New health centre could cost millions more than planned claim campaigners

* Accessing the River Lodge site could add millions to the cost of building a new health centre, claim campaigners. 

Providing a new health centre to replace closure-threatened Llangollen Cottage Hospital will cost millions of pounds more than the health board’s current estimate.

That is the claim of the campaign group battling to keep health services in the town if the hospital shuts down as proposed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).

Last Saturday members of the group Keep Llangollen Health Services lobbied politicians going into the annual food festival at the Pavilion and claimed to have gained support from all the area’s four Assembly Members for their aim of keeping the hospital open until its replacement is up and running.

Other protests are now planned, says the group.

Most likely location for the new health centre is the site of the derelict River Lodge in Mill Street.

A researcher from the group who has been checking into concerns about its access off the busy A539 road said: “We know that Mill Street, where the A road from Trefor is too narrow to be an A road and becomes a B road for a short distance, will have to be widened to comply with planning law for the River Lodge redevelopment as a new Health Centre, and that will involve compulsory purchase of a number of large building such as the Upper Dee Mill, adding around £2m-£3m to the estimated £5.5m cost of building the Hospital’s replacement.

“This does not look like value for money, and represents a downgrading – or elimination – of vital local health services.”

Using a Land Registry search, the group has also been trying to clear up confusion over the ownership of the Cottage Hospital building.

And its researcher claims:  “Betsi Cadwaladr has title to the hospital, Dol Afon [the large Victorian house adjacent currently on the market], and the small car park almost opposite.

“Consequently, reversion to the Vivod Estate won’t happen, as there’s no covenant on the hospital, despite the rumours.

“We also have no guarantee that when these assets are sold, the money will benefit the town, so it will probably go into BCUHB’s general pool.”

The group now has its own Facebook page at Save Llangollen Hospital Beds and a website at http://llangollenhospitalcampaign.wordpress.com/

Free food safety session for businesses

A free food safety advice session for businesses is to be held in Llangollen early next month.

The event in Llangollen Library, Y Capel, Castle Street, will be held on Tuesday, November 6, from 2 - 5.30pm.

It is one of a series of similar sessions being staged across Denbighshire and Conwy during November.

The drop-in sessions are being held in town centres, so that businesses will be able to pop along and meet food safety officers, and get information and advice.

Topics covered will be:

• The National Food Hygiene Rating Scheme
• Food safety management systems/HACCP
• Food hygiene training
• How to comply with food safety regulations

Useful information for traders and businesses about health and safety at work and Trading Standards will also be available.

Cllr David Smith, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, said: “This is an excellent opportunity to meet inspecting officers informally for up-to-date information and advice.

“In this current economic climate, I would urge local businesses to take full advantage of the Food Safety Teams free help and guidance.”

£13 million to help keep Welsh homes warm

Environment Minister, John Griffiths has announced an additional £13m to help keep Welsh homes warm.

 

The money will be divided between the Welsh Government’s two flagship fuel poverty schemes, Nest and Arbed, both of which target investment at those people most in need of help.

Speaking at the launch of Big Energy Savings Week at Bridgend shopping outlet, McArthur Glen, the Minister said: “Rising energy costs and the current economic conditions mean that too many people in Wales are becoming vulnerable to fuel poverty.

“The Welsh Government is committed taking action to tackle this issue, and that is why Nest, our fuel poverty scheme targets investment at those people most at risk.

"Latest figures show that since April 2011 Nest has provided advice and support to over 15000 households to help them reduce their bills and has funded energy saving improvement in around 5600 homes. These improvement packages really do make a difference, resulting in an average saving of £500 per household so I am delighted that we have been able to allocate significant additional money to such a beneficial scheme.

"The £13m will be shared between Nest and our strategic energy scheme Arbed which in its first phase helped to make 6000 homes in some of Wales poorest areas more energy efficient. We are now moving into Arbed’s second phase and expect it to benefit a further 5000 homes plus by 2016.

“Both Nest and Arbed make a genuine difference to the quality of life of Welsh householders, resulting in warmer homes and reduced fuel bills, and I am delighted that we are able to maintain our investment in tackling fuel poverty at this economically difficult time.”

The Environment Minister confirmed that that the draft budget for 2013-14 included an additional £10m for improving domestic energy and that £5m additional capital would be used in both 2013-14 and 2014-15 for the Nest and Arbed schemes. He said the money would improve the energy efficiency of 1600 Welsh homes.

Finance Minister, Jane Hutt said: “As part of the Welsh Government’s Draft Budget for 2013-14 I announced an additional £175m in capital investment over the next two years to support strategically important projects throughout Wales.

“The additional £10million to improve domestic energy will make a real difference, ensuring warmer homes and more manageable fuel bills for many of Wales’ less well off householders.”

The Minister also announced an extra £3m for Nest which has been taken from centrally retained capital.

Operatic society brews up a successful afternoon tea

* Guests take tea with the Operatic Society.

Llangollen Operatic Society raised almost £250 for its funds from an afternoon tea party it hosted at its Studio headquarters, off Castle Street, on Sunday.

The event was organised by society members Tracey Rawlinson and Louisa Jones while Susan Cheshire, Tess Orton Jones, Jeanette Robinson and Susan Price helped serve the tea, sandwiches and cakes, which went down a treat with guests.

Bill Cheshire compiled and ran a successful music quiz while Christopher Sims provided background piano music during the tea.   

Food festival one of best ever, say organisers

* (Left) Celebrity chef Dai Davies with his son Dan, 17 ,

before going on stage.

 

 

* (Below) Sampling the flavours - Rebecca Owen, 10,

from Llangollen.

 

 

 

An array of "world class, world beating" produce attracted thousands of people to a food festival.

Food lovers from across the UK made a bee line for the Hamper Llangollen 2012 which was described as one of the best ever.

They were entertained by a trio of Welsh celebrity chefs including Graham Tinsley, the star of ITV's Taste the Nation and a former captain of the Welsh Culinary Team.
 

He was joined in the show kitchen by S4C favourite Dudley Newbery and the ever popular Dai Chef.

Another star attraction was the award-winning Master Chef Brian Mellor whose career came full circle.

Brian, who has cooked for TV celebs, Prime Ministers and Royalty, now runs a cookery school in Chester. He revealed he began his stellar career nearly 30 years ago - at The Hand Hotel in Llangollen.

After an absence of several years, it was also an emotional return for Dai Chef whose son, Dan is keeping a promise his dad made to superstar tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Dai famously cooked for Pavarotti when he came to perform at the International Eisteddfod in 1995, exactly 40 years after he first came to Llangollen as part of his father's choir from Modena, in Italy.

Seventeen year old Dan is already making a name for himself as a front of house specialist and is studying Restaurant Supervision at Llandrillo College.

Dan has just won a prestigious Welsh colleges competition to work for a fortnight at the world-famous Osteria Francescana restaurant in Pavarotti's home town of Modena.

Proud dad Dai, who lived in Chirk for many years but is now the Chef Director of the Ship Inn, at the Anglesey beauty spot of Red Wharf Bay, said: "It's fantastic to be back in Llangollen, it's like coming home."

"I am particularly proud be back with my son, Dan, after he was interviewed at Buckingham Palace.

"At 17 years of age, he was judged to be the best in Wales for front of house and he won the Gold Medal.

"On the back of that, part of the prize is to go to Osteria Francescana, the fifth best restaurant in the world.

"The funny thing about that is that I cooked for Luciano Pavarotti when he came to Llangollen and Dan sat on his knee and he said 'bring him to Modena'. This is a lovely twist that Dan is actually going there to work next April.

"He's just returned from Slovenia and two weeks ago he waited on the tables at the Queen's Awards dinner, so it's really exciting to have him here on stage with me today.

"My daughter, Megan, who's only seven, is on her 43rd cookery demonstration today - both she and Dan are live on stage here at Llangollen."

Dan said: "I am really excited about going to Modena, it's a fabulous opportunity."

Guest of honour at Hamper Llangollen was Alun Davies, Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, who described the produce on show as "world class and world-beating".

He said: "It's a great event and it's important because it allows us to recognise and appreciate not only the food that's produced here but where it is as part of our community.

"What I enjoy about the food festival here in Llangollen - and elsewhere - is the celebration of food culture, Welsh identity and the economy.

"The Welsh Government is looking at supporting producers, processors and retailers here in Llangollen today.

"When I leave here I am flying to Paris to support producers in one of the biggest food fairs in Europe.

"We are spending our time working with people to improve our product and create a market for that product. I am very enthusiastic about what we are able to do."

One of the main driving forces behind the festival is businessman Colin Loughlin, Chair of the local committee that runs the event, supported by the rural development agency, Cadwyn Clwyd.

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

Mr Loughlin said: "People started queuing to get in at 9.45am on Saturday - the turn-out has been brilliant.

"There's a great atmosphere there's a lovely ambience and it's all come together really well. I am absolutely delighted.

"It's a really important event for the town of Llangollen and the wider rural community. Weare integrating the festival and the town."

Andrew Jedwell, the Chair of Cadwyn Clwyd, added: "Food is an important part of the rural economy and Cadwyn Clwyd has very actively fostered development of the food sector. We think there's a lot more potential still.

"Hamper Llangollen provides a wonderful shop window, it gives people the opportunity to see the full breadth of products that we produce in and around the area and develop a sense of pride in local produce."

Wrexham-based Orchard Pigs chose Hamper Llangollen as the place to launch their new range of artisan bread which was a sell-out success.

Among the other happy stallholders was chocolatier Jo Edwards, from Aballu Truffles, in Rossett, who was unveiling her new chocolate spread for after dinner crackers.

She said: "Hamper Llangollen is really nice event, everyone is enjoying themselves and it's great. And we're selling lots of chocolate, we're doing really well."

It was a sentiment echoed by Carol Allen, from Llanvalley Natural Products, who makes soap from goats' milk.

She said: "It's lovely, the weather's good, the atmosphere's good and the food is glorious. Everybody is happy and everybody visiting the stalls is really enjoying it."

 

* Alun Davies AM, Deputy Minister for

Agriculture,

Food Fisheries and European Programmes, at the opening

 of the festival, with, from left,

Andrew Jedwell,

Chairman of the Board of Directors at Cadwyn

Clwyd, Festival Committee Chair Colin Loughlin and

Lowri Owain, Chief Executive, Cadwyn Clwyd.

 

Group could help get shopkeepers online

A local campaign group has moves to in mind to help shopkeepers in the town  make their presence felt on the internet.

The revelation comes from Mike Edwards, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, in response to a new report by Rotary International which says that small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK are missing a trick when it comes to supporting their local community.

Results reveal that almost half of SMEs do not support their local community, despite the fact that most recognise that community relations increases staff morale and makes their business more attractive to potential customers and employees.

Mike Edwards (pictured left) said: “Generally we have found when talking at a local level to businesses in Llangollen that they already fully support and many are involved with the community.  

“We do appreciate that small businesses have limited resources and their focus priority is naturally their business.  

“We do feel that Keep Llangollen Special can offer support to local shopkeepers and suppliers to help them exploit opportunities provided by the Internet and social media.” 

He added: “Social media such as Facebook and Twitter is a cost effective way of establishing and maintaining contact with customers and obtaining important feedback to understand those customers' needs.  

“We are currently investigating a number of initiatives to enable us to offer full business support to owners of local shops to enable them to compete on a level playing field with large Corporates who have greater resources available to them.  

“We have found that some local businesses do not have a Web presence and we would look to convince them that this is a cost effective way of boosting their turnover and attracting new custom both locally and further afield.”

Thomas and Friends steam into station

Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends are making one of their popular visits to Llangollen Railway this weekend.

And fans were out early yesterday (Saturday) to get their place aboard the famous blue steam engine or just to see it go by.

There's another appearance today (Sunday), with gates open at 10am and Thomas arriving at Llangollen Station between 10am and 10.30am

Thomas and his friends are back on Thursday to Sunday, October 25 to 28.

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