Salmon stocking of Welsh Rivers to be phased out

A major change in the way Natural Resources Wales works to protect wild salmon has been agreed.

A comprehensive review of scientific research found that hatchery-reared young salmon have a much lower survival rate than young wild fish, and can harm existing wild salmon populations.

NRW now intends to phase out salmon stocking by 2015 and close its hatcheries at Mawddach, near Dolgellau and Maerdy near Corwen.

The proposal was confirmed this week by NRW’s board.

The Cynrig hatchery, near Brecon, will remain open and NRW will assess the possibility of developing a freshwater research centre on the site.

Ceri Davies, Director of Knowledge, Strategy and Planning for Natural Resources Wales said: “We are passionate about making sure that Wales has a healthy and sustainable salmon population. To do that, we need to use our resources as effectively as possible.

“We’ve done a lot over the years to improve water quality and, together with our partners, to improve habitats and resolve barriers to migration. We believe the benefits of these are now starting to have effect, and this will improve freshwater conditions for our salmon and other fish.

“Our rivers are an important part of our environment. They provide essential habitats for fish and other wildlife as well as giving people opportunities to enjoy the outdoors through angling and other water-based activities.”

NRW says it looked at a wide range of scientific evidence from the UK and abroad which suggested there are more effective ways to support salmon in Welsh rivers. A public consultation did not come up with any evidence to the contrary.

Salmon became extinct on the River Taff during the industrial revolution and stocking played a part in its recovery along with some other previously industrialised rivers.

A study has now revealed that, after stocking provided that initial boost to restore the population, more salmon would be produced if fish were left in the river to spawn rather than taken for hatchery rearing.

Money raised from the sale of the hatcheries will be used to improve fisheries in rivers which have previously been stocked, including work to improve habitats or to open new migratory routes.

And NRW will be working with partner organisations to implement these improvement programmes.
Over the last 10 years NRW, Welsh Government and the EU funded Sustainable Fisheries Programme has, in partnership with Rivers Trusts and others, invested millions of pounds t.o improve fish stocks.

This includes opening up over 1,500km of access to spawning grounds by building fish passes and improving more than 500 kilometres of habitat by, for example, fencing to keep livestock away from river banks and prevent delivery of sediments to the rivers.

The decision has gained support from Dr Stephen Marsh-Smith OBE, Director of The Wye and Usk Foundation, who said: “NRW have been very courageous in these proposals, challenging what are some extremely entrenched beliefs.

“Although it might be argued that given the weight of scientific evidence the cessation of stocking is long overdue, historically, changes to any fisheries management or byelaw have invariably been watered down to get past a minority of vociferous critics.

“This time the new organisation has gone with the evidence and honoured the sustainable principles enshrined in their name."

Ceri Davies of NRW added: “We recognise that there will be some debate around this decision, but scientific evidence shows that this is the best course of action to secure the future of wild salmon and angling in Wales.

“We have an opportunity to think creatively about the best way to support fish stocks so our rivers can continue to provide benefits to the wildlife, people and economy of Wales.

“We have agreed to develop a robust action plan to do this and will report back on progress.”

Railcar event at railway this weekend

* The heritage Wickham unit and staff at Llangollen when the token

is handed over to allow the train to proceed.

The advent of the railcar in Britain in the 1950s revolutionised rail travel and saw the demise of the steam locomotive. 

A special event to mark the 60^th anniversary of the introduction of diesel railcars to Britain takes place at the Llangollen Railway this weekend.

 

The railcar was a two-coach train with its own engines which revolutionised the fortunes of the railways in the 1950s.

 

It appealed to passengers because of its modern, clean interior and particularly because they could get a “driver’s eye” view of the line ahead through large windows at each end of the train.

 

Business doubled or even tripled on lines where these railcars were introduced and at the same time costs were reduced to as little as a quarter, compared with the steam trains they had replaced.

 

The event, which features intense running from four of the Llangollen line’s fleet of railcars, also commemorates the 30^th anniversary of the Dee Valley Line obtaining its first redundant railcar from British Railways.

 

Nowadays these railcars are looked after by a charity, Llangollen Railcars, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary.

 

Chairman of Llangollen Railcars, Evan Green-Hughes said: “Railcars saved many rural lines from extinction and perhaps had the Ruabon-Barmouth route survived just a few years longer they might have done the same for our line.

 

"We have operated railcars on the Llangollen Railway for 30 years now and they have enabled the railway to stay open and provide a service at times when it is not economical to provide a steam train. Many people who have not travelled on one before are amazed at the good all round views which these trains provide.”

 

This weekend’s event will feature a tour of the railcar depot, a photographic evening, talks, film shows and an exhibition.

 

Delegates from many of the UK’s other heritage lines are also due to attend, as the Railcar Association, the national body dealing with railcar preservation, is holding its annual meeting at the railway on Saturday.

 

The Llangollen line has an award-winning fleet of railcars, several of which are unique survivors. These include a sister to the railcar which inspired the song; “Last Train to San Fernando”.

 

Details of the event can be found at www.LlangollenRailcars.com

 

Clairvoyance date for Plas Madoc group

* Splash Community Trust member Jenny Miller and

director Greg Ogden sifting through entries to the competition to

design a mascot for the centre.

VOLUNTEERS aiming to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre are asking the public to get into the fundraising spirit by attending a clairvoyance evening.

The event is the latest to be held to raise cash ahead of the planned reopening of the mothballed facility, which could take a huge step forward on Tuesday (October 7) if Wrexham Council votes to give the Splash Community Trust £50,000 towards start-up costs.

The evening is at Air Products Social Club in Acrefair from 7.30pm on Thursday, October 23, and is being put on by the Spiritual Connections Paranormal Group. Entry is £5 per person.

Trust director Greg Ogden said: “Private readings will be available, and all proceeds will go towards reopening Plas Madoc.

“We raised almost £100 at last weekend’s car boot sale at Chirk and have now made more than £500 over the last five Sundays. There is plenty of other money coming in too – and every penny will go on getting the centre back open as soon as possible.”

Greg, Splash chairman Darrell Wright and Plas Madoc supporters Anthony Roberts and Cliff Bennion are still counting up the cash from their recent bike ride from North East Wales to Birmingham – with the total expected to come in at over £2,500.

Greg said scores of volunteers have come forward since the Trust’s last public meeting at Air Products on September 18, and people are still getting in touch.

He added: “There is a real excitement building and the belief is back that as a community we are going to make this happen.”

Greg and fellow Trust member Jenny Miller are currently sifting through dragon-themed designs for a mascot for the centre, which will be called Splash Magic when it reopens, after launching a competition for local schoolchildren.

Greg said: “We’ve had some brilliant entries and will be using the winning creation as the inspiration for our final mascot, but first we’ve got to choose a winner!

“We thought this would 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.”

For information about the clairvoyance evening visit www.spiritualconnectionsgroup.co.uk or email jennymiller08@hotmail.com. To donate to the Trust visit www.splashmagic.co.uk.

Llan to Corwen rail line re-opens on October 22

* A test train on the new line at Bonwm Gates, near the bends on the A5,

with a Class 26 locomotive pulling a set of coaches.

Trains will run again between Llangollen and Corwen later this month for the first time in almost half a century.

Llangollen Railway has just announced that the fulfilment of its £1 million dream to re-open the line between the two Dee Valley towns will come on Wednesday, October 22 when special commemorative passenger trains take to the rails.

The extension will be formally declared open on St David’s Day, March 1, next year.

The original line was axed and Corwen station shut in 1965 as part of the Beeching plan with the rails being taken up three years later.

But Llangollen Railway volunteers began work on a two-mile (3.2km) extension to reopen the severed link in 2011.

The scheme includes a temporary platform at the Corwen end of the line.

Following a recent track inspection, the railway’s general manager Kevin Gooding made an historic announcement which says: “The track inspection was successfully completed, with requirements for specific items to receive attention, to allow for the extension to Corwen to open for public services with effect from October 22.”

On that day special trains will run along the re-opened line carrying passengers who have made a contribution to the project, and Mr Gooding added that he will shortly be contacting those qualifying for a seat by post with details of the ticketing arrangements.

Unallocated tickets will subsequently be on offer to the general public at a premium fare.

A new public service to Corwen will operate during half term week from Monday, October 27 and at weekends until the end of the season on November 9.

As a pre-event option during the Railcars 60 weekend, this weekend October 4/5, trains will be extended to Colomendy Curve, short of the Corwen station site.

During September contractors put up the 330ft wooden decking platform at Corwen, which pedestrians can access on a graded ramp.

The approach to the ramp from the town car park is through the trees by the area of the Flood Alleviation Scheme’s water catchment installation where a portable building is now installed thanks to grant aid from the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Painted externally in chocolate and cream, the interior is being fitted out to provide AONB information about the Dee Valley and offer facilities for station staff.

A formal all-weather path through to the station site is due to be installed by the Countryside Services of Denbighshire County Council.

George Jones, for Llangollen Railway, said: “We have made tremendous progress this summer and trains will operate to Corwen in the tail end of the 2014 season.

“This short period of train services will provide experience in operating the extension prior to the formal opening on March 1, 2015 and a full season of trains linking Llangollen with Corwen during 2015.”

He added: “The point has to be made that the extension is now an active railway and trains may come at any time west of Carrog.”

Pengwern residents campaign against off-roaders

ITV Wales Tweets this morning (Thursday) that residents of Llangollen's Pengwern Estate are campaigning against off-roaders who they claim are blighting the countryside near their homes.

For the full story see:
http://www.itv.com/news/wales/update/2014-10-02/welsh-countryside-blighted-by-off-road-drivers/

Have your say on social care services

Feedback Fortnight is an opportunity for any adult who has had help from social services to have their say on the quality of social care services provided in Denbighshire.

Feedback Fortnight runs from 13^th-24^th October 2014, and will look at:

·        What is really good about Adult Social Services?
·        What could be better?
·        What difference has Adult Social Services made to your life?

 ... and anything else you would like to mention. 

If you would like to have your say during Feedback Fortnight, visit the 'adults and older people' section on our website www.denbighshire.gov.uk by calling freephone 0800 032 1099, or email : ssdcomments@denbighshire.gov.uk

We will use the results to see whether people are happy with their care and support, and how we can improve our services. We will publish the results online at www.denbighshire.gov.uk

First Minister criticised over local health services

The people of Flint are to take part in a referendum tomorrow (Thursday) on whether NHS hospital beds should be returned to the town.

And Wales's First Minister Carwyn Jones has been accused by a campaigner of misleading the public over local hospital services, including those in Llangollen.

Mr Jones said recently: "I understand that people always find it extremely difficult when they see something closing, when they have been used to it over the years. I have seen it in my own constituency. However, what happens, of course, is that, when they see the new resources that are available, nobody wants to go back to the old system.

"So, what I would tell the people of Flint is that I know that there are plans there to ensure that new resources are available to the people of Flint—resources that will enable people to remain at home and to have care there instead of going into hospital. I would say that you have to consider what else will be available.

"Experience shows that, when something new becomes available—Builth Wells is an example of this, where there was a very strong campaign against closing the local hospital and now there is a brand-new centre that is very popular in the community—people need to give plans to move things forward in an area a chance."
 

But Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Clwyd South, and campaigner for improved health services, said: "It was disingenuous and misleading of the First Minister to refer to the new health centre in Builth Wells. The Builth Wells Health Centre is a £5m development, similar in spend to that in Llangollen.

"The difference however is that the Builth centre has 12 beds. They have taken beds away from Llangollen, Flint, Prestatyn and Ffestiniog with no plans to reintroduce them. That's a significant loss in our health service provision, which impacts not just the immediate communities, but communities across north Wales.

"When the First Minister says that we have to 'consider what else is available' what we see is a reduced service, with ambulances queuing nine deep at Wrexham Maelor Hospital; people having operations cancelled because of alack of available beds; and patients having to be shipped to hospitals many miles from their homes for recuperation.

"Llangollen hospital closed two years ago. We've given them a chance, and it hasn't worked out. It's time they re-introduced hospital beds in our communities to ease the burden on the general hospitals and their staff."