Your views sought on extending Blue Badge scheme

The following story may interest Blue Badge holders in Llan:

 

Transport Minister, Carl Sargeant, has launched a consultation on plans for extending Blue Badge eligibility in order to make sure that eligible badge holders continue to receive a badge following planned changes to the UK welfare system.

Tuesday 07 August 2012

The consultation, which will run for three months, is in direct response to proposed changes in the UK welfare benefits system that will see Personal Independence Payments (PIP) replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 to 64.
Currently, eligibility for a blue badge is automatic for those that receive the ‘Highest Rate Mobility Component’, of the DLA. Proposals to link automatic eligibility for a blue badge to PIP will be outlined in the consultation.
Carl Sargeant said:

“We are concerned about the potential impact that the proposed UK Government welfare reforms may have on some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in Wales.”
“ By linking PIP to blue badge eligibility we will help inform local authority decisions on blue badge applicants and help reduce the burden of assessment on vulnerable applicants.
“ In the Programme for Government we have made a commitment to reduce poverty amongst some of our poorest people and communities.
“ I want to ensure that changes being introduced at UK level to the welfare system do not have a detrimental impact on those that currently access the free blue badge in Wales.”
“ I would urge people to get involved in this consultation and share their views on these proposals.”

The potential consequences of not linking PIP to Blue Badge eligibility include:

• blue badge holders not being automatically eligible for a badge when it expires (usually three year period)
• increased requirement for scrutiny, assessment and verification by the local authority of applications for a badge
• possible increase in use of GP assessment with costs being passed on to Local Health Boards potentially over half a million pounds a year.

At the end of last year the Minister announced that the new Blue Badge - which is harder to copy, forge and alter as a result of an improved design – was free to all holders.
This followed eligibility of the Blue Badge being extended to parents of children under three years old with specific medical conditions, people with disabilities in both arms and severely injured armed forces personnel and veterans.
The Minister is determined that the successes of the Blue Badge Scheme must continue despite the UK welfare reform programme.
The consultation will run until October with changes to the welfare system being phased in from April 2013.

Town comes to standstill for Albert Hammonds' funeral

* Llan Silver Band plays in tribute to Albert Hammonds outside their hdeadquarters in Parade Street.

* The funeral cortege turns into Market Street.

                                          

* Mourners line the pavements in Castle Street.

* The funeraal procession turns out of the church car park into Regent Street.

                                                          

LLAN town centre came to a standstill this lunchtime (Tuesday) for the funeral of Silver Band stalwart Albert Hammonds who died on July 31.

St Collen’s Church was full of the scores of mourners who attended to say their final farewells to Mr Hammonds who was the band’s famous musical director.

Band members played selections during the service, which was led by the vicar, the Rev Andrew Sully.

Following the service mourners followed the hearse from the church to the band’s newly-opened headquarters in Parade Street.

The solemn parade, which was marshalled by members of the Tidy Towns Team who held by the traffic, marched to the solemn beat a muffled drum along Regent Street and into Castle Street and Market Street where many more mourners lined the pavements.

Tourists also paused in silence to watch the parade go by.

Deep Harmony

Outside their headquarters, for which Mr Hammonds had been a prime fundraiser, the band played the tune "Deep Harmony" - one of Mr Hammonds’ favourite pieces.

The muffled drum once again provided a single-beat accompaniment for the funeral procession as it continued back on to Church Street and into Abbey Road on its way to St John’s Church cemetery where interment took place.

Mr Hammonds’ coffin, which was borne into St Collen’s for the service, had his own silver instrument, a baritone horn, placed on top of family floral tributes.

Mr Hammonds had been a keen brass band player since childhood and was a member of Llangollen Silver Band for over 66 years.

In his youth he would happily play for any band in the North East Wales area that needed a baritone player, and he often boasted that in those days it was possible to play at rehearsals for a different band every day of the week with minimal travelling.

A well-known figure in Llangollen, he has more recently been able to enjoy the pleasures of walking his dogs, looking after his grandchildren, playing bowls and chatting with his many friends, but most of all he will be remembered for his dedication to the survival and prosperity of the band.

His role over the years encompassed playing the baritone horn, conducting, organising and fundraising, especially towards the costs of the building of the new band-room.

Although his health had been failing him since March this year, fellow band members were delighted that he was well enough to be with them for the grand opening of the new band hall on June 16.

Silver Band stalwart's funeral today

A large number of mourners is exp-ected to attend the funeral at 11am today of Albert Hammonds, the much loved character and mainstay of Llangollen Silver Band for many years.

It is at St Collen's Church, Llangollen and afterwards there will be a march fom the church to the bandroom in Parade St,reet where the band will play "Deep Harmony" one of Alberts favourite tunes, and then the parade will continue on to the cemetary for the interment.

Llan fire crew at Glyndyfrdwy house blaze

The Daily Post is reporting today that a house was left badly damaged after a blaze ripped through the ground floor.
The story says four fire crews were called to the blaze at Bryn Derwen Terrace, Glyndyfrdwy, just after 3.35am yesterday (Sunday).
The terraced property, which was empty at the time, suffered severe damage to its downstairs rooms.
The story adds that five people, believed to be neighbours, were also treated at the scene for mild smoke inhalation, but were not taken to hospital.
Three fire crews from Llangollen, Corwen and Chirk were called to the incident, along with the aerial ladder platform from Wrexham.
The story says the cause is currently under investigation.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/08/06/house-badly-damaged-in-denbighshire-fire-video-gallery-55578-31555810/

Golds galore in thrilling Railway races

* Driver Roger Hodgkinson receives the gold medal

 from the Fat Controller.

* The Fat Controller presents Thomas with his gold medal.

* Neck and neck in the Olympian tussle

between Thomas and Diesel.

* Crowds flock around winning Thomas. 

Neck and neck races for gold medal glory between two engines in peak form was the thrilling highlight of the weekend’s Days Out With Thomas at Llangollen Railway.

In a topical Olympic twist to the usual race between Thomas and Diesel, on Sunday Thomas went for gold.

In the morning's race Thomas was a clear winner when steam easily triumphed  over diesel.

The Fat Controller was on hand to award Thomas the gold medal before an appreciative crowd.

Later a coal cake was presented to Thomas as a further tribute to his prowess.

However in a turn of fortune in the afternoon heat, diesel got the better of Thomas when, in the final leg, Diesel slipped into reverse ahead of the steam crew and sailed home well ahead to take gold and confound all expectations.

Further attempts at gold can be expected next weekend when steam is once again pitted against diesel – definitely one thing you won't see on BBC Olympics!

A Railway spokesman said: “Whilst we had a few showers on both days the weather didn't really interfere with proceedings except at Carrog first thing on Sunday when the heavens opened but Llangollen escaped until late in the day when we caught the tail end of a passing shower going up the border to Wrexham and Chester.”

There are more Days Out Wth Thomas on Thursday 9th, Friday 10th, Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th August.

Ticket Prices: Adults £15, Seniors £13, Children £10, Family 1 (1 adult & 1 child) £22, Family 2 (2 Adults & 2 Children) £40, Under 3's FREE. Book online at https://sales.webticketmanager.com/llangollenrailway - No booking fee for online bookings. Tel: 01978 860979. Office bookings incur a £2.50 booking fee per transaction and not per ticket.

Postbox goes gold for rower Tom James

Our friends at Wrexham.com took a great picture this morning (Sunday) of a postbox in Wrexham being painted gold in honour of local boy Tom James who on Saturday chalked up a gold medal in the London Olympics.


* Photographers snap the potbox being painted gold in honour
of Tom James. Picture courtesy of Wrexham.com

Rower Tom, 28, stroked to glory with his three team mates in the mens' coxless four.

Other postboxes in Wales are being painted gold to mark the achievements of Welsh Olympians.

The one outside the Cambrian in Townhill, Wrexham joins a box in Cardiff honouring cyclist Geraint Thomas who grabbed gold on Friday.

Both Tom James and Geraint Thomas also won at their events at the Beijing Olympics four years ago.

On the BBC’s Olympic round-up programme on Sunday morning, Tom James told presenter Michal Husain that he was unsure what the next move would be in his glittering sports career.

Asked if he would go on rowing, he answered: “I don’t know, but never say never.” 

You can see the Wrexham postbox painting in progress at:

pic.twitter.com/GMNbU22D

http://www.wrexham.com/news/town-centre-postbox-gets-painted-gold-for-tom-james-10541.html

Assembly Member backs "save our hospital" fight

llanblogger exclusive

* Llan Cottage Hospital

Breaking news ...                     

Plaid Cymru's North Wales Assembly Member Llyr Gruffydd has backed plans by local residents to hold a referendum about the planned closure of Llangollen Hospital.

He said the proposed closure of the community hospital was a matter of concern and full consultation needed to take place before any final decision was made.

Mr Gruffydd said: "The announcement of community hospital closures across the North, including Llangollen, by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board management has worried many people.

"What we are being presented with here is a stark choice, where local health board managers are saying the only alternative to the status quo is closure.

"We all recognise that the NHS needs to evolve and adapt to changing circumstances, but I'm very concerned that we're being presented with closing a valuable community facility without the alternatives being fully explored and without evidence that people needing care in their community will be able to get that without bed blocking in a district general hospital such as the Maelor.

"That's the fear being expressed locally and also by the British Medical Association's Eamonn Jessup, who said the loss of beds in community hospitals would gridlock the NHS.

"NHS bosses and the Welsh Government's Health Minister Lesley Griffiths have to listen to people's concerns and also provide some comprehensive answers to explain how people unable to stay in community hospitals will be cared for in their homes and by whom."

He welcomed news that Llangollen residents had organised a public meeting on Thursday, August 9, in the Hand Hotel, Llangollen, and also supported their plans to hold a community referendum on the proposed closure.

Mr Gruffydd added: "The Local Government Act 1972 has a provision for a community referendum like this and it's one distinctive way for the town to make its voice heard. I will be pressing to make sure that message is heard by the minister in Cardiff Bay."