Lib Dem AM slams `back to grammars' plan

Aled Roberts AM has blasted the Welsh Conservatives’ proposals to extend grammar schools as a “rose tinted Tory view of the past” and has accused the party of failing to operate in the “here and now”.

 

Mr Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Education, said: “Once again the Welsh Tories are throwing around policy ideas without any idea how they would implement them.  They are refusing to operate in the here and now, instead reflecting on their rose-tinted Tory view of the past when many children were written off at 11.  Their current proposal would instead see children cast aside when they’re 14.

 

“A recent report showed that the odds of pupils entitled to free school meals securing a place at a grammar school were nearly five times lower than for other pupils.  Creating more grammar schools would merely extend the attainment gap that already exists between pupils from affluent and less affluent backgrounds.

 

“Wales needs to target efforts on raising teaching standards and further restructuring would simply distract these efforts.  It would be interesting to know how the Tories would afford this re-structure, bearing in mind that at the last election they wanted to slash the education budget by 20%.

 

“Not so long ago the Welsh Tories called for people to be charged to use the NHS if they injure themselves doing ‘irresponsible’ activities, such as ‘skiing or rock-climbing’;  a policy they appeared to drop in a matter of hours. 

 

"It’s all very well grabbing a quick headline, but to be taken seriously they really must start thinking their policies through.  There are real practical difficulties with this proposals, particularly in rural areas.  We believe, as a principle, that there is no difficulty in pupils of all abilities achieving their potential under the comprehensive system as long as the proper processes are in place to keep standards high.”

Railway volunteer pens children's books to help pay for Corwen extension

*My Railway in the Valley is on sale to help raise cash for

the Corwen extension.

Books written by a Llangollen Railway volunteer are raising money for the heritage line’s extension to Corwen.

Keith Scott has penned three books especially for youngsters and all inspired by the railway.

The first two, entitled My Railway in the Valley and More About My Railway in the Valley, are aimed at children between the ages of about three/four to seven and are short stories involving animals and children having adventures on the railway. They sell at £3 per copy.

My Railway in the Valley includes the story of Scrap the cat, who lives in a signal box, and a story about an old engine called Florence. Kim’s story is based on the dog of one of the railway volunteers which used to regularly visit the railway.

More About My Railway in the Valley features the big railway gala, a race between Lucky the horse and a little engine and a spectacular rescue of two boys from the river in a storm.     

The third story, out this year and entitled The Crumbling Wall, is a science fantasy thriller set on the railway where alternative worlds collide with near disastrous consequences. A station waiting room is the doorway between two realities.

Anyone over the age of about 10 should enjoy the book, which costs £5 per copy.

All three books are available in the station shop and sometimes on the trains themselves.

Enquiries about buying the books can be made by emailing: kas1310@mail.com

Next Buy Local Day this Friday

Keep Llangollen Special has its next Buy Local Day this Friday, August 9.

Local people are encouraged to support businesses in the town by buying their goods from them instead of going outside the area.  

Welsh Government earmarks cash for affordable homes

Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant has announced that the £20 million the Welsh Government has allocated to help mitigate the effect of the UK Government’s welfare benefit changes will be used to build 357 smaller affordable homes across Wales.

 

The funding will help Registered Social Landlords focus on building more one and two bedroom properties which will enable some tenants affected by the ‘Bedroom Tax’ to downsize.

 

The Minster said: "The Welsh Government is hugely concerned that many already hard pressed households are facing hardship due the changes in welfare benefit rules brought in by the UK Government. Local authorities report that over 35,000 households in Wales are affected by the Bedroom Tax.

"Since the rules relating to housing benefit and size of household changed on 1 April this year, we have seen increased demand for smaller, one and two bedroom properties.

"Despite the tough financial climate, the Welsh Government has invested £20 million in the Smaller Properties Programme and each local authority has been asked to identify schemes which could benefit from the funding.

"I am determined to do what I can to support tenants so that there is the least possible damage to our communities, but recognise that these new homes are only a fraction of what is needed to counter the impact of the UK Government’s benefit changes.“

Thomas brings crowds steaming into town

 

* Thomas the Tank Engine brought visitors flocking to Llangollen Railway.

 

A weekend of appearances by Thomas the Tank Engine brought visitors steaming into Llangollen Railway.

 

A spokesman for the heritage line said: "The event was well supported by families who attended from all areas within the railway's 50 mile radius catchment area and a few came from further afield.

 

"Visitors from abroad were also evident, mostly visiting family or friends from the locality.

 

"For some small children it will have been their first encounter with a steam train and, for others, any sort of train such is their limited experience of railways these days."

 

The spokesman added: "The good attendance was evidenced by the large queue at the station ramp prior to opening at 10am on both days, all helped by the good weather on Saturday in particular, and whilst Sunday started off fine the onset of rain in the afternoon ensured early departures for some after they had experienced all the event had to offer."

 

Thomas the Tank has had a busy year so far with appearances at other heritage railways in Britain.

 

 

*  Thomas with Daisy the railcar.

 

He has also been abroad, visiting Denmark for an event at the Danish Railway Museum in Odense, and made two visits to the Netherlands when  a return visit was made to the Dutch Railway Museum at Utrecht and later to a heritage line at Apledoorn.

 

Further visits to Europe are in prospect for the autumn.

 

The Railway's George Jones said: "These visits to European destinations show the international appeal of the Thomas the Tank Engine character."

AM questions disabled access at Chirk and Ruabon stations

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has submitted a written question to Transport Minister Edwina Hart regarding the lack of disabled access at Chirk and Ruabon train stations following recent concerns raised by disabled rail users.

 

Mr Isherwood, who is  Co-Chair of the Assembly Cros s Party Group on Disability, has long been calling for improved disabled access at railway stations across Wales and was therefore pleased when in 2012 former Welsh Government Minister for Local Government and Communities, Carl Sargeant, responded to calls to address the poor disabled access at Chirk station.

 

Chirk, and the other four stations (Llandaf, Machynlleth, Radyr and Ystrad Mynach) were awarded funding from the UK Government and a letter from Mr Sargeant stated: ‘The Department For Transport will fund 50% of the costs of this programme at those stations and my officials are currently finalising funding details with each relevant regional transport consortia, which will fund the remaining 50% of costs over the lifetime of these projects."

 

However, Mr Isherwood is concerned that this promised work on Chirk station has still not been carried out and has therefore submitted a WAQ to Transport Minister Edwina Hart, asking what plans the Welsh Government has to improve disabled access at Chirk and Ruabon railway stations and when this will happen.

Mr Isherwood: “This work at Chirk was promised by the Welsh Government at the beginning of last year, but we are still waiting. I have been campaigning for improved access at these stations since 2006 and I am concerned that nothing has yet been done.

“Speaking in the Assembly in 2011 I highlighted that only 8% of stations in Wales are completely disabled friendly and referring to Chirk Station, stated that Disabled Athlete and former Wrexham Sports Personality of the year Gareth Stafford travels out from Chirk Station, but cannot return there as the platform is then on the other side of the track.

 

“More recently Ruth Drake, the mother of five-year-old-girl with cerebral palsy, has been told she will have to pay for costly taxis to Wrexham station because of the lack of disabled access at Ruabon and Chirk stations – this is totally unacceptable and the improvements at Chirk and Ruabon need to be carried out as a matter of urgency. Disabled rail users should have the same access to travel as every other rail user and I will continue pressing the Welsh Government until they do.”  

Fringe final figures up again

This  year’s Llangollen Fringe Festival saw another increase in audience figures, according to organisers.

The 16^th Fringe ended last Sunday evening with a soggy finale concert at a rain-soaked Valle Crucis Abbey.

But the thundery weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the 300 or so people who turned out to see it.

Festival spokesman Graham Timms said: “The Fringe closed on Sunday after 11 days of concerts and events throughout the town. 

“As usual a huge range of events were included in the programme. 

“Where else could you see former Poet Laureate Andrew Motion one night and then r 'n' b infused punk band The Blockheads another?

“Audiences were up again in general - most events being almost sold out - meaning that the Fringe survives into another year.“

He added: “We decided to go ahead with the Valle Crucis concert after an agonising decision made first thing on Sunday morning.

“Yet at 7.20pm we thought that we'd made a wrong call as a thunderstorm went directly overhead. 

“Although the rain bounced down for about 10 minutes, by the starting time, the rain stopped and the music began.

“The magical setting in the abbey was enhanced by the menacing clouds overhead.

“Around 300 people attended and were rewarded by a superb evening hosted by the appropriately named local performance poet Rain Dei.

“I’d like to say thanks to the local community for all the tremendous support and goodwill it gives to the festival.”