Explosions at Boston Marathon

The BBC and other media are reporting that two explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon race have left an unknown number of people injured.

For the full BBC version of the story see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22160691

Power cut homes urged to seek compensation

Susan Elan Jones, MP for Clwyd South, is urging any of her constituents left without power for 24 hours or more during the recent severe weather who has not yet received a compensation payment to contact their energy supplier as soon as possible.
 
As soon as the bad weather spell began, Ms Jones was in contact with ScottishPower, the main energy supplier in the Dee Valley, which was one of the worst affected areas in the UK with 10 foot high snow drifts and 6,000 customers left without power. 
 
Ms Jones has now received a comprehensive response from ScottishPower.

In it, the company advises customers who were without power for 24 hours or more and have not yet been contacted by staff to put in a claim. ScottishPower customers can do this by calling 0330 1010 158 or visiting www.spenergynetworks.com
 
"I pay huge tribute to power company engineers, local authority staff and so many other people who battled really treacherous weather conditions in the cause of their public duty last month," said Ms Jones
 
"However, I would also like to remind local residents not to forget to make a claim from the power companies if they are entitled to one. Any of my constituents who is entitled to a compensation payment should either contact their power company direct, or get in touch with my office via my website susanelanjones.co.uk, by phone on 01978 824288 or by letter to me at The Enterprise Centre, Well Street, Cefn Mawr, LL14 3AL.”

Supermarkets to cut petrol prices

The ITV news website is reporting that four supermarkets are to cut the price of petrol from tomorrow.

See the full story at http://www.itv.com/news/update/2013-04-15/four-supermarkets-reduce-petrol-prices-from-tomorrow/

New Llan community book previews at museum

* Guests at the book preview in Llangollen Museum where the exhibition

continues until May 3. 

Around 30 local people - many of them featuring in it - were at the town's museum on Friday evening for the preview of a new book recording images of everyday life in Llangollen.

The book, entitled Llangollen Community, includes stunningly atmospheric pictures of about 100 groups and organisations based in the area.

The glossy 144-page work is the brainchild of local man Simon Collinge who has directed the project while Llangollen-based cameraman Andrew Gale has taken the pictures. 

They have been working steadily away since late last year and the pictures have all been taken in the muted style of Old Masters painters such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals.  

Simon said: “We have produced the book as 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.” 

He and Andrew thought originally that there would be about 50 groups from the area needing to be photographed but the final tally was over 100 groups, societies and organisations.  

These included outfits as diverse as Llangollen Silver Band and the Christmas Festival Committee. 

Simon added: “The book is now back from the printers - all on schedule for revised launch date of  Thursday, April 25 at Llangollen Town Hall, starting at 7.30pm. 

“We’ve invited Courtyard Books, Llangollen Library and the museum to bring along copies of their local Llangollen history books to make this a literary evening to remember.”

Selected images from the book are on exhibition at Llangollen Museum until May 3.

For more information on the book, see http://llangollencommunity.co.uk

Town's Cittaslow bid on track

* Tessa Holland talks to Gill Thomas at the Country Market in Llangollen Town Hall. 

PhD student Tessa Holland from Newcastle University came to town on Friday to meet some of the Cittaslow bid team and look around the town.  

Tessa's research is focusing on how the various Cittaslow towns in the UK network with each other, learn from each other and from the global Cittaslow movement. 

She's only just started her research and is visiting existing Cittaslow towns, to get a sense of what they are doing.  

She is interested in Llangollen as a town that is just starting out on the Cittaslow process.  

Bid group leader Phil Thane showed Tessa around town and introduced her to several team members.

Llangollen's Cittaslow group is on track to complete the application process by June.

Labour team hit out over welfare changes

Local Labour duo Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones have hit out at the UK Government after new figures revealed that welfare changes will cost working age people in Denbighshire £589 a year.

 

The research produced for the Financial Times also highlights that welfare cuts will cost the Denbighshire economy £34m a year.

 

The pair said the figures were shocking and highlighted the devastating impact benefit reform would have on communities in North East Wales over the next few years.

 

Clwyd South MP Ms Jones said: “These punitive welfare cuts will only serve to increase the inequality gap in our communities and will have a devastating effect on businesses and local jobs. 

 

“The Government is hurting the communities I represent in Clwyd South where one in 20 economically active people is now unemployed. My constituents are paying the price for the Tories incompetent handling of the economy over the last few years.

 

“These changes will take £34m out of the Denbighshire economy each year, sucking out much needed demand for local businesses at a time when they need it most. 

 

“It’s economic illiteracy from the government because the cuts mean less money in the local economy, only pushing the recovery further away.  Just as with the VAT rise, it will be another blow for small and medium sized businesses in our area.”

 

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: “The changes will cost the average working age adult in Denbighshire £589 and will have a catastrophic impact on families already struggling to make ends meet.”

 

“These figures are a sobering reminder of the how uncaring and unaware the UK Government are about the devastation welfare reform will have on our already vulnerable communities.

 

“The figures show that the changes are hitting everyone in Denbighshire, working families, those on unemployment benefits, the disabled, and children.  The only people not getting battered by this Tory Lib Dem coalition government are the millionaires who are just seeing their top rate tax cut kick in.

“This isn’t my idea of fairness.”

  

According to the research, the financial loss per working age adult, by local authority:

 

 

• Bleanau Gwent £698
• Bridgend £599
• Caerphilly £644
• Cardiff £477
• Carmarthenshire £579
• Ceredigion £432
• Conwy £558
• Denbighshire £589
• Flintshire £458
• Gwynedd £438
• Isle of Anglesey £511
• Merthyr Tydfil £722
• Monmouthshire £393
• Neath Port Talbot £696
• Newport £560
• Pembrokeshire £539
• Powys £433
• Rhondda Cynon Taf £668
• Swansea £559
• Torfaen £589
• Vale of Glamorgan £473
• Wrexham £511

Health board's £1.5M mental health investment

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is investing nearly £1.5million over five years in Counselling services for people with common mental health problems.

 

The service, known as ‘Parabl’, which means ‘to talk or discuss’ in Welsh, became operational on 2^nd April, 2013.

 

The service is being managed by CAIS on behalf of a consortium of North Wales charities. Partners include Advance Brighter Futures, Flintshire Mind, Aberconwy Mind, CAIS, Tan y Maen, Ynys Mon and Gwynedd Mind, Vale of Clwyd Mind and Relate.

 

Referral to the service can be through a health professional, such as a GP, or individuals may refer themselves by telephone. Once a referral is received a telephone assessment is carried out to establish the most appropriate support for that individual. Support ranges from self-help resources, one-to-one counselling, through to group sessions, available in Community settings such as GP practices, leisure centres and community centres throughout North Wales.  

 

Wyn Thomas, Assistant Director, Community Partnership Development for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board,  said “We are pleased to be working with partners to offer such a comprehensive service for people throughout North Wales.  The Parabl Talking Therapies is a service to meet the needs of adults over the age of 18, who are resident in North Wales. The service is aimed at people with common mental health problems, including bereavement and relationship difficulties.”

 

“As well as providing self-help resources, including an interactive self-help programme called the Serenity Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme, group sessions are available over 7-8 weeks to cover such subjects as Coping with Life, Stress Management and Mindfulness.  Up to 6 weekly sessions of individual counselling sessions are also available for individuals who want to discuss any challenging life events which are impacting on their mental well being.”

 

Self-referrals can be made by telephoning 0300 777 2257.