Chorister harmonises her pregnancy with eisteddfod date

* Vicky Wilson who sings with The Chanterelles choir

with daughter Daisy, 2, and fellow choir members

Bethany de Vries, left, and Suzanne Bottrill.

A SINGER from Market Harborough organised the timing of her pregnancy to make sure she could compete with her choir at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Alto Vicky Wilson was so determined not to miss out on competing with Leicestershire-based The Chanterelles in the female choirs section of the iconic cultural festival that she and her husband carefully worked out when they should conceive the baby.

And although 34-year-old Vicky will be have a sizeable eight-month bump at the time she takes to the Eisteddfod stage on Saturday, July 11, she says that shouldn’t affect her performance – because this will be the second time she’s done it!

Vicky, whose day job is working for Leicestershire County Council teaching Braille to blind children across the county, lives with her 36-year-old husband Jon at a farm just outside Market Harborough, and she began singing when she was just seven years old with a local youth choir.

Amongst its performance highlights was winning a number of trophies at Llangollen Eisteddfod back in the 1990s.

The all-girls choir, founded through Leicestershire Arts in Education, made their final appearance in 2001 after a decade of performing but a number of members came together again later to form The Chanterelles.

After a number of successful years The Chanterelles eventually disbanded but then reformed in 2009 as the result of a message that went out over social media, once again under their highly respected musical director, Dr Shirley Court, who had originally led the youth choir.

With an enthusiastic group of around 30 members The Chanterelles perform in a range of concerts and competitions and aim to set the highest professional standards.

The choir’s Llangollen Eisteddfod debut was in 2010 when it sang its way to first place in the female choirs section and in 2012 it returned to take second place in the same competition.

Vicky was part of the Leicestershire youth choir for one of its successful Llangollen appearances while she was still at school and returned to compete with The Chanterelles in 2012.

She said: “I happened to be expecting my first child, Daisy, at the time of that appearance three years ago and, coincidentally, was also eight months pregnant - just as I will be again when the choir comes back to Llangollen this July.

“I knew The Chanterelles were due to compete at the eisteddfod this summer and I desperately wanted to be with them as I love coming to Llangollen.

“My husband Jon and I had been planning a second baby and we worked things out for when it would be best for me to become pregnant, if I can put it that way!

“The choir has got two important dates coming up this summer – the Cork International Choral Festival in May and then Llangollen in July.

“We thought it was best for me not to give birth between the two appearances as far as looking after a new baby is concerned, so we arranged for my nine months to finish sometime after the eisteddfod.

“We got lucky first time with our planning. I found out I was pregnant just before Christmas and I’m due to give birth in August, which should be comfortably after the Llangollen appearance.”

Gethin Davies, Chairman of the Eisteddfod, said: “Singing at Llangollen clearly means a lot to Vicky and we’re delighted she enjoys it so much.

“It will be wonderful to see her and The Chanterelles here again this summer as they are a top class choir and I’m sure the singing will be proving good for her in her pregnancy.”

Vicky added: “I don’t think it will be too much of a problem being heavily pregnant at the eisteddfod as singing is good exercise and I’ve done it once before with my daughter Daisy, who is now two and a half.

“She really loves music and I’m not surprised as she was coming with me to rehearsals and performances, like the 2012 appearance, even before she was born.

“Daisy responds to any choral music she hears on TV but also likes more popular styles. She seems particularly fond at the moment of All About the Bass by the American singer-songwriter Meghan Trainor and Happy by Pharrel Williams.   

“The Chanterelles tries to compete quite regularly as it helps keep up our standards.

“Coming to Llangollen is a lovely experience because the level of competition is so high and this will be the third time I’ve been there – twice heavily pregnant.”

AM calls for fuel poverty to be given priority

In the week of Fuel Poverty Awareness Day, North Wales Assembly Member and Chair of the Cross Party Group on Fuel Poverty, Mark Isherwood, has called on the Welsh Government to give fuel poverty priority.

 

On Thursday Mr Isherwood co-sponsored and attended an Assembly event to mark Fuel Poverty Awareness Day.

 

Challenging the Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths AM, in the Assembly Chamber  the day before the event, Mr Isherwood described fuel poverty in Wales as endemic and questioned the omission of fuel poverty from the Welsh Government’s Tackling Poverty Action Plan.   

 

He said: “Interestingly, at UK level, as you know, the definition of fuel poverty was changed to move towards needs and resources. Of course, Wales has stuck to an income-based definition. But we heard from the Bevan Foundation and Joseph Rowntree Foundation about the omission of fuel poverty, which I understand is not in your brief now, from the Tackling Poverty Action Plan, which is within your brief, which they believed should be central to your Tackling Poverty Action Plan. What consideration are you giving to that, given that fuel poverty is endemic, and often a major contributory factor to wider deprivation and vulnerability?”

 

The Minister confirmed that fuel poverty isn’t in her portfolio, but in the Minister for Natural Resources.

 

Mr Isherwood  added: “Friday is Fuel Poverty Awareness Day—thanks to the campaign run by National Energy Action and National Energy Action Cymru. As they pointed out, Arbed and Nest are very welcome schemes. They partly fall in your portfolio, partly in your colleague’s portfolio, as they cross housing, poverty and fuel poverty.

 

“Over 98% of people living in fuel poverty fall outside that, but there is great work going on, across Wales, in many areas, to address that. What consideration, working with your colleagues, but within the Tackling Poverty Action Plan - which is the only plan we currently have - have you given to revising and updating the Fuel Poverty Strategy, to meet and reach the needs of those 98% of people?”

 

The Minister replied: “Both Arbed and Nest are actually in the Minister for Natural Resources’ portfolio, but tackling poverty is absolutely cross-Government.”

 

Mr Isherwood added: “The Minister has written to me to state that the Tackling Poverty Action Plan sets out actions and targets to help prevent and reduce poverty in Wales. Given that the Welsh Government has scrapped the Ministerial Fuel Poverty Advisory Group and failed to incorporate fuel poverty into its Tackling Poverty Action Plan, this should not be in another Minister’s portfolio and must be given priority.” 

Corwen railway extension officially opened

* Steam locomotive 3802 prepares to drive through a

symbolic banner stretched across the newly-extended track.

SCORES of invited guests braved a wintry St David’s Day to attend the official opening of the newly extended railway line between Llangollen and Corwen this afternoon (Sunday).

The special event, staged in a field just outside Corwen, marked the completion of the ambitious five-year scheme to run trains a further 2.5 miles west of the line’s previous terminus at Carrog.

It also came as the fulfilment of a dream going right back to 1975 when a team of dedicated railway enthusiasts began bringing part of the Dee Valley route back to life as a heritage railway after it was axed under the Beeching service cuts of the early 1960s.  

* Guests head towards the marquee for the ceremony.

As a regular passenger service now begins between Llangollen and Corwen for the first time in 50 years, it was revealed that plans are already taking shape for phase two of the plan to run trains from the new terminus near the car park in Corwen a further 500 yards right into the heart of the town and replace a temporary station and platform which has been built with permanent facilities.

And Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies, who has given his full backing to the extension project, said that although he estimated this development would cost in the region of half a million pounds, he would be doing all he could to see the trust which operates the railway is able to obtain secure financial assistance with the scheme.

A large party of invited guests, including local politicians and civic leaders, boarded a train hauled by a steam engine for the journey from Llangollen to the new temporary station designated Dwyrain Corwen East.

The opening ceremony began with the symbolic driving of the locomotive through a banner stretched across the track and continued with a rendition of the Welsh national anthem by the Glyndwr Male Voice Choir (pictured left) and Llangollen Silver Band.

As driving rain turned to sleet and then snow, railway vice-presidents Gordon Heddon and Bill Shakespeare unveiled a bilingual plaque bearing the name of the new station.

Railway chairman Peter Lund cut a ribbon to declare the new station officially open and members of the Corwen Community handed out complimentary daffodils to guests as they gathered in a marquee to hear further selections from the band and the choir.

Railway spokesman George Jones said: “With the opening of the extension to Corwen East the intention of all members of the railway is to look towards the development of the final section of the extension.

* Llangollen Silver Band plays at the ceremony.

“We of course need financial assistance to enable all this happen but, for what is a relatively modest outlay, the area will gain so much.

“If you consider the footbridge erected at Chirk Station, this cost over a million pounds.

“For somewhat less than that Corwen will receive a permanent platform, signal box, all the track, signalling and much more, plus access to the town’s main car park via a subway from the platform.”

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies, who was amongst guests at the ceremony, said: “The band of dedicated volunteers who run the railway have done a fantastic job over the past 40 years is driving the line forward as far as Corwen, overcoming every obstacle in their way.

“The second phase of the extension project, which will bring many benefits to both Llangollen and Corwen, must definitely now go ahead.

“I personally estimate that it will take about £500,000 to complete this and I am determined to see the railway trust is given every assistance in securing the necessary finance to complement its own fundraising efforts.”

 ... to all llanblogger readers ...

UB40 legend bound for eisteddfod

 

* Ali Campbell.

The music legend who formed one of the world’s top reggae bands will provide a high energy climax to a top festival, it's been revealed.

Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, has been snapped up by Llangollen International Musical Festival for their closing concert on Sunday, July 12.

He'll be reunited on the eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of UB40 - percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.

The concert is being sponsored by the award-winning Village Bakery, the fastest growing manufacturer in Wales.

Managing Director Robin Jones said: "As a locally based family firm, we are proud to have supported the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for a number of years.

"UB40 played an important role in the history of world music so it's appropriate that Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey are bringing the curtain down on this year's International Eisteddfod. It's going to be a great night."

 

The stellar line-up this year also includes Oscar-winning songwriter Burt Bacharach who'll open the festival on Monday, July 6, and classical heart-throb Alfie Boe who'll be performing songs from musical theatre and movies on the Thursday night, July 9.

 

The Eisteddfod's Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, said: "The concert with Ali Campbell, the legendary voice of UB40, with Astro and Mickey is going to be an absolutely fantastic night and I'm sure the pavilion will be bouncing.

"It will be a fitting climax to a really exciting week of really world class entertainment - I can't wait."

Campbell, who, along with Mickey, left the original UB40 in 2008, is enjoying playing to packed audiences around the world and is looking forward to his first visit to Llangollen.

But Campbell admits things just weren’t the same until Astro walked away from the remaining UB40 band members in 2013 and teamed back up with Mickey and himself.

He said: "We are back on our mission taking reggae music to the world.

“Llangollen, I can promise, won’t have ever seen a concert like the one we intend to put on. I know Status Quo were there last year, well I can promise you this, we’ll smash them."

Father-of-eight Campbell, now 56, was born and raised in Birmingham and says his love of reggae comes from the fact most of his early mates were of West Indian descent who listened to reggae most of the time.

He added: “Reggae just gives you something different, a freedom I suppose. It’s probably the youngest genre around but I listen to music from all around the world and the reggae influence is massive. It’s so influential.

“I was, in 1978, one of the founding members of UB40, along with Astro and Mickey. And I was the principle songwriter. We sold more than 70 million records worldwide and toured around the world for more than 30 years.

“We decided on the name UB40 as a friend of mine, Andy Nash, pointed out we were all on the dole at the time and suggested we name ourselves after the government’s Unemployment Benefit Form 40, or UB40 as it was known.

“It was probably a better choice for a band name than the one we had already sort of decided on, which was Geoff Cancer and the Nicorettes!

"I’ve been flying the flag for reggae ever since. We are in the middle of world tour which is going brilliantly. The simple truth is we are the hottest reggae band around. If you want real reggae and the real UB40 then it has to be us.

“In the last year we have performed in Australia and New Zealand, where I was one of the three judges on New Zealand’s Got talent, and Papua New Guinea.

"We are selling out wherever we go, people want to hear that true UB40 reggae sound and that’s what we are giving them.

“I just want to put on the best show possible and that’s what I promise UB40 fans who come to see our shows. Llangollen won’t have seen anything like it, it’s that simple.”

The concert will round off another packed week which will feature Children’s Day and the Parade of Nations on the Tuesday, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite before the evening Heart of Llangollen concert featuring a galaxy of international talent.

Highlights of Wednesday will include the debut of the International Young Musician of the Year and the Children’s Choir of the World while Thursday’s competitions will see another first, the International Voice of Musical Theatre Trophy.

Friday’s Open Category for choirs will showcase styles like gospel, barbershop, jazz, pop and glee styles and will also see the International Voice of the Future decided with the prize including the chance to sing at one of the evening concerts the future.

The Blue Riband event, the Choir of the World for the Pavarotti Trophy, is decided on Saturday night as well as the Lucile Armstrong Dance Final and Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert with Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey.

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2015 festival, go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Councillor welcomes "decline" in illegal off-roading

LLANGOLLEN county councillor Stuart Davies says he is pleased to see that electronic monitoring shows illegal off-roading in the hills above the town is “declining”.

Cllr Davies based his comments on a report from a county council officer which gives an update on data taken from a vehicle logger placed on the Allt y Badi, which has been at the centre of many complaints about unlawful off-roader use.   

The report says: “The Allt y Badi logger show signs of a continuing reduction of use by recreational vehicles on this popular road over the autumn and early winter especially with motorcycles.

“Whilst this may be a reflection on the wetter or icier weather conditions, as we do not yet have a full year’s data, we do not yet know if this reduction is unusual or typical.

“However, at each reading it is apparent that the combined average numbers of users declines each time it is calculated and in addition the number of days on which no vehicles at all using the route is increasing as a percentage of measured days.

“We are now aware that average weekly use is now 40 vehicles as week compared to nearly 60 during last spring, for 31% of the days so far logged there were no vehicles on the road that day.

“We will shortly have completed a year of monitoring and we will continue to monitor the levels of traffic to help determine the most appropriate management for the route.”

The report adds: “Two police action days this winter have seen a number of notices being issued, punative fines issued and bikes impounded.

“The reduction in use illustrates that the exercise is having a successful impact by reducing these riders confidence that they can break the law and evade being caught with the penalties of being caught are significant.

“Other evidence from the patterns of vehicle activity the loggers reveal means the police have better information on when it is most likely they can intercept and stop riders avoiding the need for unproductive operations when these riders will not likely be present.”

Cllr Davies said: “I am pleased to see that illegal off-road riding use is declining.

“This comes after a joint meeting of stakeholders and authorities where the issues identified by the community were brought to the table by elected representatives.

“Issues were identified and outcomes agreed by the relevant authorities.”

He added: “I would like to thank the officers involved as well as North Wales Police for their swift reaction and firm dealings with people caught riding and driving illegally.
“County officers along with their colleagues are continuing to make sure that illegal use of green roads etc is punished.”

Demolition proceeds on former D&C factory

 

Pictures taken this afternoon (Thursday) by llanblogger show how demolition work is proceeding on the former Dobson & Crowther factory on the A5.

The site is earmarked for the construction of a new Sainsbury's supermarket but the store chain is yet to reveal how the scheme is affected by its current review of new store openings.

Traffic survey appeal deadline speeds closer

* Busy Castle Street in Llangollen.

The clock is ticking on a public appeal for cash to help pay for a survey into traffic conditions in the centre of Llangollen.

The local Cittaslow group is backing a plan to take on traffic management specialists Hamilton Baillie Associates to carry out a study into how best to the handle conflicting traffic needs in the town – parkers, shopkeepers and pedestrians.

While a full blown survey by the firm which created a ground-breaking scheme for Poynton in Cheshire would be £10,000, Cittaslow has opted for a brief one-day appraisal costing just £1,000.

Town councillor Phil Thane is fronting a public appeal to raise the cash and he revealed that with just five days left to the deadline, there’s still £350 to be raised.

He said: “We are not doing a public opinion survey that carries no weight, we're getting a professional opinion.

“We have been backed by AXA Insurance' Roadsafe scheme which has pledged £250.

“One of our Castle Street shopkeepers has pledged £50, and another £20, so how about a few quid from the others?

“With just a few days left to the Tuesday, March 3 deadline to find the extra £350 we really need support.”

He added: “Everyone grumbles about Castle Street.

“Drivers in a hurry to get through would like all parking banned, pedestrians would like safe crossings, shopkeepers need to load and unload and want more parking for their customers, tourists want a pleasant place to stroll.

“At the moment we have the worst of all possible solutions, some legal parking, some illegal parking, double yellows down one side giving motorists the illusion of a clear road - until they meet a large vehicle coming the other way, and pedestrians running the gauntlet.

“The only good thing is that it's so chaotic the traffic is usually slow and there haven't been any serious accidents.

“We think it could be better, but it needs a new vision not just the county council putting down some more paint and harrassing shopkeepers.

“Poynton's problems were much worse than ours in Llangollen, and they've been fixed.

“The town council budget is tiny, and tight, so we're asking the community to get behind this.”
To find out more, go to: http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/people-traffic-in-llan/

Susan Elan Jones repeats call for MPs' second jobs ban

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has repeated her call her call for MPs to be banned from having second jobs.
Ms Jones, who spent 15 years working for charities before she became an MP, said: "I spoke out on this subject last October in the House of Commons, when I was actually boo-ed by some Conservative MPs from the other side of the Chamber.

"These are the very same people that won't legislate to stop abuses of zero hours contracts, a practice that is making a life a misery for so many families in our area. 

"I am glad that the Labour Party is leading a proper debate on the issue today and that there will be a vote too."

Today's Labour motion states: “That this House believes that, as part of a wider regulatory framework for second jobs, from the start of the next Parliament no hon. Members should be permitted to hold paid directorships or consultancies.”

Council tax bills set to rise by 3.09%

Denbighshire County Council has confirmed its budget for the 2015/16 financial year, meaning that council tax bills will increase by 3.09% in total.

This means that the average council tax bill for a Band D property will be £1,422.40, compared with £1,379.73 in 2014/5.

The Council Tax bill comprises three elements; the county council; the city, town and community councils and the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales. The increase set for the County Council was 2.75%.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: "We have tried to keep council tax increases as low as possible, as Denbighshire residents tell us regularly that is what they would like to see happen.

"We have set and agreed this budget at a time of severe financial constraints, with protection for education, substantially protecting funding levels to social services and putting additional funding in to the corporate plan.

"This budget is set at a time of unprecedented change for the organisation. However, we are pleased that we have been able to agree a budget that sets clearly how we are going to manage our finances over the next 12 months.

"We can also reassure residents that despite the cuts being implemented, we are fully committed to providing the best possible service for the people of Denbighshire."

Bumper half-term bodes well for Splash Magic

‘Fantastic’ half-term figures have been reported at a former council leisure centre taken over by the community.

Last week saw thousands go through the doors at Splash Magic in Acrefair, providing precious income which will be key to the venture’s long-term viability.

It was recently reported that the popular facility, formerly known as Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, was operating at a £400,000-a-year loss under the council’s ownership, but the future looks brighter under the social enterprise model.

And with uncertainty over the future of council-run Waterworld centre in Wrexham, Splash Magic could soon be the only not-for-profit facility of its kind in the county borough.

Splash Community Trust chairman Darrell Wright said the team of volunteers still ‘can’t get carried away’ despite a successful first three months since the centre reopened on December 6.

He said: “We’re thrilled to have had some really busy weekends and to have had such fantastic numbers during half-term, and it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

“But we can’t get carried away, because we will need many more bumper weeks and months if we’re going to make sure Splash stays open.

“We’re still short of the 600 monthly memberships we need to tick over, but we’re certainly in a much better position than we were a year ago and than many thought we would be in.”

Darrell, who lives in Trevor, said the Trust owes ‘another huge thank you’ to Coleg Cambria students, who have agreed to undertake a variety of maintenance jobs at Splash including tiling, welding and joinery.

“The college’s support has been brilliant, invaluable really. Any work the students have done has been completed to a very high standard and they have saved us a lot of money, which is vital when every penny counts.”

Volunteers are still needed to help out at Splash. If you are interested, call Darrell on 07882 947804 or the centre on 01978 821600.

Calls for safe standing at the Racecourse ground

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Aled Roberts, has today called on the First Minister to support calls for safe standing areas in football grounds and to engage in talks with Wrexham FC and Glyndwr University to secure safe standing areas at The Racecourse ground.

 

Commenting after raising the issue in the Siambr today, he said: “Current UK legislation means that all football grounds in England and Wales are on a seating only basis. Additionally, UEFA and FIFA require any club holding an international match to have an all-seating stadium.

 

“However, safe standing areas are becoming a hugely popular idea for fans at domestic matches and would be welcomed in many town and cities should this legislation change.

 

“Fans have been calling for safe standing areas in grounds for some time now. Should UK legislation change, there is no reason why the new, adaptable seating and standing arra ngements already in place in Germany can’t be put in place at grounds like The Racecourse.

 

“The First Minister agrees with me that having international matches in north Wales again would be a fantastic boost, and appropriate investment coupled with representation from the Welsh Government could see the changes being made.

 

“It is now crucial that the First Minister works with the relevant bodies to ensure that Welsh calls for safe standing areas are heard, and that any future investment at The Racecourse ground should accommodate scope for safe standing areas."

New Wrexham prison will be operated by HMPS

* An artist's impression of the new Wrexham Prison.

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous has today (Tuesday) announced that the new prison in Wrexham will be operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service (HMPS).

The prison, which is due to open in 2017, will be run by an innovative new approach that will see the best of the public, voluntary and private sectors working together.

HMPS will take overall ownership of the prison but with 34% of service provision outsourced – including a large industrial workshop complex.

Prisons Minister Andrew Selous said: "I am pleased to announce that the new prison in North Wales will be operated by Her Majesty’s Prison Service as part of an innovative new approach to running prisons.

"Our combination of benchmarking and outsourcing services is saving taxpayers around £300 million a year and now it will allow us to deliver a truly efficient prison in Wrexham that is based on best practice from the opening of previous prisons.

"This prison reflects the true success of our reforms in helping to create a modern low-cost prison estate, and is proving a real boost to the North Wales economy with £1.1 million already committed to local companies – well ahead of the £250,000 target for 2014.

"The £212 million investment will provide good quality prison accommodation that delivers value for the taxpayer by reducing the cost per prisoner place. Recent reforms have already saved significant sums for taxpayers, and continuing to create a modern low cost prison estate is essential to further reduce the overall cost of the prison system.

"Once operational the North Wales prison will also bring a huge benefit to the area, boosting the regional economy by around £23 million a year and create up to 1,000 jobs."

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said: "The new prison in Wrexham will provide a massive boost to North Wales by generating opportunities for local businesses and creating hundreds of jobs in the area.

"This is all part of our long term plan to help rebalance the economy and invest in world class infrastructure across the whole country."

The prison will provide around 2,100 Category C places for male offenders from North Wales and North West England, including a small remand function serving the courts in North Wales.

It will include places for education, 12 large workshop spaces, and resettlement functions, helping offenders who will be held closer to home reintegrate into their communities on release.

The Ministry of Justice has also been working closely with Welsh devolved health and education services to develop suitable models for the prison and will continue to work with the Welsh government and other partners to agree the necessary resourcing as delivery requirements are finalised.

Construction is currently underway in Wrexham and the first houseblock is due to start taking prisoners from early 2017.

Welcoming the news, North Wales Assembly Member Aled Roberts said: "A prison run by the public sector with support from the voluntary and private sectors offers the best solution to the questions some critics have raised” commented Aled Roberts AM.

 

“I think this solution has the potential to offer a new way forward by bringing together the voluntary and private sectors under the leadership of the Westminster Government’s Prison Service.

 

“This will make the running of the prison directly accountable to Government.  But at the same time it will offer the innovation of the private sector and the enthusiasm of the voluntary sector to the running of specialist services such as the large industrial workshop complex that is being planned.

 

“When I was Wrexham Council leader I actively supported the development of a new prison in Wrexham for the jobs that it would bring and for the improved support local prisoners could  receive from their families nearer home. 

 

“Over the years councillors from all parties and none have worked together in Wrexham to make the building of a new prison in Wrexham a reality. My only concern now is that politicians in Cardiff and London work together to make sure that transport, police, health and other public services are allocated extra investment so they can cope with the extra demands the prison will make.”

Social care chief welcomes new legislation

* Mario Kreft.

 

A social care leader has welcomed new legislation to beef up regulation of the sector but warns it will not work unless there is a "fundamental change of culture".

 

Mario Kreft MBE, the Chair of Care Forum Wales, it was vital to "change the DNA in Wales to ensure everybody involved in worked together in collaboration.

 

Care Forum Wales are also calling for the people from local authorities and health boards who commission social care services to be regulated so that their decisions are based on quality not price.

 

The new law to strengthen the regulation and inspection of the social care sector was announced by Health Minister Professor Mark Drakeford.

 

According to the Welsh Government, care home owners will become more accountable for the services they provide to protect children and adults.

 

Prof Drakeford said the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill, would put delivering success at the heart of a "revised and streamlined legal framework".

 

Mr Kreft said: "“Care Forum Wales would want to support the overall thrust of the legislation.

 

"It is some time since the current regulations and legal system were put in place and, as the minister said, we’ve got many more people with complex needs receiving services at home.

 

"The people living in care homes have very complex needs, much more so than 20 years ago.

 

"It is therefore absolutely the right time on the back of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, which has created this new framework, that we now match that with a new regulatory framework, and there are certain aspects that we would certainly welcome.

 

"But there are also areas of concern. The reality is that in Wales today we have a struggling health and social care system.

 

"It's struggling because of demand and because we are not harnessing the resources that we already have at our disposal.

 

"People in Wales are not working in partnership in the way that the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has shown in other parts of the UK makes a real difference in terms of efficiency of resources, quality of service delivery through what we call relationship centred care.

 

"Unfortunately, this new legislation will change little unless we really harness all the resources at our disposal and particularly recognise that social care is a fundamental cornerstone of the NHS in Wales.

 

"Independent social care in Wales is being decimated by flawed commissioning practices which put price before quality.

 

"As a result, morale in the sector among providers and the workforce is very low.

 

"It means we cannot attract enough of the right quality of people, because the economic model that most local authorities are using does not make it possible to make this a career to be proud of with all the things that you would expect for those skills.

 

"While the big stick will always be what you require when things go terribly wrong, we’ve really got to have a new approach.

 

"We are calling for the commissioners from local authorities and health boards to be regulated in their commissioning strategies and procedures.

 

"At the moment, the way social care is commissioned does not support quality services and this is backed up by the findings of the recent report by the Commissioner for Older People.

 

"We’re really talking about what the Commissioner for Older People also wants - that’s a better quality of life. It has to be about support, it has to be about, building for the future, and particularly respecting and valuing social care workers who provide those services.

 

“The most important thing that we can do in Wales is to change within our DNA so that we work collaboratively and see social care as a great positive, as a part of our community in the way that it underpins the economy and the NHS - and underpins indeed our society.

 

"We’ve had now nearly 20 years whereby social care funding for independent sector organisations has been held within local authorities.

 

"The progress that we’ve made is lamentable. Yes there are pockets of good practice, but that’s not good enough for a small nation of three million people. We should have got this right by now.

 

"This new law will go some way, but if we don’t fundamentally change the way we do business, if we don’t fundamentally change the way we work collaboratively, if we don’t fundamentally value providers and their workforce and just hit them when it goes wrong, then quite frankly this will not make the progress and provide the framework that the minister wants it to do."    

County launches new online service

Denbighshire County Council's Revenues and Benefits Department have launched a new on-line service offering customers secure online access to their benefit claims, Council Tax accounts and Business Rates accounts via the internet.

Among the many features available, customers will be able to log in and:

• view their own benefit claim details
• view their own account balances and payments
• report changes in their circumstances
• make payment arrangements and apply for discounts
• view notification letters and bills that we have issued to them
• choose to receive email notifications instead of paper bills and letters

A council spokesman said: "This is a huge step forward in our continuing efforts to keep improving services for our customers, who can now access their details at their own convenience and make use of the new online services listed above, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

To register for any of these services, click register here|.

Brave Rowan aims to sing at eisteddfod

 

 

* Rowan Gillard with one of his singing trophies.

 

A TEENAGER who suffers from a life-threatening form of asthma may be one of the first children in the UK to try a new drug, to make sure he is well enough to perform at this year's Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Chorister Rowan Gillard's family say singing is helping to keep him alive, as the deep breathing involved alleviates the symptoms of the 'brittle asthma' which has landed him in hospital many times, including a spell on a life support machine as a small child.

 

Last year Rowan had to be hospitalised after a severe attack, and his family agreed for him to be injected daily with high doses of steroids, to make sure he was strong enough to perform at the 2014 International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.

 

Now doctors are investigating whether he can be approved to try high doses of a drug called Ciclesonide, which has just been licensed for children with asthma in the UK, to ensure he is strong enough to make the journey to North Wales again this July for the Eisteddfod which takes place from Tuesday, July 7, to Sunday, July 12. 

 

Schoolboy Rowan, aged 15, sings with the Highcliffe Junior Choir in Dorset, and says he looks forward to his week in Llangollen each year.

 

He said: “It would be really disappointing if I couldn't go to the Eisteddfod, because it's a really fun week. It's such a great opportunity.

 

“I've been singing for years but Llangollen is about the only time that I get nervous. The scale of it, you never realise how big it is until you get there The audience is about 5,000 people and it's a significant part of my life to be able to do it.”

 

In a piece for his school newsletter after the 2014 event, Rowan's fourth International Eisteddfod, he wrote: “Eistedfodd day, is (for me) the highlight of the week, I love the feeling of being on stage, especially in Llangollen, the sheer size of it is a daunting prospect but the adrenalin rush that you get from it is second only to being on a roller coaster!”

 

Rowan, who has two brothers, Callum, 20, and Aiman, 13, has been singing with the choir since he was eleven. He said: “Singing has been part of my life for a very long time. And I can only compare not doing it to when I don't have a lot of medication, my breathing gets worse. 

 

“I don't know how it helps because I'm not a scientist. All I know is that singing does alleviate the symptoms.”

 

Mum Alison, a nurse, said the deep breathing that comes with singing helps Rowan to expel carbon dioxide-filled air from his lungs.

 

She said: “Singing is so good for his lungs.

 

“Rowan has brittle asthma. It means that his condition is very unstable and it's very difficult to control. For the first seven years of his life he was in and out of hospital, and he did have to be taken into intensive care at one point and that was really scary because we thought he might not survive.

 

“Then he had a seven year gap where it eased up, but when he was 14 it flared up again and he was very ill indeed last year.

 

“He had to be taken into hospital to have massive doses of steroids through a drip, for three days, every 28 days, for four months. We timed it with the doctors to make sure he could go to the Eisteddfod.

 

“When it's bad it's very serious. He becomes totally debilitated because he can't breathe, he has disturbed sleep, he can't do exercise. It’s awful to see him struggling like that because he literally can't get enough air.”

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “This is a really uplifting story about the tremendous bravery of this young man and what singing does for him.

 

“It is a joyful thing and it is good for you and we so hope to welcome Rowan and his family here again this year – and for many years to come.”

 

Alison was concerned Rowan would have to have the same course of hospital treatment this year, to ensure his condition was stable enough and he was strong enough to spend a week away from home. One of the side effects of taking the steroids is that it makes Rowan appear “puffed up”.

 

But doctors have now said they want to see if they can instead try him on a strong inhaler using a steroid called Ciclesonide, which has only recently been licensed for children with asthma in the UK, as it can cause stunted growth. He would have to take four puffs of a high dose, twice a day and monitor his condition.

 

Both Alison and Rowan are keen to let other children with asthma know about the benefits of singing – and that even if they are very ill it can actually help rather than be another thing they can’t do.

 

Alison said: “Most people don't appreciate its not getting the air in that's the problem, it's getting the tainted air out, which is full of carbon dioxide. When you are singing you have to control your breathing and it helps push that contaminated air out.”

 

“He generally just gets on with life because he's never known any different, but he does get fed up when he's not well.

 

“Last week he couldn't go to practise because he was so ill. He texted me to say he felt awful and he couldn't make the walk from school to choir and I had to go and pick him up.

 

“He hates missing it, because aside from enjoying it, he knows it does him good.

 

“Singing is his passion, and the Eisteddfod is the thing he looks forward to all year.”

 

Despite his asthma Rowan had a very successful 2014, picking up the Vocal Cup for Most Promising Boy Singer at the Southampton Festival of Music and Dance and his own choir awarded him the Amada Ditt trophy for the Most Expressive Singer in the Christchurch area.

 

Mary Denniss (corr) who runs the Highcliffe Junior Choir, which has 30 members, aged between 12 and 18, is also a vice-president of the Eisteddfod and has been bringing the choir to Llangollen since 1978.

 

She said: “Rowan is one of the keenest choir members, he always turns up full of beans and works really hard to make sure he's included in everything. It's incredible the effort he puts in and it's a pleasure to work with him.”

 

If Rowan is one of the stars of this year’s Eisteddfod then there are many others including American song-writing legend Burt Bacharach who will open the concert programme on Monday night, July 6.

 

There is also top UK tenor Alfie Boe, who will sing songs from the Musicals at the Thursday evening concert, one of the highlights of another packed week which will begin on Tuesday with Children’s Day and the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite before the evening Heart of Llangollen concert featuring a galaxy of international talent.

 

Wednesday’s programme will include a new competition for the International Young Musician of the Year as well as the Children’s Choir of the World while Thursday’s competitions will see another first, the International Voice of Musical Theatre Trophy.

 

Friday’s Open Category for choirs will showcase styles like gospel, barbershop, jazz, pop and glee styles and will also see the International Voice of the Future decided with the prize including the chance to sing at one of the evening concerts the following year.

 

The Blue Riband event, the Choir of the World for the Pavarotti Trophy, is decided on Saturday night as well as the Open Dance competition and Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

 

The feelgood atmosphere spreads out to the Eisteddfod field through the week as hundreds of competitors and thousands of visitors mingle with spontaneous performances breaking out.

 

Visitors can enjoy live music at the 200-seat S4C Stage, join in with dance workshops or just soak up the heady atmosphere throughout the week world-class competitors perform in a spectacular celebration of cultures with stunning choral music and lively traditional dance, especially on Folk Friday when the outdoor stages will feature world-class music and dance.

 

To book tickets and for more details on the 2015 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

 

No cash for new footbridge says health chief

NO cash is currently available for a new footbridge over the River Dee making it easier for pedestrians to reach Llangollen’s new health centre.

That is the word from Geoff Lang, director of strategy for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which is building the £5m facility on the site of the old River Lodge on the A539.

Campaigners have been complaining since plans for the centre were first drawn up as a replacement for the town’s closed-down Cottage Hospital that pedestrians would find it difficult to reach the building because of its location on a busy road with restricted pavement access.

Then last September it was revealed by Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates that health chiefs are seeking European cash to fund the building of a footbridge.

Mr Skates said at the time that he had also asked the Welsh Government to examine the feasibility of a road bridge over the Dee to further enhance access to the site.

Now, in a message from Mr Lang to North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood, a copy of which has been sent to local health campaigner Martin Crumpton and seen by llanblogger, hopes for a bridge appear to have suffered a setback. 

Mr Lang tells Mr Isherwood: “We have pursued the potential for European funding, and received a response from the Welsh European Funding Office indicating that such a proposal would not be considered as a priority for European Regional Development Funding. 

“In addition the Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council has explored the possibility of charitable funding and have established that there is no suitable fund to bid against at this time. 

“On this basis there doesn’t appear to be a realistic prospect of progressing with a footbridge at this time.  The DVSC will, however, monitor the situation through their grant finder software and will let us know if any opportunities arise in the future.”

Mr Lang also gives his response to discussions with Mr Isherwood about the issue of roadworks on the A539 in connection with the construction of the health centre.

He says: “The current A539 lane closure will run until the completion of the Dee Valley water main installation – which is on programme to complete on the 25^th of February 2015.

“The road will then re-open between 25 February 2015 and 23 March 2015 - which will allow the locomotive movements to and from the gala events scheduled for the weekends of 7/8 March 2015 and 14/15 March 2015.

“A lane closure will then come back into operation from 23 March 2015 until 21 May 2015 to allow further Highway works to be undertaken.

“However there will be two ‘embargo’s’ during this period where the A539 will open again without any traffic management in place - these being Easter, from 2 April 2015 to 13 April 2015 inclusive and May Day Bank Holiday 30 April 2015 to 6 May 2015 inclusive.”

Campaigner slams hospital redevelopment plan

* The empty and derelict Cottage Hospital.

A PLAN to tear down Llangollen Cottage Hospital and replace it with a dozen affordable new homes has been branded as a “disgrace and a scandal” by a campaigner.

Martin Crumpton, who opposed the closure of the Victorian hospital in Abbey Road two years ago, made the comments after learning that an application for the development by a housing association could finally be considered by Denbighshire’s planning committee at its March meeting.

The scheme involves the redevelopment of the old hospital site after the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

Also involved in the scheme is the development of an ancillary car park opposite the hospital and the erection of a further six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

Mr Crumpton said: “I have just learned from the county’s principal planning officer Ian Weaver that the application could go before the committee next month, which means that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s plans for the hospital appear to be in disarray as it was originally due to be considered last December.

“The pressure to demolish this Llangollen heritage building has never made any sense. It can’t be the need to housing since that isn’t in the health board’s province, and the land reserved in the long-delayed Local Development Plan hasn’t even been looked at, so we can eliminate that as a source of pressure.

 

“The need for beds is far more urgent – desperate, in fact – and campaigns are still running to re-open those closed.

 

“It is a scandal. It is a disgrace.

“I have no hesitation in levelling the accusation that the board of Betsi Cadwaladr and the Welsh Health Minister of knowingly and wilfully exposing the inhabitants of Llangollen to harm.”

* Details of the planning application can be found on the county council’s website at:  http://planning.denbighshire.gov.uk. Its reference number is 03/2014/0472.

llanblogger reader Derek Foster commented:

"I totally agree that it should be retained and put back as a hospital, certainly for minor injuries especially with the railway workshops close by. There is also the consideration of bats which live there.

"The main complaint of visitors to the railway is the lack of parking space and now the little car park that was the hospital's will be lost."