Phone calls warning issued by county council

Denbighshire County Council has issued a warning to businesses in the county to beware of receiving unsolicited telephone calls claiming that the Enhanced Small Business Rates Relief provisions will be ending on 31 March 2013.

The caller claims to be able to save the business money by gaining a reduction in the rates payable after this time for a fixed fee payment.

The council says this is incorrect. 

A spokesman said: "The Welsh Government has recently announced that the Enhanced Small Business Rate Relief provisions have been extended for a further 12 months in their current format. T

"This means that businesses will continue to enjoy the same level of relief in the 2013/14 billing year as they have had in the current year at no additional cost."

Council questioned over tax payments

A Llangollen resident claims Denbighshire County Council has done “absolutely nothing” to let people know that everyone is now legally entitled to spread the payment of their Council Tax over an extra two monthly instalments.

However, this is not the case, according to the authority.

Mike Connolly has written to llanblogger saying:  “I wonder if you would be able to find out precisely when and how Denbighshire Council plan to make the cash-strapped public aware of their right in law to pay their Council Tax for the year 2013/14 over 12 as opposed to ten instalments.

“There was previously a facility to pay over 12 instalments but this was only available to people who could prove severe financial hardship whereas the new right extends to everyone and is the law.

“I did try and find this out for myself  but the final answer I got on 7^th February 2013 was that the wording of the leaflet which would make this known was still at the ‘proof-reading’ stage. I find this rather odd given that the bills are due out any moment now.

“In particular what worries me is that all the indications given to me by Denbighshire Revenues Deptartment make clear that this facility will only be available to people who ask for it and the problem which that in turn leads to is that as they do not seem to have done anything to make people aware in advance there is likely to be a very, very limited window during which people can actually make the request and, indeed, they may even run the risk of not starting payment on time whilst they are waiting for a response in which case they may lose their right to pay by instalments at all and so, far from helping people, it might land them in even more trouble.

“I am very concerned that Denbighshire seem to have done absolutely nothing in terms of a campaign to the public to tell them months ago about this new right in law so that people could have got their applications in early and avoided the problems which may otherwise occur.

“There are many, many people in the county who have to make daily choices between buying a loaf of bread and pint of milk or putting money on their electricity meter for light and heat and the ability to make even a small positive improvement in their personal finances i.e. by paying a large household bill like Council Tax over 12 payments instead of 10 could make a huge difference.”

A spokesperson for the county council’s tax department said: “The right to 12 monthly instalments was introduced with new legislation in January this year to commence 2013/14.

“In Denbighshire we have offered 12 monthly instalments for a number of years now, (without any conditions as to financial hardship), and many tax payers are already utilising this option.

“As this is the first year that is a legal right we have included details in our money matters booklet which is delivered to all taxpayers with their annual bills.

“This right to 12 months is not limited by application time and can be applied for at any time during the financial year.”

Llan Country Market opens for new season

* Llangollen Country Market opened for the new season on Friday – St David’s Day

Llangollen Country Market has opened up for business at the start of what it hopes will be another busy trading season.

Nationally, the country market concept goes back to 1919 when they were run by the Women’s Institute (WI).

That is how they were known until about 20 years ago when they took on a more modern and business-like look.

But whatever name they have gone by, the basic principle of the markets has never changed – selling home-made food and crafts of the highest quality at the keenest prices.

Llangollen Country Market has been trading since 1977, first at the Memorial Hall and later at the Town Hall where it is still based.

It is part of a 300 to 400-strong national country market network and, more locally, is one of a society of five markets also including those at Wrexham, Ruthin, Denbigh and Rhos-on-Sea.

All the country markets are registered as social enterprises and overseen by a local committee – the one in Llangollen has 10 members.

In the “season”, which runs from early March to just before Christmas, the Llangollen operation is open to customers every Friday between 9.45am and 12.45pm, with doors open from 9am for those looking for early bargains.

Market secretary, Gill Thomas, said: “We don’t have stalls as such and everybody is organised into sections selling different things, such as crafts, plants and vegetables, jam and eggs, with several producers in each section.

“Our producers come from within a 10 to 15-mile radius of Llangollen and include people from Wrexham and Corwen.

“The things we sell are all home produced and nothing is bought in.

“All the producers have food handling certificates and everything they sell is prepared to the highest standards. We liaise regularly with environmental health officers from the local council.

“When one of our producers sells something they pay 10 per cent to the market committee who use the money to cover overheads such as renting the Town Hall for the day

“If they don’t sell anything during the day they don’t have to pay the committee anything.”

Gill added: “It’s really hard work because we have to entice our customers by offering them something which is not available elsewhere.

“However, quite a few businesses have started on country markets as it’s a good way of testing your products.

“Here at Llangollen we are doing quite well and last year, for the first time, we had a stall at Llangollen Food Festival.

“It was a bold step for us but we did it to upgrade our profile.”

Looking to the future, however, Gill believes things might get quite a bit tougher for the town’s country market.

She said: “I think we will be hit pretty hard by the new Sainsbury’s supermarket for which there is planning permission in Llangollen

“We made objections to this at every stage in the planning process because our market relies heavily on passing trade and if someone driving through the town sees Sainsbury’s first they will stop there, buy what they want, get back into their car and drive on through town without stopping to look at anything else.”

Watchdog's serious concerns over health shake-up

Breaking news ...

While it has confirmed it will not be referring them to Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, North Wales health watchdog body the Community Health Council, says it has “very serious reservations” about the implementation of plans to close four community hospital across the region, including the one in Llangollen.

This revelation comes in a letter sent today (Monday) by the CHC to Ms Griffiths setting out its objections to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s for a major shake-up of services.

This follows a public consultation and lengthy discussions as the CHC tried to get the health board to change some of its plans. The discussions finished late last week.

In its letter to the Minister the CHC says it has “already confirmed that it will not be referring the changes to four of the nineteen community hospitals in North Wales” to her.

However, the letter adds that it has “very serious reservations” about the transition and implementation plans for these community hospitals and asks Ms Griffiths to monitor this closely.

The CHC’s chief officer, Pat Billingham said: “Some aspects of the health board’s proposals are good. We have argued for a long time that more money has to go into community-based services.”

Mrs Billingham adds: “I know that many people are disappointed that the CHC did not object formally to the plans for closing some community hospitals.

“We looked at all the arguments very carefully and came to the decision that the promised investment in other types of primary and community health care service was very important and we could not pass that up.

“The health board has now given us much stronger commitments to providing the money, and only in the past few days. It would have been much better, of course, if new services were available before any closed.

“This is why we call on the Minister to make sure the health board does as it has promised – to make the changeover as quickly as possible.”

Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said: “The Community Health Council has raised many serious concerns about Betsi Cadwaladr’s plans to downgrade and centralise local health services.

“However, it failed to take the obvious step and formally object to the health minister. In effect it has abdicated its responsibility and emerges from this process badly damaged.

“It’s now up to the Health Minister. She must not abdicate responsibility in the same way.

“It’s clear from the multiple concerns raised in the CHC report that the plans are riddled with flaws and inconsistencies. Buried in the detail is news of new funding being found by the NHS Wales chief executive for new health centres.

“When was the business case submitted for such funding? The public needs to see full details of this new funding package rather than have it delivered after the end of the consultation process.

“The buck stops with the health minister. She must intervene and ensure community care is maintained locally and specialist neonatal services are kept in the North.”

North Wales Health Alliance said: “The CHC has blown huge holes in the health board’s proposals and it’s great that they have listened to our complaints and concerns.

"It’s regrettable that they haven’t felt able to formally object to some of the failings they highlight but it is now impossible for the health secretary Lesley Griffiths to wash her hands of this.

“Community hospitals have been closed before this consultation ended and must be re-opened immediately to maintain important community care.

"We remain unconvinced that the proposed replacement services are costed and want to see the details – it could be years before new health centres are built."

Below is the section of the CHC letter which refers to Llangollen ...

Llan Railway works on historic loco facelift

* Llangollen Railway is in a three-way partnership to restore an historic locomotive.

Llangollen Railway is co-operating on an ambitious project to facelift a vital piece of Welsh locomotive history.   

It is working alongside the Gwili Railway-based Gwili Vintage Carriage Group (GVCG) and the National Railway Museum on the cosmetic restoration of Taff Vale Railway ‘O1’ class 0-6-2T No. 28, the last surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive.

The aim is to return the loco to showroom condition and display it with the only Welsh-built standard gauge railway carriage to survive into preservation, Taff Vale Railway Brake Third No. 220.

James Buckley, of the GVCG, said: “As custodians of No. 220, this project reflects a long-held aspiration to display the carriage within an appropriate context, and uniting it with the sole-surviving Welsh-built standard gauge steam locomotive in South Wales is a fantastic proposition.

“This project has three major benefits in that we will move a step closer to creating a train that consists solely of Welsh rolling stock, the Llangollen Railway will get to re-assemble No. 28, and the locomotive will be out on public display for the first time in over two decades.

“We look forward to working closely with both the Llangollen Railway and the National Railway Museum to achieve this aim.”

An appeal for £10,000 to complete the restoration and transport the locomotive to the Gwili Railway has been launched by the GVCG on behalf of the other two partners.

Neil Evans from Llangollen Railway said: “It will be great to get this loco back to ‘showroom’ condition.

“Llangollen Railway’s workshop is the largest standard gauge steam loco workshop in Wales, so we’re very happy to be involved with the project.

“Since TVR 28 arrived at Llangollen we have already worked on some parts of the locomotive, and a successful fundraising exercise will help us to complete the job.”

Anthony Coulls of the National Railway Museum said: “It has long been our ambition at the National Railway Museum to get TVR 28 looking in tip-top condition and it’s great to have such enthusiastic partners in Wales to help us achieve this aim.

“Although Wales is well-known for its narrow-gauge lines, perhaps TVR 28 will help remind everyone of Wales’ standard gauge railway heritage; the coal hauled by this engine helped to develop Britain.”

Oakleigh will be private residence again

* Oakleigh on Abbey Road will be a private home again.

 

llanblogger exclusive

A family returning to make their home in Llangollen have now completed the purchase of Oakleigh, the former mental health resource centre on Abbey Road, Llangollen, which has been 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 vendor Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), has now formally handed it over to the new owner.

Stephen Wade, director of business space for Legat Owen’s Chester office, said on Friday: “We are pleased to confirm that BCUHB have today completed the sale of Oakleigh hospital in Llangollen.

 

“The property has been sold to a family who are looking to return to Llangollen.

“They intend to use the property as a private residence.

 

“The sale was completed following an informal tender process.

Asking price for Oakleigh had 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.

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 had often been mentioned in connection with proposals by BCUHB for major changes to health services in Llangollen but the sale now rules it firmly out of the running.

Operatic looking for show sponsors

Llangollen Operatic is looking for sponsors for their forthcoming production of Anything Goes by Cole Porter, which will be staged from April 16-20 in Llangollen Town Hall.

Society spokesperson Louisa Jones said: For just £100, we are offering local companies and individuals the opportunity to sponsor one of our five performances.

"In return for this, sponsors will receive tickets for front row balcony seats for four people, a drink each from the bar, programmes, prominent display of your/your company's name and the chance to display and distribute your marketing material during the evening.

"We believe this is a very good deal and in addition to getting an evening of great entertainment you will be making a valued contribution towards the cost of putting on what is guaranteed to be a fantastic show.

"If you consider a full price ticket is £9 this year, it's particularly good value for money."

* For more information, contact: louisa.jones@live.com, or tel: 07989 985644.