Row over supermarket conditions rumbles on

A Llangollen anti-supermarket campaigner has accused members of Denbighshire’s planning committee of being “sidelined” by their own officers over the Sainsbury’s application for the Dobson & Crowther site in the town. 

As reported by llanblogger last week, Martin Crumpton says that at the county’s September planning committee when the new store at Berwyn Street was approved, a set of conditions were imposed which meant it could not have an in-store butchers or delicatessen in order to protect Llangollen’s high street businesses.  

But he claims these two conditions have since been “overturned” by planning officers.  

Mr Crumpton is also opposed to a fresh application by Sainsbury’s agents WYG to remove the condition prevent the store having its own café.  

Now, in an e-mail message to around 30 members of the committee he says he hopes the issue of conditions on the store will be discussed at their monthly meeting today (Wednesday). 

He says in the e-mail:  “My sincere hope is that your decision to impose conditions on Sainsbury’s will be considered an urgent matter, in view of the fact that two of your conditions – designed to offer some protection to Llangollen’s high street small traders - were subsequently effectively removed, without referral to you.  

“The conditions were the ‘no deli, no butcher’ which were effectively deleted when the Decision Notice was issued. 

“You should be aware that Sainsbury’s - or WYG on their behalf – now seeks to remove the last remaining condition designed to protect Llangollen’s high street – no cafe.”  

Mr Crumpton adds: “I strongly believe that elected councillors, not unelected officials, are the best and only means of safeguarding Denbighshire residents’ best interests, above those of the applicant’s.

“I regret to say that once again you have all been sidelined by your officials and your authority completely undermined.”

The county council said it had been agreed the item should not be considered at the meeting as an urgent matter and that it would be inappropriate to provide a statement to the press.

Full programme for Saturday's Christmas Festival

 

* Sion Corn will start Saturday's

Christmas Festival.

 

The arrival of Sion Corn – Santa Claus – at the town’s station will mark the start of this year’s spectacular Llangollen Christmas Festival on Saturday. 

Herladed by a town crier, the grand old man will then lead a grand parade, starting at 1pm, along Castle Street, Market Street, East Street and Parade Street to the Town Hall where he will take up residence in his grotto ready to welcome young visitors who will receive a small gift from him.  

To avoid long queues to see Sion Corn tickets will be sold in advance at quarter-hour time intervals. Thes will be available in advance from the Tourist Information Office in Llangollen and the Town Hall on Saturday.   

Oak Street will be closed from 10am-6pm where street entertainment, market stalls, music and dancing will take place. 

Also on the afternoon’s packed entertainments programme are facepainting, magicians, storytellers, morris dancing, circus acts, a samba band and Llangollen Silver Band. 

There will be lots of musical entertainment throughout the day, with a number of local choirs performing on the Chapel steps until the Christmas lights are switched on about 5.30pm. 

Youngsters from local schools Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant have entered competitions to see who will have the honour of lighting up the town at the big switch-on ceremony, which will be followed by fireworks display.

Donations towards the festival have been made by the town’s Chamber of Trade and Tourism, as well as other organisations and individuals. 

There have also been a number of fundraising events, including a bingo evening at the RAFA Club and a sponsored car wash with the help of the fire service.  

Collection boxes in various locations in the town and have raised over £100 so far. 

The festival fund was also boosted by Chamber of Trade and Tourism chair John Palmer who did a gruelling sponsored run from Corwen to Glyndwfrdwy and then swan six miles down the River Dee to the Horseshoe Falls. 

Pitches will be available at various locations across the town for those who bring their own stalls but tables will also be available in the Town Hall and the Band Hut in Parade Street at a cost of £20, and anyone interested should contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or Gareth Thomas on 01978 861345. 

The festival is a community event run and organised by volunteers, and net proceeds from the event will be donated to Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry.  

If you would like to take part and help with the arrangements, particularly on the day, then contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or email: parry.ian@btinternet.com

 

Programme of Events

 

The Parade 

1.00pm from Railway Station

(Castle Street/Market Street/

East Street/Parade Street/Town Hall)

1.         Town Crier 

2.         Silver Band 

3.         Various Groups 

4.         Vintage Car  

   5. Horse & Carriage with Town Mayor                                                                                        

6. Morris Dancers

 

7. Circus Acts

 

8. Sion Corn  

 

9. Karamba Samba Band                                                             

10.            Fire Engine

Chapel  Steps – Castle Street

 

1.30pm       Ysgol Bryn Collen Choir

1.50pm       Ysgol Y Gwernant Choir

2.10pm       Llangollen Silver Band

2.45pm       Melodic Mondays Ladies Group

3.05pm       Llangollen Male Voice Choir

3.25pm       Karamba Samba Band

3.45pm       Operatic Society

4.05pm       Pantomime Group

4.25pm       Clerical Error Morris Dancers

4.45pm       Llangollen Silver Band

5.15pm             Announcements:-

                        Raffle Prize Draw

                        Best Dressed Window

                        Town Mayor’s Address

5.30pm             Switch on of Christmas Lights

                        Firework Display

                        Circus Acts

           Other Entertainment

 

Sion Corn’s Grotto in Town Hall

(Tickets, £4.00 each, are timed every quarter of an hour to avoid queuing and are available in advance from Tourist Information Centre and from 1.30pm on Saturday from the Town Hall Foyer).

 

     Town Hall Area       - Raffle Tickets

     - Hog Roast

     - Mulled Wine

 

Nativity Feature – Castle Street

 

Storytelling/Music/Magician/Balloon Man at Castle Courtyard

 

Face Painter – Band Room, Parade Street

 

Market Stalls in Town Hall/Band Room/Oak Street

(Open from 12 Noon to 5.30pm. Refreshments available in Town Hall and Band Room)

 

Oak Street          -  Children’s Rides

-      The Tower

-      Market Stalls

-      Musical Entertainment

-      Hog Roast

Also throughout the afternoon there will be Circus Acts, Morris Dancers, Magician, Storyteller, Balloon Man, Busker performing at various locations in the town

Health shake-up decision delayed

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has announced it will delay any decision on a major shake-up in North Wales health services until the New Year.

 

The proposals contain plans, which have sparked a barrage of protest locally, to close Llangollen Cottage Hospital and replace it with a new health centre somewhere in the town.

Llyr Gruffydd, North Wales Plaid Cymru AM, said: “The decision by BCUHB’s management to delay the decision until the New Year on its centralisation and downgrading proposals is, I believe, a direct result at the tidal wave of opposition to these plans.

“Whether it’s the criticism of plans to close community hospitals and downgrade others or the discredited notion of moving neonatal intensive care to England, it’s clear that the sustained campaign by so many different groups has taken them by surprise and forced a rethink.

“I hope this is not just a pause. I hope they will read, as I have, the many considered and thoughtful positive alternatives being proposed and think again. We want an improved local health service in the North not one that forces people to travel unreasonable distances to access services and tries to impose a metropolitan model on what is a very diverse region.

“The battle to ensure the best possible care for people in the area isn’t over, but a small victory has been won today. I think everyone who has marched, attended a meeting, lobbied their Assembly member or written to express their views can be proud that they have forced the Betsi Cadwaladr management to pause to consider their next move.”

North Wales leg of Tour de France suggested

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on the Welsh Government to do all it can to bring a British leg of the Tour De France to North Wales.

Tour De France race organisers ASO have recently signalled a desire to bring a leg of the prestigious race back to Britain, possibly as early as 2014 or 2015.

British Cycling, the Governing body of the sport in the UK, has proposed a ‘Grand Depart’ stage which would see the UK leg started in Edinburgh and end in the South East, with racing in Wales being contained on the third day.

The move would need backing from the Welsh Government and the AM is hoping North Wales can be involved in the stage..

A second rival bid comes from Yorkshire, who hope to have the stage in entirely in their region.

 

Mr Skates said: "In recent weeks there has been a clear sign from ASO, the organisers of the Tour De France, that they want to bring the race back to the UK very soon in order to capitalise on the huge explosion of interest there has been in cycling since the Olympics.

“There are two rival bids for the UK Leg, with British Cycling backing a bid which includes Scotland, England and a portion of the leg in Wales. Given this, I can think of no better place to hold the race than here in North Wales.

“There aren’t many top level sporting competitions that North Wales can host, we will always miss out on the big stadium-based events to South Wales. However for an event like this North Wales is perfectly suited given the spectacular local scenery and the numbers of people who would come out to line the route.

“Given the surge in popularity for the sport and the economic benefits that could be won by staging a route in North Wales, I am hoping the Welsh Government will work with ASO and British Cycling to explore how the region can be involved.

“A gruelling Clwydian Range leg of the Tour De France could be spectacular and do wonders for how we promote and market the area.”

A report by Transport for London highlighted how the British Leg of the 2007 tour, the last time a leg was staged in the UK, attracted crowds of over three million and generated over £70million for the London economy alone.

The First Minister said Welsh Government discussions were ongoing with partners involved in staging a British leg of the Tour De France.

New support for volunteers and sports clubs

Denbighshire Leisure service has launched an initiative to help support volunteers and community sport clubs across the whole of North East Wales.

Linking with Wrexham County Council, Sport Flintshire and Glyndwr University,  Denbighshire Leisure service will support clubs through free training and resources so that they can provide the best setting for volunteers within their clubs.

Clubs will need to meet some simple criteria and will be able to work with the council to benefit from better links with young volunteer sport leaders at local schools, specialised students from Glyndwr University, which can be as vast and varied from accountancy, to physiotherapy, ground maintenance and computer technology, good practices to create a more positive environment for current volunteers, and ways to advertise efficiently for new volunteers.

Councillor huw Ll. Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Toursim, Leisure and Youth, said: “Volunteers are the backbone of community sports clubs. Many clubs wouldn’t exist without such dedicated volunteers and this initiative will help community sport clubs recruit and retain more volunteers in a variety of roles.

“With the success of the Olympic and Paralympic games in London this year, this initiative will help to increase participation at all sport clubs through the county.”

Some sport national governing bodies are already backing the campaign along with Sport Wales. Hockey Wales is currently preparing the same criteria for their new club accreditation programme as the recommendations for this volunteer kitemark scheme.

Debra Barker, the North Wales Regional manager for Hockey Wales , said: "It's good to see that national governing bodies, local authorities and Sport Wales are looking to work together with sport clubs to help improve the offer across all sport for volunteers in North Wales.”

For more information on the local free courses on offer from this month, free sport development resource CD or to meet a Leisure services representative to plan how your club can move forward together. Contact the Coach and Volunteer development officer Matt Hilliker on matthew.Hilliker@denbighshire.gov.ukor 07798742290 or follow this link to the Denbighshire Leisure website:http://www.denbighshireleisure.co.uk/events.html

County council "out of touch" with Llan, claims KLS

* One of Llangollen's long-term empty properties.

Mike Edwards, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, attended the National Regeneration Summit 2012 at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay last week.

 

Here, specially for llanblogger, he gives impressions of what it meant for Llangollen. 

 

 

* Mike Edwards
 

The summit, which I attended on behalf of Keep Llangollen Special, focused on the problems facing town centres and local economies in the difficult financial climate the country is enduring. 

There were a number of interesting speakers and workshops examining amongst other things

community empowerment and innovative ways of endeavouring to solve the varying problems facing towns up and down Wales.  

The Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage addressed the conference and drew particular attention to the consultation document "Vibrant & Viable Places" which sets out a new regeneration framework and the consultation which is open until January 14 for all interested parties to make their representations on the proposed framework. 

Town and city centres up and down Wales are suffering badly in the current economic climate, as revealed in recent data from the BRC that 11.3% of shops were vacant across the UK, but that 15.1% of retail units were currently vacant across Wales.  

Up to now Llangollen has fared relatively well in this respect with only a small number of shops being vacant in the defined town area, but there are a number of other properties which have been vacant for years and stand derelict and are eyesores in the town. 

It was interesting to hear from one speaker from Denbighshire CC saying that in other parts of the local authority's area they had stepped in to break this cycle of decline and acquired such properties for regeneration projects – perhaps these approaches will be taken in Llangollen to protect an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Site Buffer Zone? 

Keep Llangollen Special consider that Denbighshire's approval of a planning application to build an out-of- town supermarket in contravention of the Welsh Government’s planning policies in relation to protection of town centres and sustainable development will have a severe impact on the vibrancy and viability of Llangollen town centre.  

In addition to this Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board intend to close the Community Hospital in 2013 and eventually relocate the GP Health Centre to an edge of town location and possibly  take with it other facilities such as dental, chemist and support health services which are currently available to residents in a central town location. 

Denbighshire CC is totally out of touch with the community it serves in Llangollen and the Welsh Government’s thinking on vibrant and viable places and their statement that: "Everybody in Wales should live in vibrant, viable and sustainable communities with a strong local economy."  

We call upon Denbighshire to address these issues and develop strategies to deal with vacant unused and underused properties in Llangollen and protect and develop and properly market the "brand" of Llangollen and its numerous independent shops and supporting local supplier network.

Texts will remind patients of hospital appointments

* Texts will be sent to remind outpatients of appointments at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which covers Llangollen, has launched a text message reminder service for all outpatient appointments.

In future, patients will be asked for a mobile phone number at the time of booking and agreeing their appointment date and time.

 

Four days before the appointment they will receive a text reminder to confirm their appointment arrangements.

 

Patients can choose not to receive such a reminder.

Rachel Whitehall, the board's assistant director planned care, said: “Lives are getting busier, and it is all too easy to forget an outpatient appointment, particularly when the date is fixed well in advance.

 

"But each missed appointment wastes staff time and leaves other patients having to wait longer to be seen. By introducing this service we hope not only to help patients themselves with a gentle reminder, but also reduce the number of no shows at outpatient clinics.

“The new text service started on Monday, November 19 and if we can demonstrate that patients are finding the service useful and the ‘did not attend’ rates are reducing, the text service will become a permanent feature."