Muddy towpath issue aired by councillor

Good to see one of the members raised an issue which was highlighted by llanblogger last month at the recent monthly meeting of Llan Town Council.
In one of our first articles in July we said something should be done about the stretch of the canal towpath from the wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls, which  turns rapidly into a mud bath whenever it rains.
The same matter was raised by Cllr Tony Baker at the meeting.
It was suggested by the mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, this was an issue for the newly-formed Canals and Rivers Trust.
It was agreed that the trust should be contacted by the town clerk.
So, llanblogger hopes to see remedial work start soon. 

Flashback ....

llanblogger, Monday, July 16, 2012

Towpath puddles are no joke

                                            

                                                             * Puddles on the Llan Canal towpath

NOW that it is has taken responsibility for running the UK’s canals network the new Canals and Rivers Trust might well splash out on curing a long-standing problem in Llangollen.

While the towpath running from Llan to Trevor is solid and well drained the stretch from the wharf towards the Horseshoe Falls turns rapidly into a mud bath when it rains – as it has been doing quite a bit lately.

Puddle links up with puddle to turn a pleasant stroll into a soggy obstacle course.

The only way to negotiate the muddy waters is to find stepping stones across them or tiptoe precariously along the path’s stone edging, ebing careful not to fall in the canal and get an even bigger dowsing.

Why the quality of one stretch of towpath can vary so wildly from one nearby is a mystery – and one which the new Trust should address, llanblogger belives.

What do you think? Let us know by emailing llanblogger@gmail.com

Complaints over derelict building

* Complaints about this building.

"Beyond a joke," says councillor

 

Something should be done about the condition of the derelict former brewery opposite the park in Llan.

That was the call from Cllr Mike Pugh at the latest meeting of the full council.

Complaining that the state of the building was “now beyond a joke”, he added:  “It is falling deeper into disrepair.

“It’s on the main road and infested with rodents.

“I am not sure whose ownership it is now in but is there anything the council can do to make it safe?”

Town clerk J Gareth Thomas said owners could be forced into a position by law in which repairs had to be carried out, or health issues may be a matter for environmental health officers.

He said he would contact the county council expressing members’ concerns.

Also at the meeting other members raised concerns about a range of matters. These included:

·         The “increasing” volume of traffic on Brook Street and the large dip in the carriageway at the junction with the A5 – from Cllr Tony Baker.

·         Parking along Hall Street and the nearby A5 close to the park – from Cllr Tim Palmer.

·         The town clerk said he raise these concerns with the appropriate authorities.

Pavilion could have Commonwealth Games role, says AM

* The pavilion has been suggested as the venue for Commonwealth Games table tennis.

Llan Assembly Member Ken Skates has raised the prospect of North East Wales playing a central role in a future bid for the Commonwealth Games – with Llan Pavilion hosting the table tennis.

He said the possibility of a Liverpool bid for the games could have huge economic benefits for areas like Denbighshire, Wrexham and Flintshire.

Off the back of the successful London 2012 Olympic Games, the argued that a possible Liverpool/North East Wales bid could help offset costs and play a vital role in promoting the region to the world.

Mr Skates said: “We must examine closely what role North East Wales could play in conjunction with a city like Liverpool on a possible joint bid for the Commonwealth Games.

"The economic, cultural, transport and sporting links between North East Wales and the North West of England make for a potentially unbeatable bid.

“Imagine a bid that ties the Land of our Fathers to the city of the Beatles, the bid could be very strong.

"It would offer an intoxicating cocktail of history, culture and elite sporting venues.”

Mr Skates added: "North Wales could play a significant role in hosting the triathlon along the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site, Dee Valley and Bala, rowing on the River Dee, Mountain biking at Llandegla, road cycling on the Etape Cymru circuit, sailing at Shotwick and the marathon could follow a route through Wales, Cheshire and Merseyside.

"Clearly there would also be a need for new elite sporting venues, which could bring a lasting legacy to North East Wales and deliver sporting success for generations to come."

Mr Skates believes a key attraction of such a joint bid would be the potential to reduce costs and therefore avoid placing a financial burden on the tax payer.

He said: "By staging the Games in North East Wales and the North West of England we could draw on funds from sporting bodies in both countries and share costs on both sides of the border, while each benefiting equally.

"We would be able to exploit the enormous potential of our porous border and advertise to the world some of the greatest landscapes and buildings on the planet.

"A Mersey-Dee bid could set a new standard for the Commonwealth Games and create a platform upon which the wider regional economy would prosper.”

He added: "It is entirely possible Liverpool and Everton's football grounds will be replaced in the next 20 years, so early plans could utilise their new venues for the Games, perhaps for athletics."

Among the other venues suggested by Mr Skates are table tennis at Llangollen Pavilion, Wrexham Racecourse for rugby sevens, shooting at the North Wales Shooting School in Sealand and track cycling at Manchester velodrome.

The 2014 Games will be held in Glasgow, with the 2018 events taking place on Australia's Gold Coast. The hosts for the 2022 and 2026 Games will be decided in the coming years.

Mr Skates said: "This is our big chance to put elite sport in North East Wales on the global map as well as promote grassroots participation in our communities. We need to give it very serious consideration.”

 

Council approves action plans

* Councillors are looking for quotes for design work on Royal Gardens. 
 

The Town Council has now accepted a tender to carry out renovation work on Llan’s world-famous Chain Bridge.

The mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, said at the council meeting on Tuesday evening that the firm which had been successful had also done the renovation of a similar bridge near The Walls in Chester. 

·         Councillors agreed at the same meeting to seek quotes from appropriate firms to carry out design work for the future look of Royal Gardens, the green area opposite the Royal Hotel which the council now owns. One of the proposals there is to plant a tree to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

·         Members also gave their approval to a donation of £500 to the food festival to be held at the Royal International Pavilion in October.  

Cash available to transform empty properties

People looking to return empty properties back into use can now apply for financial help thanks to a new scheme.
The Houses into Homes scheme has made over £2.35 million available to people across North Wales in a bid to provide people with much needed homes.
In Denbighshire, over £300,000 has been made available.
The Welsh Government scheme provides interest free loans to enable the renovation, improvement and conversion of empty properties for use as residential accommodation.
Eligible properties must have been empty for six months or more. Single units of accommodation can receive a loan of up to a maximum of £25,000, with a maximum loan of £150,000 available per applicant.
Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for housing, Councillor David Smith, said: “This funding is extremely welcome and will go a long way in helping turn empty or derelict properties into homes for people across the county.”
Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage
“Empty homes are, quite simply, a wasted resource. There are approximately 20,000 long term empty properties across Wales, depriving people of a much needed home and blighting the community.
“Providing good quality, affordable homes for people is a priority across Wales and we have been exploring a number of ways to help us meet the growing demand. We hope the Houses into Homes scheme will encourage landlords, home owners and developers to come forward and turn empty properties into homes.”
For more information about Homes into Houses scheme, please contact
Debbie Nalecz, Empty Homes Officer on 01824 706817 or debbie.nalecz@denbighshire.gov.uk

Readers have their say on health issues

* The recent Hand public meeting is the subject of our second letter, below.

We have received two readers' letters on the subject of the future of health services in Llan, which we bring you here:

A Bird In The Hand?
 

I read, with considerable interest, both Ken Skates’ and Mike Edwards’ statements this morning. Mike, Chair of Keep Llangollen Special Community Group, made extremely valid points, which Mr Skates hasn’t addressed.

It is an established fact that Betsi Cadwaladr’s plan is to close our Cottage Hospital in 2013. It is true that this hospital has suffered underinvestment for years, and is barely fit for purpose because of this long-term neglect by Betsi Cadwaladr.
They have already suffered death by a thousand cuts and many previous attempts to close it. It is a tribute to the dedicated staff that they’ve kept on going regardless, and it’s about time their praises were sung.

It’s very enticing to say we want a 21^st Century facility, but in what way will that differ from a 20^th Century facility?
Nurses remain nurses, beds remain beds, so will the proposed new Health Centre be furnished with an MRI scanner, a path lab, or anything else currently only available at the Maelor and elsewhere?
Stating that we need the best” doesn’t mean it will be delivered. We need to read the specification for the new Health Centre, not vague promises.

The cold, clinical fact is that after the hospital closes in 2013, we only have politicians’ promises that there will be a replacement multi-million-pound health centre at the River Lodge. Perhaps I’ve grown cynical in my old age, but I’ve heard politicians’ promises all my life. Remember Labour’s manifesto pledge to hold a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty?

Between 2013 and 2015, we will have no local hospital services at all. Mr Skates should be arguing on our behalf that the hospital must not close until the new facility his open, if it ever happens. If he did that, he wouldn’t be torn between his government’s policy and serving the community. I think we deserve to come first, and I’m sure he would agree with that statement.

As Mike made clear, Betsi Cadwaladr have several hurdles to jump: They must prepare a business case acceptable to the Welsh Government, have it approved, apply for Planning Permission and have that approved – far from easy – and then purchase the property. Everyone seems to be assuming that the Powys Fadog project is dead, but it isn’t – it’s something which would bring great benefit, including thirty jobs, and their fight is by no means over.

Come 2015, there’s every possibility that Betsi Cadwaladr may shelve their plans for a new Health Centre. The economy may have nosedived; they may decide that we’ve got along without local services very well and no longer deem it worthwhile.

I challenge Mr Skates to extract a binding contract with Betsi Cadwaladr to keep the hospital open until the proposed Health Centre is ready to receive patients. I challenge him to ensure we retain beds and the minor injury unit here.

Over to you, Mr Skates. Don’t let us down – and please respond to this.
 

Martin Crumpton, Llangollen Protest

PUBLIC MEETING OVER HOSPITAL CLOSURE PLAN

 

It was good meeting and everyone I spoke to said the same. There were 51 votes for a referendum and nobody opposed it – 7 abstained – So for once WE will be listened to and that would never have happened if we left it to the town council. Things like this are already budgeted for so if anybody complains about the cost tell them it’s our money and it’s well spent if it makes them listen to our views for once. Let’s hope it will become a habit or we’ll have to have more meetings like this. Everybody had a chance to speak and that’s how it should be. It’s called democracy and the majority said “Keep Our Hospital” If/when our Cottage/Community Hospital is closed, I want/need to know that it will NOT be closed prior to the new Health Centre OPENS and the opinions of the local residents will be listened to i.e. LLangollen WANTS TO KEEP BEDS in our community.

I would also like to point out that I held a copy of the Register of Electors at the meeting but as a local (born and bred here) I knew the majority of the people attending the meeting.

Jude Williams

* We welcome your letters on this or any other suspect of interest in Llan or wider.
All we ask is that you let us have your name for oublication.

AM boosts new Llan health plans

 

* Ken Skates AM.

"Massive step in right direction"

 

Labour Assembly Member Ken Skates has met health chiefs to discuss proposed changes to services in Wrexham and Denbighshire.

Clwyd South member Mr Skates discussed the future of services in the Dee Valley, where Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is planning a new multi-million pound health centre.

He said: “People throughout the Dee Valley want to see a first class, modern health service for the 21^st Century and the planned health centre for Llangollen would be a massive step in the right direction.

“I have met with many residents who are anxious to see the dilapidated former River Lodge Hotel utilised for a new health centre, but assurances are also being sought that the planned Extended Care Scheme, along with GPs services, will address concerns about bed losses.

“In Chirk the hospital’s future is secure, but I am raising queries regarding the future of the Minor Injuries Unit. I am also anxious to ensure Corwen sees its fair share of a modern health service developed in the coming years.

“The UK economy under the Tory/Lib Dem coalition has slumped back into recession and borrowing is rising. Against this terrible economic backdrop it is reassuring that Labour is committed to defending the core principles of an NHS in Wales that is free of privatisation.”