Scheme is on the lookout for young artists

Following the success of the art master class programme held for children Denbighshire Council’s Criw Celf is looking for young artists to enrol in the class of 2013.

The aim of the Criw Celf scheme is to allow children who have shown artistic promise and interest to practice and develop their skills, with master classes led by local professional artists.

There is room for up to 25 children, and the county’s primary schools and individuals are invited to nominate year 6 pupils who have shown artistic talent.

 Jo McGregor, Criw Celf Coordinator said: “The Criw Celf master class sessions have proved very popular, and they have proved to be real success, the professional artists who led the courses saw a real development in the skill and passion of these young artists.”
 
“We’re now looking for children in Year 6, who will be in Year 7 in September to become part of the 2013 Criw Celf class, so if you know a child who dreams of becoming an artist, then why not put their name forward?”
 
Members of the 2013 Criw Celf will attend a series of one-day master classes in the company of professional artists who specialize in various art genres.

A total of six days training will be on offer; as well as an art exhibition of their work. Each member will also receive an art pack containing various quality art materials so that they can practice drawing at home.
 
Sian Fitzgerald, Community Arts Development Officer at Denbighshire County Council added:
“I am delighted that Denbighshire’s children will again this year be able to make the most of the pioneering Criw Celf project, it is a great opportunity for children interested in art to develop their skills.”
  
Every applicant will need to send the following for assessment to the Ruthin Craft Centre by Friday, 12 July:
 
• A 2D self-portrait, created using any art material or combination of art materials. (No more than A3 sized paper)

• A drawing of the view from any window in their home, created using any art material or combination of art materials. (No more than A3 sized paper) or a 2D/3D artwork inspired by the theme of ‘Dream’ (if the work is big photographs accepted)

• A short paragraph explaining why they would like to join Criw Celf. (No more than 50 words).
 
Please ensure that all submissions include name, age, school, home address and home telephone number on the back of each piece of work. Post the entries to:
Criw Celf, Ruthin Craft Centre, Park Road, Ruthin, Denbighshire, LL15 1BB.
 
For more information, or if you wish to nominate a child for the 2013 Criw Celf, contact Jo McGregor, Criw Celf Coordinator on  jo.mcgregor@hotmail.co.uk and 01745 730209 / 07973931097 or Sian Fitzgerald, Denbighshire County Council’s Community Arts Development Officer on: sian.fitzgerald@denbighshire.gov.uk

Facebook – ‘Criw Celf’

*Criw Celf Denbighshire  is funded by Denbighshire County Council  and the Arts Council for Wales.

Health shake-up consultation should be done again, says AM

NORTH Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for the controversial consultation on the future of health services in North Wales to be revisited following the recent identified management failings in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

 

Mr Isherwood raised the matter during an urgent question in the Assembly Chamber this week.

 

He also called for a reassessment of the Welsh Government’s decision in the last Assembly to scrap the Independent Review that formed the second stage of the complaints procedure for patients and relatives, and asked for assurances  of ‘no expensive pay offs’ to senior figures standing down.

 

He said: “As you will be aware, the report identified management failings contributing to significant risks with hospital infections, operations being delayed and waiting lists allowed to grow.

 

"Given that matters such as these have been populating my casework inbox, and, I am sure, those of many other North Wales Members, for many years, will you revisit the Welsh Government’s decision in the last Assembly to scrap the independent review that formed the second stage of the complaints procedure and ensured that complaints could be scrutinised properly?

 

"Will you revisit the recent consultation that campaigners described as a ‘sham’?

 

"In Flint, they said that the figures being picked were those that the health board wanted. Will you assure us that there will not be expensive pay-offs to senior persons who may have to stand down as a consequence of this report?”

 

Health Minister Mark Drakeford told Mr Isherwood that “the report does not lead in any way to a re-opening of those matters that were agreed last year between the health board and the community health council. I have no intention of revisiting those matters on the basis of a report that did not address them." 

* In another story, responding to the Welsh Labour Health Minister’s praise for local health boards for breaking even at the end of the financial year, Aled Roberts, North Wales Welsh Liberal Democrat AM said: “This praise of local health boards meeting their financial requirements is a slap in the face for many patients in North Wales.

 

"Just last week, a controversial report made it clear that the only way Betsi Cadwaladr was able to make it to the end of the financial year was by allowing waiting lists to grow and cancelling routine operations.

 

“The Welsh Labour Government cannot see the people and the suffering behind meeting targets. Cancelling operations and allowing waiting lists to grow is not an acceptable way to run a health service.”

Strawberry teas now serving at Memorial Hall

Traditional strawberry cream teas ware being served at Llangollen Memorial Hall, opposite the car park in Market Street, today (Saturday), from 9.30am to around 4.30pm.
 
On offer are coffee, tea, scones, cakes and other gastronomic delights - all served to the accompaniment of music from the 1950s.

One of the organisers of the event said: "Whether you wish to partake simply of coffee or tea with cakes or a full afternoon tea with sandwiches, cream scones with strawberries and home–made cakes we guarantee you will have a wonderful experience."

Historic bus stops off at classic vehicle event

 

 

 

A former Chester City Transport bus is making a journey into Wales this weekend, July 6/7, from its base at the North West Museum of Road Transport in St Helens, Merseyside.

The Guy Arab double decker was new to the Chester in June 1953, Coronation year, and sported the No.1 in the bus fleet.

 

In celebrating its 60th anniversary it will be joining other examples of classic transport for the rally organised by the museum at the field near the railway station in Glyndyfrdwy.

 Organiser Matt Davie said: "The field at Glyndyfrdwy offers a splendid location for a gathering in association with the heritage railway.

 

"Based on our experience of previous events, we will again be offering visitors to the rally the chance to sample a free ride on the vintage buses when they make demonstration road runs between Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen on Saturday and Sunday.

 

"Those travelling along the A5 road will have the opportunity to see the work on the railway's extension west of Carrog and be able to view the location of the temporary platform to be sited at Corwen East.

"As well as the road transport vehicles attending, we are also expecting members of the Jowett Car Owners Club to be gathering at Glyndyfrdwy with examples of this iconic British automobile, on this the 90th anniversary of the club's formation."

In support of the classic transport rally, Llangollen Railway will be operating a half hourly train service on the heritage line in the Dee Valley with a mixture of steam and diesel locomotives and diesel railcars to add the variety of transport items from a bygone era.

The Jowett Car Club celebrates the classic British cars made in Bradford from 1906 to 1954, including the Jupiter, Javelin, Bradford, Jason, Black Prince, Curlew, Kestrel, Weasel, Flying Fox, Falcon, Long Four, Focus, Blackbird, Kingfisher, Black Prince, Wren, Grey Knight, Silverdale, Chummy, 7cwt Van and Short Two.

Police issue warm weather warning

North Wales Police are advising residents and car owners across the region to remain vigilant as weather forecasters predict a forthcoming hot spell.

 

“It is very tempting, particularly during warm spells to leave windows and doors open and so by simply checking all doors and windows are secure before going out or to bed we can deter any would-be thieves.   Days out to the beach or countryside can also bring about an air of complacency and so we are asking that all valuables are removed from cars or at the very least locked securely out of sight.”

 

“Together with our partners and local communities we have all worked hard and seen a significant reduction in crimes relating to burglaries and theft from vehicles.  It’s important that we remain on course to improve this even further and so I’d ask we all take some simple steps to secure our property, remain vigilant and report immediately any suspicious behaviour.

 

"These types of crime are often opportunistic targeting insecure homes or vehicles. By taking some basic steps we can reduce the opportunity for thieves and thereby prevent the loss of valuables and the associated inconvenience that follows.  Always ensure that your homes and vehicles are locked and that no valuable items are left on display and if you require further information about crime prevention visit http://www.north-wales.police.uk/advice__support1.aspx

 

If you see any suspicious behaviour or activity contact North Wales Police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

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.