Health chiefs promote measles jab

Public Health professionals are urging parents in North Wales to act quickly to vaccinate their children against measles. 

 

There are over 10,000 children who are not fully protected by the vaccine in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area and therefore at risk of contracting measles.

 

In 2012 we saw how quickly the disease can spread when over 60 people contracted measles during an outbreak starting in Porthmadog.  

 

Siobhan Jones Consultant in Public Health said: ‘‘Although the outbreak is at present affecting the Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot and Llanelli areas, it is likely to spread to other areas.  The likelihood that unvaccinated children across the country will come into contact with those already infected is high. It is vital that parents act now to ensure that their children are fully immunised with the MMR vaccine.

 

“The outbreak is particularly affecting children aged between 10 and 18 who missed doses of MMR at a younger age. Therefore Public Health Wales is urging parents to remember that it is not only younger children who need to be vaccinated urgently.   

 

"The MMR vaccine is recommended by the World Health Organization, UK Department of Health and Public Health Wales as the most effective and safe way to protect children against measles. It is never too late to catch up on missed doses."

  

Dr Sian Owen, paediatrician and lead immunisation doctor for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: ‘‘Measles cannot be taken lightly because you can never tell who will go on to develop the more serious complications of pneumonia or encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). MMR vaccination offers the only protection against these complications."

 

Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging parents to work with health professionals and schools to ensure their children are vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella.  As children return to school after the Easter holidays, the opportunities for measles to spread increase - now is the time to vaccinate your children.

North east Wales gets local digital radio for first time

The BBC is reporting today that digital radio listeners in north east Wales will be able to pick up local stations for the first time as new transmitters are switched on.

See the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-22205304

Simon Collinge of Llangollen has been in touch via llanblogger's Facebook page to say: "Will we be able to receive in Llan? Has anyone else noticed that the signal strength of current transmissions AM/FM is much weaker recently?"

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.”