Isherwood raises concerns over loss of tourism support

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has raised concerns in the Assembly this week that North Wales could lose millions in tourism support if proposed changes to the way funding is assessed are implemented.  

 

Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on tourism in North Wales, Mr Isherwood said it is feared that North Wales cold lose out to South Wales if the changes come into force.

 

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber, he said:  “I have received reference to a report from a tourism business leader in north Wales. The report is entitled ‘Measuring Tourism Demand at Local Authority Level in Wales: Official Statistics and STEAM’, which refers to indicative changes in the 2013-14 standard spending assessment. It suggests that Flintshire would lose £358,000, and north Wales millions in support, with the money going to south Wales authorities, despite the most economically deprived part of Wales, West Wales and the Valleys, including four of north Wales’ six counties - and despite almost one fifth of the population of Wales living within the most deprived wards in Wales being located in north Wales.”

 

The Minister for Local Government and Government Business, Lesley Griffiths, replied: “There is a great deal of work going on around tourism right across Wales, not just in north Wales. Visit Wales has relaunched its travel trade approach, which focuses largely on international markets, and it continues to work very closely with Visit Britain internationally. There is a programme of PR and campaign activity, which I am sure will benefit north Wales.”

 

Mr Isherwood said later: “The Minister’s failure to address the concerns I raised can only reinforce fears that North Wales is to lose out to South Wales."

Ysgol Dinas Bran gets "Band 2" ranking in performance tables

Ysgol Dinas Bran in Llangollen has achieved a Band 2 ranking in the latest Welsh Government performance tables published today, according to the BBC.

See the full story on the BBC news website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25351074

* Commenting following the publication of this year’s school banding data, Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Minister said:

 

“No matter how schools in Wales have performed over the year, we already know that there will be a fixed amount of schools in each band.  That is too crude and simplistic a system.  Too often we are hearing of how parents are confused about why their children’s school has been re-banded despite the fact its results have stayed the same.

 

“In too many cases, the banding system and the results of Estyn inspections are at odds with each other and this creates uncertainty and instability within the sector.

 

“An Estyn report confirmed this week that there is still not an appropriate system in place to track individuals’ progress.  The Welsh Liberal Democrats believe that monitoring the performance of each individual pupil would be a far more effective way to raise standards, as then we could identify children who were not achieving their potential.  The Welsh Government could also monitor the performance of a school on the basis of how many of its pupils were meeting their individual targets.

 

“The outcome of the promised review of the current banding system must be one in which schools and consortia are absolutely clear about standards.”

 

 

Health board speaks out on future of two Llan landmarks

llanblogger exclusive

See reader comments at foot of story ...

 

 

* The health centre in Regent Street.

llanblogger has been given an insight into what the future might hold for two landmark buildings in the town.

The former Cottage Hospital in Abbey Road now lies empty after being closed amidst a storm of public protest last March.

The death knell was also sounded for the health centre in Abbey Road when plans were unveiled earlier this year to build a new £5.5 million replacement for it on the site of the old River Lodge on the A539.    

In view of local speculation about the fates of these two buildings, we asked the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which owns then both, what plans it has for their disposal.

A BCUHB spokesperson said ¨We have received Welsh Government approval to dispose of the former Llangollen Hospital premises, and at the moment we are advertising its availability to other public sector organisations. 

“If none of our public sector partners have need of the site it will be placed on the open market. 

“Once the business case to develop the new primary care resource centre in Llangollen is approved we will follow a similar process for the health centre in Regent Street when services have moved from the building.”

Meanwhile, the 137-year-old hospital lies empty, boarded up and surrounded by security fencing.

A planning application for the new health centre was recently submitted to Denbighshire County Council.

·        We’d like to hear our readers’ views on what they believe should happen to either of these buildings. Let us know what you think by contacting us at: llanblogger@gmail.com  

* First comment has come in from Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, who says:

When the surgery on Regent street finally closes its door, it leaves behind one of most accessible buildings in Llangollen. Given its adjacency to the community hall and its access for disabled people – and most of all, parking, if that can be negotiated with the Church - it is ideal for a community drop-in centre (also known as a hub) for Keep Llangollen Special and other groups in the community. There is a need for, but a shortage of, free meeting places.

 

Regarding the Cottage Hospital, we think that Betsi Cadwalad should bear in mind the general well-being of Llangollen. If they find no takers in the public sector, they plan to place it on the market. We would suggest there’s something missing between the two; to see if the community could find a perfectly good use for it, perhaps a town cinema or a fitness centre now that it seems Plas Madoc is to be axed and maybe even offices for start-up businesses.

Martin Crumpton

* Second comment comes from Mike Edwards:

 Firstly I think the former hospital property should be made available to one of the local Housing Associations to provide Social Housing for the benefit of residents of Llangollen. Possibly a sheltered housing unit should be considered to assist older residents of Llangollen and the Dee Valley.

Secondly tend to I agree with Martin that the GP Surgery is worthy of consideration as a Business and Community Hub (BACH) if the former HSBC Bank building is not available. Whichever property is available to the Community it would need to be subjected to a thorough investigation and structural survey to assess it's suitability and viability for conversion to a hub facility. The cost of conversion and future running expenses would be assessed as part of a comprehensive Business Plan for the BACH based on the model of Glyn Wylfa, Chirk which is run by a Community Development Trust:

http://www.glynwylfa.co.uk

There are various sources of funding for these type of projects which normally attract the support of Welsh Government and relevant Local Authorities and it would be useful to hear what residents, businesses and everyone who have the best interests of Llangollen at heart.

Mike Edwards

County wants your views on Welsh language situation

The county council has commissioned an audit on the Welsh language situation in Denbighshire  communities and wants to hear ideas from people on how the language can be enhanced and promoted over the coming years.
 
The County Council has commissioned Sbectrwm to undertake the review and to consult with key individuals, organisations and institutions.

Three meetings, arranged in conjunction with Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych,  will be held on the following dates:

21 January 2014 - Corwen Sports Pavilion (7.00 p.m)
22 January 2014 - Scala Arts Centre, Prestatyn (7.00 p.m)
23 January 2014 - Denbigh Town Hall (7.00 p.m)

Hywyn Williams, Corporate Director - Communities, Denbighshire County Council, said:  "The Council commissionned the audit for a number of reasons.  The Welsh language is a subject of debate nationally and the proposed Welsh Language Standards are expected to come into effect in around a year's time.  There has been a decline in the number of Welsh speakers in the county, which reflects the national position and we are keen to see an increase by the next census.  The Council was also very eager to build on the interest in the Welsh language and culture following the tremendous success of the National Eisteddfod held in our county this year".

Cefin Campbell from Sbectrwm, said: "The main purpose of the meetings will be to consider the current state of the Welsh language in Denbighshire and invite ideas on how to revitalise the language in future. The intention is to look at many different sectors, for example – education, children and young people, Welsh learners, sports and leisure, business, planning, community activities and the use of Welsh in the workplace.

John Glyn Jones, Chairman of Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, said: "This is an open meeting for all those interested in the future of the language. Non-Welsh speakers are particularly welcome as there will be simultaneous translation facilities available on the evening to allow everyone to participate fully in the discussions.

"I hope that you will be able to attend one of the above meetings as your contribution to discussions on the language  and how we can further promote the Welsh language in our community would be greatly appreciated".

Please confirm your attendance by no later than 10 January 2014, by phoning Sbectrwm on 01558 668663 or Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych on 01745 812822. Or by e.mail to cefin@sbectrwm.com or ruth@menterdinbych.org 

Plas Madoc could face demolition

The BBC is reporting on its North East Wales news website this evening (Wednesday) that Wrexham's two main leisure centres, including Plas Madoc, could face demolition after councillors voted this afternoon to consider replacing them with a £12m complex near the town centre.

A council's scrutiny committee recommended closure after a report said maintaining them would cost £2m.

See the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-25298232

Plaid AM hits out over hospital downgrade plan

A Plaid Cymru politician has responded to revelations earlier today that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is considering downgrading A&E facilities at one of the three general hospitals it runs in North Wales, which includes Wrexham Maelor.

 

Llyr Gruffydd said: “Talk of removing services from one  of the three A&E departments in North Wales will cause great concern in the community.

 

"Every month, more than 15,000 people attend A&E in Bangor, Bodelwyddan or Wrexham (https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Waiting-Times/Accident-and-Emergency/PerformanceAgainst4HourWaitingTimesTarget-by-MajorHospital)  - to expect people to travel 30 miles or more to the next nearest one is dangerous and unreasonable.

 

“A study by Hallam University found that for every 10km additionally travelled there was an additional 1% mortality among patients with potentially life-threatening conditions (http://www.zen142533.zen.co.uk/SWATcontd/traumacentre_documents/Distance%20and%20Mortality%20in%20emerg%20EMJ2007.pdf).

 

Put simply, centralisation kills and for North Wales it will mean more people dying unnecessarily if they have to travel to another hospital.

 

 “In 2010-11 there was an emergency care review that took account of the region’s rural nature and decided three sites were sufficient. What has changed?

 

"We seem to be on a never-ending process of centralising services without being told what the end game is. Does the Labour government driving through these changes want to see one super-hospital in the north? Or do they want to transfer yet more health services to the Wirral?

 

“We’ve already seen too many health services from the north being moved across the border – is A&E the latest that will go? I will be seeking assurances from both the Health Minister and the health board that this is not the case. Plaid Cymru wants to improve our health service in North Wales and maintain specialist services rather than see it further downgraded.”

 

The North Wales Health Alliance first raised concerns about the possible removal of one A&E department in the north after it was openly discussed at a stakeholder meeting in July 2013.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, speaking on behalf of the NWHA, said: “Back in July we were horrified to hear plans being openly discussed to remove one of the three A&E departments.

 

"There was open talk about the possibility of Wrexham closing and patients travelling to the Wirral for A&E care. The health board publicly denied it was on the agenda but just six months later we find the health minister talking about the same removal of service.

 

“Behind closed doors, there  appears to be a master plan to centralise and reduce health services in the north because we’re an inconveniently rural region.

 

 “We’ve seen small community hospitals closed, additional pressure piled on the district general hospitals until they are at breaking point in terms of ambulances queuing up to discharge patients and now there is talk of downgrading them as well. 

 

 “We challenge Betsi Cadwaladr to come clean about their ultimate goal. Do they want just one big super hospital? Do they have a vision for improving our NHS? We would also question what Mark Drakeford’s ambition is for our health services - how much further does he expect us to travel to get treated?”

Operatic's Christmas Cracker goes with a bang

Llangollen Operatic Society’s Christmas Cracker event went with a real seasonal bang at the Town Hall last night (Tuesday).

Along with the complementary mince pies, a packed audience enjoyed every tasty morsel of festive entertainment which was served up, ranging from traditional carols and songs to a clever little playlet with a strong Christmas theme.

First to take the stage were members of the society’s talented travelling troupe who performed a couple of perfectly executed and joyous seasonal numbers.

Next on stage came Chrissie Ashworth with a neat slice of Scouse-flavoured fun in the shape of a passage about a school nativity play that goes hilariously wrong.

Then it was the turn of Helen Belton and Louisa Jones to harmonise over two exceptionally beautiful seasonal songs. 

They were followed by a group of youngsters from the society’s junior stage section, the Young ‘Uns, who presented a selection of Christmassy songs.

A clever reading on the theme of a young person's experience of Christmas was delightfully performed by Carys Stallard.

And a  couple of neat monologues, based on scenarios before and after Christmas, were skilfully delivered by Sue Price and Jeanette Robinson.

The first half of the show was brought neatly to an end by a tuneful trio headed by Chris Simms and including singer Beccy Evans who offered somne up-tempo versions of seasonal standards such as Jingle Bells.

A novel touch came in the second half when some of the society’s best-known performers, augmented by a few relative newcomers, put on a 20-minute play in which a couple of families warring over who has the best Christmas displays in their front gardens finally make peace over a big bowl of punch and some timely carols.

Chris Simms was back at the keyboard to lead a willing audience in yet another selection of carols and a rousing rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

All in all the evening provided the perfect start to the festive season.