Politicians comment on River Lodge report

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates  has welcomed a report by the Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee on the Welsh Government’s management of the former River Lodge Hotel in Llangollen (see earlier blog).

 

He said: “I welcome the Public Accounts Committee’s report into the former River Lodge Hotel in Llangollen. The detailed report and recommendations emanating from it make for sober reading and fully justify the concerns raised by the former AM Karen Sinclair as far back as 2007.

 

“On becoming an AM in 2011 I too investigated this matter thoroughly and voiced my own similar concerns that the Powys Fadog plans did not represent good value for money.

 

“From the original purchase of the land to the subsequent plan to turn the site into a Shaolin Martial Arts Centre and spiritual retreat, the story is one of poor judgement and inadequate management. 

 

“Perhaps the worst mistake was in allowing a serious conflict of interest to exist for so long.  The civil servant who recommended the hotel for purchase was also a volunteer director of the organisation which also wanted to lease it.  This was a fundamental error which contributed to the poor decisions that were made.

 

“A lot of public money has been wasted on this project and I hope the Welsh Government learn the important lessons contained in both this report and the earlier investigation undertaken by the Wales Audit Office.

 

“The wider point is that in Denbighshire as elsewhere, we need to take a much more robust and critical look at the way in which we manage projects in our communities which involve significant amounts of taxpayers money.  At all times we need to ensure value for money and accountability for local people and make sure any concerns raised are investigated and acted upon sooner.”

 

In the same press release from Mr Skates, former Clwyd South Assembly Member KAREN SINCLAIR said: “Nothing could persuade me that this was anything but a clear conflict of interest.  I am saddened that it has taken since 2007 to get to this point.

 

“Looking forward to the future it’s clear we do need to put this site to good use and make sure something constructive comes out of this episode for the people of Llangollen.  It has been my own view for some time that this site could now be converted into a new GP Surgery and health centre for the town, a facility the area has needed for some time.  I have made this very clear both to the Welsh Government and to the local health board.” 

Welsh Government criticised over River Lodge saga

* The derelict River Lodge.

The Welsh Government has been criticised for wasting £1.6m of public money on a failed scheme to turn a derelict Llangollen hotel into a community centre.

The full story appears today on the BBC Wales news website, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-22760984

Plans for new health centre to be unveiled

* An artist's impression of the new health centre.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board says it will be presenting the plans for the proposed new Llangollen Health Centre on Tuesday, June 11 in the first floor hall of Llangollen Town Hall between 3pm and 6.30pm. 

 

The board says the new centre will be constructed on the former River Lodge site on the A539 to Trevor and will be shared between the Llangollen GP practice, the board itself, Denbighshire County Council social care and voluntary sector services. 

 

A board spokesperson said: "A wide range of services will be provided from the centre such as GP services, community nursing and midwifery services, outpatient clinics, therapies, mental health care services and social care.

 

"Members of the public are warmly invited to view the plans and make comments on them.  Health Board and Llangollen GP practice representatives will be on hand with the architects to respond to questions about the plans. 

 

"There is a lift to the first floor hall in the Town Hall."


Welcoming the plan, Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates said: “I warmly welcome the plans being put together by the local health board for a new health centre in Llangollen.  The town has desperately needed a new primary care facility for some time and the initial outline of the new centre looks very good indeed.

 

“Importantly the new centre will house a wide range of facilities, from a new GP surgery to improved mental health support and midwifery services.  This is exactly what the town needs and I’m in full support of what the health board are trying to achieve.

 

“In addition, these plans will also hopefully draw a line under the sorry saga of the River Lodge site and ensure something good comes out of this mess. 

 

“Local people have rightly been angered by the amount of money that has been wasted on the proposed Kung Fu Centre up this point.  This new Health Centre is a much better use of public money and I’m looking forward to having it up and running in the near future.”

 

Police ask for help to find missing man

Police are calling on the help of the public to trace a 53-year-old man who is missing.

 

Graham Austin of Shifnal in Shropshire (pictured below) was last seen at around 4.30am on Sunday morning, June 2, when he left a caravan in which he was staying in in the Corwen area.

 

His car was later found at Llyn Brenig, Alwen, near Cerrigydrudion.

 

The 53-year-old, who was on holiday in the area, is described as white, around 5ft 8’ tall of stocky build. He has short cropped hair which is greying and a full beard.   

 

He is believed to be wearing either jeans or black coloured pyjama bottoms, a pyjama top which has a loony Tunes motif on it and a green coloured Berghaus water proof jacket or fleece. 

 

Mr Austin is also believed to be wearing green coloured shoes which have a brown stripe down the side.

 

The 53-year-old has not gone missing before and concern is increasing for his safety and whereabouts.

 

“The Llyn Brenig area is very popular with walkers, cyclists and people who fish, and it is therefore very possible that someone may have seen Graham in the vicinity since the early hours of Sunday morning,” said Sergeant Grahame Brown.

 

“Concern is naturally mounting for the 53-year-old who has now been missing over 24 hours. I’d urge anyone who has seen Graham or a man matching his description in the area to please contact us immediately on 101.”

 

Searches have been undertaken in the area involving police, police helicopter, the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) and North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR).

 

Anyone who has seen Graham or may know of his whereabouts is urged to contact North Wales Police immediately on 101 quoting reference number P085831. 

Llanblogger is back ...

Llanblogger is back today following a short break.

Thanks for bearing with us while we were away.

Now we'll continue to bring you all the best in news and views from our town and out region.

Llan Food Festival hits national top ten

 

* Rob Price from Cadwyn Clwyd with food festival chair Colin Loughlin and Llangollen butcher Gwyn Davies.

 

Hamper Llangollen was named in the Top 10 food festivals in Britain by a national newspaper.

 

The accolade has delighted the organisers of the popular event that will be celebrating its 16th anniversary when it's held on Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20.

 

More good news came when it was revealed the festival won a special award from Llangollen Town Council for its contribution to the commercial life of the town.

 

It's estimated the event pumps nearly £400,000 into the local economy every year with £156,000 being spent at the event and a further £234,000 being spent in the town and the surrounding area.

 

Among the first to applaud the festival was Alun Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food.

 

He said: “I would like to congratulate Llangollen Food Festival in their excellent achievement in The Independent's Top 10 Food Festivals in Britain, as well as gaining a special award from Llangollen Town Council for its contribution to the commercial life of the town. 

 

"Food festivals are an excellent way of showcasing the very best of Welsh produce and, I know from my visit to the Llangollen Food Festival last year, that it is a great example of this."

 

Colin Loughlin, chair of the local committee that runs the festival was also delighted.

He HehEhsaid: "I am extremely proud that Hamper Llangollen has received this   fantastic recognition of being acknowledged as a top 10 food festival in the whole of the UK.

"We are the only North Wales festival to be honoured by the Independent.

 

"The  festival has gone from strength to strength since it was taken over by a local committee in 2011.

 

"The success of Hamper Llangollen is a mark of the quality of the people we have on the committee. Everybody is pulling their weight and the way it has come together is very rewarding.

 

"I think the magic ingredient in the success of the festival is the location, the town of Llangollen and the people who live here.

 

"One of our priorities has been to integrate better with the town by involving the school, the Llangollen Silver Band and local choirs.

 

"We're making a positive contribution the local economy. After last year's event, local traders told us they were delighted with the amount of business we brought to the town. They had a very, very business weekend.

 

"This year Graham Tinsley, the star of ITV's Taste the Nation and a former captain of the Welsh Culinary Team, will be joined in the show kitchen at the festival by the ever popular Dai Chef.

 

"They have done a great deal to raise the profile of real, honest to goodness food and their crusade chimes perfectly with our mission to promote the value of our indigenous producers who bring great taste and traceability to the table.

 

"We have a wonderful array of fantastic food producers clustered in the area and the festival is the perfect shop window for them.

 

"A food festival is so much better and more interesting than going to the supermarket because here you can sample the food and talk to the producers.

 

"Hamper Llangollen is celebrating its 16th anniversary this year and is firmly and rightly established as a major highlight in the UK's culinary calendar."

 

Robert Price, Cadwyn Clwyd's agri-food project officer, said: "In addition to many favourites, we have lots of new food producers wanting to come this year.

 

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely  spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting.

 

"It's also brilliant news for the local economy. If you buy from a local producer, all that money is recycled through the local economy and that sustains employment in our rural areas."

 

For more information about Hamper Llangollen 2013 go to: www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

County landmarks to feature on TV

Denbighshire Archives and the Ruthin Gaol Museum will be featured on BBC 1's The One Show as part of a focus on Victorian criminals and the early use of photography as a means of identification.

A production team, to include well-know historian, Ruth Goodman, spent a whole day at the Gaol and Archives, and the section is scheduled to be broadcast on 11 June.  

Presenter, Ruth, had her ‘mugshot’ taken and developed by a photographer who specialises in Victorian photographic techniques; a school pupil from Penycae found some information on his ancestor who had been imprisoned at Ruthin in 1871 for the theft of a velvet coat; and Ruth and Richard Ireland, a senior lecturer form Aberystwyth who specialises in the history of criminal law, discussed two rare, early ‘mugshot’ books which are part of the Denbighshire Constabulary’s records in the Archives.