Japanese visitors in Llan to see Thomas

 

* Zuua Murakami and his mum from Japan meet the Fat Controller beside Thomas.

 

Whenever he turns up at Llangollen Railway to make one of his special appearances, Thomas the Tank Engine attracts fans from across a wide area.

 

But few come further than little Zuua Murakami who travelled all the way from Japan at the weekend to see his favourite steam train.

 

He and his mum, from Yokohamah, came up to Llangollen while staying with friends the Arlidge family in Coventry.

 

Mrs Murakami had previously stayed with them while attending university in Coventry.

 

Also turning out to see Thomas last Saturday and Sunday were a family with five children from Ghent in Belgium and another family from Dublin in Ireland.

Major changes to Business Rates called for

 

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for major changes to the way Business Rates operate in Denbighshire.

The AM (pictured right) said he was in favour of devolving control of Business Rates to Wales so local councils could keep the proceeds of what they collect.

Mr Skates, who sits on the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee, said allowing local authorities to retain some of the money they collect would give them an extra incentive to help grow the local economy.

During a debate on the issue in the Senedd, the Business Minister said she would investigate how this could be done.

Mr Skates said: “At present local councils in areas like Denbighshire collect rates, pass the money to the Government which then redistributes the money back to them as individual councils. This system is too convoluted and doesn’t create the right incentives for growth.

“A better system would be for Denbighshire Council to have greater control over the retention of business rates so they have an extra incentive to make high streets and local businesses in the area more competitive.

“By allowing councils to keep up to half of their future increases in business rates, it would help generate more innovation on our flagging high street. Currently business rates can take up to around a quarter of the cost of running a small local shop, so the ability to control rates could be a useful tool.

“It would also allow us to target rate relief more specifically to the areas that really need it and hopefully encourage people to start businesses in depressed areas of Denbighshire.

"Whilst there is no easy solution to our economic problems in Denbighshire, business owners are telling me the system needs to be made a lot simpler and much more flexible."

On Tuesday the Welsh Government announced its response to the Business Rates Review conducted by Professor Brian Morgan.

The Welsh Government agreed with the Group’s findings that the Silk Commission will need to consider issues relating to the devolution of business rates and the local retention of business rates as part of the whole funding system for Wales.

In addition, the Business Rates Review group is being asked to further examine the effectiveness of schemes introduced in Northern Ireland and Scotland to bring empty properties back into use.

A494 east of Gwyddelwern now open again

Denbighshire County Council says the A494 east of Gwyddelwern, which had been closed earlier this afternoon (Wednesday) following a road traffic collision, is now open again.

Health shake-up plans come under fire

A powerful union has questioned whether major health service changes which seriously affect Llangollen have been properly costed.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is the world’s largest professional union of nurses, representing over 400,000 nurses, midwives, health visitors and nursing students, including over 24,000 members in Wales.

It has just made its official response to the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board’s reconfiguration plan, "Healthcare in North Wales is Changing”, which in Llangollen has sparked a major backlash to plans to close the town’s Cottage Hospital and replace it with a new £5.5 million health centre, possibly on the site of the derelict River Lodge just down the road.

A copy of the response document has been sent to llanblogger by Keep Llangollen Health Services, the campaign group set up recently to ensure that services currently provided by the hospital continue to be available locally in the gap between it closing and the new facility being built, which it fears could run to a number of years.

In its response to the BCUHB proposals concerning Llangollen, the RCN says: “The general thrust of the document is in keeping with government policy to increase the volume of care delivered in the community by providing care at or closer to home and the plan indicates that the Health Board ‘will carry on looking at other services that can move from hospitals into local communities. We will need to release money from hospitals and other buildings to do this. We will monitor and discuss our progress with the Community Health Council.’

“There is however no indication that there has been a robust assessment of the financial impact of the overall proposed changes of shifting care into the community.

“The Health Board is operating under financial constraints and the proposed changes have cost implications.

“A number of the proposals in the Health Board pan are dependent on successful bids to the Welsh Government e.g. Llangollen Community Hospital (£5.5m), new NHS community hospital through redevelopment of the current Royal Alexandra Hospital site (£21m) Llandudno Hospital (£40m) and Flint primary care resource centre (£4m).

“In addition to the capital build costs the creation of new primary care resource centres and the development of enhanced care at home services will require education and training of staff for new roles in these new services and centres and this will require financial and human resources.”

The RC asks: “Have the proposed changes been costed?”

And it queries: “Is there evidence that the proposed community model is more cost effective (as well as clinically effective) than the current model?”

In a separate report, the Community Hospitals Association (CHA) has also criticised BCUHB's decision to close Llangollen Hospital.

The CHA claims that if implemented the changes set out by the health board “will have a devastating effect on healthcare services in North Wales”.

It adds: "The proposals reduce access to local health care services and reduce community capacity. The implications of this will be an increased reliance on specialist acute services, which is contrary to the policy of providing care close to where people live.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of Keep Llangollen Health Services, said: “The health board have argued all along that these changes are clinically led and supported by health practitioners.

"It is clear that that is not the case, and highly respected health organisations are severely critical of these proposed changes.

"The health board have also argued that these changes are needed in order to save money, but again it is clear that these changes will not save any money, and serious questions are being asked about the robustness of their financial plans.

“We want to see our health services improved, but the health board provided us with two options only: maintain the status quo or adopt the health board’s downgrading proposals.

"The Community Hospital Association sets out clearly that there is an alternative, and that is to invest in community health services and work with local communities.

“While the official consultation period is now over, the battle to save our health services is far from over. We are encouraging people to contact the Community Health Council reiterating their opposition to these proposed changes.

* The RCN's response also deals with the controversial subject of how neonatal care will be provided in North Wales in the future.

And it says: “It is extremely disappointing that rather than addressing the development needs of the service in North Wales Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board has chosen to ignore the clear clinical preference and put forward a proposal to simply outsource all longer term neonatal intensive care to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.

“The Royal College of Nursing is firmly opposed to this proposal which we do not believe is the option that will provide the best care.”

The RCN also criticises the system used by the health board to brief the public on the proposed changes at a series of local public meetings.

These meetings, says the union, were “fraught with unnecessary difficulty which has undoubtedly caused public and professional anxieties to increase.”

It adds: “Our members have informed us that the audience in each meeting was restricted to 30 people resulting in many people being refused entry.

“The number and frequency of meetings was not sufficient to balance this policy of small group meetings.”

· The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board does not reply to communications from llanblogger, so we are unable to gain a response to this story for readers.

Spooky local tales for Halloween

With Hallowe’en here again it’s time for llanblogger to look at some of the spooky tales associated with Llangollen over the years.

They are only to be read after dark in front of a roaring fire ...

 

* Tyn Dwr Hall. 

Northern Ghost Investigations’ website includes this spine-tingling story about Tyn Dwr Hall related to the time when it took in guests:

“One guest reportedly had a lengthy conversation with whom she thought was the hall’s gamekeeper complete with old fashioned clothes. Whilst checking out, she asked if she could speak again with the elderly gentleman.

“The receptionist at the Hall had no idea whom the lady was referring to but the lady insisted she had spoken to the old gamekeeper, regarding the animals and birds in the forest earlier that evening. Since then, there have been many reports of other people seeing this mysterious gentleman.

“When the Billiards Room was once a bedroom, one particular gentleman reported being woken up by the sound of the rustling of a lady`s dress and her underlying petticoats. The gentleman explained to the lady that she must be in the wrong room, which seemed to make her panic and then quickly disappear before his eyes.

“Since then there have been reports of footsteps being heard walking on floorboards even though the room was carpeted.”

 

* Plas Newydd.

The BBC North East Wales website features this account from medium Paula Roscoe, a member of local paranormal group WISP, about what she encountered during a vigil at historic Plas Newydd, home of the Ladies of Llangollen:

“As a medium, I am clairvoyant/clairsentient and clairaudient which means I can see, feel and hear spirits.

“In the Library I felt instant pain in my right shoulder and right temple area. As I stood within the Library I sensed someone coming in behind me, turning round expecting it to be one of our group, no one was there. 

“In the State Room I felt a man's energy very strongly. I kept getting the name 'Howard' I started to feel more pain, even breathless and it moved into my right lung.

“I was in the state bedroom and sensed strongly a military man. Very abrupt, stood no nonsense, a very proud man. When I asked him who he was he replied, ‘I've already told you, I'm Howard.’ He didn't take kindly to what we were doing calling it, ‘stuff and nonsense!’

“After asking my spirit guide if this was acceptable, we decided to do an Angel Board, which would enable the 'audience' to see the spirits answering us. Myself, Betty and two employees sat.

“Suddenly my guide was warning me as an angry person was trying to get on. I was being warned about this 'Viv'. Then I sensed a child. A boy. I asked my guide Harry, to help him come closer and the child nestled into my left side. He spelt out Graeak, but we sensed the name Gareth. Again I was given the date 1867.

“It came out that this little boy aged six was in the stables when Viv caused something to happen involving a horse and the boy was killed. He desperately wanted to be with his Mummy, but Viv kept him with her because of her shame and anger and guilt. She blamed herself, but also blamed him as she was dismissed, losing everything and became bitter.

“I asked for help that we could bring Gareth and his mummy together. I gave him a cuddle and held his hand as Viv was trying to keep hold of him. After a few minutes, I sensed a new spirit - Gareth's mother. I asked him if he could see her, he was so excited, he said yes and I allowed him to go and hold her hand.

“Before she left, Gareth's mummy wanted to speak with me. I asked if they were at peace now and she answered 'yes'.

“Gareth's mother was shouting abuse at Viv and Viv was answering, both extremely angry. Gareth's mother was hurt that she hadn't been able to get her son until now. Viv was angry that we had taken Gareth from her and she would be alone. The language made me blush! Most of this was caught on the Angel board. By now I was drained, as was everyone else emotionally.”

 

 

* The River Dee.

 

Another ghostly tale, this time about the River Dee again comes from the BBC North East Wales and concerns Lynn Douglas, a regular visitor to Llangollen, who recalled:

“I cannot say it is a story I have to tell but it is a rather puzzling circumstance I find myself in. In November of 2001 I started to visit Llangollen which I used as a base for work I was doing in the UK. I have been there now 11 times and have stayed in various cottages and the Royal Hotel.

“On my first visit I became quite fond of walking along the River Dee and found it quite soothing and somehow spiritual like. Upon my first return home to Canada I began to have dreams of the river, I heard the rushing of the water and the voice of a young woman in my dreams calling me to return.

“These dreams continued and have continued to this day. However, I no longer hear the young woman's voice calling me only in dreams, but at times during my daily routines. The voice is quite sad and almost weepy, and I also hear the rush of the water.

“Now when I return to Llangollen I can go to the river and feel her presence, at night when I am there I can hear the voice crystal clear above the sounds of the water. Whatever it is, the voice is calling me to return to Wales and to the river.” 

Report calls for improved planning in beauty spots

A new report, which will be of interest in Llangollen, makes 28 recommendations to improve planning services in Wales’ National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

 

Land Use Consultants (LUC) were commissioned by Wales' Environment Minister, John Griffiths, to undertake research as part of the wider review of Wales’ planning system.

 

The report, Delivery of Planning Services in Statutory Designated Landscapes in Wales, concludes that while there is good practice there are also concerns to be addressed.

These are:

• Concerns amongst local communities and businesses regarding the planning function restricting their long term sustainability
• In the case of AONB, the lack of a strong planning framework that recognises that these designated landscapes have an equal status to those of National Parks.

The report’s recommendations are grouped under seven themes:

• National guidance and improved information on landscape and landscape tools.
• The policy framework at the local level.
• Improving the perception of planning (especially development management) in AONB and especially in National Parks.
• Partnership working between the planning and socio-economic functions of National Park Authorities and their constituent authorities and between the constituent authorities of AONB.
• Bringing consistency to development management.
• Governance.
• Improved performance monitoring.

Commenting on the report, the Minister said: “In these tough times the Welsh Government is fully committed to creating sustainable growth and jobs and we have always been clear that a reformed planning system has an important role to play in supporting our sustainable economic recovery.

"I welcome this report and look forward to discussing its recommendations with my officials.”

The report’s recommendations will feed into the Planning White Paper which is scheduled to be published in late 2013.

Cream of sporting talent honoured at big Llan evening

* The line-up of sporting winners. 

Denbighshire has celebrated the cream of sporting talent in the county at a glittering awards ceremony in Llangollen Pavilion.

Out of 130 nominations, the judging panel drew up a final shortlist of three for each category.

One of the highlights of the night was a double scoop for Aaron Evans, who has cerebral palsy.

Aaron won the Disability Sport Award and will also be Denbighshire’s Community Sport Ambassador 2013, in recognition of his voluntary work visiting primary schools throughout Denbighshire, sharing his experiences as a past disability footballer and captain for Everton FC and Wales, and introducing youngsters to new Paralympic sports.

The winners included Nathan Jones (Sport Performer of the Year), Dylan Kerfoot-Robson (Junior Sports Performer), Rhyl Netball Club (Team of the Year), Iris Thomas (Unsung Hero), Mike Hayes (Volunteer of the Year), Ian Evans (Coach of the Year), and Bruce Carlyle (Lifetime Achievement), Jake Jones (Young Inspiration), Aaron Evans (Disability Award and Denbighshire Sport Ambassador 2013).

Councillor Huw Jones, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Leisure, Youth, Tourism and Rural Development, paid tribute to the wealth of sporting talent in Denbighshire.

He said:"I am delighted to have been part of the celebrations at the award ceremony. The standard of the nominations made for some difficult decisions when it came to judging and everyone should be extremely proud of their acheivements. I pass on my congratulations to all of the winners and runners up.

"We have even more cause for celebration because three of our nine winners have been shortlisted for national recognition and invited to the Sport Wales ‘Coach of the Year’ awards in Cardiff in November.

"This is the highest amount of nominees shortlisted from any other authority in North Wales and only matched by the significantly higher populated authorities of Cardiff and Caerphilly."

Denbighshire would also like to thank event sponsors Alliance Leisure, alongside category sponsors Glyndwr University, Llandrillo College Rhyl, X N Leisure, Technogym, and DCC Housing services for their support in making the event possible.

For more information on the awards and details on how to nominate or Sponsor next year's event please contact Matt Hilliker on 07798742290 or matthew.hilliker@denbighshire.gov.ukor visit www.denbighshireleisure.co.uk