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Sunday, December 14, 2014

Isherwood calls for answers on council merger costs

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Minister for Public Services to respond to a report showing that council mergers could cost up to £268 million.
 
Mr Isherwood, who has previously warned that forcing councils to merge would be "grossly irresponsible" because of the cost at a time of spending cuts, raised the matter in the Assembly Chamber this week.
 
He said: "The glaring omission from the Commission on Public Service Governance and Delivery (which looked at the way public services are governed and delivered in Wales) was the most important factor, which was an independent cost evaluation.
 
“Finally, we have an independent cost evaluation commissioned by the WLGA from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountancy showing costs of up to £268 million and savings, not until three years after the mergers, of £65 million, through front and back office service mergers, which could happen without full merger. When I raised this last week, the Minister for Business said that it was a matter for you. Could I call on you, therefore, to make a formal response to that vital report and advise us accordingly how you intend to do that?”
 
The Minister replied: “There are certain costs in the CIPFA report that we do not accept and we still think that there is work to be done in some aspects of this, which is why we are commissioning a review of the costs of administration of local government.”
 
Mr Isherwood added: “This Minister’s belief that big is always beautiful and his disregard for vital independent research is chilling. With his focus on structures rather than cost effective service delivery, he is threatening local authorities with millions of pounds of additional costs at a time of big reductions in their budgets.”

Councillor backs DIY speed checks on Abbey Road

LLANGOLLEN county councillor Stuart Davies says he would be happy to support people in Abbey Road in the town if they decide to make their own checks on traffic speeding past their homes.

His promise follows a recent meeting at which residents in the area expressed their concerns – highlighted by a llanblogger story - over speeding along one of Llangollen’s main access roads.
Cllr Davies said: “Further to my piece about residents’ concerns about speeding in Abbey Road, I have made a Freedom of Information request as to how many speeding tickets have been issued over the last five years at the western end of Abbey Rd.

“I will give an update when I have more information.
“In the meantime I am happy to facilitate a meeting with residents and police officers with a view to having an informal speed awareness day.

“We could get the county officers to bring the county speed gun and do an informal check of speeds on Abbey Road in various locations there.
“I would be more than happy to push for one if those residents’ speed check groups that work in partnership with the police if it was felt that this was appropriate.”

Special deal on getting fit for Christmas

Llangollen Leisure Centre has asked llanblogger to display the poster below:

News on swimming pool opening times

Chirk Leisure Centre, which has the nearest swimming pool for use by Llangollen swimmers, closes over Christmas from December 22 until January 2.
 
Over the Christmas period, Waterworld in Wrexham will be open during its normal hours on December 23 and from 7am-12noon on Christmas Eve. It will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and open from 10am-4pm on December 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31.

Gwyn Evans will close for Christmas on December 23 at 10pm and re-open on January 2 as normal.


Saturday, December 13, 2014

Pictures from church's Christmas Tree Festival

Here is a selection of the trees now on display in the Christmas Tree Festival currently being staged at Llangollen Methodist Church, the church with a spire by the river.

Come and see the decorated trees by local schools, businesses and clubs and vote for your favourite.
 
The festival is open this Saturday 13th and next Saturday 20th between 10am –3pm, and this Sunday 14th and next Sunday 21st between 12.30pm –3.30pm.





 
 
 
 
 







 
 
 

Festive recycling and waste collection details

Denbighshire County Council has announced its arrangements for recycling and waste collections in the county over the Christmas and New Year period.

USUAL COLLECTION DAY

ACTUAL COLLECTION DAY
Monday 22 December
stays the same

Monday 22 December
Tuesday 23 December
stays the same

Tuesday 23 December
Wednesday 24 December
stays the same

Wednesday 24 December
Thursday 25 December
changes to

Friday 26 December
Friday 26 December
changes to

Saturday 27 December
Monday 29 December
stays the same

Monday 29 December
Tuesday 30 December
stays the same

Tuesday 30 December
Wednesday 31 December
stays the same

Wednesday 31 December
Thursday 1 January
changes to

Friday 2 January
Friday 2 January
changes to

Saturday 3 January


There will be no collections of garden waste made during the week starting Monday 22 December. Collections due during the week commencing Monday 29 December may be affected (please refer to table, above).

The Recycling Park facilities at Denbigh, Rhyl and Ruthin, will be open to the public as normal every day except 25 December, 26 December and 1 January.

Winter opening hours are:

DENBIGH and RUTHIN: Mon – Fri 10am - 4pm. Weekend 9am - 4pm.
RHYL: Everyday 10am - 6pm.

The Saturday recycling services the Llangollen Pavilion car-park and at the Highways Depot, Corwen will take place as normal on Saturday 27 December and Saturday 3 January 2015 respectively. 

Friday, December 12, 2014

Methodist church stages Christmas tree festival

A Christmas Tree Festival is being staged at Llangollen Methodist Church, the church with a spire by the river.

Come and see the decorated trees by local schools, businesses and clubs and vote for your favourite.
 
The festival is open this Saturday 13th and next Saturday 20th between 10am –3pm, and this Sunday 14th and next Sunday 21st between 12.30pm –3.30pm.