Health Minister urged to take swift action over hospital

The chair of a community group has demanded an early response from Health Minister Lesley Griffiths to plans for the closure of Llangollen Cottage Hospital. 

Mike Edwards, who heads Keep Llangollen Special (KLS), recently wrote to Ms Griffiths urging her to call in proposals by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to axe the 137-year-old hospital as part of a general health shake-up in the region. 

* Lesley Griffiths AM.

But he was angry to receive an email from an official informing it could take up to 17 working days for the Minister to reply. 

Earlier today (Tuesday) he fired off a furious reply to Cardiff, in which he says: “Seventeen working days is totally unacceptable mainly because I've been to Llangollen Hospital this morning and was told by staff that the hospital will be closed by the end of this month ie. 16 days time. 

“This matter therefore needs the Minister's urgent attention because BCUHB have and are implementing their proposals and little or no information is being provided to patients as to when the changes take place - I wonder why? 

“The Health Board are running circles around and disrespecting the Minister and of course the patients.”

In his original letter to Ms Griffiths, Mr Edwards said: “I would appeal to you to intervene in the decision taken by BCUHB to close Llangollen Hospital which has served the community well and to which residents have contributed to funding over many years.
 
“The Board's decision which has ignored residents’ objections who are dismayed that the community hospital should be closed without adequate replacement of services in place. This concern is exasperated, by them finding out that a Notice has been posted at Chirk Hospital withdrawing " Minor Injuries Treatment" from the 18th February, 2013. This will mean residents being forced to travel to and back to Wrexham Maelor Hospital a distance of some 14 miles. How do patients who have no personal transport cope reaching this destination?
 
“These changes breach your Government's policies on sustainability in that they increase vehicle journeys and force people to travel a distance such as this with a consequent sever detrimental effect on the environment in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty.
 
“Please investigate the Hospital Board's decision and "call the proposals in."

KLS drops plan for legal challenge over supermarket

A campaign group has given up on its plan to seek a judicial review of the way planning permission was given to a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Llangollen.

Instead, Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) says it will now be concentrating on helping to promote independent businesses in the town.

For the past few months, the group has been looking into the possibility of having a High Court judge take a look at the circumstances behind the removal of a ban on a café being included in the 20,000 square foot store, which is earmarked for the site of the Dobson & Crowther printworks.

But KLS says it has now concluded that although it could well have a strong case, it will not go ahead with any legal challenge.

The decision comes after last week’s meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism (LCT&T) when members said that although they backed the idea in principle, they could not support it financially.

In a statement issued yesterday (Monday), KLS chair Mike Edwards (pictured left) says: “We had a committee meeting on Friday night to discuss the letter received from LCT&T confirming their decision taken a week ago.
 
“Following a lengthy discussion we decided that despite having advice that Denbighshire CC's decision was fatally flawed legally on a number of counts, unfortunately without the full support of the independent businesses directly affected by this decision we were not prepared nor able to proceed with this legal action.
 
“We are very disappointed that having opposed the planning application since it was submitted last year the businesses are now not able to back our efforts to stop this development which threatens their livelihoods and the vitality and vibrancy of Llangollen town centre. There would be considerable work required to pursue a judicial review which the members of KLS are not prepared to commit to without the full backing of those affected.

“Recently our AM, Ken Skates gave his ‘moral support’ to this action, but regrettably the support which Mr. Skates, Councillor Stuart Davies and John Palmer, chair of LCT&T, gave to the application originally encouraged DCC to disregard Planning Policy Wales and grant the application.
 
“We have decided therefore to concentrate our constructive efforts going forward to promote the identity, image and brand of Llangollen by continuing with our monthly Buy Local Days and are also investigating a Llangollen savers’ discount card and businesssupport hub to assist local businesses and suppliers who have not embraced or do not have the resources to use the Internet and social media marketing to grow their businesses.

“We would hope that we can count on the support of the Town Council, local politicians, businesses and organisations in Llangollen and district to further these constructive initiatives.”

The statement adds: “It appears to us that there are numerous fragmented interests which need to be pulled together and coordinated to promote all the unique and special qualities that our town benefits from some of which may be lost.

“Independent businesses are continuing to face unequal competition from corporate business who extract money from our the local economy e.g. Sainsbury's predict, if they have their figures right, to export £18.4 million per annum out of Llangollen to their corporate HQ.

“What impact will that have on independent businesses if they are not assisted to compete on a level playing field with these corporate interests?”

County agrees tax rise of 2 per cent

Denbighshire County Council says it is protecting frontline services and investing in priorities while keeping council tax increases in the county as low as possible at 2%.

The council has now agreed the budget against a backdrop of what it says are poorer than expected financial settlement.

Capital funding has been cut by 15% to £4.9 million. This is a significant loss on top of the 27% already cut over the past two years.

The council has identified over £3 million in further savings over the next year while investing in education and social services.

The council has also decided to further invest £1m extra funding in its Corporate Plan priorities over the next year - modernising education, highways, the economy, modernising the Council and social care.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Assets, said: "We have created a budget that protects education and social care and we have increased funding to these areas to the tune of £2.1m.

"We have already cut around £14 million from budgets over the years and we are proud of the fact that we have been able to protect frontline services.

"While the outlook for public finances is poor, it is extremely important that we provide residents with below inflation tax rises in these difficult times."

Mohammed Mehmet, Chief Executive of Denbighshire, said: "As a council we want to protect those services that are important to people and this budget achieves this while keeping the council tax increase as low as possible and making £3m efficiencies.

"The council has a strong track record of delivering savings by finding better ways of doing things. We are reducing the amount of days loss to sickness; we are scrutinising our contracts to ensure better value for money and we are being more competitive in the way in which we buy in services."

Eisteddfod's star line-up announced

 

 * James and Ola Jordan.

 

 

* Noah Stewart.

 

* Evelyn Glennie.

 

*Only Men Aloud.

Strictly Come Dancing couple James and Ola Jordan will add glitz and glamour to the star-studded line-up at this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The twinkle toed pair from the popular BBC show will share the stage with the veteran musicians of the highly-acclaimed Buena Vista Social Club to bring a Latin and Cuban flavour to Thursday night at Wales’s biggest music and dance festival.

The 67^th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod takes place this year from Tuesday, July 9, to Sunday, July 14, at the Royal International Pavilion site.

Husband and wife James and Ola have starred in top-rated Saturday night show since 2004 and both are viewers’ favourites.

James went so close in the festive finale to the recent Strictly season as he and celeb partner Denise Van Outen were pipped for the title by Flavia Cacace and Olympic gymnast Louis Smith.

Ola is a former winner of the sparkly dancefest with BBC sports presenter Chris Hollins and has also partnered local boy Robbie Savage while James previously reached the final with Pamela Stephenson and also danced with One Show star Alex Jones.

The couple are part of a week-long line-up of international stars with Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths scouring the world to put together a global team of talent.

Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will close the festival on Sunday night ahead of a spectacular fireworks extravaganza while other stars will include Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie, English soprano Claire Rutter, and, from Wales, four top male voice choirs, royal harpist Claire Jones, tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones and choir Only Men Aloud.

International stars include top American tenor Noah Stewart, Kiwi bass Jonathan Lemalu, Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Miroslava Jordanova, a top Trinidadian steel band, the two-time Choir of the World winners from the Philippines, as well as the Buena Vista Social Club, the forgotten pre-Castro Cuban musicians and singers rediscovered by American guitar great Ry Cooder.

In addition there is the VERDI 200 on the Friday night of the Eisteddfod, a 200^th anniversary performance of Verdi’s Requiem with Claire Rutter, Mirouslava Yordanova , Gwyn Hughes Jones, Jonathan Lemalu and accompanied by the Eisteddfod Orchestra conducted by Andrew Greenwood.

And the event will open on theTuesday with the colourful procession of the competitors to the Royal International Pavilion, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, CBE, the former Archbishop’s Special Envoy and a long-time supporter.

Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “I am delighted to have put together such a strong line-up and one that is truly global in its scope and one that shows that Llangollen still attracts the very best to come and perform here.

“It’s a very exciting programme and is very different and we need to show that we can do that and remain true to the spirit of the International Eisteddfod.

“We have a truly worldwide line-up which is a real mixture but I feel it is a good fit.

“We have international class performers from around the world and that combined with the colour and atmosphere generated by our competitors and the welcome they receive makes this a unique event.”

The evening concerts start with Tuesday night’s Carnival of Nations featuring four of Wales’s finest male voice choirs, the Rhos Orpheus, Cor Godre’r Aran, Cor y Brythoniaid and the chart topping Fron Choir, performing on the 60^th anniversary of the historic visit of Germany’s Oberkirchen Choir. They will be joined by the St Melodians Steel Band, from Trinidad and international competitors.

Wednesday night will feature An Evening with Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie who will be joined by the rising American tenor Noah Stewart and harpist Claire Jones, (pictured right) former official harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales, along with the Eisteddfod Orchestra and the Santo Tomas Chioir from the Philippines, twice Choir of the World winners.

Thursday will be Strictly Cuban, a celebration of Latin dance rhythms with James and Ola Jordan and the Buena Vista Social Club while Friday will be VERDI 200.

Saturday is Choir of the World which this year will also feature Only Men Aloud, Last Choir Standing TV winners while for the first time dance will be teamed with choral music on Saturday night as the Eisteddfod’s top two dance troupes dance off for the new Dance Champions 2013 Trophy.

On Sunday keyboard king Jools Holland will bring the house and the curtain down with his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and a special guest.

To book tickets and for more details on this year’s event go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.ukand on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen

Pope in shock resignation

The BBC and other media are reporting that Pope Benedict XVI has just make the shock announcement of his resignation at the age of 85.

He is the first pope in 600 years not to continue in office until his death.

The BBC report can be seen at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21411304

Cruel irony of cruise ship tragedy

llanblogger man Phil Robinson recalls his recent cruise on the same ship involved which was in a tragic accident yesterday afternoon ...

 

 

* The Thomson ship Majesty in port during a Canaries cruise over Christmas.

As on most cruise ships these days, it’s a case of safety first – and second and third – aboard the Thomson Majesty.

I know this is the case because I was a passenger aboard her on a trip around the Canary Islands over Christmas.

Given this huge emphasis on safety, it was quite a shock to hear the tragic news that five crew members had been killed and another three injured during what should have been a routine safety exercise yesterday (Sunday) afternoon.

It is understood that one of the ship’s large motorised lifeboats, which are stored at regular intervals right around one of the upper decks, fell into sea during the drill which was being held while the ship was docked in the port of Santa Cruz de le Palma – a place I visited on a similar cruise aboard the Majesty.

Passengers are said to have looked on in horror as vain attempts were made to rescue the men who died, who included three Indonesians, a Filipino and a Ghanaian.

Apart from the trauma for their family and friends, this tragedy will come as a terrible blow to their fellow crew members who pride themselves on following safety procedures to the letter.

Within minutes of coming aboard passengers must take part in a compulsory lifeboat drill.

And, unlike air travel, that doesn’t mean looking on bored or continuing to read a magazine as a cabin crew member goes through the crash landing procedure.

It means going to the trouble of finding and strapping on a cumbersome life jacket, working out where your allotted lifeboat station is located, trekking up flights of stairs – no lifts allowed – and slogging along endless decks until you meet up with a few score of other bewildered passengers, have your name checked off a list and are finally dismissed.

Sounds like a lot of fuss – and it is. But far better this way than what I might describe as the “Titanic alternative”.

It is cruelly ironic that crew Majesty members, who go out of their way to assist you and ensure your safety during such an exercise, have now been killed and injured taking part in something which sounds very much like the one I took part it just a couple of months ago. 

Llan gets another sprinkling of snow

As predicted, Llangollen awoke to a thin covering of snow this morning (Monday).

As can be seen from our picture below, visibility looking towards the castle was pretty poor well into the morning as light snow continued to fall.

Forecasters say it will remain dull and cold throughout the day.