AM's concern over media job cuts

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has expressed his concern at the proposed job losses and restructuring at Media Wales.

The AM who recently chaired an Assembly Task and Finish Group into the future of the Media in Wales said plans to cut 16 editorial jobs and outsource content to a new centre in Liverpool was devastating news.

He said Media Wales papers like the Western Mail were ‘part of the Welsh DNA’ and that continually cutting resources to national and local titles would damage Welsh democracy.

He added: “Trinity Mirror's announcement that 16 editorial jobs are to be lost at Media Wales is very worrying indeed.

“I understand one of the proposals is to close down the features department and create a unit based in Liverpool to produce generic content for a Welsh audience. This will only serve to damage the unique Welsh identity and flavour of the paper.

"Unfortunately this is part of wider problem in print journalism and we have seen a slow drip of editorial cuts at Media Wales titles and other established newsprint groups over the last 10 years.

“This is particularly worrying for Wales because papers like the Western Mail are part of the Welsh DNA. The steady erosion of a vital platform for unique Welsh journalism and the loss of good people at important papers should be a concern to us all.

“The Management at Trinity Mirror needs to enter into serious negotiations with the NUJ.

“We should be under no illusions, cuts like these are steadily damaging Welsh democracy. If we stand by and let the national, regional and local printed press in Wales wither on the vine, then scrutiny of our politics and our public life will be much the poorer.”

High satisfaction rating for Welsh health services

Asked what they thought about health services in Wales, people gave them a score of 6.5 out of 10, which compares favourably with other European countries.

That is the main message from the latest statistical bulletin, covering January-March 2012, presenting results from the National Survey for Wales, produced by the Welsh Government.

Other key results are:

·         92% of people who saw a GP in the last 12 months and 92% of people who had a hospital appointment in the last 12 months were fairly or very satisfied with the care received

·         31% of people who made an appointment with a GP found it difficult to make a convenient appointment. Of those, 42% said this was because they had to wait a long time for an appointment

·         97% of people who saw a GP agreed that they were treated with dignity and respect; 95% of people who attended a hospital appointment agreed they were treated with dignity and respect

·         Of people who attended A&E in the last 12 months, 23% said they travelled by ambulance. 84% of people who attended A&E found it easy to travel there

·         24% of people agreed that they were kept informed about how local health services were performing. 59% would like more information about how local health services are performing.

Sale agreed for empty Oakleigh

* Oakleigh has been sold after lying empty for over two years. 

llanblogger exclusive

Oakleigh, the former mental health resource centre on Abbey Road, Llangollen, has just been sold after lying empty for over two years.

Agents Legat Owen, whose Chester office has been handling the disposal of the imposing property in front of the Eisteddfod field, has told llanblogger that its owners, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB),  accepted an offer for it yesterday (Monday).

Asking price for Oakleigh has been £350,000 although Legat Owen said the terms of the agreed sale would remain confidential.

This latest development comes at the end of a formal bidding process which closed on January 18.

A statement from the agents says: “We are pleased to be able to confirm that following a competitive bidding process BCUHB have today accepted an offer for the sale of Oakleigh.
 
“Solicitors are in the process of being instructed to prepare contract documentation with a view to progressing towards an early exchange of contracts and completion
 
“The terms of the agreed sale are confidential between the parties.”

The property has been empty since September 2010 when it was sold off by the board as surplus to its requirements. 

Legat Owen’s details for the sale 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.” 

A Freedom of Information request submitted to BCUHB by llanblogger last year showed the annual cost of maintenance and security of the property while it remained empty was £500 a year. 

Oakleigh has often been mentioned in connection with proposals by BCUHB for major changes to health services in Llangollen.

Legat Owen said it is not able to give any details of the buyer.

Businesses asked to back a new campaign

Businesses in Llangollen are being asked if they would like to “take it slow” by giving speedy help to an exciting new initiative.

Over 50 shops, restaurants, pubs and other firms are being invited to help start a local Slow Food group in the town.

Slow Food is an international organisation that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment by promoting local, seasonal produce and reconnecting people with where their food comes from. 

It is a not-for-profit movement in which local groups, run by volunteers, organise a variety of events alongside local food and drink producers and chefs. 

Membership is open to individuals, however businesses and other organisations can also become Slow Food supporters and/or partners to help organise and promote group activities.  

Each group determines its own aims and activities, which could include ideas such as: 

- Helping to develop kitchen gardens in local schools 

- Sensory taste education workshops for children and adults 

- Local gastronomic tours: visits to local farms, food artisans, specialty stores and wineries 

- Tastings and dinners to highlight local and/or heritage products in the area 

- Running cookery classes and taste education courses 

- Exchanges with other Slow Food groups 

- Maintaining and promoting heritage foods and drinks 

·        If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, or would like to be kept informed of our progress, e-mail

slowfoodllangollen@gmail.com, or phone or text Sal on 07786 623802.

Organisers also want to hear from anyone in Llangollen who is already a member of Slow Food UK.

A quick guide to planned high speed rail link

The great rail hub of Crewe would be the key to linking North Wales to Britain’s new high speed rail line (HS2) announced today by the UK Government.

The proposed route of HS2 links Birmingham with Manchester and Leeds via stations in the East Midlands and Sheffield.

The Government says HS2 will “revolutionise” our railways, create thousands of jobs, bring major cities closer together, generate investment in neglected areas and provide passengers with an unprecedented travel experience.

HS2 will connect with the West Coast Main Line at Crewe, meaning key destinations like Liverpool, Runcorn and Crewe would benefit from direct services.

The Department of Transport says: “By calling at the key rail interchange of Crewe, HS2 would also become easily accessible for passengers in North Wales and elsewhere.”

The line would connect with the London-West Midlands leg near Lichfield in the West Midlands, before heading north-west past Stafford and on towards Crewe.

A connection with the West Coast Main Line would be provided just south of Crewe, with the main line continuing in tunnel under the town heading north.

It would cross over the M6 and then the M56 before heading past Warrington to a further connection with the West Coast Main Line south of Wigan.

The Manchester stations would be served by a spur off the main line running roughly parallel with the M56 towards Manchester Airport.

A new airport station would be located between Junctions 5 and 6 of the M56 as the line approaches the main built-up area of Manchester.

Heading north from here the line would enter a seven-and-a-half-mile tunnel, surfacing a short distance from the new station alongside the existing station at Manchester Piccadilly.

Total route length would be around 95 miles.

For more details see:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69037/hs2-msg-wm0-zz-dr-rt-40014.pdf

Irish link could boost north Wales tourism, says AM

Clwyd South Assembly member Ken Skates says a new tourism initiative launched by the First Minister could bring big benefits to North Wales.

Visiting Dublin last week First Minister Carwyn Jones launched a new campaign with Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm, to boost visitor numbers from Ireland by at least 10% over the next five years.

Speaking during the week when Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations, Mr Skates said investment in port facilities in Holyhead could help bring in additional ferry-based tourism through North West Wales and Liverpool.

He also said airport access from Manchester and Birmingham was vital to increasing the share of visitors and holidaymakers who come to North East Wales.

He said: “I’m fully supportive of the Welsh Government’s aim to increase the numbers of Irish visitors to Wales by 10% over the next few years. North Wales relies heavily on tourism so I’m keen to ensure the campaign focuses on attracting visitors from the emerald isle to destinations right across the region.

“North Wales is potentially very accessible from Ireland, but we need to see a big focus in improving ferry port capacity in areas like Holyhead. We need to see a coherent strategy to invest in turnaround facilities and moorings at our ports and develop a stronger partnership when visitors come via the port in Liverpool.

“New partnerships with Stena and Irish Ferries need to be constructed with highly targeted marketing initiatives about what our region has to offer visitors from Ireland, one of North Wales’ most important international markets.

“We also need to exploit longer haul cruise markets. A recent Assembly report we did highlighted that cruise tourism is the highest growth sector in the developed world, growing at an average rate of 8% over the last 40 years.

“Airport access to North East Wales is another crucial issue. Daily flights from Ireland to Manchester and Birmingham mean North Wales is already within easy reach by plane but this needs to be co-ordinated with marketing and promotions to attract short-stay visitors and longer-stay holidaymakers.”

In 2011, a total of 148,000 visits to Wales from Ireland were recorded, with a total expenditure value of £33 million. According to the International Passenger Survey, the average length of trip lasted 4.1 days, with Ireland accounting for around 17% of all international visits to Wales.

Mr Skates added: “Many visitors from Ireland will come to South Wales for the rugby this week, but we need to show them there is another side to our great country.

“From Snowdonia National Park to the stunning Clwydian Range to the magnificent views on the coastal path, North Wales is a region waiting to be discovered by Irish visitors.

“What we need now is a planned programme of infrastructure investment and targeted marketing to help sell the region to Irish and international visitors on a global stage.”

Llan antiques fair dates announced

* Llangollen Pavilion - venue for a series of antiques and collectors fairs during 2013. 

 

The first in a year-long series of antiques and collectors fairs takes place at Llangollen Pavilion next Sunday, February 3.

It offers interested browsers and avid collectors alike a huge range of fascinating items from a dedicated group of reputable dealers.

You can lose yourself for hours amidst the variety of stands.

Organiser Peter Stubbs said: "Whatever your interest, you can find china and glass, furniture large and small, postcards, ephemera and cigarette cards,  medals and militaria, curios and objets d'art, jewellery, pictures and prints, autographs and first day covers, coins and stamps, linen and textiles, vintage clothing and kitchenalia, together with handmade crafts and modern collectables. 

"After finding the perfect addition to your collection, why not round off your stay with a slice of our our delicious home-made cake,or traditional Welsh cakes? 

"If you're looking for something more substantial, we offer a full range of hot and cold dishes, including hearty real homemade soup."

Peter added: "We are not just here to sell, but also to buy. If you have anything to sell then please bring it along.

"Most of the stallholders are looking for fresh stock and will offer you a price for whatever you have; it does not have to be gold or silver, just anything old or interesting -you could go away with cash in your pocket!

 

"All this for just a £1 and free car parking for a day out."

Dates for the fairs at the Pavilion this year are:

·        Sunday 3rd February  

·        Sunday 3rd March

·        Sunday 7th April  

·        Sunday 5th May  

·        Sunday 16th June  

·        No fair in July due to International Eisteddfod

·        The Big One – Two-day fair, Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 August  

·        Sunday 1st September  

·        Sunday 6th October  

·        Sunday 3rd November  

·        Sunday 1st December  

All fairs feature refreshments and free parking.

·        For all enquiries and bookings, call Dave Moss on 01490 450338 or Peter Stubbs on 01978 869037.