Promotional street banners scheme explored

* The A5 could get promotional banners either side of the lights.

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism has been checking out the cost of installing promotional banners in the town centre.

Chair John Palmer told members at their meeting at the Hand Hotel on Monday night that his initial research had shown it would cost an estimated £2,500 to site the banners, hanging from poles and bearing a welcome message to potential tourists, either side of the lights on the A5 and in Castle Street.

He also reckoned there could be around a £1,000 contribution towards the cost of the project.

Mr Palmer said the chamber would retain ownership of the banners and about 20 of them would be needed.

The chamber is now looking further into the scheme and coming up with ideas for the design to be carried on the banners.

AM warns over Christmas loan sharks

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has warned constituents to guard themselves against unscrupulous loan sharks this Christmas.

A recent report by the Money Advice Service has shown that more than one in 10 people across the UK who took on debts to fund Christmas 2011 are still paying off their loans as this year’s festive season approaches.

The research also found that in Wales, 36% of people questioned said it would be more difficult to afford Christmas this year.

The AM said financial help and advice was available to groups that need it and there were alternatives to illegal loan sharks.

Mr Skates said: “As families in Denbighshire brace themselves for a winter of soaring energy bills and increasing food prices, there is a risk vulnerable people will fall into financial hardship and approach unscrupulous loan sharks to help them get through.

“The average price of Christmas is now up to £600, more costly than ever before. It is therefore very important that low-income groups in Denbighshire get the advice and support they need over the Christmas and New Year period and avoid the predatory loan sharks operating in the area.

“Some victims are being charged thousands of per cent interest by rogue money lenders operating without a licence from the Office of Fair Trading. We need to be clear that these individuals are breaking the law because lending money without a licence is a crime.

“If anyone is having problems with loan sharks or is being pressured into borrowing money, please get in touch with the Wales’ Illegal Money Lending Unit for advice and support.

“If you are having problems this Christmas then there are viable alternatives to loan sharks, such as the local credit union which is a much more affordable way to borrow money.”

* WIMLU has a dedicated hotline number (0300 123 3311) that is answered 24 hours a day for anyone who is concerned about a loan they have taken out, and all information you give to the investigators is confidential.

Interest shown in buying Oakleigh

* Oakleigh is on the market with offers invite around £350,000. 

A spokesman for the company tasked with marketing Oakleigh, the former mental health facility in Abbey Road, Lllangolen, has told llanblogger they have already had a number of people interested in buying the property. 

In a letter we published earlier today (Wednesday) a reader suggested the asking price – offers in the region of £350,000 are invited – seemed low. 

In response, Stephen Wade, director business space for Legat Owen’s Chester office  which is marketing the property of behalf of its owners the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, has supplied its full details to us. 

And Mr Wade said: “Boards have now been erected and adverts are being placed in the local press. 

“We have already received several expressions of interest and viewings are being arranged.”     

The sale details show that Oakleigh covers 306 square metres (3,293 square feet) on a site of 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres). 

The description continues:  “Oakleigh comprises an attractive two storey period propertyfof brick construction under a pitched timber framed roof with clay tile covering.  

“Internally the property retains many of its original features. 

“The property has a rateable value of £10,000 and is available for sale freehold. 

“The property offers potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to securing the appropriate planning permission. 

“Planning permission has recently been granted for a change of use to a residential dwelling.”

Call for more responsible alcohol sales

As Ministers propose a minimum price of 45p a unit for the sale of alcohol in England and Wales, two senior North Wales councillors have called on shops and supermarkets to be more responsible in their attitude towards the sale of alcohol.

The call was made by Councillor Phil Edwards, Conwy’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Councillor David Smith, Denbighshire Lead Member for Public Realm, following a meeting of the Conwy and Denbighshire Community Safety Strategic Group at Divisional Police HQ at St.Asaph to discuss ways of reducing violent crimes and their impact on communities.
The group was particularly concerned about the increased incidence of violence in the home.

Councillor Phil Edwards said: “The link between crimes and many offences involving violence has been long established. Licensing Committees on Local Authorities have made a great deal of headway in tackling troublesome pubs and off-licences but there is now a growing body of evidence that shows that alcohol induced violence in the homes has increased significantly and that this problem is made worse by the availability of cheap beers and strong ciders in retail outlets.

"The statistics that relate to domestic violence, which too often ends in tragedy for a family is frightening and it is high time we all started to tackle this seriously. At least one woman is killed every day by domestic violence and the link between this and too much alcohol is undeniable”.

Councillor Edwards added: “Shops and supermarkets need to remember that they are subject to the same strict Licensing Laws as pubs and clubs and if their activities contribute in any way against the Licensing Objectives, they will have to face the consequences in exactly the same way. In my view, there is very little difference between encouraging people to drink excessively in a ‘happy hour’ and encouraging people by offering alcohol at grossly reduced prices. The outcome too often is the same and it’s time that responsible sale of alcohol came before profits.”

Councillor David Smith agreed and said:“As responsible councillors we are concerned at the number of crimes associated with alcohol abuse, particularly alcohol induced crime in the home.

"In many cases, this is a result of readily available cheap alcoholic drinks many of which have high alcohol levels. I fully endorse the comments made by Councillor Phil Edwards and would ask retailers who sell alcohol to be more responsible in the way they sell alcohol to the public.”
 

Communications complaints aired by chamber

* The quality of the local Vodafone signal has
been questioned. 

A discussion on local communications developed amongst members at Monday night’s meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism.

Simon Collinge started things off by criticising the quality of the Vodafone mobile signal in town and asked if the chamber could take up the matter with the company.

As the discussion turned to Llangollen’s broadband provision, chair John Palmer said he had been told by a telecoms expert that unless a “massive” amount of money was spent on upgrading it immediately, the town would not be getting an improved connection until 2014 or 2015.

Ian Parry suggested that if anyone was unhappy with their broadband service they could call for a better one by adding their name to the BT Infinity website.

“The more people who do this, the better the chance is of something being done, “ he explained.

The chamber agreed that it would contact Vodafone to seeking improvements to its mobile signal to the area. 

Chamber members pictured for posterity

 

* Chamber members have their picture taken in the style of the Old Masters.  

Old Masters were at work at the meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism on Monday night.

While Rembrandt and Frans Hals weren’t actually at the Hand Hotel to weave their magic, they were certainly there in spirit as local photographer Andrew Gale, directed by Simon Collinge, took artistic pictures of chamber members in the style of the famous painters.

The photo-shoot came as part of a project by Andrew and Simon to produce a book recording details and pictures of community groups, clubs and societies based in the area for a book they are producing entitled Llangollen Community to be launched at the Fringe Festival next July.

They reckon there are over local 50 organisations eligible for inclusion and they are working hard to picture each of them.

Up to a few weeks ago they had held sessions with groups such as the Silver Band, Probus, the Christmas Festival Committee, Llangollen Operatic, the 20 Club, The Community market, Friends of the Earth, St Collen’s Church PCC and the Catholic Church.

But there are still many more to be captured.

“We felt it was about time that a documented pictorial history of these groups was recorded for posterity – it also seemed rather a fun idea,” said Simon Collinge.



                                * Andrew Gale (right) takes the picture.

Letter about marketing of Oakleigh House

llanblogger has received the following letter as a result of our recent story about Oakleigh House on Abbey Road, Llangollen being put on the market by its owners, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Although the sender has supplied their name we are respecting their request to remain anonymous:

Legat Owen Chester are marketing Oakleigh the former MHR  owned by the trust - on their website it is stated POA - ok but then the give a price guide of £350k!

What is going on?  After the fire in the 1980's the house was totally rebuilt and refurbished - as I recall it was marketed before the NHS purchased it for around 250k - even as a health centre the condition of the house was extremely  good, original features, fireplaces, heating - surely it cannont have been neglected so badly in the period of closure - how about an open day for the residents and former users of this resource to see what is on offer for this knock-down price guide.

The market is not good I will agree - but why are the trust not even marketing the asset with a company within the Conwy/Denbighshire area which as far as I remember, managed this much missed and valuable resorce.