A competition to create a new mascot for Plas Madoc Leisure Centre has been extended for the summer holidays.
The volunteer-run Splash Community Trust is urging youngsters aged four to 11 to get creative and come up with designs for a dragon mascot for the popular facility, which it is hoped will reopen later this year as a social enterprise under the name Splash Magic.
Board member and fundraising coordinator Jenny Miller said: “We feel Splash Magic needs a strong and iconic mascot, and we like the idea of Splash the Magic Dragon. We would like local schoolchildren to help us – their ideas are critical.”
Trust chairman Darrell Wright said: “We would like Splash to be sporty and to capture the spirit of Plas Madoc and the activities that the centre has to offer – swimming, squash, aerobics, circuit training, pilates, yoga, children activities etc – so please be imaginative!
“Splash can be a boy or a girl, young or old – it’s up to you. This is a great idea of Jenny’s, and it will be fantastic to have a local child create a little piece of Plas Madoc history.”
The competition costs £1 to enter. The money will go on admin costs, with any remaining cash going towards the reopening of the centre. The winning design will be framed and proudly displayed in the reception area of Splash Magic when it reopens.
Jenny added: “The winner will also be presented with a framed copy to display at their school or to take home, and we have a hamper full of arts and crafts goodies very generously donated by the Plassey Holiday Park in Eyton.
“We’re hoping this will be a fun way to engage with local children and for them to be a part of what we are doing, and they will also be helping us ensure that Plas Madoc is still around when they have children of their own.”
Entries should be done on A4 paper, with the child’s name, age, school and home telephone number on the back.
The closing date is Friday, September 5. Designs can be sent to Splash Community Trust, 21 Egerton Street, Wrexham, LL11 1ND, or emailed to splashmagictrust@yahoo.co.uk.
For more information call Jenny on 07921 659099.
Saturday, August 2, 2014
Friday, August 1, 2014
Well-wishers pay off vet's bill for injured cat
The Daily Post in reporting that well-wishers have now paid off a £700 vet's bill for the Llangollen cat badly injured in a dog attack.
For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llangollen-kind-hearted-animal-lovers-pay-7550618
For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llangollen-kind-hearted-animal-lovers-pay-7550618
Latest local roadworks
Latest local roadworks notified by the county council are:
Various Roads, Pengwern, Llangollen, road closure, from August 12-16, to
allow resurfacing work by Denbighshire County Council.
Wharf Hill, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights, until August 8, to allow gas works by Wales & West.
Wharf Hill, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights, until August 8, to allow gas works by Wales & West.
Llan kids urged to enter poster competition
Denbighshire County Council is asking 8-11 year olds to spend some of their summer holidays designing a poster to promote the "Support your local High Street campaign" which will be taking place across Wales at the end of September.
The winner of the Denbighshire round will go forward to the national competition and the national winner will be chosen by the Minister for Housing & Regeneration, Carl Sergeant AM.
Entries should be sent to the county council's Economic & Business Development team at Caledfryn in Smithfield Road, Denbigh LL16 3RJ to arrive by 15th August or can be e-mailed to econ.dev@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Further guidance can be found of the Government's website by clicking on the following link >>>>> http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-regeneration/regeneration/high-street/poster-competition/?lang=en
The winner of the Denbighshire round will go forward to the national competition and the national winner will be chosen by the Minister for Housing & Regeneration, Carl Sergeant AM.
Entries should be sent to the county council's Economic & Business Development team at Caledfryn in Smithfield Road, Denbigh LL16 3RJ to arrive by 15th August or can be e-mailed to econ.dev@denbighshire.gov.uk.
Further guidance can be found of the Government's website by clicking on the following link >>>>> http://wales.gov.uk/topics/housing-and-regeneration/regeneration/high-street/poster-competition/?lang=en
More people to get faster broadband
More people across Wales will be able to benefit from faster broadband following changes to the scheme rules, says the Welsh Government.
A new scheme provides grants to premises which are unable to access broadband above a speed of two Megabits per second (Mbps) so that they can access faster broadband.
Before the changes only people in those areas not in the published Superfast Cymru roll-out were eligible. Now people living in areas which will be covered by the roll-out can apply if they wish to do so.
The new rules will help ensure that customers receive a fast broadband connection as the technology used will need to be capable of providing superfast speeds bringing them into line with Superfast Cymru.
The Welsh Government will provide a maximum of £900 per premises, with customers making a ten per cent financial contribution which is in line with the cost of connection fees across the industry.
Potential recipients will also be given information about the Superfast Cymru roll-out so that can make a decision about whether to apply for a grant or wait for superfast fibre to be deployed in their area.
The changes to the scheme will come into effect on August 4.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates, said: “The new scheme rules will mean that it better complements Superfast Cymru and will help those people who are later in the Superfast Cymru roll-out.
"Many more people will be eligible for funding under the scheme. We are also ensuring that households and businesses can get a superfast broadband connection so that they are on a par with Superfast Cymru.
“We are asking people to contribute towards the cost and to carefully consider whether they should apply for the grant or wait for Superfast Cymru to come to their area. This will help ensure we provide value for money for the public purse.”
More information about the scheme can be found at www.wales.gov.uk/broadband
The new rules will help ensure that customers receive a fast broadband connection as the technology used will need to be capable of providing superfast speeds bringing them into line with Superfast Cymru.
The Welsh Government will provide a maximum of £900 per premises, with customers making a ten per cent financial contribution which is in line with the cost of connection fees across the industry.
Potential recipients will also be given information about the Superfast Cymru roll-out so that can make a decision about whether to apply for a grant or wait for superfast fibre to be deployed in their area.
The changes to the scheme will come into effect on August 4.
Deputy Minister for Skills and Technology, Ken Skates, said: “The new scheme rules will mean that it better complements Superfast Cymru and will help those people who are later in the Superfast Cymru roll-out.
"Many more people will be eligible for funding under the scheme. We are also ensuring that households and businesses can get a superfast broadband connection so that they are on a par with Superfast Cymru.
“We are asking people to contribute towards the cost and to carefully consider whether they should apply for the grant or wait for Superfast Cymru to come to their area. This will help ensure we provide value for money for the public purse.”
More information about the scheme can be found at www.wales.gov.uk/broadband
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Lib Dems say ambulance service is "in crisis"
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has described Wales’ ambulance service as being ‘in crisis’ as figures published today showing response times are nearly 10% worse than the same time last year.
But an ambulance boss says the service is working as hard as it can to get people to hospital as soon as possible.
But an ambulance boss says the service is working as hard as it can to get people to hospital as soon as possible.
Figures released today show that in June 53% of emergency responses to Category A (immediately life-threatening) calls arrived at the scene within 8 minutes, down from 54% in May 2014 and 62.6% in May 2013, and way below the target of 65%. In England and Scotland the target for the same priority calls is 75%.
These figures represent nearly a 10% drop compared to June 2013 last year.
Kirsty Williams said: “Once again we see ambulance response times getting worse. The current target is not at all ambitious, yet still it is routinely missed.
“These figures remain a national disgrace. To have only half of immediately life-threatening calls responded to within the 8 minute target time is a huge concern.
“There is no hiding from the fact that our ambulance service is in crisis. Monthly targets are missed and there is evidence the problem is getting worse, rather than better. It is shocking that response times are nearly 10% worse now than they were this time last year. Patients deserve better than this.
“Ambulance staff work incredibly hard and do an extremely difficult job. Sadly, they are being forced to work in what is clearly a failing system provided by the Welsh Labour Government.”
Mike Collins, the Trust’s Director of Service Delivery, said: “The Welsh Ambulance Service took 35,570 calls in June, up by 1,699 calls from the same period last year. Of these calls, 14,167 were of the most serious in nature, up by 839 calls from the same period last year.
“We recognise that on occasion we fall short of the eight-minute target but are working, and will continue to work as hard as we can to get to patients as quickly as possible.
“Earlier this month, Trust Board members pledged their support for our ambitious Performance Improvement Plan and the necessary actions which we anticipate will help us to deliver sustainable improved performance.
“They include the recruitment of more frontline staff, increased contribution by our Community First Responders, a concerted effort to reduce sickness absence and a drive to curtail unnecessary calls.
“We have been working closely with our Local Health Board colleagues to reduce the delays in handing patients over to the care of the hospitals throughout Wales and we have seen real advancement. However, we believe there is still room for significant further improvement.
“Handover delays remain of great concern, not only because we are unable to respond to other 999 calls in the community but because of the experience of patients who wait in an ambulance to be admitted to the Emergency Department whilst these delays occur.
“Our Trust is facing its most serious challenge to date with regard to performance, but it is one we are confident we can overcome if we continue work hard, work in the smartest way possible and ensure that we deliver an effective service.
“Our staff are making every possible effort to deliver safe and high quality healthcare and services to the people of Wales, and for this they must be commended.
“Once again, we remind the public to ‘Choose Well’ and use NHS services appropriately; NHS Direct Wales, out-of-hour GP services and pharmacies are all available for healthcare and advice for minor illnesses and injuries.
“Please remember only to dial 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
Mike Collins, the Trust’s Director of Service Delivery, said: “The Welsh Ambulance Service took 35,570 calls in June, up by 1,699 calls from the same period last year. Of these calls, 14,167 were of the most serious in nature, up by 839 calls from the same period last year.
“We recognise that on occasion we fall short of the eight-minute target but are working, and will continue to work as hard as we can to get to patients as quickly as possible.
“Earlier this month, Trust Board members pledged their support for our ambitious Performance Improvement Plan and the necessary actions which we anticipate will help us to deliver sustainable improved performance.
“They include the recruitment of more frontline staff, increased contribution by our Community First Responders, a concerted effort to reduce sickness absence and a drive to curtail unnecessary calls.
“We have been working closely with our Local Health Board colleagues to reduce the delays in handing patients over to the care of the hospitals throughout Wales and we have seen real advancement. However, we believe there is still room for significant further improvement.
“Handover delays remain of great concern, not only because we are unable to respond to other 999 calls in the community but because of the experience of patients who wait in an ambulance to be admitted to the Emergency Department whilst these delays occur.
“Our Trust is facing its most serious challenge to date with regard to performance, but it is one we are confident we can overcome if we continue work hard, work in the smartest way possible and ensure that we deliver an effective service.
“Our staff are making every possible effort to deliver safe and high quality healthcare and services to the people of Wales, and for this they must be commended.
“Once again, we remind the public to ‘Choose Well’ and use NHS services appropriately; NHS Direct Wales, out-of-hour GP services and pharmacies are all available for healthcare and advice for minor illnesses and injuries.
“Please remember only to dial 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured, or their life is at risk.”
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Llan could be affected by fracking says DFP story
The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting today that Llangollen could be affected by fracking if the UK Government decides to extend licenses to carry out the controversial process.
For the full story, see:
http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/136196/thousands-of-homes-in-denbighshire-could-be-affected-by-fracking.aspx
For the full story, see:
http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/136196/thousands-of-homes-in-denbighshire-could-be-affected-by-fracking.aspx
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