AM calls for more backing for ex-service personnel

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood (pictured right) has paid tribute to the sacrifice and commitment of those who have served in our Armed Forces and called on the Welsh Government to give consideration to the creation of a residential centre for ex-service personnel.

Leading an Opposition debate in the Assembly, Mr Isherwood, who is Shadow Minister for Communities, called for further support for veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including the potential for a Welsh residential centre.

He said: “A 2012 Healthcare Inspectorate Wales Report Healthcare and the Armed Forces Community in Wales recommends that the Welsh Government should consider the utility of establishing a form of residential facility within Wales.

“The report states that many members of the Armed Forces community commented on the desirability of having a residential centre for veterans in Wales as something you can see, touch and feel and of real psychological benefit.”

Mr Isherwood, who has long been calling for better treatment for those with PTSD, added: “Amongst combat veterans there is a common pattern of Complex PTSD with attempted symptom suppression by alcohol and/or drug abuse, a downward spiral of employment difficulties, relationship problems, confrontation with the law, and even suicide.

“A report from the Howard League for Penal Reform entitled Leave No Veteran Behind asked why so many veterans find themselves caught in the criminal justice system, stating that it is vital that the complex needs of armed forces personnel are adequately addressed and that we do everything that we can to help those who serve their country to adjust to civilian life.

“Welsh Guardsman Lance Sergeant Dan Collins tragically and unnecessarily took his own life on New Year’s Day. He was desperately seeking help for his post traumatic stress, firstly through the MoD's medical assessment programme and afterwards being referred to an NHS mental health ward, where he spent 4 weeks without being treated with anything other than various medication.”

Mr Isherwood also emphasised the role that the third sector can play in the delivery of coordinated services to ex-service personnel - backed by proven results and delivered in partnership with Health Boards - and spoke of the importance of protecting war memorials as an essential part of Welsh heritage and a focal point for remembrance.

Market Street car park to be partially closed from Monday

Llangollen's main car park is to be partially closed for about five days from next Monday.

The Market Street car park is being resurfaced and re-lined, according to Denbighshire County Council.

Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, Councillor David Smith, explained that the council has planned for around half the car park to remain open during the works in order to help minimise disruption.

"We expect this will allow for resurfacing and re-lining of the entire car park within the five days and we would like to thank people for their patience in advance," he said.

Lewis and Hunter Contracting Ltd will be undertaking the work on behalf of Denbighshire County Council and there are alternative car parks at:

* East Street
* Hall Street
* Mill Street
* Brook Street
* Llangollen Pavilion

County demands "clarity" over health shake-up

Now updated with campaign group statement ...

 

 

 

* Closure-threatened Llangollen Hospital.

 

Denbighshire has called for clarity in how Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) plans to reorganise healthcare provision across the region.

The controversial plan includes a proposal to close Llangollen Cottage Hospital, which has sparked an angry backlash in the town.

A campaign group formed specifically to oppose the move - Keep Llangollen Health Services (KLHS) - is demanding the hospital is not closed before a range of services currently provided there continue to be available locally until a planned new health is built, possibly on the site of the derelict River Lodge.

Concern has also been voiced that the new facility will not include a minor injuries unit as the hospital now does.

In a lengthy and detailed response to the board, Denbighshire, while supporting the enhanced provision of care closer to home and improved services for people with EMI, has raised concers about a number of proposals..
These include the need for the board to ensure that no services will close until new services are in place and that there must be no "cost-shunting" to adult social care, moving costs currently borne by the health board on to the council.

Also in the response, which has been compiled after in-depth consultation with town, community and county councillors, Denbighshire has expressed a high level of concern about the impact of the proposals on carers and the lack of any funding commitment to additional services to support carers as well as the need for transport services to be costed and provided in the aftermath of the reorganisation.

Cabinet Lead Member for social care and children’s services, Councillor Bobby Feeley, said: “After lengthy and detailed consultation with many stakeholders, it is clear that the devil is in the detail with these proposals and we have made sure we have carefully studied the proposals and then listed our concerns.

“The changes proposed are not fully costed at this stage so the implication on council services is not clear but we are clear that issues such as transport need to be considered fully and there is the risk that, as services are provided more in the community, the additional costs will inevitably fall on the council’s social care teams.

“We would also like to see consideration for a joint hospital hub across Denbigh and Ruthin.”

Denbighshire will now be pressing for a strategic group to be put in place for Denbighshire to enable ongoing discussion about the detailed implementation of the proposals
and will also be looking for specific support for the delivery of a minor injuries service in Llangollen.

A spokesperson for KLHS said: "Denbighshire County Council’s statement completes the unanimity of bodies ranging from AMs, councillors, organisations such as the Royal College of Nurses, the British Medical Association, town councils everywhere, and most importantly the public, in condemning Betsi Cadwaladr’s vision of Change as deeply flawed and unrealistic, especially in delivering quality patient care.

"The Keep Llangollen Special Community Group now calls for all stakeholders to speak with one voice to be champions of local care, which is universally recognised as the highest quality available, and press both health board chairman Mary Burrows and the Health Minister Lesley Griffiths to cease these disastrous cuts, to reverse the planned closure of our cottage hospitals, and invest in our most precious commodity – our nation’s health.

"Balancing columns on a spreadsheet is not leadership. It is a false economy. Only investment can lead to higher quality healthcare with efficiency savings, and reverse the neglect of years of failures to invest."

County's free Christmas parking present

Denbighshire County Council is getting into the festive spirit by offering free parking after 3 p.m. in all of its car parks from November 21 until December 31, to encourage people to shop in the county’s town centres. This compliments a number of reduced charging schemes implemented in several Denbighshire car parks during recent months and supports the five free parking days allocated for use at the discretion of town councils. Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “The council feels it is vitally important to show support to our town centres and encourage people to find what local businesses have to offer. “We are hoping that people will take advantage of the parking offer in the run up to Christmas and the New Year celebrations. Regenerating communities is one of the council’s key priorities and we feel that offering this arrangement over Christmas will encourage residents to think local as an alternative and see what they have to offer.”

Fascinating food writer recalled in TV show

* Presenter Lucy Worsley with one of Dorothy Hartley's recipes involving a pig's head.

One of Britain’s most fascinating food writers – who once lived in nearby Fron - went under the spotlight in a new BBC 4 television show.

Food in England: The Lost World of Dorothy Hartley, which was screened at 9pm last night (Tuesday), was written and presented by historian Lucy Worsley.

It told the fascinating story of Dorothy Hartley who was born in 1893.

Her father was the headmaster of a boys' school in Skipton, and her mother, who taught music, was from Fron where the family owned quarries and property.

In 1933 Miss Hartley moved to Fron House where she lived for the rest of her life.^[2]

She spent the 1930s as a roving reporter on rural Britain, capturing a disappearing world of country ways.

She had a weekly column in the Daily Sketch newspaper for which she hunted out recipes, customs and folklore.

Travelling by car, bicycle or on foot, she was so dedicated to her task that she would sometimes sleep in a hedge, relying on her skill of lighting a fire to boil tea within 20 minutes whatever the weather.

She saw off would-be suitors with talk of Viking burial customs, and had a life-long habit of signing letters "D Hartley (Miss)", to draw attention to her single status.

Miss Hartley wrote up decades of her research in her great work on the nation's stomach, Food in England.

Published in 1954, it became an instant classic that's never been out of print.

Much more than a recipe book, it also covers fire, magic, fungi, Elizabethan households, salting and "tracklements" (sauces).

"Overheard in Wigan market" is a not uncommon source for a recipe.

Her concern was forever the food of ordinary people, not the rich.

As she writes in her introduction to Food in England: "Our old big house has been divided and let, and I have lived for 20 years in a workman's cottage, with a gas-stove in one room and a log fire and pot crane in the other, and cooked – as convenient – on each. It's been a happy time."

Following the death of her niece and the subsequent owner of the family house in 2004 and 2010, Dorothy Hartley's archive came to light.

Roger Mansbridge was responsible for dealing with her papers, documents and various archives, and releasing the archives has resulted in a biography-in-the-making of Miss Hartley, the TV programme and the book, 'Lost England 1933 -36.’ 

Mr Mansbridge said: “This programme had been in the making for around 12 months and there is a book to accompany it. 

“Although Miss Hartley died in 1985, her most famous book Food in England has never been out of print - she published many books in her lifetime.” 

 

• Lost World, a collection of Hartley's journalism, is published by Prospect Books.

Gardeners enjoy a wild weekend

* At work in Llangollen Community Garden. 

Members of Llangollen Community Garden recently enjoyed a wild weekend.

They were taking part in the national Keep Wales Tidy, Wild Weekend, which involved creating
habitat piles, natural fencing and a wild flower area all with the aim of encouraging wildlife.

They also ran a bat box building activity for children, and are grateful for the assistance of the countryside services staff for making the activity possible.

Tea, biscuits and cake were all provided for those taking part, keeping energy levels up and
allowing time for a chat.

Everyone involved with the garden has commented on how satisfying they have found the working sessions, seeing great progress being made every week.

Group sokesman Warren Davies said: "Community gardening is a great way to start producing your own vegetables.

"You don't need to be an expert, have your own tools, or your own land. All the work is shared, meaning less commitment while still getting great results."

He added: "Next month we intend to plough on with getting the site ready for planting in the spring. Marking out areas for planting, continuing our natural fencing and building compost bins are just some of the planned activities."

The group now has its own Facebook page. This can be found by searching in Facebook
for, 'Llangollen Community Garden'.

Information is also available from the website: www.llangollengarden.co.uk, emailing info@llangollengarden.co.uk, or calling.texting 07525 016503.

 

* Gardeners enjoy some refreshment.

Poppy Specials run at Llan Railway

 

 

 

 

* Railway visitors watch the departure of the first Poppy Special at 11am on Saturday.  

 

LLANGOLLEN Railway played its part in remembering the war dead at the weekend. 

On Saturday and Sunday, it ran a series of Poppy Special trains, each hauled by a vintage steam locomotive and proudly wearing its own large poppy on the front of the engine.  

The service departed Llangollen Station at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on both days for a period of quiet reflection. 

Visitors over the weekend also had the chance to find out about the LMS Patriot Group’s new steam engine, The Unknown Warrior, currently built in the heritage railway’s own engineering works. 

Adopted by The Royal British Legion, the aim is to have it ready to steam into London on November 11, 2018 to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of the First World War.  

The Poppy Specials were pulled by loco number 3802, a Great Western heavy freight engine dating from 1938, which was restored at Llangollen a few years ago for a group based in Plymouth and is now back there to delight steam enthusiasts. 

Members of Llangollen’s army cadet contingent sold poppies aboard the train and on the platform and attrated good support from passengers.

Among visitors on Sunday were a family from Perth in Western Australia who landed early at Heathrow and drove straight up to Llangollen to see a steam train.

 

* Army cadets with the Poppy train. 

* A short video film of the departure of the first Poppy Special of the day on Saturday can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVvpKK4RoZg