Baton visits county tomorrow

Denbighshire is counting down the hours until the Queen's Baton makes it much-awaited visit to the county tomorrow (Friday, May 30).

A host of events are being arranged throughout the day to welcome the Baton to Denbighshire, only one of a handful of counties selected throughout the whole of Wales.

The baton relay routes and associated events are:

Rhyl Harbour  (9am-4pm)

The baton is welcomed into Denbighshire during the official opening of Rhyl Harbour.  At the beginning of the event, families will be able to enjoy a festival of colour and activities, including face painting, a treasure trail, bouncy castle, food, demonstrations from rescue services, kite surfing, watersports on Marine Lake and so much more.  For further details visit www.loverhyl.co.uk .  The baton  will be present between 9am and 9.30am

Rhyl Harbour to marsh tracks baton relay (9.30am-10.00am)

Six local baton bearers, Michael Kitchin, Nathan Montgomery, Callum Perrin, Jamie Turley, James Morgan, and Tracey Jones will carry the baton between the two Rhyl events. Starting from the harbour at 9.30am, around Marine Lake to promote water sport activities, over the railway footbridge and along the countryside services path at Glan Morfa and into the Marsh tracks cycling centre on Marsh Road.

Marsh Tracks, Rhyl,  (10am-4pm)

Free BMX and Road cycling bike hire and coaching, mountain bike track open as usual. Street games activities such as  football, rugby, ultimate frisbee, athletics, dance and more! Test your power against Team GB cyclists scores on the watt bikes leader board and recuperate with FREE drinks supplied by Asda (until stocks last) and food available to buy on- site from the taste academy, Rhyl. The baton will be there between 10am and 11am.

Moel Famau (12 noon – 4pm)

The baton arrives on horseback, walking groups will relay the baton to the peak of Moel Famau, come and join in and see the views across the Clwydian Range whilst listening to a live band performance at the summit too! Fell runners will take the baton back down. The baton will be there between 1pm and 3pm.

Ruthin Family FUN day, Cae Ddol (12-5pm)

An afternoon on activities for the whole family. Come down to Cae Ddol and join in and watch the battle of the bands, local sport fixtures, bouncy castles, face painting and sporting taster sessions from local clubs such as rugby league, netball, athletics, football, fun fitness boot camps, tennis, golf and bowls.  The baton will be there between 3.30pm and 4.30pm.

Coed Llandegla Forest (9am – 8pm), Oneplanet Adventure site

Fun open day for mountain bike enthusiasts, all mountain bike tracks open as normal. Go-Race events organised by Welsh Cycling throughout the day, test your power against Team GB cyclists scores on the watt bikes leader board. Live music and entertainment from 6pm for the official baton handover event. The baton is there between  5pm and 6pm

Pol Wong speaks out over River Lodge controversy

* The derelict River Lodge.

Pol Wong, leader of the Powys Fadog community group which once had hopes of developing the former River Lodge now destined to be bulldozed to make way for Llangollen's new £5 million health centre, features in an article in the online newspaper Daily Wales on the latest aspect of the controversy that has surrounded the building.

See it at: "http://dailywales.net/2014/05/28/tories-urged-to-provide-real-scrutiny-of-government/"

Service planned for Valle Crucis Abbey

St Collen's Church has asked us to publish the poster below for its forthcoming Pentecost Service ...

 

 

Llan adventure firm wins top accolade

ProAdventure Activities Ltd, the Llangollen-based adventure activity and training not-for-profit company, has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award, having been number one attraction on Tripadvisor in the town for two years.

The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. 

Establishments awarded the Certificate of Excellence are located all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the website. 

When selecting Certificate of Excellence winners, TripAdvisor uses a proprietary algorithm to determine the honorees that takes into account reviews ratings. 

Businesses must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, volume and recency of reviews. Additional criteria include a business’ tenure and popularity ranking on the site. 

“Winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a true source of pride for the entire team at ProAdventure and we’d like to thank all of our past student and customers who took the time to complete a review on TripAdvisor,” said Peter Carol, founder and managing director of ProAdventure Activities Ltd.

“There is no greater seal of approval than being recognised by one’s customers. With the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence based on customer reviews, the accolade is a remarkable vote of confidence to our business and our continued commitment to excellence.”

Marc Charron, president of TripAdvisor for Business, said: “TripAdvisor is pleased to honour exceptional hospitality businesses for consistent excellence.

“The Certificate of Excellence award gives top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.

“From Australia to Zimbabwe, we want to applaud exceptional hospitality businesses for offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience.” 

ProAdventure provides activities and training to groups, companies, families and individuals.

Along with running its canoe school and instructor training programmes, it also provide rock climbing, abseiling, bushcraft and first aid training and other activities including archery and axe throwing. 

£5 million due to be approved for new health centre

 

* An artist's impression of the new health centre.

 

Health Minister Mark Drakeford is due announce tomorrow (Thursday) a £5m investment for a new primary care centre in Llangollen, which will provide health and social care services in the heart of the community.

 

The new centre will also be a base for voluntary services – bringing care closer to people’s homes – while also improving the training and the recruitment and retention of staff.  

Patients will have access to more services locally, including pain management, community-based heart failure services and diabetic retinopathy. Community mental health and social services teams will be based at the new centre.

 

More treatment sessions will also be able to take place at the centre as nurse practitioners and GP registrars will no longer need to share a room as they do currently.

 

It will be supported by an enhanced  care at home service which provides care for people who might otherwise need to go into hospital. The patient’s GP practice will decide, with the patient and their family, whether they can be safely cared for at home with extra help from nurses, therapists, social workers and voluntary organisations. Care will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

 

        Professor Drakeford said: “The new primary care centre will provide an expanded and enhanced service for the people of Llangollen.  It will bring a number of services together in one place and will be a base for social services.

 

        “Importantly, it will also support the development of an enhanced care at home service, helping more people to be cared for at home and avoiding unnecessary admissions to hospital. 

 

        “This is an exciting development for Llangollen and will mean more services available on the community’s doorstep.  It will result in an enhanced local health service and I look forward to seeing the start of work on the centre.

 

        "This scheme, and investment by the Welsh Government, demonstrates our determination to deliver on the pledges made as part of the process of changing healthcare in North Wales."

 

Dr Peter Higson, chairman of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board,said: "We are delighted this important scheme has been given the green light. 

 

"Our plans for Llangollen will increase the range of services we can offer in the town, and provide a base for our teams who are delivering more and more care to patients in their own homes.  The extra space and improved facilities will enhance the experience of patients attending the new health centre and opens up new opportunities for colleagues from the health, social care and the voluntary sector to work together.”

 

The Welsh Government says work on the new centre is expected to begin in June this year with completion by June 2015. 

 

The centre will be on site of the former River Lodge hotel in the town. 

 

The additional services available at the centre will include pain management, community based heart failure, diabetic retinopathy, group physiotherapy, a range of outpatients clinics such as gastro, surgery and mental health, and children’s brain injury and speech therapy clinics.  

Act FAST is you suspect a stroke

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is reminding members of the public to act ‘FAST’ if they suspect they or someone they know is having a stroke.

The FAST (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) test is a simple but important method of helping people to recognise the tell-tale signs of a stroke.

 

It involves checking a person’s face for signs of weakness or facial droop, their arms for weakness, and their speech for slurring, or difficulty speaking.

Time is of the essence, so if any or all of these signs are present, it is important to dial 999.

Stroke is most often caused by a blood clot in the brain and can lead to long-term paralysis, memory loss and problems with speech and vision. In the most severe cases, strokes can be fatal.

In April 2014, the Welsh Ambulance Service took 1,218 emergency calls across Wales for patients with suspected stroke, compared to 1,206 in April 2013 and 1,015 in April 2012.

Chris Moore, the Trust’s Clinical Support Lead, said: “A stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention, and recognising the signs of a stroke and dialling 999 quickly for an ambulance is crucial.

“The quicker the patient arrives at a specialist stroke unit, the quicker they will receive the right treatment and the more likely they are to make a better recovery. If you suspect a stroke, always dial 999.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service treats stroke as a medical emergency and works collaboratively with hospitals across Wales to ensure suspected stroke patients are seen quickly.

Whenever a stroke is suspected by ambulance crews, the hospital is contacted to alert them of the patient’s condition and the estimated time of arrival, with the aim of ensuring the patient receives the right care quickly.

May is Action on Stroke Month, and the Stroke Association is raising awareness of the risks of a ‘mini-stroke’ (a TIA, or transient ischaemic attack).

Every year, around 46,000 people in the UK have a TIA for the first time.

The symptoms of TIA are the same as stroke, but may only last for a few minutes and will have completely gone within 24 hours. After that, people appear to return to normal.

A UK-wide survey of people who had a TIA in the past five years has revealed that more than a third of them (37 per cent) dismissed it as a ‘funny turn.’

Only one in five people (22 per cent) experiencing symptoms of a TIA rang 999, and almost half of people (47 per cent) said the symptoms did not feel like an emergency.

A fifth of people (20 per cent) went on to have a major stroke.

Ana Palazon, Director Cymru for the Stroke Association, said: “The greatest risk of having a stroke is within the first few days after a mini-stroke, but because the symptoms are brief or mild, for many people it doesn’t feel like an emergency.

“Too many mini-stroke patients delay calling 999 when their symptoms start, often waiting instead for a GP appointment, or if they have visual problems visiting their optician for advice.

“When the symptoms start, you should call 999 and say you may be having a stroke. Urgently investigating and treating people who have a TIA or mini-stroke could reduce their risk of having another stroke by 80 per cent.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has joined forces with the Stroke Association to design brand new FAST-themed posters for display on the side of emergency ambulances and rapid response cars.

The new posters are currently in production, and are expected to take their place on Trust vehicles in the coming weeks.

Visit www.stroke.org.uk/FAST for more information on the FAST campaign and on TIA.

Police seek witnesses to Oswestry death incident

Police are appealing for witnesses after a lorry driver was killed in a road incident in Oswestry town centre early today.

Police are investigating the circumstances of the incident which happened in Smithfield Street shortly before 7am.

No other vehicle is believed to have been involved.

A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: “The man was driving a delivery vehicle which is thought to have come into contact with a car park barrier.

“We are still investigating exactly what happened and are appealing for witnesses to contact Oswestry police station on 101.

“At this stage, we do not think any other vehicle was involved.  The driver, who is thought to be in his sixties, was the only person in the lorry.”

A post mortem is being arranged and an inquest will be opened in due course.

The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed.

Smithfield Street was closed for several hours while the emergency services worked at the scene.

AM calls for extension of Blue Badge scheme

North Wales Assembly Mark Isherwood is keen to extend the ‘Blue Badge’ Parking for Disabled People scheme to include people requiring temporary Blue Badges.

 

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood told the Transport Minister that measures could be put in place to prevent blue badges being recycled, enabling temporary badges to be issued.

 

He said: “After I wrote to you last December on behalf of a constituent who was advocating a temporary blue badge, after she had injured herself and was in a wheelchair for a number of weeks and was suffering access problems accordingly, you replied helpfully by referring to the Blue Badge Review Group and stated that it had identified obstacles to temporary badges, such as recovering the badge when it was no longer required and the consequent potential for abuse.

 

“What consideration has been given, or will or could be given, to temporary badges being provided with dates of duration or expiry or renewal dates on them so that they could not be recycled in that way?”

 

The Minister said she would forward Mr Isherwood’s contribution to her officials for discussion.

 

She said: “We have to get this scheme right and it has to be implemented fairly across Wales.”

UKIP runner-up in Wales Euro contests

UKIP were runners-up to Labour in the European elections in Wales.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-27548508

Election results by party
 

Party name	Votes	% of votes
UK Independence Party	6563	27%
Conservative	5987	25%
Labour	5587	23%
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales	3944	16%
The Green Party	835	3%
Liberal Democrats	675	3%
British National Party	219	< 1%
Britain First	215	< 1%
Socialist Labour Party	139	< 1%
No2EU	78	< 1%
The Socialist Party of Great Britain	36	< 1%
Turnout:		32%

 

Campaign aims to attract more foster carers

A campaign aimed at attracting more foster carers for children and young people has been launched by Denbighshire County Council.

The 'Love Fostering' campaign is a multi-media campaign that includes a new information website, promotional banners and booklets. The campaign aims to increase the number of applications and enquiries received about fostering in the county and to promote the benefits of fostering county-wide.

Staff from the Council's Fostering team will also be out and about in events around the county over the coming months, promoting the benefits of fostering and encourage people to consider making a difference to the life of a child or children in Denbighshire.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Social Care, Adult and Children's Services, said: "Fostering is a way of offering children and young people a home, someone to care for them while their own family are unable to look after them, This can be for a variety of reasons, including neglect, illness or family breakdown.

"Foster carers in Denbighshire are asked to provide a safe, secure and nurturing environment, either short or long term. while helping children and young people to keep in contact with their families and friends.  This can mean anything from one night to a number of years or permanent, depending on the children's needs.

"Fostering can involve looking after children of all ages, from babies,. teenagers to young adults. People can choose what age range of children they are able to support and they are able to change which type of fostering they offer to children as their own circumstances change or their skills and confidence increase.

"We have some great examples of people in Denbighshire that have fostered children and they have made an enormous difference to that child's life. It can be extremely rewarding for both foster carers and the children and we will provide support and guidance every step of the way."

There are a number of differing types of fostering including general fostering (short and long term), respite care to allow other carers to take a break from their duties , short break care to support families who have children with disabilities, support care to enable families to overcome difficult periods in their lives and emergency foster care that can see children placed at very short notice.

To find out more, please visit www.lovefostering.co.uk or call 0800 7313215. 

Railway happy with BBC broadcast

A BBC Radio Wales programme featuring Llangollen Railway went out at 7am this morning (Sunday).

And it's quality has won praise from railway spokesman George Jones who said: "I thought the mix of recorded interviews ran together very well to give a varied sound picture of a visit to the line and on to Corwen.

"It was well presented by the BBC team and comes over as a serious review of the operation with some lighter touches of humour.

"It was worth all the effort that went into accommodating the BBC team and providing the recorded material.

"Those who didn't hear it can still catch it through the replay which is available on the BBC I-player at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/cfocus

"It is also due to be repeated on Monday at 5.30am."

Vincent recalls the time he met Pavarotti

* Vincent Griffiths remembers turning down the chance to sing with Pavarotti. 

A FOUNDER member of the world-famous Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir has been remembering the occasion almost 60 years ago when he turned down the chance to join legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti in a sing-song around the family piano.

Vincent Griffiths, now a sprightly 82, was a young man in his early twenties when his late mother, Alice Griffiths, played host to Pavarotti and his father while they were competing at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in 1955.

Mrs Griffiths opened her home in Beech House, Froncysyllte, to Luciano and Fernando Pavarotti for a week as the Chorus Rossini from Modena in northern Italy won the male choral competition.

Vincent, one of the first members of the Fron Choir and part of its line-up for 45 years, recalled: “My mother and father, Alice and William Griffiths, offered free board every year to people performing at the Eisteddfod. Over the years they had all nationalities there and enjoyed playing host to them.

* Alice Griffiths meets Pavarotti
and his father at the Bryn Howel in 1995.

“In 1955 Pavarotti, his father and two other members of their choir were staying at the house. I’d just been married to my wife, Nesta, and we were living in nearby Newbridge and I walked over one night to my mother’s in Fron to meet their guests.

“Of course, Pavarotti wasn’t famous then but he had a fine voice and was always singing.

“He was sitting at my mother’s piano. Neither he nor his father spoke English very well but when he heard I sang with a choir too Pavarotti invited me to join him in a song.

“I politely refused. Actually, I was due to compete against him when both our choirs were in the main choral competition that Saturday but that wasn’t why I turned him down. 
 
“I was a bit shy and didn’t think my voice was very good, although I had been one of the first members of the Fron Choir from the age of 15.

“We went on talking about music for half an hour and I recall that both Pavarotti and his father were very nice chaps.”

Vincent, a retired lab worker at the Monsanto factory near his home has a son, Peter, who lives in Acrefair, two grand-daughters and three great-grandchildren.

He added: “In the main choral competition the Modena choir won the competition. Both the Pavarottis had very good voices but, to be honest, I think the best choir on the day was a group of Moravian teachers from Czechoslovakia.

* Pavarotti performs at the Eisteddfod.

“After that, of course, Pavarotti became very famous but he came back to sing as the star at the Llangollen eisteddfod 40 years later. He was staying with his father at the Bryn Howel Hotel and I took my mother, who died about 10 years ago at the age of 93, to see them.

“We didn’t have long to speak to Luciano but I think he remembered my mother. Fernando spoke to us for longer and put his arm around my mother. It was nice to have that reunion.

“On the Sunday night, when he sang at the closing concert of the eisteddfod, we had front row seats and it was a terrific performance.

“He was definitely the best tenor I have ever heard because of the clarity and power of his voice.

“With the Fron choir, which I left about 20 years ago, I sang second tenor and then first bass. I must have competed at Llangollen at least 30 times over the years from 1948 and it was always a highlight for us.”

In 1955 larger-than-life Pavarotti was a slim 19-year-old trainee teacher who had joined the choir because his father, a baker, was a stalwart member of the chorus.

The moment the Modena choir won the male choral competition and the visit to Llangollen left an indelible impression on him and he often spoke of it.

The experience also helped shape his destiny and he once famously said that if he could win the first prize with a small choir from Modena, he could do anything.

Four decades after the 1955 appearance Pavarotti would still enquire earnestly about the lady in whose home he had been a guest.

He once said of his time boarding with the Griffiths family in Fron: “I remember well the house I stayed in. All the way from Italy, I was exercising my English. But when we are brought to the house in Llangollen and meet the family, I understand not a word. 
 
“I did not know there was such a language as Welsh. Even now I think how lucky they don’t write operas in such a language for me to sing. I would be out of work. It is impossible for us Italians to learn.”

Pavarotti said many times that he wanted to go back to Llangollen one day and that desire was fulfilled in 1995 when he made a triumphant return to headline at that year’s eisteddfod, marking the 40^th anniversary of his first visit to north Wales.

He accepted an invitation to be President of the Day, on condition that his father could share the Day Presidency with him, so for the first and only time, the Eisteddfod had two joint Presidents of the Day.

On the Friday of the festival he fought his way to the stage through adoring crowds to tell a packed house: "Forty years ago, my God it seems to be just yesterday for me. I have done so many things. 
 
“I always say that to the journalists when they ask me what is a day more memorable in my life, and I always say that it is when I won this competition because it was with all my friends. With me at that time there was a person that I would like to have the privilege to introduce: my Father.”

To much applause, Fernando Pavarotti walked on stage to join his son, and Pavarotti Jnr declared: "He is stronger than me he has a voice more brilliant than mine - at least that’s what he thinks

His father, who spoke no English, then came on stage and charmed the audience by putting his hands together and bowing to them with a beaming smile on his face.

Another giant of the world of opera, Wales’s own Bryn Terfel, will headline a spectacular curtain-raiser to this year’s International Musical Eisteddfod when he leads an all-Welsh cast, which also includes Wynne Evans, in a performance of Stephen Sondheim’s Broadway smash Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street on Monday, July 6.

It begins six tremendous days at Llangollen which kicks off on Tuesday with the Parade and a galaxy of international talent at the Carnival of Nations concert.

It will showcase spectacular circus acts from across the globe including Cirque du Soleil's Bruce Bilodeau, acrobats from the Chinese State Circus and Spellbound, winners of Britain's Got Talent.

The following night will see the return of Karl Jenkins, the highest selling classical composer alive today, with the world premiere of his latest masterpiece, Adiemus Colores. 
 
He will conduct his Latin American themed work with American tenor Noah Stewart, Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores and Latvian accordion player Ksenija Sidorova to the accompaniment of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Orchestra.

The multi-award winning Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald will be making her Llangollen debut on the Thursday evening.  Earlier this year her second studio album, The Shocking Miss Emerald, went to No 1 in the UK album chart.

The Friday night concert, Spirit of Unity, will feature the Cape Town Opera, Africa’s premiere opera company, famed for their "vibrant vocalism and high-octane stage performances". 
 
Appearing with them will be Wales’ representative in Cardiff Singer of the World, Gary Griffiths, the Wales Millennium Centre Only Kidz Aloud Chorus under the baton of celebrity conductor Tim Rhys Evans and British Sinfonietta, one of the UK's leading independent professional orchestras.

The Choir of the World competition on the Saturday night is the blue riband event of the week-long festival and remains one of the foremost choral competitions in the international choral calendar.

Saturday will also feature a competition to find the dance champions of 2014 and to top the evening off Richard and Adam, who shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, will appear as special guests.

Bringing the house down on Sunday night will be legendary British rockers Status Quo who released the first of their 100 singles almost 50 years ago and are still Rocking All Over The World.

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2014 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Prehistoric axe found near Llan

The North Wales News website is reporting today details of a prehistoric axe discovered near Llangollen.

For the full story, see: http://www.newsnorthwales.co.uk/news/134043/prehistoric-axe-discovered-near-llangollen.aspx

Radio programme on railway airs this Sunday

* Work on the extension to Corwen will be featured on the BBC programme.

A programme featuring Llangollen Railway and the Dee Valley, which was recorded in late March, is due to be broadcast on BBC Radio Wales this Sunday at 7am.

The visit featured a ride down the line in the heritage railcar and a trip out to Corwen to see the extension works.

There were interviews with various people extolling the scenic delights of the Area of Natural Beauty in the valley.

The BBC website includes a gallery of photos taken during the visit when the production team rode the Wickham railcar and visited the Corwen extension.

It can be viewed at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/galleries/p01zhkft

Free health checks for dogs on offer

Dog owners in Denbighshire are  being informed of free well-being checks for dogs taking place across the county next week.

The events are being facilitated by a PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) veterinary nurse inside a Pet Check vehicle.

The free events will take place at:

Tuesday, May 27, Llangollen Market Street car park

Wednesday, May 28, Green Lane car park, Corwen

All events will take place between 10am and 5pm.

For further information about the pet checks, please visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/petcheck

Isherwood calls for answers on River Lodge

* The River Lodge site is earmarked for the town's planned new health centre.

Speaking in the Assembly, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has again called for answers regarding the role played by the Welsh Government in securing the Llangollen River Lodge site for a new health centre after it had been leased to a community group.

The River Lodge was bought by the Welsh Government in 2007 and leased to Powys Fadog Community Group. The Agreement to Lease ran out in June 2011.

Mr Isherwood says he has an e-mail he sent to First Minister Carwyn Jones on 31st March 2011 in which he included the words: `It has also been alleged to me that at a meeting with Powys Fadog, Chris Munday, Welsh Government, asserted that the Welsh Government are not talking to anybody about the site until after the expiry of the Powys Fadog lease'.

In this week’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood called for a Welsh Government statement on the Llangollen health centre site.

He said: “You will be aware that the Cottage Hospital was closed and that a consultation on its demolition is ongoing, with a loss of beds and local services.

"You will be aware that there is a proposed new Primary Health Centre on the site of a former hotel in town, although there are questions about its viability, given proposals for access to that site and the impact that that might have more widely.

"You may say that it is a matter purely for the Health Board, as you frequently do, and therefore I ask this question in the context of the e-mail dated 24 March 2010 from the Health Department in the Welsh Government to the Local Health Board, saying: ‘The Minister (Edwina Hart) has also requested an update on the Woodlands Hotel’ (River Lodge) ‘and the proposed Health Centre in Llangollen by this Friday … Is there any reason why the current building couldn’t be demolished and the new Health Centre built on the site? We would like to be able to provide a positive brief to the Minister, if that’s possible’.

Mr Isherwood said in the chamber this week: "That was days before the Welsh Government launched its Options Appraisal (for the site), years before Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board published its proposals for reconfigured health services in Wales, years before the public consultation, and years before the Welsh Government started insisting that these issues were a matter for the Health board.

"Given this evidence, which is now publicly available, that the Welsh Government appeared to trigger the process, could we have a statement from the Welsh Government accordingly?”

The Minister for Government Business Lesley Griffiths AM, replied: “You referred to correspondence not even from this Government or this Minister for Health, and not even the previous Minister for Health - it was the one before that and a previous Government. So, it is a matter for the Health Board.”

Mr Isherwood added: “This is ridiculous! Carwyn Jones was First Minister then as now and the Health Minister involved, Edwina Hart, still sits in Cabinet in this Welsh Government. Their continual refusal to engage on this matter can only increase suspicion that they have something to hide.” 

Mr Isherwood is Shadow Minister for North Wales, Local Government, Communities and Housing.

How will today's Euro elections end?

News analysis website clickonwales looks at the possible outcome of today's Euro elections as far as Wales is concerned.

See the full story at: http://www.clickonwales.org/2014/05/the-real-europe-story/ 

North Wales councils back new Wrexham prison

Council leaders representing the six North Wales Councils have met with Ministry of Justice officials to discuss how to maximise local employment from the new North Wales Prison in Wrexham in both the construction and operational phases.

Councillor Dilwyn Roberts, chair of the North Wales Regional Leadership Board and leader of Conwy County Borough Council, said: “All six North Wales council leaders are fully committed to the building of a new North Wales Prison in Wrexham.

"We believe that the new prison will create jobs across the region and improve prison services for offenders from North Wales.

"We are fully behind Wrexham Council who have done a fantastic job to bring a major employer and service provider to North Wales.

"We are aware that the proposed new prison has its critics on the grounds of its size, but as community leaders, councils are working with the Ministry of Justice to help them maximise local employment and deliver a prison that performs well in terms of reducing re-offending.

"Officers from all six councils are working with the Ministry of Justice, the Welsh Government and the National Offender Management Service to make sure we get the best possible prison set up in North Wales.

"In addition council leaders will meet regularly with Ministry of Justice officials to offer support and monitor progress in securing local employment and a well managed and successful prison that will grow to be best in class in the prison service for both cost and service outcomes.”

Councillor Neil Rogers, leader of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: “I appreciate the support of the leaders of councils and the major public services in North Wales for the Wrexham prison.

"The new prison will be a major boost to the region’s economy and will improve services for offenders in North Wales.

"The early and continuing engagement of all the councils and major public services in the region in planning for the prison will help to ensure that we get the best possible outcomes in terms of jobs and rehabilitation of offenders.”

Plas Madoc trust sets up bank account

A new bank account has been created to help save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre – and supporters are being asked to help get the ball rolling.

The Splash Community Trust has opened its own account as it prepares for a huge fundraising drive in a bid to reopen the popular facility.

A band night at Air Products Social Club in Acrefair last Saturday (May 17) raised about £400, and there are a host of money-spinning projects planned – including a quiz night this Friday.

The Old Black Horse in Rhostyllen has also shown its support by offering to host a fundraising race night for the trust.

Splash director Greg Ogden, who lives in Trevor, said: “We have some really exciting fundraising plans and projects lined up, and we are grateful to everyone who has contacted us to suggest ideas and offer their support.

“We need to keep this going if we’re going to succeed in reopening Plas Madoc, so if you can donate then please do so. Every pound will help.”

The quiz night takes place Flexys Club in Acrefair at 8pm on Friday. Greg added: “There will be questions on all sorts of things: Music, films and TV, sports, science – you name it.

"There will also be a raffle, and we’ve got several great prizes already including free haircuts and driving lessons, bottles of wine, a meal for two and a hand-painted antique watering can. It should be a great night!”

The trust is also working on a new website, which is coming soon and will include a ‘donate’ button so supporters can boost the coffers at the click of a button. In the meantime, if you’d like to make a donation to the Splash Community Trust – or have any fundraising ideas – contact Jenny Miller on 07921 659099. 

For more information on the quiz night call Pete Roberts on 07925 377666.

AM calls for maximum effort on rail modernisation

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for the Welsh Government’s North Wales Transport Taskforce to work with the North Wales Ambitions Board to maximise rail modernisation in the region.

 

Mr Isherwood raised the matter with the Finance Minister Jane Hutt.

 

Speaking in the Chamber, he said: “The North Wales Ambition Board has appointed a Connectivity Project Manager, based in Denbighshire County Council, but working across the six north Wales counties, looking primarily at rail modernisation across North Wales from Crewe to Holyhead.

 

“How will you ensure that the task force appointed by the Welsh Government, looking at north Wales transport and chaired by a colleague who is sitting to your right at the moment, will liaise with the North Wales Ambition Board in order to maximise the potential for that capital investment in that rail connectivity across north Wales to Anglesey?”

 

The Minister replied: “It is critical that this is a joined-up Government approach to the North Wales Ambition Board, particularly in relation to transport links.”  

Rats found at the Maelor

The Daily Post is reporting today that rats have been found at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/rats-found-wrexham-maelor-hospital-7143382

Euro Elections - how the voting works

When voters go to the polls this Thursday (May 22) they will be asked to cast a vote to elect four Members of the European Parliament to represent the whole of Wales.

Voters will only have one vote to cast and there will be 11 registered parties listed on the ballot paper.

The candidates will be elected by proportional representation so voters will not vote for individual candidates.

Voters are reminded to take their poll card with them to their designated polling station (which is printed on the card) and hand it to the Presiding Officer or one of the Poll Clerks on duty.

Even if a voter has mislaid the poll card, he or she will still be entitled to vote providing they are registered.

A voting mark should be in the form of a cross placed in the box adjacent to the party they wish to vote for. Voters should then place the marked paper in the ballot box.

Polling stations will be open from 7 am until 10 pm.

Each of the 22 local authority areas in Wales will conduct their own counts on Sunday, 25^th May. This is because voting in parts of mainland Europe takes place on that day.

When they have completed their counts, Local Returning Officers will inform the Regional Returning Officer for Wales, Bryn Parry-Jones, of the result of the count in their area.

The result for the Wales electoral region will then be declared by Mr Parry-Jones on Sunday evening at Fishguard Leisure Centre.

Local results cannot be announced before 10 pm as this is the time that polls close in some parts of Europe.

* For more information, go to the website: www.aboutmyvote.co.uk and also  www.denbighshire.gov.uk or you can join the debate on Twitter using hash tag #EPE14.

Appeal after sexual assault

Police are investigating a sexual assault which occurred overnight between 10pm on Friday, May 16 and 2am Saturday, May 17, in the Rhosllanerchrugog area near Wrexham.

 

The victim, a woman in her 20’s, accepted a lift from a passing vehicle on Market Street in Rhos which had two male occupants. It is believed that the victim was then assaulted.

 

Officers are keen to speak to anyone who saw a vehicle in suspicious circumstances either in Rhos, on rural roads or at secluded locations between Rhos and Bangor on Dee during this time.

 

Detective Inspector Jon Jones said: “We are appealing to anyone with information regarding the incident to contact us. We are especially keen to speak to anyone who may have seen a vehicle acting suspiciously in the Rhos area, a woman getting into a vehicle in Rhos or anyone who saw a vehicle parked in an unusual location for that time of night in the rural area around the B5426 Bangor Road between Rhos and Bangor on Dee.”

 

DI Jones added: “Equally, I would ask anyone who has any information that could assist us with the investigation to contact us on 101 quoting reference number R072918 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

KLS says "hang fire on cottage hospital's future"

* The traffic "pinch point" on the A539 approach to town.

A COMMUNITY group has asked Denbighshire County Council to hang fire on deciding the future of Llangollen’s former cottage hospital until the town’s planned new health centre is opened.

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) recently wrote to Denbighshire planning chiefs voicing his organisation’s concern that should the cottage hospital be redeveloped while the proposed health centre fails to materialise, Llangollen would be “permanently and irrevocably be left with nothing, just the GP surgery which for years has been chronically short of space for its 9,000 registered patients.”

He also outlined KLS’s concerns about pedestrian access to the new health centre, planned for the site of the derelict River Lodge, off the A539.

He received a reply from Iolo McGregor, Corporate Improvement Officer, Business Improvement & Modernisation, which said: “In order to improve the pedestrian route to the proposed health centre, we have identified a couple of locations where pedestrians will be able to cross the road in order to avoid the section of Mill Street with no pavement.

“Each crossing point will consist of dropped kerbs, tactile paving and a ‘build-out’. A build-out is where the road is narrowed on one side by extending the pavement out to the centre line of the road thereby halving the distance that pedestrians will need to cross.

“Build-outs also force traffic from one direction to give way, thereby also creating a traffic calming effect, which will reduce speeds and thus further improve pedestrian safety.

“Additionally, should users not wish to walk, during the times when the new facility will be dealing with patients, there are currently four buses an hour operating between Llangollen town centre and the hospital site. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has agreed to provide shelters for passengers using the bus.”

Mr Crumpton was told by the planners that the future of the cottage hospital and the possibility of the health centre failing to go ahead were matters for the health board and not the county council.  

He has now written back to the council, saying: “The public consultation for planning application 03/2014/0472 (demolition of the cottage hospital) ends soon – June 3 - and we’ve only just been informed of the measures proposed to make access to the planned health centre build along Mill Street safe.

“Our evaluation of those measures casts doubt on the viability of the new primary health centre which, in turn, makes the need to retain the cottage hospital important and urgent, if not imperative.  

“We ask you to withhold the Decision Notice on PA 03/2014/0472 until the new health centre has been completed.

“If, having evaluated our concerns, your intention is to permit the redevelopment of the Riverside Lodge then we ask for a sensible, precautionary compromise - construct the traffic-calming measures first or at least simulate them with cones and temporary lights.

“This approach has the virtue of finding if a different approach is needed, or even if there is another solution.

“That stretch has been identified as unsafe and if our fears turn out to be unfounded they would have to have been constructed anyway, so there’s no additional cost involved.

“If the measures fail and have to be removed then the costs will only run into thousands rather than the millions at risk in building a health centre which patients can’t reach safely.”

The planning application for the old cottage hospital calls for redevelopment of the site by way of the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

KLS has a number of concerns about pedestrian access to the new health centre site, including:

·         Night-time visibility of the build-outs.

·         18-wheelers, emergency services and tourist coaches being unable to drive through a narrowed carriageway.

·         Deliveries of locomotives by wide flat-loader to Llangollen Railway becoming “impossible”. It says the railway shares this concern.

·         The proximity of Wern Road, the new pedestrian crossing and the northern end of Castle Street at the bridge to t.he beginning of the pinch-point on Mill Street means it would take no more than six queuing cars to gridlock Llangollen and might lead to the A5 also being blocked, fears KLS.