AM's concerns over north east Wales tourism promotion

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood  is concerned that north east Wales is losing out on thousands of potential visitors every year because it is not being marketed effectively by the Welsh Government.

 

Speaking in today’s Assembly Debate on the Rural Economy, Mr Isherwood noted that an estimated 50% of all UK visitors to Wales visit the countryside, yet the word rural is mentioned just once in the Welsh Government’s new Tourism Strategy document.

 

He criticised the Welsh Government for not effectively promoting the Pontcysyllte world heritage site as a tourist attraction.

 

He said: “During the last Assembly, the then Minister developed the north-east Wales cultural action plan, designed, among other things, to establish a programme for the Pontcysyllte world heritage site as an attractor, and the basis for tourism, cultural and wider development projects.

 

“ However, only this week, key stakeholders have raised questions with me over whether the Pontcysyllte aqueduct as a regeneration site and tourism area has high enough profile and expressed concern that there wasn’t a clear coordinated group championing the aqueduct, that there wasn’t a named person associated with the aqueduct and that there was a lack of progress with all parties engaged in the aqueduct and Trevor Basin in moving the regeneration opportunities forward.

 

“The North Wales Economic Ambition Board stated in April that there seem to be good working relationships developing with officials from Welsh Government, but added that at a recent meeting of lead members from across Wales in Cardiff, there was concern as to lack of commitment and understanding from Welsh Government when it comes to the regional boards.”

 

Mr Isherwood also stressed that disability groups have said that tourism can be increased if Wales is seen by overseas and domestic visitors as an accessible, welcoming holiday destination - but that Arfon Access Group, which has been carrying out a review of the Visit Wales website and local authority marketing materials regarding appropriate information for disabled people to be able to plan visits to places of interest around Wales, advises that even before they have completed the work, it is becoming clear that little such information has been incorporated.

Campaigners demand probe into new health centre plan

A CAMPAIGN group has written to members of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) asking for an inquiry into the way the plans for the proposed £5.5 million new Llangollen health centre have been progressed.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, spokesperson for Keep Llangollen Health Services (KLHS), says in a letter which he has sent to board members: “We are concerned that the people of Llangollen and the Dee Valley have been misled on several occasions and were not involved in any meaningful consultation during the development phase of the proposed health centre.”

KLHS is questioning:  

·        Why BCUHB did not include Llangollen and Dee Valley service users in its stakeholder meetings as it claims they would be “crucial” to any proposed health centre development.

·        Why BCUHB “misled” the main campaign group about their involvement in any meetings.

·         Why BCUHB did not carry out research beforehand to ensure that the service promised in the proposal document could be provided after the closure of Llangollen Cottage Hospital.

The way the whole issue has been handled gives its members “no confidence” in the board’s proposals for the town, says KLHS.

And the group's letter tells board members: “We urge you to conduct an inquiry into these failings before continuing with your proposals.”

KLHS’s call for an inquiry follows last week’s damning joint report by the Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, which identified significant failings in the way BCUHB  is being run.

This has led to the resignation of board chief executive Mary Burrows, chairman Professor Merfyn Jones and vice-chairman Dr Lindon Miles.

Mabon ap Gwynfor has revealed that KLHS is also seeking an urgent meeting with Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, to discuss our concerns about services in Llangollen.

Post Office opens at Stan's on July 22

Following a successful public consultation exercise, Llangollen Post Office will move to nearby Stan's supermarket on Monday, July 22.

 

The move, first announced some months ago, is part of major modernisation programme across the Post Office network designed to make it easier for customers to do business, through longer opening hours and modern open plan environments.

 

The new branch will be located 50 meters from its current site at 41 Castle Street, Llangollen LL20 8RU.

 

Post Office Regional Network Manager for Wales, Adrian Wales, said: “We understand how important having access to high quality Post Office service is to residents in Llangollen and we are confident that this new modern branch will meet the needs of the local community and secure services for the future.

 

"This is an exciting time for the Post Office. This move is part of a three-year investment programme, the largest in the history of the Post Office, that will see around 6000 branches (about half the Post Office network) converting to new-style branches. This investment marks a commitment to no more branch closure programmes.”

The new Llangollen Post Office will have a mixture of open plan and traditional screened counter positions - a new way of delivering Post Office services with Post Office products and services available alongside retail transactions during shop opening hours.

 

Post Office customers in Llangollen will benefit from opening hours being extended by an extra 23 hours a week as selected Post Office products and services will be available during shop opening hours, 08:30 – 19:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 – 16:00 on Sunday. 

Organ donation change voted through by AMs

A change in the law to bring in an opt-out organ donation system has been voted through by Welsh assembly members.

See BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-23143236

Watch transplantation debate live ...

Watch the transplantation bill debate in the Welsh Assembly live on http://www.senedd.tv/liveplayer.jsf

Health board vice-chair resigns, says BBC

The BBC is reporting this evening that vice-chair Dr Lyndon Miles has become the third senior figure to resign from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board following a damning report on its "significant management failings".

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-23153307

AM calls for action to save landmark column

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for urgent action to save one of the most iconic landmarks in North Wales.

 

Wynnstay Column, a Grade 2 listed feature of the former Wynnstay Park, was built in 1790 by architect John Wyatt as a memorial to the fourth baronet of the Williams-Wynn family. 

 

It reaches a height of 100ft and is a major landmark on the edge of the A483 and the village of Ruabon.

 

But in recent weeks residents living near the column have noticed the copper urn that sits atop the column suffering a prominent lean.

 

If left unattended, it is feared the urn could fall from the column.

 

Wrexham Council has now written to the owners of the landmark to take action to protect the column which is included on the council’s statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.

 

Mr Skates said: “The Wynnstay Column is one of the most recognisable landmarks in North Wales and seen by thousands of motorists every year from the A483.

 

“It is essential that such important components of our local heritage are retained and properly maintained. In recent months Wrexham has lost important historic treasures such as the Pontfadog Oak and I do not wish to see the Wynnstay Column lose its centrepiece urn.

 

“I am delighted Wrexham Council officers have been so swift in calling on the owners of the column to take action and I am pleased they have entered into productive talks with heritage experts.

 

“I hope we will soon see the urn corrected and this great feature restored.”