No cash for new footbridge says health chief

NO cash is currently available for a new footbridge over the River Dee making it easier for pedestrians to reach Llangollen’s new health centre.

That is the word from Geoff Lang, director of strategy for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which is building the £5m facility on the site of the old River Lodge on the A539.

Campaigners have been complaining since plans for the centre were first drawn up as a replacement for the town’s closed-down Cottage Hospital that pedestrians would find it difficult to reach the building because of its location on a busy road with restricted pavement access.

Then last September it was revealed by Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates that health chiefs are seeking European cash to fund the building of a footbridge.

Mr Skates said at the time that he had also asked the Welsh Government to examine the feasibility of a road bridge over the Dee to further enhance access to the site.

Now, in a message from Mr Lang to North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood, a copy of which has been sent to local health campaigner Martin Crumpton and seen by llanblogger, hopes for a bridge appear to have suffered a setback. 

Mr Lang tells Mr Isherwood: “We have pursued the potential for European funding, and received a response from the Welsh European Funding Office indicating that such a proposal would not be considered as a priority for European Regional Development Funding. 

“In addition the Denbighshire Voluntary Services Council has explored the possibility of charitable funding and have established that there is no suitable fund to bid against at this time. 

“On this basis there doesn’t appear to be a realistic prospect of progressing with a footbridge at this time.  The DVSC will, however, monitor the situation through their grant finder software and will let us know if any opportunities arise in the future.”

Mr Lang also gives his response to discussions with Mr Isherwood about the issue of roadworks on the A539 in connection with the construction of the health centre.

He says: “The current A539 lane closure will run until the completion of the Dee Valley water main installation – which is on programme to complete on the 25^th of February 2015.

“The road will then re-open between 25 February 2015 and 23 March 2015 - which will allow the locomotive movements to and from the gala events scheduled for the weekends of 7/8 March 2015 and 14/15 March 2015.

“A lane closure will then come back into operation from 23 March 2015 until 21 May 2015 to allow further Highway works to be undertaken.

“However there will be two ‘embargo’s’ during this period where the A539 will open again without any traffic management in place - these being Easter, from 2 April 2015 to 13 April 2015 inclusive and May Day Bank Holiday 30 April 2015 to 6 May 2015 inclusive.”

Campaigner slams hospital redevelopment plan

* The empty and derelict Cottage Hospital.

A PLAN to tear down Llangollen Cottage Hospital and replace it with a dozen affordable new homes has been branded as a “disgrace and a scandal” by a campaigner.

Martin Crumpton, who opposed the closure of the Victorian hospital in Abbey Road two years ago, made the comments after learning that an application for the development by a housing association could finally be considered by Denbighshire’s planning committee at its March meeting.

The scheme involves the redevelopment of the old hospital site after the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

Also involved in the scheme is the development of an ancillary car park opposite the hospital and the erection of a further six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

Mr Crumpton said: “I have just learned from the county’s principal planning officer Ian Weaver that the application could go before the committee next month, which means that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s plans for the hospital appear to be in disarray as it was originally due to be considered last December.

“The pressure to demolish this Llangollen heritage building has never made any sense. It can’t be the need to housing since that isn’t in the health board’s province, and the land reserved in the long-delayed Local Development Plan hasn’t even been looked at, so we can eliminate that as a source of pressure.

 

“The need for beds is far more urgent – desperate, in fact – and campaigns are still running to re-open those closed.

 

“It is a scandal. It is a disgrace.

“I have no hesitation in levelling the accusation that the board of Betsi Cadwaladr and the Welsh Health Minister of knowingly and wilfully exposing the inhabitants of Llangollen to harm.”

* Details of the planning application can be found on the county council’s website at:  http://planning.denbighshire.gov.uk. Its reference number is 03/2014/0472.

llanblogger reader Derek Foster commented:

"I totally agree that it should be retained and put back as a hospital, certainly for minor injuries especially with the railway workshops close by. There is also the consideration of bats which live there.

"The main complaint of visitors to the railway is the lack of parking space and now the little car park that was the hospital's will be lost."

County council statement on school transport

Denbighshire County Council consulted with parents during the summer of 2014 regarding a review of home to school transport and subsequently revised the School Transport Policy.

Cabinet members agreed at that time to move to central pick up points for secondary school pupils from September 2015 onwards.

Therefore, commencing September 2015, secondary school transport will be from a designated pick-up point in the mornings and pupils will be returned to the pick up point in the afternoons.

A council statement says: "Denbighshire County Council will not provide feeder taxis to pick-up points and therefore if a child has been used to a feeder taxi to the bus, or a taxi direct to school, they should be made aware that the arrangements are changing from September 2015.

"It will be a parental responsibility to ensure that the child safely reaches the pick up point in a timely manner in the mornings and safely reaches home after disembarking from school transport in the afternoons. Please note that school transport will not be able to wait at pick up points if parents are late arriving, either in the mornings or the afternoons.

"During the summer term we will write to parents of all pupils currently receiving free school transport to give details of designated pick up point and times of collection and drop off.

"The pick-up point will be no more than 3 miles from the pupils home address and for many pupils it will be considerably closer.

"It will be up to the parent/guardian to decide the most appropriate method for the child to travel to the pick-up point, as well as whether or not they need to be accompanied by a responsible adult. We reserve the right to review these pick up points, and we will give appropriate notice of any planned changes to pick-up points.

"There may be exceptional circumstances for some individuals where no suitable pick up point is identified within 3 miles of the home address, in which case a home pick up may be agreed.

"Transport requirements for pupils with additional learning needs will continue to be assessed individually."

Backroom team well ahead with eisteddfod planning

* Behind the scenes team, from left, Sue McEvoy,

Keith Potts, Peter Budd, Miles Hall and Christie Gerrard.

Six months before the curtain goes up on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, a dedicated team of backroom staff are already well ahead with preparations to ensure the great festival goes as smoothly as ever.

And getting an early start on the myriad arrangements is always absolutely vital to the success of the event according to Eisteddfod company secretary Sian Eagar.

Sian, now in her third year in the post, said: “There’s quite a long planning process so that we can secure all the competitors from around the world for the week of the Eisteddfod and put together a programme of concerts which will have the widest possible appeal to our visitors, and naturally all this takes time to arrange.

“We’re thinking about the next one almost as soon as one year’s festival is finished in July and we start getting down to actual detailed planning from September or October onwards.”

The Eisteddfod has just six paid employees based at its headquarters in the Royal International Pavilion and, assisted by a small number of volunteers, they have all been hard at work on arrangements for Llangollen 2015 since the autumn.

One of the most important roles is that of events co-ordinator, a job done by Sue McEvoy since 2011.

Sue and fellow events team members Christie Gerrard and Peter Budd have a range of important tasks, from ensuring a broad and varied selection of entrants in the famous choral and dance competitions to the detailed planning of when and where they will take to the famous pavilion stage once they arrive for this year’s festival, which takes place from July 7-12.

Sue said: “I actually started work on detailed planning for this year as long ago as September, contacting likely choral and dance competitors from the UK and around the world.

“We have our own database of groups which have previously appeared or have expressed a desire to come to Llangollen and we send out letters to all these organisations and we also go out to see them perform at events like the North Wales Choral Festival which was in Llandudno last November.

“We made the final selection of competitors before Christmas and we are currently sending our confirmation letters to all the groups chosen.

“A total of 109 choirs and dance groups will be competing this year, including 62 from the UK and 47 from countries including China, Australia and the USA.”

Sue said that it’s not uncommon for representatives of some of the groups selected to visit the Eisteddfod headquarters to cast an eye over the venue where they will eventually perform.

In fact, earlier this week, one of the leaders of the St Paul’s Co-ed Primary School in Hong Kong, Kelvin Suen, was at the pavilion to meet Sue and her team to see for himself the legendary stage on which stars from Pavarotti to Bryn Terfel and from Lulu to Status Quo have performed and where his singers will make their own Llangollen debut.

Sue’s team also handle the applications for the Eisteddfod’s own bursaries – a pool of cash built from fundraising and on which accepted competitors can draw to help cover the cost of their accommodation, food and travel.

They are also busy putting the final touches to the programming of the event, painstakingly working out precisely when competing groups will appear on the stage during the preliminary rounds of competition and the finals.

Another vital job has been working on the contracts for artists who will appear at the concerts throughout the week and also helping to arrange hotel accommodation for the performers and adjudicators.

Sue added: “The arrangements for this year are now well in hand and I must say that everything is looking good for another great festival.”

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Eisteddfod office at the pavilion, pressing ahead with the gargantuan job of ensuring that everyone visiting the festival has the correct tickets to hand when they turn up at the field is long-time Llangollen volunteer Keith Potts.

Keith, who lives in the town, has been helping out at the eisteddfod since he was a little lad of four and for the past decade or so has held the highly responsible position as chairman of the tickets committee.

He said: “I usually start making the preparations in November and at the moment I am in the process of sending out letters to all our season ticket holders and Friends of the Eisteddfod.

“I’ll eventually send out about 1,000 of these, which takes myself and a few helpers about three days of work.

“I’ve also been making sure that our box office computer system is set up and ready to go, which I’m pleased to say it is.

“When I first started volunteering it was a case of putting the money in wooden drawers at the turnstiles and dishing out the tickets.

“But over the past 20 years it’s has all been computerised and we’re now on to our third or fourth generation system.”

It’s essential that the all-important ticketing process is handled as speedily and efficiently as possible as last year, for instance, Keith’s committee sold a staggering 30,000 of them amounting to about £1.2 million.

However, it’s not all down to computers and over the week of the festival a small army of around 35 volunteers will be on hand to help at the turnstiles at both ends of the Eisteddfod field.

“I’m looking forward to this year’s festival and thanks to all the work beforehand and during the week I’m sure we’re going to have another great event,” said Keith.

Sian Eagar added: “We’re all very excited about Llangollen 2015 and we’re looking forward very much to the public launch of our 2015 programme in early February.”

Chairman Gethin Davies said: “We’re very fortunate in having a tremendous team here at the Eisteddfod who do a fantastic job in tying everything together ahead of the event.

“When they’re added to the wonderful volunteers who are the lifeblood of the Eisteddfod it makes for something very special but without all the work done months in advance that week in July just wouldn’t happen.”

For more information on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk or go to the Facebook page www.facebook.com/llangollen

Information request reveals more details of traffic study

A Llangollen resident is complaining that there were no wider consultations for a survey commissioned by Denbighshire County Council about parking and traffic management in the town.

The study was mentioned in a llanblogger story last month when it came under fire from local county councillor Stuart Davies.

He disagreed with a number of the suggestions it made about the traffic situation and also complained that neither county or town councillors were consulted during its preparation.

After reading the story, local resident Mike Edwards put in a Freedom of Information request for more details about the study.

He has now received a detailed reply from the county council.

In response to his question on which company had been employed to carry out the exercise and their qualifications and experience for the job, the county said: “Mott MacDonald. They are one of the top five engineering consultancies in the UK. The study was county wide and covered ten Denbighshire towns, including Llangollen.
 

“The aim of the study was to look at what parking and traffic management interventions could increase footfall for Denbighshire town centre retailers.

“The Mott MacDonald staff who worked on the study have 20-25 years’ experience in transport planning, traffic engineering and social research.”
 

Mr Edwards also asked what public consultations had the company carried out and which user groups and community groups and bodies were consulted.

The reply said: “20,000 residents across Denbighshire and surrounding areas were sent a questionnaire by post. 3,700 responses were received.
 

“An on-line business survey was also conducted where 300 businesses were invited to contribute and 80 responded. Three residents' focus groups were also held: one in Rhyl, one in Denbigh and one in Llangollen.

“All county councillors were also made aware of the study.”
 

Finally, Mr Edwards asked about the fees charged by the consultants for carrying out the study and received the reply that it was £37,000.

Mr Edwards said: “I am surprised this is the first time we've heard of the focus groups.

“I’d like to know who was invited and exactly where and when this took place?

“I would also like to know how many independent businesses from Llangollen were actually consulted and if the consultants examined the modern concept of shared space on Castle Street which Councillor Phil Thane is promoting.
 

“Another question is why has the consultant's report not been made available to the public to examine the data, arguments and proposals actually submitted bearing in mind the excessive cost of the exercise.

“Denbighshire County Council is in my view being arrogant in taking decisions on these issues without properly taking the community's views into consideration.
 

“Once again they are dictating what they think is good for our town.

“These types of issues were recently highlighted in the white paper on local government reorganisation and councils are failing in their responsibility to properly represent the views of their council taxpayers and electors.”
 

Mr Edwards added: “I've submitted a supplementary FoI request asking amongst other things why the Town Council and also the Chamber of Trade and Tourism were not consulted.”

Bulldozers move in on former Dobson & Crowther factory

* Bulldozers begin the demolition of the former Dobson & Crowther printworks. 

llanblogger reader Jude Williams has kindly sent us her picture showing demolition work going ahead today 9Wednesday) on the former Dobson & Crowther printworks on the A5.

The company recently moved to a purpose-built factory at nearby Cilmedw, allowing their original site to be redeveloped with a new Sainsbury's store.

However, a question mark hangs over whether the supermarket giant will ever move in after its bosses revealed recently that the future of their whole new store programme was being re-thought.

* On their respective websites developers J-Ross and builders Pickstocks both say work has started on the new Sainsbury's store.

The J-Ross news item says:

"J-Ross Developments Ltd has started construction on the next phase of its development in Llangollen, and will be working with its associated construction company Pickstock Construction to build a brand new Sainsbury’s food store.

"Two years ago J-Ross Developments gained permission from Denbighshire Council to relocate local employer Dobson & Crowther Ltd to a brand new purpose built printing facility at Climedw on the outskirts of Llangollen, and construct a new Sainsbury’s food store and car park on the old print works site.

* A picture which accompanies the news item on the J-Ross website. 

"Nick Scott, CEO of J-Ross Developments commented “We are delighted to be starting construction of the new food store for Sainsbury’s following the successful relocation of Dobson and Crowther to its new home a short distance away.”

"Dobson and Crowther moved from their old print works to their brand new facility half a mile away in October of last year.  

"Pickstock Construction intend to demolish their old premises during February with a view to starting construction of the new 3,205sqm Sainsbury’s food store next month.

"The riverside footpath which links the store to the town will also be improved to provide a safe and convenient pedestrian route to the town centre.

"Pickstock Construction has worked closely with Sainsbury’s new development team to plan the build programme, handing the new store over to Sainsbury’s at the end of the summer 2015."

UPDATE ...

Comment from Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) ...

It’s remarkable they’ve pointedly avoided pre-announcing Sainsbury’s decision whether to open or not here in Llangollen. Following a highly successful experiment in Home Shopping and Delivery – nearly £69’s worth of shopping costing just over £44 with a introductory offer - KLS is promoting this as a far superior alternative to the mediocre and spiritless experience of large-shed supermarkets.

 

It is inevitable that large-format supermarkets has reached their evolutionary dead-end and the leading chains will do as the banks has done and force customers to the Internet, leaving Express-type convenience stores in town centres for those who can’t access their websites.

 

We reiterate, whether Sainsbury’s do or don’t proceed, KLS remains focused and dedicated to making Sainsbury’s edge-of-town monstrosity unprofitable.

to the point where that to will be abandoned. Everything in our power will be done to support our local shops. J Ross is no friend of Llangollen, and neither is Sainsbury;s – they;re just hard-nosed business people determined to steal market share from small traders instead of generating new demand.

 

Martin Crumpton

Chair ΞKeep Llangollen SpecialΞ

Former Dinas Bran pupil's work set for premiere

* Composer Owain Llwyd.

A new work by a talented composer who orchestrated the music used in a trailer for the latest Hobbit movie blockbuster will be unveiled at a top music festival.

Owain Llwyd, 30, a former pupil of Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen, who's also composed for the X-Factor, Top Gear and Big Brother, is looking forward to the premiere at Bangor Music Festival, which starts on March 4.

He's "really excited" about the commission which he has written specifically for North Wales Camerata – an ensemble of more than 20 young musicians, under the direction of Patrick Rimes.

The concert will be at Capel Penrallt, Bangor on Saturday, March 7, at 7:30pm.

Owain, a Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol lecturer at Bangor University, said: “It’s quite a change from what I would normally compose. It’s based upon a traditional Welsh tune called Y Deryn Pur but in my piece you don’t hear the full melody until the last few bars. Before that the melody is stretched.

“The whole piece, which is in three movements, is quite a change for me as a composer.

"I wrote the first and last movements over Christmas and the work is quite spiritual. I think it happened subconsciously but I lost four or five good friends and acquaintances, all of whom had strong North Wales connections, during that time.

“The result is Gentle Dove which is a piece for strings and trumpet. The first and last movements are almost in a memorial style while the second movement is more joyful and celebrates life.”

Owain, who’s post is funded at Bangor University by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol, which works with universities across Wales to develop Welsh language medium opportunities for students, says as soon as he heard North Wales Camerata play he knew he wanted to write something specifically with them in mind.

He said: “That’s why I was so delighted to be commissioned by the Bangor Music Festival. As soon as I saw the Camerata play I was excited about the prospect.

“Gentle Dove is a piece for strings and trumpet. Gwyn Owen will play the trumpet but all the musicians have connections to North Wales and all are studying at UK music colleges.

Owain hails from Glyndyfrdwy, between Llangollen and Corwen, and attended Llangollen’s Ysgol Dinas Bran before completing his sixth form studies at Ysgol Y Berwyn, Bala. He studied music at Bangor University.

During the course of his three years as an undergraduate he won all five Eisteddfod composition medals in both the Urdd National Eisteddfod and the National Eisteddfod of Wales – the only composer to have ever achieved this.

He then completed his PhD in composition writing music for film and TV at Bangor before becoming a Welsh-medium music lecturer under the auspices of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol.

As well as lecturing in music at Bangor University and composing his own music, Owain is kept busy orchestrating the work of other composers.

He said: “I do a lot of orchestration work for the British composer Tom Player. Basically I notate the score for his music. Tom specialises in writing music for film trailers and TV adverts.

“It’s very common he will write the music and I score it up for the orchestra. Orchestration is an important part of the writing process. It has meant I have worked on some wonderful projects such as the last Hobbit film and TV adverts for companies such as Ikea.

“And I have also composed my own original music that has been included on such programmes as The X-Factor, Top Gear, the US Open, Masterchef and Big Brother to name just a few.”

Dr Guto Pryderi Puw, the festival’s artistic director and a renowned composer in his own right, is thrilled to have been able to feature a new work by Owain Llwyd within the 5 day long festival.

He said: “Owain’s reputation as a fine composer is growing very fast, not only in the film and TV industries but also within the concert halls. His music is direct and often full of rhythmic energy and will be greatly anticipated as part of a thrilling programme during the Saturday evening concert."

The life and work of music legend Frank Zappa will be celebrated at the festival where fans can talk to his widow, Gail, via a live link from California.

 

The iconic American bandleader, songwriter, composer and film director will be remembered in a series of events.

 

The theme this year is ‘Crossover and Multimedia’ with each concert having a connected educational project that will involve a number of local schools as well as the city’s university students.

 

The Apollo Saxophone Quartet will open the festival with a concert of crossover music influenced by jazz and minimalism together with the quartet’s own scores to short silent films in Reichel, Ffriddoedd Road, Bangor.

 

The festival will close with the awarding of the William Mathias Composition Prize for a piece for flute, clarinet, piano and electronics during the Rees/Roche/Pestova evening concert on Sunday, March 8.

 

For more information on Bangor Music Festival and for ticket information visit www.bangormusicfestival.org.uk