Politicians choose Christmas card design

* The winning design.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones visited a community school to congratulate an eight-year-old girl who won their annual Christmas card competition.

The Labour politicians met Evie Hesketh at Ysgol Carrog on Friday (December 12), whose festive design – featuring a penguin in a Santa hat – was chosen by the First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones as his favourite from dozens of entries.

Llangollen-based AM Mr Skates said: “I loved Evie’s design as soon as I saw it and I’m delighted it is featuring on our official Clwyd South Christmas cards, which will be sent to hundreds of people, schools, community groups and businesses across the constituency.

“Last year’s winner was Sam Jones from Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy in Cynwyd, and there could easily have been three or four winners from Carrog.  We obviously have some very talented children in our area!”

The competition was open to pupils of all infant and junior schools in Clwyd South, with Mr Skates narrowing the entries down and the First Minister selecting his favourite from a shortlist.

The runners-up were 11-year-old Kim Thurlow from Ysgol Cynddelw in Glyn Ceiriog and Tegan Jackson, 10, from Ysgol Penycae.

Ms Jones said: “We have some brilliant entries once again, so I would like to thank all the pupils who took part as well as the teachers. The competition is always a fun way for us to engage with local schoolchildren and get them into the Christmas spirit.

“I was delighted to meet Evie and congratulate her personally.”

Police boss's older people promise

* Deputy Police Commissioner Julian Sandham with

Older People's Commissioner for Wales Sarah Rochira

 and Age Connects CEO Judith Wynne.

 

A police boss has pledged to put the views of older people at the heart of policing in North Wales - to help them feel safe out and about and in their own homes.

 

According to Julian Sandham, the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, North Wales is one of safest places in the UK - but older people don't always feel that way.

 

Mr Sandham told a special’ Hubbub’ Forum organised by Age Connects, it was important to combat the fear of crime.

 

He was also keen to hear their opinions which would help in putting together an updated version of the Police and Crime Plan, the blueprint for policing North Wales.

 

The Deputy Commissioner was joined on the panel in Rhos on Sea by Sarah Rochira, the Older People's Commissioner for Wales, who recently published a major report on care homes.

 

Mr Sandham said: "Meetings like this are critically important to hear the voice of the people and to assess the points that they make.

 

"We want to consult with all sections of the community including groups which can be hard to reach.

 

"We want people to feel secure in their homes.  We want people to feel safe in public places.

 

"Perception is really important. North Wales is one of the safest places in the UK but older people don’t necessarily feel that so there’s a job to be done in terms of reassurance."

 

Sarah Rochira is working with Welsh Police and Crime Commissioners on the Ageing Well in Wales programme.

 

According to Ms Rochira, ensuring that people feel safe was crucial to the quality of life the programme was aiming to promote.

 

She said: "Older people want those of us who are in public service to ensure that they’re listened to but more than that responded to and that’s something that unites us all as Commissioners.

 

"Policing is important to everybody and that includes older people. Many older people often say to me ‘we don’t feel safe so we don’t go out at night’. 

 

"Older people tell me and are very clear with me in respect of this - that feeling safe is just as important as actually being safe. We shouldn’t underestimate perception and how people feel."

 

Judith Wynne, Chief Executive Officer of Age Connects in North Wales Central which covers Conwy and Denbighshire, was grateful to Mr Sandham and Ms Rochira.

 

She explained: "Our primary purpose as an organisation is to make sure that the voices of all older people are not only listened to but also acted upon.

 

"It was clear to see that both Commissioners really engaged with Hubbub members and they gave assurances that their views would be fed back to appropriate agencies and departments so members' concerns would be listened to and where possible acted upon.”

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.

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.