gazette to go to a curry night with him organised by his local football club. Kevin was a big footy fan. 

“Hi Kev." 

“At last, got you,” he panted. “You can't half cover some ground. Didn't you hear me shouting before? 

“No," Maddie replied, forcing her eyes not to blink. 

“You must need your ears syringing girl. 

“I love it when you talk hygienic Kev, but honestly I haven't got time for this,” said Maddie, spinning to turn round and get back on her way before he could ask if she wanted to go out. 

"Your boss phoned down as you were leaving the reception area, I've got a message for you." 

"My boss, which one?" 

"Susan." 

"OK." 

Susan Roberts was the Associate Editor. Kev said the message was that Maddie had to be in at the office an hour earlier than usual tomorrow. 

"Why," asked Maddie. She's been through a grueller today and already her free time to recover was being eaten into. 

"Susan said there was a job that might be coming up needing special attention. Couldn't give any more details at the moment." 

"This wouldn't be a wind up would it Kev? One of your hilarious little pranks?" Kevin was known to like practical jokes. 

"Cross my heart girl. Phone her now if you like. 

Maddie surveyed Kevin's face for clues. "I'll believe you," she said carefully. "My sixth sense tells me you're on the level, this time at least."

"Think you're a magician mind reader like that Harvey Houdini? Whatever, you've been told so I'm in the clear. Before you go there was something else I was meaning to ask you." 

Maddie's sense of dread suddenly shot up again. It was pretty obvious what Kevin was going to say. She decided to nip it in the bud. "Sorry Kev I don't like curry." 

He looked at her in amazement. "Are you psychic?" 

"No, voodoo." 

"Really," Kev asked, his eyes widening with ever increasing astonishment.

"Yeah I'm the high priestess of the Ridley Wood coven." 

"Ridley Wood?" 

"It's up west, near Notting Hill. Don't want to sound like a snob but I find you get a better class of witch round there. Now if you'll excuse me I've got to go home and stick pins in some dolls. See ya." 

With that she twitched her nose a couple of times and walked away.

Injured pedestrian dies in hospital, say police

A statement issued earlier by North Wales Police says: "The male pedestrian involved in a road traffic collision in Gwersyllt at 00.37am on Tuesday, January 1, died at hospital this evening.

"Investigations are still on going."

Pedestrian, 17, seriously injured in collision

The Daily Post is reporting today that a 17-year-old is seriously ill in hospital after a road accident in Gwersyllt early on New Year's Day.

The story says that the unnamed pedestrian was involved in a collision with a white Volkswagen Polo car at 12.37am.

He was rushed to Wrexham Maelor Hospital and is in a serious condition.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2013/01/01/teenager-seriously-ill-after-being-hit-by-car-in-wrexham-55578-32526366/

Minister's congratulations over recycling progress

 

Wales’s Environment Minister, John Griffiths, has congratulated people on their recycling progress over the past 12 month and has urged them to keep up the momentum in the New Year.

 

For the first time, Wales is recycling or composting more than half of its municipal waste - with the latest statistics showing that Welsh councils collectively recycled 53% of their waste in the first quarter of 2012/13.

This means that Wales continues to lead the rest of the UK on recycling and is on course to meet its first statutory target of 52%.

Despite such impressive results, the Minister stressed the importance of recycling even more to help reach Wales’s ambitious statutory recycling targets.

He reminded the Welsh public to reuse and recycle whatever they can in order to avoid unnecessary waste being sent to landfill.

The Minister said: “2012 has been a milestone year for waste and recycling in Wales.

"Our success is due to the hard work of local authorities and the commitment of the communities they serve – both of which should be very proud of the progress they have made.

“However, as we begin 2013 I urge everyone to do a little bit more and recycle everything we can to ensure Wales’s precious resources are maximised rather then sent to landfill.

"As people come up with their New Year’s resolutions, it would be great if they could pledge to recycle throughout the house not just in the kitchen, rinse their recyclables before putting them out for collection, or always use their food waste caddy for their kitchen leftovers.

“It is essential that such behaviours become part of our daily routines if we are to meet our challenging targets of 70% recycling by 2025 and zero waste by 2050.

“The past year has shown that the people of Wales recognise the importance of living more sustainably. I thank them for everything they have achieved during the last 12 months and look forward to seeing what we can achieve during 2013."

Happy New Year to you all!

llanblogger wishes a Happy and Prosperous New Year to all our readers.

Thank you for joining us during 2012 and we hope you stay with us as we head into 2013.

First Minister's New Year greetings

First Minister Carwyn Jones has wished Wales a Happy New Year and is calling on the country to come together to face the challenges of the global economy.

Mr Jones (pictured left) said: “As we say goodbye to 2012, let us look forward with optimism to 2013. No one is denying Wales, like the rest of the world, will continue to face some very real economic challenges. This will require all of us to work together, to unite as a country to face these tough times.

"I believe that despite the current climate we can come through these times stronger as a nation.

"I give my personal commitment to continue to make sure the Welsh Government does all it can to support our economy and help create jobs. I will sell the message to the world that Wales is ready and open to do business.

“We will continue to invest in our infrastructure, help our young people find jobs and maintain our drive to improve standards in our schools so we have the skills needed for the 21st Century.

“New Year is a time to put aside differences, a time for us to focus on family and friends and a time to look to the future.

"I wish all of you a Happy New Year!”

Talk Talk to sponsor Llangollen FC

Llangollen Football Club has received a £600 financial boost from TalkTalk, he home phone and broadband provider.

The club will be sponsored by TalkTalk for the next 12 months and the funding will be used to buy new training equipment.

Residents in Llangollen, Dinbren and Berwyn will also benefit from a £50,000 investment by TalkTalk, which is expanding its Next Generation Network to provide residents with access to fast, reliable, better value and more secure broadband.

Built into the broadband network itself and unique to TalkTalk is the network-level security service HomeSafe™.

Homesafe gives customers control over the type of websites their household can access across every single device that connects to the internet in their home.

Robert Evans, Chairman at Llangollen Football Club, said: “We are very pleased that TalkTalk has chosen to support Llangollen Football Club over the next twelve months. The donation has been used to purchase new training equipment."

Tristia Clarke, commercial director at TalkTalk, said: “By investing in the exchange in Llangollen TalkTalk will be able to bring our great value offers to even more families in the area and give customers access to our fantastic security service HomeSafe™.

"In this amazing Olympic year, TalkTalk is also delighted to be supporting sport at grassroots level up and down the country. Llangollen Football Club is a fantastic example of a local club engaging and enthusing the next generation to enjoy sport. We wish them every success with future endeavours."
  
By installing its own equipment in the local exchange, TalkTalk claims it can offer even better value services and innovative products to its customers.

The NGN enables speeds of up to 14mb and customers who have recently been upgraded to the new network experience an average increase in broadband speed of 50%.

Bids invited for Oakleigh by mid-January

* Agents say bids for Oakleigh should be in by January 18.

Anyone interested is buying Oakleigh, the former mental health facility in Abbey Road, Llangollen, now has just a couple of weeks to put in an offer for the property.

That’s the message from agents acting for the vendor, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The imposing property, which stands off the A5 in front of the eisteddfod field, has been empty for some years and is now being sold off by the board as surplus to its requirements.

A spokesman for agents Legat Owen’s Chester office, which is handling the sale, recently told llanblogger that Oakleigh had an asking price of £350,000 and that they had been contacted by a number of potential buyers.     

We have just heard again from Stephen Wade, director business space for Legat Owen, who said: “In view of the level of interest in Oakleigh we are inviting Best Offers by 1.00pm on Friday 18^th January 2013.

“Anyone wishing to be bid should register their interest with our office and we will provide them with a form for the submission of an offer.”

The sale details show that Oakleigh covers 306 square metres (3,293 square feet) on a site of 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres).  

The description continues: “Oakleigh comprises an attractive two storey period propertyfof brick construction under a pitched timber framed roof with clay tile covering.  

“Internally the property retains many of its original features.  

“The property has a rateable value of £10,000 and is available for sale freehold.  

“The property offers potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to securing the appropriate planning permission.  

“Planning permission has recently been granted for a change of use to a residential dwelling.”

Continued heavy rain leads to warning

The Daily Post is reporting tonight that on its website that Environment Agency Wales is asking people to remain alert to the risk of localised flooding as forecasts indicate that more heavy rainfall is likely to affect large parts of Wales.

See the story at:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/12/29/warning-to-remain-alert-as-more-heavy-rain-set-to-hit-wales-55578-32514450/

llanblogger now back in action!

Following our Christmas break, the llanblogger editorial team is now back in action and looking forward to providing readers with all the latest news - local, regional and national.

If you have got anything you share with readers, either from over Christmas or looking ahead into the new year, just get in touch with us at the usual e-mail address - llanblogger@gmail.com.

We're waiting to hear from you!