MP hits out over PIP payments

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones MP has called for Government action on the "scandal" of Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Ms Jones was leading a debate in Parliament on PIPs in Wales. 

According to official Government documentation, the purpose of PIPs "is to help towards some of the extra costs arising from a health condition or disability.”

It is the replacement for Disability Living Allowance which has been put in place by the current Government and can be used to cover transport, care and all sorts of other costs that can be vital to those who are disabled or sick.

In her speech, the MP said: "We are talking about failure – paid for by the taxpaying public – being subsidised on a massive, multi million pound basis. 

"Somehow, somewhere, someone has to carry the can for what has happened here as the result of a deal between a private company and the Government."

 

During the debate Ms Jones and other MPs gave examples of how people with cancer and other debilitating conditions are kept waiting several months before receiving assessments and payments.

 

Replying for the Government, Department for Work and Pension Minister Mike Penning MP admitted that the system was not working well.

 

after the debate, Ms Jones said: "The current system is a mess and urgently needs to be sorted out.

 

"Ordinary people do not pay their taxes for this sort of incompetence."

Julie stages musical theatre workshop for youngsters

Llangollen-based professional dance tutor Julie Thomas is running an Easter Musical Theatre Workshop in Wrexham.

It will be based on the popular Roald Dahl children’s book Matilda, which tells the story of a little girl who adores reading but whose parents actually want her to watch more TV!

Julie says there are lots of parts for boys and girls, including Miss Honey, Matilda,  Miss Trunchbull, Mrs Wormwood, Miss Phelps, Hortensia and Bruce Bogtrotter.

Songs include When I Grow Up and Revolting Children.

The two-day Workshop will be held in The Catrin Finch Centre at Glyndwr University on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 15^th and 16^th, with a live performance for parents/family on the last day at 4pm.

Isherwood backs UK staying together

Speaking at the Welsh Conservative Party Conference in Llangollen today (Friday) North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood emphasised the importance of keeping the four nations of the United Kingdom together.

 

Mr Isherwood, Shadow Minister for North Wales, Local Government, Communities and Housing, said that Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together as part of the United Kingdom.

 

He told delegates: “On the 18^th September our Scottish kin can vote positively, to keep our family of nations united, celebrating our glorious diversity together - or negatively, to destroy our United Kingdom, divide its peoples and diminish all its parts.

 

“Let us look to our cousins across the globe, from Australia to North America, who are proud unionists - but equally proud of their own individual state governments and legislatures.

 

“We love the energy and personality of our Scottish brothers and sisters  – and our heartfelt plea to them is 'Please don't go'.

 

“Although the separatists have appealed to a romantic vision of Scottish independence based upon popular entertainment rather than real history, most of the debate has focused on hard-headed economic and constitutional issues. But, this is a matter of heart as well as head for we proud, passionate Britons too.

 

“We love every part of our blessed Isles – and stand in horror at the thought of we Britons being riven apart. This is not about a snapshot of the competing policies of different parties at a moment in time. This is about whether our UK should be united or destroyed. This is about whether we should celebrate our glorious diversity as one or smash it apart.

 

“The nationalists seek to divide and diminish every component part of our United Kingdom, achieving what centuries of would be conquerors have failed to do. Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and England are better together within our United Kingdom.”

Labour politicians taunt Health Secretary

Ahead of his speech at the Welsh Conservative Party Conference being held today in Llangollen, in which he's expected to criticise Labour's running of the NHS in Wales, two local Labour politicians have written an open letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

In the letter, Clwyd South's MP and AM, Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates poke fun at Mr Hunt but also mount a strong defence of Labour's record.

See the full story on the ITV Wales website at: http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2014-04-11/labour-politicians-letter-to-jeremy-hunt/

AM ‘delighted’ with health centre progress

* Ken Skates AM on the site of the derelict River Lodge. 

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates has welcomed ‘exciting’ news about the  building of Llangollen’s new health centre.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, who is based in the town, wrote to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board asking for an update on the long-awaited development after being contacted by constituents – and says ‘the wheels are very much in motion’.

The health board’s plans were approved by Denbighshire County Council in February and include new GP services, midwifery and social care at the site of the former River Lodge hotel on the A539, which was bought by the Welsh Government in 2007 before plans to lease it as martial arts centre fell through.

He said: “Work on clearing parts of the River Lodge site has already begun and surveys are being carried out, and work is expected start proper in early June. This is fantastic news for Llangollen and coincides with a number of other projects which mark the start of an exciting new chapter for the town.

“I am delighted that after a critical report from the Welsh Assembly into the proposed use of the building as a kung fu centre, the health board, local practice and Welsh Labour Government are working together to create a modern, state-of-the-art healthcare facility fit for the 21st century for the whole town. The wheels are now very much in motion.”

It is estimated that the main construction programme will take about 12 months, with the demolition of the former hotel expected to be complete by mid-August this year.

Mr Skates added: “I have repeatedly highlighted the importance of dialogue and engagement with the community with this kind of development, so I pleased that the main contractor has arranged for a letter drop to nearby residents to keep them up-to-date. The company has also promised to provide further updates of their progress over the coming weeks and months.”

Money-spinning ideas sought to save Plas Madoc

Supporters of plans to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre are being asked for ideas to help raise the money needed to realise a community takeover.

A second well-attended public meeting at Air Products Social Club in Acrefair earlier this week heard that a new legal entity, Splash Community Trust, had been formed as the campaign to retain the popular facility progresses at pace.

Now chairman Darrell Wright, from Trevor, is keen to hear the public’s fundraising ideas.

He said: “A lot of hard work has gone into getting things this far, and the creation of a charitable company to take things forward is a huge step. We have achieved so much in a relatively short space of time, but now we need people’s support more than ever.

“We need to raise a serious amount of money to give our business case for the takeover as much clout as possible when it goes in front of the council, and to do that we need members of the public to come up with ideas.

“Generating this money will be our biggest obstacle to date, but if everyone who says they want Plas Madoc to stay open is able to help us then we should have no problem. The level of support so far has been brilliant, so I see no reason why we can’t rise to the challenge.”

Darrell, 67, said another public meeting is likely to be held next month.

He also reiterated the need for users of the centre to fill in a short online survey which will help keep the public up to date with developments and could help with future funding applications.

Darrell added: “Centre users’ details are unfortunately not available to us at the moment because of data protection laws, so it’s imperative we get as many responses at possible.”

* To complete the survey visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PMFUTURE and to suggest fundraising ideas email jennymiller08@hotmail.co.uk or call Jenny on 07921 6590990.

Food campaign launched at Llangollen seminar

 

 

* Alun Davies, second right, Welsh Government Minister for Natural Resources and Food, at the Food Festivals Seminar held by Hamper Llangollen with, from left, Andrew Knight, Welsh Government; Lowri Owain, of Cadwyn Clwyd; and Colin Loughlin, Chairman of Hamper Llangollen.

 

A campaign has been launched to form a new association to promote the food and tourism sector in Wales.

 

The driving force behind the new grouping is the Hamper Llangollen.food festival that's been named as one of the top ten food festivals in the UK.

 

They hosted a well-attended seminar of food festival organisers from across Wales and the success of the event has prompted them to lead the drive to set up a new association.

 

The event, at the Royal International Pavilion and supported by rural regeneration agency Cadwyn Clwyd, brought together organisers of festivals from Narberth to Newtown and from Merthyr to Menai as well as Welsh Government representatives, tourism chiefs, food producers and retailers.

 

It saw Welsh Food Minister Alun Davies give the keynote address but it was the response from the delegates that encouraged the Llangollen festival to propose the creation of the new organisation.

 

Hamper Llangollen Chairman Colin Loughlin said: “This was the first time a seminar like this had actually been organised and hosted by one of the festivals rather than by the Welsh Government.

 

“It was so successful and well received and provided such a god forum for ideas and discussion that we thought why not form an organisation that could represent us all.

 

“Welsh food festivals are great drivers of tourism and also showcase the wonderful range of food and drink that is produced here so we are important for the visitor economy and for the agricultural and food sectors.

 

“An association of food festivals would give us greater influence but it would also lead to a better exchange of ideas as well as the opportunity to save money by sharing resources and central purchasing of services like insurance.”

 

The seminar at Llangollen was attended by food festivals from throughout Wales as well as by Welsh Government officers and experts on marketing and food production and a further meeting is planned for later this month in Aberystwyth.

 

The Llangollen event was praised by Heather Myers, Chief Executive of one of Wales’s largest food festival, at Abergavenny, who said: “I thought the seminar was brilliant. It’s a long way north but I’m really pleased to have come and have found the networking very useful.

 

“As a festival organiser to come and meet other people who feel your pain and understand your difficulties has been really interesting.

 

“The Minister has a real passion for food but the difficulty for festivals is that they have a foot in both camps, they’re food and tourism and the difficulty we all have is grappling with that structure regarding funding and with different government departments.”

 

The message brought to the Seminar by food Minister Alun Davies was that the Welsh Government is targeting a massive 30 per cent growth in Welsh food production to £6.7 billion by 2020.

 

That’s a huge step up in Wales’s output of high quality beef, lamb and other foodstuffs from its current value of just over £5 billion.

 

Mr Davies, Minister for Natural Resources and Food in the Welsh Government, said: “We can grow the food industry and grow output by 30 per cent by the end of the decade – it’s about business growth and jobs creation.

 

The Minister also spoke about his recently launched draft action plan which aims to increase the profile and reputation of Welsh food and added: “I want to set a clear direction and specific actions so that Government and industry can work together to help the Welsh food and drinks sector reach its full potential.

 

“We have a good story to tell on food and drink, with Wales having experienced six percent growth in food and drinks sales last year and a combined turnover for agriculture, fishing and food manufacture of over £5.2 billion.

 

“I want these plans to help us build on this success.  That is why they include a particular focus on delivering green growth and creating jobs throughout the food chain.”

 

Mr Davies also addressed the issue of funding for festivals and added: “We evaluate the support we give to festivals and through that and understanding what works and what doesn’t we can understand what we need to do in the future.

 

“We seek to invest in festivals that promote Welsh food. Our funds are available to support food from Wales and I have to be very clear about that.”

 

He also paid tribute to the nation’s festivals and food producers and said: “In the USA I was recently asked about how we can guarantee the quality of our produce and I was able to hand on heart give this guarantee because we are aware and we know that what we produce is not just world class but world beating.”

 

Colin Loughlin said they had been delighted to have had such a good turnout and a very positive reaction from Food Festivals across Wales.

 

He added: “We saw the value of staging this seminar ourselves because all of us involved with food and drink in Wales face similar issues and challenges.

 

“We felt that bringing everyone together was a step towards creating an association of food festivals for Wales to give a strong voice to events which support and encourage tourism as well as our agricultural sector.

 

“One of the things we wanted to do was to mix people up so that although three people might have travelled together to get here they weren’t then sitting next to each other and so everyone had the chance to mix and meet people from festivals from different parts of Wales.”

 

The day-long event also saw workshops delivered by Welsh Government representatives from the food and tourism sectors as well as by experts on food marketing and events and producers.