Crucial River Lodge report due out "soon"

* The derelict River Lodge in Llangollen.

The Welsh Assembly’s influential public accounts committee will publish its eagerly-awaited report into the acquisition and subsequent attempts to dispose of the former River Lodge in Llangollen “soon”, according to its chair. 

In response to a query from llanblogger about developments in the long-running saga, Darren Millar AM said earlier this week: “The public accounts committee is planning to publish its report into this matter soon.  

“It will be available on the Assembly website once published.”

The building, on the A539 approach to Llangollen, has been empty for the past few years and has fallen into dereliction.

Through the now defunct Welsh Development Agency, the government bought the building on the banks of the River Dee at the gateway to the town for £1.6 million in 2007.

Sole purpose of the deal was to facilitate a community project by the organisation Powys Fadog.

But the development never went ahead and following a series of vandal attacks the hotel now lies empty and vandalised. 

The saga has sparked major criticisms of the part played by the government and led last year to the publication of a critical report by the independent Welsh Audit Office.  

That report said the government’s decision to purchase River Lodge as “flawed” and “represented poor value for money”. 

The public accounts committee has held a number of hearings into the issue, the latest of which was held at Llangollen Pavilion on October 8 last year.   

At that time the committee heard evidence from Pol Wong, chair and chief executive of Powys Fadog, and Amanda Brewer, a chartered surveyor with the Welsh Government and originally with the Welsh Development Agency (WDA) which was absorbed into the Welsh Government.  

Also giving evidence to the hearing was Gareth Hall, former director of economy and transport at Welsh Government who was head of the department in which Amanda Brewer was employed.  

Pol Wong said this week: “Of course I'm anxiously awaiting the report, after giving evidence that completely refutes the story portrayed by the Government in the Welsh Audit Commission report.”

The site of the River Lodge has been mentioned as a possible location for the new health centre which is due to house some of the services which had been provided at Llangollen Cottage Hospital until its recent closure.

New app encourages people to grow their own

During the current National Gardening Week, Crunchd has announced the launch of a pioneering new social platform to incite and inspire people to grow and share their own food.

 

Combining a website and a free app for both iOS and Android smartphone users, Crunchd is the first of its kind to enable anyone with a Facebook account to use the Crunchd app to find out what’s in season, what other people are growing and cooking, and whether people in their area want to trade their produce when it comes to harvest time.

• The platform navigation and information is tailored to the user allowing them to search and discover Crunchd according to their location
• Nearly a third of all British adults are now sprouting their own
• Crunchd hopes to revolutionise the way we source our food and build communities which in time will save people money
• Crunchd provides a platform for people to share and view seasonal recipes and record growing status.
• Users can gain progress badges such as the ‘Elvis Parsley’ badge for singing to their crop
• The app has a beautiful design and user interface created by Synth Media

People like the concept of growing your own food and the romantic ideal of the good life, but when reality sets in people find it hard to get started and worry when things don’t quite work how they would like to.

 

Crunchd is there to offer support, find like-minded people, and learn from those in the know. Crunchd has also put together the most popular organic and high yielding seeds made available via the online store which can easily be grown outside, inside or even in window boxes and other city garden spaces, with a growing guide supplied as well as all the support from Crunchd.com, it is time for cities to embrace grow your own.

1,000-year-old Pontfadog Oak falls victim to high winds

* The Pontfadog Oak collapsed in high winds.

Clwyd South assembly member Ken Skates has called for more support for Wales’ ancient trees after it was confirmed today (Thursday) that the famous Pontfadog Oak, believed to be one of the oldest trees in Britain, collapsed in high winds.

 

Local folklore suggests the tree was over 1,000 years old and was spared when King Henry II had his men cut down the Ceiriog Woods in 1165.

 

The ancient Welsh oak has not been the only old tree to suffer in the recent bad weather, other heritage trees in the Wrexham area have been lost or severely damaged in the snow and high winds.

 

The AM, who helped launch a Coed Cadw petition last year calling for a strengthening of Tree Preservation Order legislation and more support for private owners who have ancient trees on their land, said Wrexham had lost an ‘iconic’ piece of its local heritage.

 

He said: “I am really so very sad to hear about the collapse of the Pontfadog Oak.  We have lost one of the most important and iconic pieces of our local heritage here in Wrexham.

 

“The tragedy is that more could have been done to save it.  If we had a comprehensive system of grant aid for such trees and a stronger set of powers which Natural Resources Wales or the local authority could utilise to help protect such trees, we could well have put in place strengthening work to save it.

 

“For tree owners with a lack of funds, there is currently no system in place to offer professional assistance and funding for necessary stabilisation and protection works.  Though it had a Tree Preservation Order on it, this only prevented it being felled by a chainsaw. We need stronger powers.

 

“The recent snow has caused catastrophic damage at to many ancient and veteran trees in the Wrexham County Borough area including some at the Grade 1 Listed Capability Brown gardens in Ruabon, but this is definitely the worst news of all.

 

“I am hopeful we can try and save the fallen parts as part of an exhibition so we can at least let future generations know about the rich history of the Pontfadog Oak.”

 

The AM added: “To me trees like the Pontfadog Oak are a hugely important part of our natural heritage and as important as Caernarfon Castle or St David’s Cathedral.

 

“As we have seen, an ancient tree like this can take hundreds of years to reach maturity, but it can all be lost in an hour. We are the guardians of these trees and they need greater protection, the same care and attention we give to the most treasured buildings or monuments in our communities.”

Scheme to protect your vehicle rolled out across region

* Officers and staff from the North Wales Police Community Safety Team.

A scheme aimed at helping to protect your vehicle from theft is being rolled out across North Wales.

 

The Vehicle Watch 25+ initiative has been designed as a crime preventative measure and to increase the likelihood of a stolen vehicle being spotted and stopped by the police and also acts as a deterrent for young people not to steal vehicles.

 

Vehicle owners over the age of 25 will be given an information pack containing specially-designed window stickers which will be attached to the front and rear windscreens of their cars. If the vehicle is then seen being driven by someone apparently under the age of 25 it may be stopped and checked by police.

 

PC Hazel Goss, Community Safety Officer for North Wales Police said: “Anyone over the age of 25 can join the scheme for free. It is open to all users, private and commercial. Once people have registered a Vehicle Watch pack will be sent out which will include stickers and crime prevention advice.”

 

“It was first launched as a pilot scheme throughout Flintshire a year ago, where in excess of 200 people have registered and to date none have been the victim of vehicle theft. We have had lots of positive feedback from the people who have joined. Other forces have also adopted the initiative.”

 

PC Goss added: “A lot of vehicle crime results from criminals seeing opportunities and taking them. You can easily outsmart the car thief by following the simple advice which has been provided with this scheme. Remember, most car crime can be prevented. Don’t give criminals an easy ride.”

 

The scheme, which is administered by the North Wales Community Safety Partnership, is free to join and motorists will receive the stickers as part of a vehicle crime prevention pack containing advice leaflets, registration letter, withdrawal letter, change of address form and other relevant information.

Registration to the scheme does not expire unless it is withdrawn or change of car ownership occurs.

 

If you would like to join for free, please contact PC 1409 Hazel Goss at the Flintshire Community Safety Partnership on 01352 702145 or email: hazel.goss@nthwales.pnn.police.uk

Isherwood questions First Minister over income tax changes

Questioning the First Minister in the Assembly this week, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood highlighted the fact that 11,720 low-earners across North Wales will be taken out of income tax altogether as a result of changes introduced by the Conservative-led UK Government this month.

 

Mr Isherwood revealed the figures following inaccurate claims by Labour members that the tax changes will benefit the wealthiest.

 

Mr Isherwood asked Carwyn Jones: “Why would you be opposed to tax changes that mean that 2.7 million of the lowest paid will be taken out of tax altogether, including 11,720 across north Wales, and which mean that the wealthiest in society will pay a greater proportion of UK taxes in every year of this UK Government than in any of the last 13 years of the Labour UK Government?”

 

"Out of the 1.42 million tax payers in Wales, almost 1.1million will benefit from the changes which came into force this month, with 57,007 people in Wales taken out of tax altogether."

 

Mr Isherwood added: “These figures demonstrate how Conservatives in UK Government are taking tough decisions to ensure work pays. They are ensuring a fairer tax system by providing support to individuals on low and middle incomes, and by increasing the rewards to work.”

Seat belt campaign nets 1,700 motorists

Over 1,700 motorists from across Wales were prosecuted for not wearing a seatbelt during a multi-agency crackdown.

In March, North Wales Police teamed up with the other Welsh Police Forces to launch the All Wales Seatbelt Campaign, warning motorists and passengers that they are risking their lives by not wearing belts and issuing fixed penalty notices to those who choose to flout the law.

During the two-week campaign police officers detected a total of 1,775 seatbelt offences.

 

In North Wales 280 offenders were caught and apprehended and in the Dyfed Powys force area – who led the campaign, there were 959 offences.

In South Wales, 405 people were prosecuted, while in Gwent, there were 131 offences.

46 of the offences across Wales were in relation to children not wearing a seatbelt.

 

Acting Sergeant Mark Jones from North Wales Police said: “It is disappointing that 280 motorists were caught not wearing a seatbelt in north Wales during the two week enforcement period of the campaign.

 

“People are twice as likely to die in a collision if they are not wearing a seatbelt. They only take a second to click in to place, but can produce a lifetime of repercussions if ignored.

He added: “We will continue to be robust in our efforts to ensure all drivers and passengers are being safe and buckling up.”

Motorists and passengers who choose to risk their lives by not wearing a seatbelt could receive a £60 Fixed Penalty Notice or be summonsed to court where they could face fines of up to £500.

North Wales Police has a robust strategy around enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences which are failing to wear a seatbelt, drink and drug driving, dangerous driving including unnecessary risk taking, speeding and using a mobile phone whilst driving.

 

A/Sgt Mark Jones added: “We are committed to assisting in reducing casualties on the road through the use of targeted operations around high risk groups of people and locations while enforcing the ‘Fatal 5’ offences.”

Anything Goes has a great maiden voyage

 

First night review

 

It was full steam ahead for fun as the good ship SS American, crewed by a talented Llangollen Operatic Society cast, headed out into the Atlantic on its maiden voyage earlier tonight (Tuesday).

The society has a five-night run until Saturday at the Town Hall with the classic Cole Porter musical Anything Goes, which is set aboard the ocean liner as it journeys from New York to London sometime in the Jazz Age.

And the opening performance was a real Blue Riband affair as the 24-strong cast powered their way through a marvellous collection of songs, some ship-shape acting and enough tots of humour to make a sailor groggy.    

The story involves madcap antics aboard SS American as she heads across the pond.

Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Sir Evelyn Oakleigh.

Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin aid Billy in his quest to get the girl.

Along the way there are some delicious renditions of memorable numbers such as Anything Goes, You’re the Top and I Get a Kick Out of You.

Certainly getting a kick out of her role as Reno Sweeney is Llangollen stalwart Louisa Jones who vamps it up in fine style at Reno, a racy gal but with a heart of gold and a voice like a touch of velvet.

A true song and danceman who can also handle a range of spoof accents as he assumes different guises to avoid a spell in the brig is called for when it comes the role of Billy.

And that’s just what it gets in the shape of relative Llangollen newcomer Paul Bailey.

His love interest, Hope Harcourt, is nicely played by another member of the society’s growing band of new singings, Danielle Chamberlain. She can act and she surely can sing.

Bill Hughes, one of Llangollen’s regulars, who can seemingly turn his hand to any leading role, superbly fills the upper class shoes of Sir Evelyn Oakleigh.

A neat comedy touch is applied by Richard Mascarenhas as the gangster Moonface Martin, who ain’t nearly so bad as his reputed position as America’s public enemy number 13 suggests.

Bonnie, Moonface’s moll, is played believably by Stephanie Cottam and Mrs Harcourt, Hope’s battleaxe of a mum, is well handled by Jeanette Robinson.

More laughs come from the direction of Llangollen faithfuls Tony Jones and Jan Bellis as a couple of comedy Chinese men.

The songs – solos, duets and three-handers – are all expertly performed and the chorus numbers are toe-tappingly powerful.

The whole show is a credit to director Chrissie Ashworth and the entire behind-the-scenes team deserve applause every bit as warm as the ones directed at the cast as the curtain falls.

The only pity is that the first night audience was so small.

If you fancy a real treat try a voyage aboard the SS American any time over the next four nights at 7.30pm.