Skates hits out over "injury payment" suggestion

People suffering accidents through healthy activity could be forced into paying an activity tax under new Tory proposals, claims a Labour Assembly Member.

 

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: "Conservative AM Darren Millar said on a radio phone-in show that individuals putting themselves at high risk through their own choice could be charged by the NHS.

 

"After being asked whether people who go skiing should be charged by the NHS if they have an accident, the Conservative Health Spokesperson said: 'I think if people put themselves in areas of high risk through their own choice then there ought to be a discussion about whether it’s appropriate for the NHS to pick up the bill for the risks that they take.'”

 

Mr Skates added: "The Tories' approach would throw up several serious challenges. Whilst we must encourage patients to be responsible in their use of the NHS, the Tories are going further and suggesting there should be an activity tax on perfectly healthy behaviour.

 

“Where do we draw the line? As a keen runner myself, if I injure my knee doing perfectly healthy exercise, should I be taxed for that good behaviour?

 

“Should the average Sunday league footballer be charged if he gets injured in a tackle?

 

“The founding principle of the NHS is that it should be free at the point of access and we should keep it this way. 

 

"From Labour's perspective, this could be the start of a very slippery slope towards introducing a private insurance model of healthcare. Whilst the Tories might want that, it would be very costly for communities in Wales with a legacy of ill-health.

 

“This is the Welsh Conservatives again making up policy on the hoof.  We need to tackle inappropriate use of NHS resources, but half-baked proposals like these made up on a radio phone-in show are clearly not the answer.”

Don't devolve police says Isherwood AM

Speaking at the Welsh Conservative Party Conference at the weekend, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood spoke out against the devolution of policing and emphasised that crime in Wales fell by 9% last year.

 

He said: “The Labour Welsh Government believes that a devolved Criminal Justice system should form part of the long term vision of Welsh Governance – and Plaid Cymru believe there should be a transfer of powers over justice as a whole, including Police, Prosecution, Probation, Prison, and Young Justice.

 

“Welsh Conservatives believe that the introduction of Police and Crime Commissioners marked an act of real devolution, empowering local communities to have their say on Policing priorities and to hold an elected representative to account.

 

“We have not seen any evidence which leads us to support the devolution of Policing or Criminal Justice and we are concerned that the devolution of Policing could compromise cross-border working between Police forces. Quite frankly the thought of a Welsh Police Force under the state Socialist control of the First Minister of Blame, Carwyn Jones, or Loony Leanne Wood, absolutely terrifies me.”

 

He added: “Labour and Plaid Cymru have said that UK Police Reforms and Budget Reductions would mean higher crime, but recorded crime is down more than 10% under this UK Government and people’s experience of crime has fallen to its lowest level since the Crime Survey for England and Wales began.

 

“Crime in Wales fell 9% last year, with the biggest drop in Gwent, down 17%, followed by drops of 8% in North Wales, 6% in Dyfed Powys and 5% in South Wales.

 

“However, only this month a Labour AM responded to new figures showing a 10% fall in crime in Wrexham by warning that this fall in crime could be short lived if planned Budget cuts go ahead, even though the budget cuts were implemented from 2010. 

 

“Shadow UK Policing Minister David Hanson has criticised police budget reductions, despite Labour backing equivalent cuts.

 

"Labour planned cuts of around 12%, and Labour’s March 2010 UK budget had included police funding reductions of £545 million by 2014.

 

"But Labour has also supported savings proposed by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate Constabulary (HMIC) and the Police Arbitration Tribunal which essentially match the UK Government’s own plans to make savings from police budgets over this parliament.” 

Pontfadog Oak could be cloned

* The Pontfadog Oak before it fell victim to the weather. 

The BBC North East Wales website is report this evening (Monday) that the 1,200-year-old Pontfadog Oak, which was felled by the recent snow, could be using its DNA.

See the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-22308186

Sunday lunch gets its place in the Sun

llanblogger taste test

* The Sun Inn at Rhewl - now serving Sunday lunches again. 

After lying empty for a time, the historic Sun Inn at Rhewl is once again very much open for business.

And the people now in charge of the centuries-old hostelry not far out of Llangollen have obviously set out to revive its reputation as a great place to go for Sunday lunch.

llanblogger tried it out yesterday and can thoroughly recommend it as the perfect venue for a traditional roast-and-veg meal.

As anyone who has been there will know, it’s not a large establishment and lunches are served in the small front room with atmospheric low ceilings, a massive open fireplace and low, black-painted beams.

There doesn’t seem to be a menu as such but as you pass the small bar-room on the way in and express a wish to eat, a staff member rapidly follows you to one of the four dining tables and tells you what’s on offer by way of Sunday lunch.

Yesterday it was either beef or pork, both of which came with a Yorkshire pudding, roast potato, cauliflower, broccoli and diced carrots, topped off by a very nice gravy.

llanblogger’s party both opted for the roast beef, which was tender and succulent and may even have been locally sourced.

All the veg were obviously fresh and also came well cooked.

Portions were adequate rather than over-facing – which meant there was room left for dessert.

For the llanblogger duo this came in the shape of orange and lemon sponge with custard, and rhubarb crumble and custard – both delicious.

The basic roast dinner is a very reasonable £6.99 and the price of the two desserts plus a tea and a coffee brought the final bill to just £21.80 for two people – not at all bad these days, especially in a place where the surroundings are as agreeable as this.

Apart from the food, the pub also has a worthy selection of real ales on tap, including the Llangollen Brewery range of beers and the re-born Wrexham Lager.

All in all, we’d say that it’s definitely worth aiming for a place in the Sun. 

Operatic's Travelling Troupe a hit at Ryan Jones testimonial

* Travelling Troupe members with George North, Ryan Jones and Sam Warburton.

OVER 250 people paid £75 a head to attend a glittering testimonial dinner for Wales rugby star Ryan Jones at Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday evening.

Entertainment for the black tie event, compered by the BBC’s Scrum V commentator Rick O’Shea, was provided by the famous Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir and Llangollen Operatic Society’s Travelling Troupe.

Jones, who was supported at the event by Wales colleagues Sam Warburton and George North, is one of a handful of distinguished Welshmen of any generation who can lay claim to playing a significant role in the winning of three Grand Slams in a hugely successful rugby career.

He has chosen the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal as his nominated charity during his testimonial year. 

 

Louisa Jones, who sings with Llangollen Operatic’s Travelling Troupe, said: “Being asked to provide entertainment at the testimonal was a great honour.  

“It is the most high profile gig we have done as a troupe and our largest audience, so we were very keen to deliver a highly polished performance.

“The audience's reaction to our programme, which included Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and One Day More from Les Miserables, was warm and appreciative and we were thrilled to receive some fantastic feedback later on when we mingled with the guests.  

“Ryan Jones himself was also extremely complimentary and he and his colleagues Sam Warburton and George North kindly posed for photographs with us and signed autographs.”

 

* Pictured right, Ryan Jones with Troupe members Pamela Williams, left, and Alison Jarvis. 

Llangollen Operatic Society Troupe is available for bookings and anyone interested can contact Louisa on 07989 985644, Tracey on 07875 639533 or e-mail: Troupe@llangollen-operatic.co.uk.

County council clamps down on rogue traders

As part of National Rogue Trader week Denbighshire Trading Standards Officers and North Wales Police have been out patrolling the county on the look out for rogue traders operating in the area. 

Officers were looking for offences relating to consumers’ cancellation rights and aggressive selling techniques linked to “cold calling”.

Traders were also given advice as to their legal obligations.

The two organisations also teamed up with Neighbourhood Watch to get out and about and advise the public on dealing with cold callers.

One of the major issues identified by officers is that many residents do not report the activities of “Rogue Traders”.

David Smith, Denbighshire Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Trading Standards is urging  residents to be aware and to tell the authorities if rogue traders cold call in their area offering to do gardening, tree cutting, tarmacing, roof repairs and general odd jobs. 

He said: "These traders can do a poor job and subsequently charge over the odds for that work, ask for cash and then simply disappear. They are usually untraceable when things go wrong as they give false names, addresses and phone numbers.

"Whilst not all doorstep traders are ‘rogues’, many are completely legitimate and provide a good level of service, there are some who prey on the elderly or vulnerable members of society."

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire's Public Protection Manager said: "Officers from each of the organisations teamed up and have been speaking to people in the county.  We hope that those individuals will not only follow the simple rules when dealing with cold callers but also spread the message to their neighbours and family.  Whilst we did not find any issues during our patrols we will continue to be on the look out for any activity which might be attributed to a rogue trader."

Neighbourhood Watch coordinator Pam Gardner also added: "No cold calling zones are a good way of discouraging traders from operating in certain areas as any trader cold calling in No cold calling area could be committing an offence.  Anybody wanting more information about cold calling zones should contact their local Neighbourhood Watch coordinator on 01745 539208 or via www.ourwatch.org.uk"

Inspector Siobhan Edwards of North Wales Police sais: "If in doubt, keep them out" is the simple message to remember when somebody knocks at your door.  If you are concerned about anybody in your neighbourhood ‘knocking’ on the door offering to carry out home maintenance work, then please make a note of vehicle make, model, colour and registration number and any descriptions of the individuals, and contact either the police on 101 or Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice Customer Service on 08454 04 05 06 or for the Welsh Language Service 08454 04 05 05.

Alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.  If you feel intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller you should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999.

Man charged with murder following Oswestry death

Detectives have charged an 18 year old man with murder following the death of a 21 year old man earlier this week.

Danny Jones of Chirk died in hospital following the attack in Oswestry on Wed night (24 April) after he received a single stab wound.

The teenager who has been charged is a local man and is due before Shrewsbury Magistrates Court on Monday 29 April.

He was arrested a few hours after the attack and charged this evening (Sat 27 April). He has been remanded in custody.

Detectives working on the investigation have recovered a knife which they believe to be the murder weapon.