Earthquake-hit Nepalese dancers to appear at Eisteddfod

 

 

* Todd Lochhead on the Nepal stand on the Eisteddfod field.

A GROUP of young dancers from Nepal who endured the earthquakes which devastated their country will take centre stage at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on Saturday.

 

Thanks to a major fundraising drive, more than 30 members of the Rising Culture Group from the World Heritage site of Bhaktapur, about 10 miles from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu and around 100 miles from Mount Everest, had been planning to travel 5,000 miles to compete at the Eisteddfod this week.

 

Then their dream of coming to Llangollen suffered a huge setback when their region was shattered by two massive earthquakes within weeks in April and May, which claimed thousands of lives and caused widespread destruction.

 

But thanks to the man who has been the guiding force behind their Eisteddfod appearance and their own determination, a token contingent of five group members have been making their way to Wales this week and will now perform their traditional mahkali mask dance on the main stage at Llangollen at 1.30pm on Saturday.

 

New Zealander Todd Lochhead, the man leading the effort to bring the dancers to the Eisteddfod, first saw Rising Culture perform when he was working as a teacher at the Rising English School where they based in Bhaktapur, which is run by his friend Kapil Banebepali and his wife Chandika.

 

He was so impressed by their colourful routines, which date back hundreds of years, that he became determined they should be given an international showcase at Llangollen.

 

Since the earthquakes, 46-year-old Todd, who works as a financial consultant in Bristol, has kept in constant touch with the group and personally shared their tribulations on two visits to Bhaktapur.

 

He was shocked by the destruction on the ground which saw many homes, shops and commercial buildings totally destroyed.

 

Around 600 people in the town are thought to have died, mainly in the first quake.

 

Many people from the surrounding area sought sanctuary in the school building which was left largely untouched because of its concrete construction, sleeping in the open on matting in the courtyard and sharing meagre supplies of food.

 

Although all members of the group survived, some lost relatives.

 

But, despite what they had suffered, the group remained determined that at least some of them would make it to Llangollen.

 

And after overcoming visa problems, five of them in their twenties and early teens will appear at the Eisteddfod on Saturday.

 

Todd said: “All of them apart from one have never been out of Nepal before, so this is a great adventure for them which they are all looking forward to immensely.

 

“Every step of the way their determination to make it to Llangollen has been unstoppable.

“This will be an absolutely new experience for them.

 

“They have obviously been through some very trying times but I know they will grasp this opportunity to shine at the Eisteddfod.”

 

He added: “They are all excited about performing their mask dance, accompanying themselves on their traditional dhimmy drums and flutes.

 

“And of course they will all be wearing their fantastically colourful costumes, the origins of which go back centuries.

 

“People who see them are in for a real treat.”

 

All this week Todd has been running a stand on the field, donated by Eisteddfod organisers, selling a range of craft items, including soft toys, jewellery, pashminas and bags, to raise money for the Nepal earthquake appeal.

 

Todd said: “The Eisteddfod has been great in helping us to set up the stand.

 

“We’ve had a lot of interest from visitors and sold quite a few items, which is fantastic as every penny we raise will help people who have lost so much in the marvellous country I first fell in love with 20 years ago.”

 

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths was delighted the group is to appear.

He said: “They will be on stage just before the dance competitions begin, which is always sees the auditorium full.

 

“The work which has gone on behind the scenes to see that this group gets to Llangollen has been phenomenal.

 

“We are honoured to have them because when someone’s country has been devastated to the extent theirs has the last thing you’d expect them to do is travel across the world to perform.

 

“The fact that they have is quite magical.”

 

Comedian Silky helps spice up Llan food show

Top standup comedian Silky will swap jokes for yolks when he gives a cookery demonstration at a food festival.

 

The red hot gig at Hamper Llangollen in October will be a first for the comedian and musician who says simple egg dishes and exotic spices are among his favourite foods.

 

Silky (pictured left), a regular favourite at the Edinburgh Festival, is already familiar with the venue because he's performed his stand-up routines at the Llangollen pavilion many times.

 

“I’ve never gigged in a kitchen before, but I believe in experimenting,” said the entertainer who can play seven different musical instruments.

 

“When the organisers asked me to do a slot at Hamper Llangollen, I thought, why not? I can multi-task!”

 

It is expected that this year’s 19^th annual event on the weekend of October 17 and 18 will again attract thousands visitors to browse over 120 stalls at Llangollen’s Royal International Pavilion.

 

Supported by rural development agency Cadwyn Clwyd, the event in Llangollen’s Royal Pavilion is recognised as one of the UK's top 10 food festivals.

 

Cadwyn Clwyd’s contribution comes via the Rural Development Fund for Wales 2007-2013, which is funded through the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government.

 

While Silky promises plenty of light-hearted banter with the crowd, he says the food itself will be no laughing matter, with high quality local ingredients to the fore.

 

Hot tips on cooking up some fantastic, original recipes are already brewing in his vivid imagination, though he is eager to point out he has no ambitions to become a professional cook.

 

“I do love cooking and I enjoy trying out new ingredients,” said the native Liverpudlian whose career in comedy was launched when a friend persuaded him to enter the BBC New comedy Awards in 1994.

 

In the years since, Silky, who now lives in Leeds, has worked virtually non-stop, performing all around the world in addition to touring the UK circuit. His stand up act including self-penned songs and music is consistently a highlight at the Edinburgh Festival and he has a huge fan base in North Wales arising from his Killforaseat comedy shows regularly staged at Llangollen Pavilion, Venue Cymru, Llandudno and Clwyd Theatr Cymru, Mold.

 

The announcement that he is to join the line-up of star turns at Llangollen’s increasingly popular annual food festival is sure to win him yet more fans.

 

Hamper Llangollen is one of the most prestigious events on the UK culinary calendar, hosting more than 100 local and international exhibitors, along with demonstrations by professionals.

 

Travelling so much through work has afforded Silky the opportunity to try out lots of different food styles. He is a big fan of Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian and Mexican dishes and says he may draw inspiration from them for his festival menu.

 

He does not adhere strictly to recipes but likes to be creative with different types of food.

 

“Lately I’ve been playing with cauliflower and I’m loving it, particularly roasted and spiced. I’m also into soups. I often make a big batch of soup and freeze some so I can have it as a nutritious light meal before or after a gig,” he said.

 

He enjoys curries and will not shy away from the hottest chillies but he never adds heat to food just for the sake of it.

 

“I like a good curry but always used to go for mild kormas, then I thought why am I limiting myself to one style? Let’s try something different. Suddenly a whole new world of spices opened up to me. But I’m not a macho spice man. I only like the heat if it adds flavour and aromas.”

 

He’s equally at home with simple dishes – eggs, mushrooms and fresh asparagus, or comfort foods like his late father’s corned beef hash.

 

He tries to avoid eating too much processed produce and likes to buy crusty freshly baked bread rather than off the shelf supermarket varieties.

 

His girlfriend of eight years is a vegan so home meals include plenty of pulses and vegetables.

 

Hamper Llangollen 2015 will also include cookery demonstrations by members of the Welsh Culinary Association, led by Graham Tinsley, who has cooked for the Queen, is part owner of the Castle Hotel, Conwy.

 

For more details about Llangollen Food Festival-Hamper Llangollen visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

AM secures rail commitment from Transport Minister

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, Aled Roberts, has secured a commitment from the Transport Minister that the Welsh Government will be working with Merseyrail to deliver long-awaited improvements to connections between north Wales and Liverpool.

 

Mr Roberts said: “The recent announcement by the Tory UK Government that billions of pounds worth of rail improvements are being delayed or cut back has come as a blow to the people of north Wales.

 

“We have been waiting years for improved connectivity between north Wales and the north-west of England and it is important that plans for improvement to the Halton Curve are not jeopardised by the Tory decision; a recent report commissioned by Merseyrail suggested additional services to Liverpool via the Halton Curve should end at Chester rather than go through to Wrexham.

 

“I am pleased that the Minister acknowledges my concerns and that she and her officials are committed to working with Merseyrail to ensure that the necessary works go ahead despite the UK Government’s misguided decision."

 

Storytelling at community garden

Llan resident's recipe for more fresh food

* Robyn Lovelock with her 13-week-old son Harris.

A LLANGOLLEN woman reckons she has the recipe to make it easier for people in the town to get hold of fresh, locally produced food.

Robyn Lovelock, whose career has focused on rural economic development, is setting up a food assembly, which is a new retail model that enables direct trade between local food producers and registered customers.

It aims to do this through an online platform as well as face-to face assemblies like pop-up markets that open outside traditional daytime shop hours.

“Llangollen offers a great range of locally produced food and natural products - but it can be difficult for working people to buy it during business hours,” said Robyn.

“For those customers, the Llangollen Food Assembly will offer an easy, convenient and sociable alternative to supermarkets.

 

“For local producers, we hope to provide a reliable, efficient and enjoyable retail opportunity.”

Starting in late summer, the Llangollen Food Assembly will take place on Wednesdays from 6-8pm at the Ponsonby Arms on Mill Street, Llangollen.

Customers will be able to quickly pick up their order, spend some time talking with producers or enjoying the pub’s own food and drink.

Elissa Gravells, owner of the Ponsonby Arms who is offering the assembly space for free, said: “It’s an initiative I’m keen to support as it is in line with the pub’s commitment to using fresh, locally-produced food.”

So far, Nant Ucha eggs, Pen Y Lan sausages, Garth Organic produce, Llynclys Hall Farm, Llanvalley Natural Products and Red Rose Cakes have expressed interest in becoming suppliers, according to Robyn.

She said: “There’s still a lot of work to do before we launch as we want to offer a comprehensive range of products to customers.

“I’d like people keen to supply meat products, baked goods  - especially bread - dairy and fruit and vegetables to get in touch along with established businesses and people making products at home, allotment groups with a glut, or anybody just starting out with new products.

“This is a great opportunity for suppliers of all shapes and sizes, as they can adjust what they’re selling week by week and only need travel to the weekly food assembly if they’ve met their minimum order, to make sure it’s worth their while.

“The idea is catching on fast in the region, with food assemblies also being set up in Brymbo and Tanyffron.” 

Robyn added: “The average farmer in the UK only receives 9-15% of the retail price when supplying through conventional supply chains such as supermarkets.

“The food assembly model means suppliers receive over 80% of the retail price so local producers can invest more in their businesses – employing more people, extending their range of products.

“If we can find more ways to keep that money in the Llangollen area, over time we can increase the number of jobs available and increase investment in local resources – while enjoying good quality food at reasonable prices.”

* For more information, visit the Llangollen Food Assembly Facebook page or call Robyn on 07799 896108.

Food Assembly factfile 

* Customers order their local produce online and pick up their orders from a designated hosting venue every week at a set two-hour time – typically early evening to attract customers who may not be able to buy local products during working hours.

* The idea started in France three years ago and has now expanded to Spain, Germany, the UK and Italy, working with over 4,000 sustainable producers and 500,000 customers. 

* There are currently 11 assemblies up and running throughout the UK in both rural and urban areas with more than 2,000 registered customers and 80 active suppliers. 

* The Food Assembly won the title of Best British Food Initiative at the BBC Food and Farming Awards this year.

Llan goes Charles and Camilla crazy

* The Prince of Wales is greeted by the mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, and town councillors. All pictures by Jeanette Robinson.

Crowds thronged the centre of Llangollen this afternoon (Tuesday) to see the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall stop off in the town on their way to visit the eisteddfod's opening day.

The couple, who were greeted by the town mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, and fellow town council members on the steps of the library, then went walk-about in the crowd and also popped into Gwyn Davies the butchers in Castle Street to meet customers and staff.

Later in the afternoon, the eisteddfod 's traditional opening day parade, which Prince Charles had waved off from the field, came through the town led by its president, Terry Waite, in an open-topped vintage car and with the pace being set by Llangollen Silver Band.

* The Duchess of Cornwall on walk-about in Castle Street.

* The eisteddfod parade makes its way through the town centre.

* Children from Ysgol Bryn Collen are cheered on the way during the parade.

MP recalls 7/7 bombings

Susan Elan Jones MP has been recalling the 7/7 London bombings that took place exactly 10 years ago today.

The Clwyd South MP worked in London at the time and her office was just down the road from Edgeware Road Tube Station where six people were killed out of a total of 52 in the combined attacks on the day.

Susan Elan Jones MP said: "Unusually, on that day, I wasn't in the office as I was working at home on a research project. But right across London, there was the same eerie ambience - sounds of sirens, but virtually no vehicles moving.

"The thing that brought events home to me most was speaking to a work colleague, who had come out of the tube exit about 15 minutes before the bomb attack had taken place.

"In my view, every time politicians debate issues relating to civil liberties and surveillance, we need to do it through the prism of 7/7 and the need for proper security.

"I also believe we need to remember that people of many different nationalities. faiths and backgrounds were killed on 7/7 - and that our quest to understand people of different cultures is vital.

"This quest affects us every bit as much in North Wales as it does in London, and every other part of our country and our world."

Skates to write Labour's 2016 manifesto

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said he was ‘honoured’ to be chosen to write the Welsh Labour manifesto for next year’s Assembly election.

First Minister Carwyn Jones asked the Wrexham-born Assembly Member to pen the party’s
pitch for May 2016 – and Mr Skates wants the public to help.

The pair will tour the country over the next few months asking people what they want to see and asking for help to shape the Wales of tomorrow.

Mr Skates said the manifesto would ‘bear the fingerprints and contain the hopes of three
million people’ from all parts of the country.

He added: “I’m both honoured and humbled to have been asked to write next year’s Welsh
Labour manifesto. It will be the boldest and most positive that any party has presented since
devolution, because it will contain the very best ideas from across the country.

“I am determined to present a visionary manifesto next year for Clwyd South, for North
Wales and for the whole of the country.  I intend to do so by calling on the creativity, ideas,
innovation and ambitions of people in every community and by travelling the length of
breadth of Wales to listen to as many as possible.”

Mr Skates will start his nationwide tour with an event in North East Wales later this month,
with details to be announced soon.

He said: “I have trust and confidence in the values of the people of Wales being the same as
those of Welsh Labour.  I want those values to underpin our future, so they should also flow
through the veins of my party's manifesto next year.

“This is an unprecedented opportunity for us in North Wales to influence the Wales we
want. It's an opportunity I hope people will embrace.”

Mr Skates was elected as AM for Clwyd South with 42.4% of the vote in May 2011, following
in the footsteps of Karen Sinclair as the constituency's representative in the Assembly. He is
now the Welsh Government’s deputy minister for culture, sport and tourism.

In December he won the ‘Member to Watch’ award  at the Politician of the Year event in
Cardiff after steering the Welsh Government's  hugely successful youth employment scheme
Jobs Growth Wales and overseeing Europe’s most ambitious broadband scheme, Superfast
Cymru, in his previous role as deputy minister for skills and technology.

Global appeal launched for Eisteddfod

 

* The Eisteddfod attracts competitors and visitors from across the world.

 

An urgent global appeal is being launched secure the future of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

Organisers are hoping to raise £70,000 because this year's event is heading for a financial loss as a result of disappointing ticket sales.

 

With the 70th anniversary on the horizon, they are confident the event has a bright long-term future but say they need the cash to get over their short-term difficulties.

 

Supporters wishing to make a donation will be able to do so online via the Eisteddfod's website or by using Gift Aid envelopes that will be available at all the concerts during the week.

 

This year will be the 69th year the festival will have been held consecutively since it was founded in the aftermath of the Second World War to promote peace and harmony.

 

The iconic event has now grown into one of Europe's premier music and dance events, where "Wales meets the world" and the town of Llangollen is turned into a cultural melting pot.

 

Over the years it has attracted cultural icons like Luciano Pavarotti, who first took to the Eisteddfod stage as part of his father's choir from Modena in Italy in 1955 before making a triumphant return in 1995 when he was a global superstar.

 

This year competitors are expected from as far afield as Ghana, China, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Morocco, Nepal, Slovakia and Holland as well as from across the UK and Ireland.

 

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will be there tomorrow (Tuesday) when they will meet competitors taking part in the colourful Parade of Nations.

 

The appeal was announced by long-serving Eisteddfod chairman Gethin Davies who first attended the event as a young boy in 1951.

 

He said: "The Eisteddfod is an expensive festival to put on, and, like many other festivals, we have been walking a financial tight-rope for some time.

 

"By making swingeing economies in our expenditure, we managed a small surplus in 2014. 

 

"Sadly, although the economies set in motion in 2014 have continued in 2015, the disappointing sale of tickets for the concerts of this year’s Eisteddfod means that we are looking at a deficit of around £70,000 for 2015. 

 

"We are working with the Welsh Government regarding short-term assistance, but as yet they can give us no assurance of help. 

 

"Their advice was to make strenuous efforts to raise funds from our supporters in order to meet what is essentially a short-term problem. 

 

"The Eisteddfod board has submitted a three-year business plan to the Arts Council of Wales and is confident that if we can weather the present difficulties we can move into profit. 

 

"The Music Director has set out an extremely attractive concert programme for 2016 - including a household name - which we are confident will attract larger audiences, and the preliminary budget for 2016 shows a reasonable surplus.

 

Mr Davies added: "The International Eisteddfod has been a very important part of my life since 1951, when, as a small boy, I sold programmes for the Eisteddfod. 

 

"Over that period of 65 years, I have built up a treasury of happy memories of the wonderful competitors I have seen, the amazing concerts I have attended, and the incredible warmth, knowledgeability, friendliness and good will of the audience. 

 

"My children have also shared many of those experiences, and I would like my grandchildren, likewise to be able to enjoy this unique festival, and I am confident they will have that opportunity."

 

People who wish to make a donation can do so via the Llangollen International Eisteddfod's website: www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Artist recreates Plas Newydd in fabric

 
 
 
Llangollen-based artist Jan Wallis currently has a novel exhibition of her work at the Willow Gallery in Oswestry.

Entitled Quilt Built, it’s a representation of some of the internal features at Plas Newydd – home of the Ladies of Llangollen – including wooden wall carvings and even a four poster bed, entirely in fabric and thread.

 

Memorial Hall refreshments

Members of Llangollen Methodist Church are inviting people to join them for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea at the Memorial Hall, opposite the car park in Market Street, between 10am and 4pm, from July 6-11.

The hall will be open until 5.30pm tomorrow (Tuesday) and closed on Wednesday.

Llan scientist appears in government film

* Dr Davies as she appears in the film.

A Llangollen woman features in a film promoting the importance of science in Wales.

Science For Wales, produced by the Welsh Government, promotes the country's scientific achievements.

In one sequence there's an appearance by Dr Charlotte Eve Davies, who was educated at Ysgol Bryn Collen and then Ysgol Dinas Bran before earning a PhD in biology from Swansea University at the age of 24.

The daughter of Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies, she has had six papers published and has travelled extensively around the world giving speeches on her speciality which involves lobsters.

In the film she is seen aboard a boat holding up a lobster.

Cllr Davies said: "I'd like to thank all the people from Denbighshire County Council who were involved in her education and helped to make this happen.

"As can be seen from the film, we deliver a world class education system."

An example of Dr Davies’ work can be seen at: http://theconversation.com/competitive-lobsters-are-fighting-it-out-in-uks-first-marine-park-35830

Methodist Church's festival of praise

Llangollen Methodist Church is hosting a Festival of Praise on Monday, July 6, starting at 7.30pm.

It includes favourite hymns by guest performers and will be led by the Rev Philip Poole.

A collection will be held in aid of Llangollen Cancer Research UK.

Real flap outside the Town Hall this morning

LLANGOLLEN town centre was in a real flap this morning (Saturday) when a trio of 1920s style  dancers went through a hectic routine on the Town Hall steps.

The flappers were there to promote the launch of the New Dot community cinema project, which will show its first film, the modern silent classic The Artist, at the Town Hall on July 15.

* Tickets are available NOW!
£8 (£5 concessions)
Buy in person from our two official outlets:
Bailey’s Fine Foods
Town Hall Stores
Castle Street
Llangollen
LL20 8NU
www.baileysfinefoods.com
Gales of Llangollen
18 Bridge Street
Llangollen
LL20 8PF
www.galesofllangollen.co.uk
Or buy online from our friends at Llangollen Fringe:
www.llangollenfringe.co.uk

* See llanblogger's film of the dancers at YouTube on: http://youtu.be/4MBnTi4wbNY

Time again for Llan to meet the world

* Bollywood on the Dee – Indian dancers on one of the outside stages.

Thousands of people from around the world - as well as a Royal couple - will descend on Llangollen next week as it celebrates the 69^th annual International Musical Eisteddfod.

The visit of the Prince of Wales on Tuesday afternoon, will make this a special occasion as he and the Duchess of Cornwall arrive in time for one of the event highlights, the Parade of Nations.

Prince Charles will be meeting Eisteddfod officials and chatting to competitors taking part in the parade which will again be led by the Eisteddfod’s President, Terry Waite CBE.

It is the fifth visit he has made to the festival, he came with Princess Diana in 1985 and with the Duchess of Cornwall in 2006, and also on his own as a Day President in 1996 and in 2003 to a special concert in aid of the Prince’s Trust.

Over the years the event which began as a festival of peace in the aftermath of the Second World War has grown into one of Europe’s premier music and dance events.

It has attracted cultural icons like Dylan Thomas and the great Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, who began his international career as a member of a choir from Modena at Llangollen in 1955.

In recent years artists of the stature of Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Kiri Te Kanawa, James Galway, Montserrat Caballe and Jools Holland have performed at the Sunday Evening Gala Concert and last year veteran rockers Status Quo brought the curtain and the house down at the finale.

Most importantly the competitors have continued to come from all over the world – this year they will be here from Canada and China, Ghana, Hungary, India and Indonesia, Jamaica, Morocco, Nepal, Slovakia, Sweden, the Netherlands and the USA as well as from all over the UK and Ireland.

This year’s event runs from Tuesday, July 7, when Prince Charles will see off the colourful traditional procession from the Royal International Pavilion to the town and back, through six days of competitions and concerts to Sunday’s spectacular fireworks extravaganza.

This year the list of concerts is led by legendary American songwriter Burt Bacharach who will perform at the curtain-raiser on Monday night while artists of the stature of Alfie Boe, harpist Catrin Finch, choirmaster Gareth Malone and singer-songriter Rufus Wainwright will take the stage during the evenings.

This year’s closing concert will be performed by Ali Campbell, the voice of multi-selling reggae artists UB40, reunited on stage with former bandmatres Mickey and Astro.

But there will also be so much going on during the day, both on the main stage as competitions take place, and on the field where crowds mingle with performers and competitors in a multi-cultural carnival of nations.

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We have another wonderful event to stage this year and with artists of the calibre of Burt Bacharach, Alfie Boe and Gareth Malone the status of the this unique event is underlined.

“The Royal visit just adds to the magic and sense of occasion andf we’re looking forward to another spectacular week this year.”

For more details on this year’s event go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

Davies hits out over health board's turn-around plan

A LLANGOLLEN county council has branded as “idiotic” a plan by its interim chief executive to turn around the ailing Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in 100 days.

The board was recently placed in special measures by the Welsh Government amid concerns about management failings.

A report also condemned poor treatment of mental health patients at Glan Clwyd Hospital as "institutional abuse".

Simon Dean, deputy head of the NHS in Wales and the man appointed by the government to run the board after its chief executive Professor Trevor Purt was suspended, said last week that he had given seniors managers 100 days to start making improvements. 

But Cllr Stuart Davies (pictured right), who represents Llangollen on Denbighshire County Council, predicts the initiative is “doomed to fail” and says he will demand that Wales’s First Minister Carwyn Jones considers his position when it does.

Cllr Davies has also criticised the board for failing to go ahead with an arrangement for a representative to attend the full council meeting next Tuesday to allow members to raise questions about the current situation.

He said: “I am highly disappointed that the people in charge of the Betsi are not willing to come to our meetings to answer questions about their problems. Trevor Purt had promised to attend our July meeting.

“I am particularly concerned because I wanted to seriously question them on their widely promoted 100-day turn-around plan.

“I believe this is the most idiotic idea I have heard because it will take years to turn around the deep-seated culture that is now driving the Betsi.”

He added: “They are being their usual arrogant self in not wishing to engage with councillors.

“They say on one hand they want to engage and then turn down this opportunity.

“The whole project is doomed to failure in my opinion and it is all down to the Welsh Government who are doing their usual micro-managing bit.

“I will be calling on the First Minister to consider his position when this 100-day initiative fails.”

A spokesperson for the health board said: “Professor Purt wrote out to local authorities earlier in the year, seeking an opportunity to meet with them as part of a process of public engagement to support the development of the health board’s medium term plan.  

“The July date was offered by Denbighshire County Council for this.

“However, following the decision to place the health board into special measures status, the Health Minister issued clear direction that before carrying out any such discussion the health board is to carry out a widespread public listening exercise. 

“This exercise has now started, initially with a programme of public ‘drop in’ sessions in 15 locations across North Wales, and will continue over the coming months.  

“As a result of this the health board was no longer in a position to proceed with the meeting as proposed.” 

New health centre set to open on August 24

* The new health centre which is due to open on August 24. Picture: Mike Edwards.

Assembly Member Ken Skates has praised contractors building Llangollen’s new multi-million pound health centre for delivering "what looks certain to become a huge asset" to the town.

The Clwyd South Labour AM says it’s "extremely positive news" that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s newest facility will open on Monday August 24.

The state-of-the-art centre is being built by Brymbo-based Read Construction, which has won the praise of their AM as well as a raft of positive comments from residents and businesses in Llangollen.

Mr Skates said: “The contractors have done a fantastic job and built what looks certain to become a huge asset for Llangollen. It’s very impressive.

“The facility has taken shape rapidly over the past few months, and it’s important that something on a main route into the town like this looks good – and this certainly does.”

Mr Skates was told this week that services are scheduled to transfer to the new centre on August 24, and also welcomed the news an open day will be held for the public on July 30 to allow residents a sneak preview.

He added: “It is extremely positive news for Llangollen that Betsi Cadwaladr, local practice and Welsh Labour Government have worked together to create a modern healthcare facility fit for the 21st century and fit for the people who live here.”

Mr Skates is meeting Betsi chairman Dr Peter Higson and interim chief executive Simon Dean later this month after the Welsh Government moved to address concerns over its performance by placing the health board in special measures.

Mr Skates said: “As well as discussing my constituents’ concerns about the NHS in North Wales, I will be raising several other matters specific to Clwyd South which I am hoping for positive news on.

“The Llangollen facility will be massive for the town. It’s important we don’t just focus on what is needed now, but continue to build for the medium and long-term too.”

* The surgery has asked llanblogger to display the following notice:

NEW LLANGOLLEN HEALTH CENTRE OPEN AFTERNOON

Thursday 30 July 2015, 3 – 6 pm

Canolfan Iechyd Llangollen Health Centre
Bishops Walk
Llangollen
LL20 8RZ


Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and Dr A D Evans & Partners are hosting an open afternoon at the new Health Centre situated next to Bishops Walk in Llangollen.  This will be an informal opportunity for people to familiarise themselves with the new building, and find out more about the services that it will offer, before it opens on 24 August.

If you require any further information please contact the Health Centre on 01978 860625.

* A note from local health campaigner Martin Crumpton ...

"The news broke yesterday (Thursday) that Betsi Cadwaladr has decided not to contest the Judicial Review brought about by campaigners fighting the closure of consultant-led maternity services at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, reported by the BBC at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-33367737.

 

Myself and fellow campaigners are celebrating and welcome the apparent change of heart at the Board. It marks the arrival of the new Chief Executive, Simon Dean and our meeting with him around a week ago, but discussions are on-going between us to ensure this apparent change of attitude at the top is permanent and in future we, the public, will have more say in matters affecting us all, such as bringing beds back to Llangollen, ensuring safe access to the new Health Centre and improved GP availability.

 

Thanks in particular go to Marsha Davis of the #savebetsibabies campaign and Mabon ap Gwynfor of the North Wales Health Alliance."