Time to act on climate change, say Friends of the Earth

 

* Members of Llangollen Friends of the Earth at their gathering.

 

Members of Llangollen Friends of the Earth (FoE) gathered together to let the Government know it’s "Time to Act on climate change".

 

This local event tied in with a national march in London which saw over 20,000 people converge. 

 

The aim was to ensure climate change is high on the agenda ahead of the General Election. 

 

A broad coalition of organisations are calling for investment in renewable energy, energy savings through insulating and adapting buildings, and greatly improved public transport. 

 

It is estimated that these measures would together create one million jobs, says FoE. 

 

The campaigners are also calling for the UK to support a global agreement to cut warming emissions of all kinds.

 

Warren Davies, chair of Llangollen Friends of the Earth, said: “We want to ensure parliamentary candidates of all parties know that time is running out to take action. 

 

"We are already seeing the devastating effects of climate change, and unfortunately the poor are being hit the hardest. 

 

"It’s imperative that our government takes action now through these measures, which would also create a million new jobs for the UK.”

 

Some members of the Llangollen group also travelled down to London to take part in the national march.  

 

Pauline Smout, from Llangollen Friends of the Earth, said “The march was absolutely fantastic, the diversity of groups taking part shows how much energy and passion there is for action on climate change.”

 

* See http://www.timetoact2015.org/ for more information on the Time to Act campaign.       

New rules come in for cycling races

New safety regulations on the organising of cycle races on Welsh highways have come into force.

 

This should be of interest to people in Llangollen, an area which a number of these races pass close to. 

 

orth Wales South East Wales South West Wales The Cycle Racing on Highways (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2015 provide an update to the previous regulations made in 1960, bringing them up to date with current road conditions and modern approaches to public and competitor safety.

 

Working with Welsh Cycling, the Welsh Government has developed the new regulations to shift the emphasis from the imposition of prescribed conditions to a more flexible approach based on risk assessment.

Transport Minister Edwina Hart said: “Cycling is an increasingly popular sport in Wales with a number of races taking place each year.

"Races can boost the economy and tourism and inspire more people to take up cycling. These new regulations will create more opportunities for on-road races, and bring the legal requirements for arranging cycle races in line with modern health and safety standards.”

Anne Adams-King, Chief Executive Officer of Welsh Cycling said: “Welsh Cycling welcomes the simplification and modernisation of these regulations, which will make it easier for race organisers to design courses and run safer events.”

Factory demolition now in final stages

Demolition work on the former Dobson & Crowther factory off the A5 in Llangollen now appears to be in its final stages, as this picture shows.

With the riverside site now all but cleared llanblogger contacted Sainsbury's about the next stage of the project, and a spokesman replied: "J Ross have to construct the store before handing it over to us for fit out.

 

"They do not have a confirmed date for this but I believe it will be later in the year."

 

 

Woman injured in fall near Llangollen

The BBC news website is reporting that a woman was seriously injured after a fall from Offa's Dyke near Llangollen yesterday (Easter Monday).

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-32194146

Small shops must now cover up tobacco displays

It is now illegal for small shops and retailers in Wales to display cigarettes and tobacco in public.

 

North Wales South East Wales South West Wales The change in the law, which covers newsagents, pubs, clubs and small shops, means failure to cover up cigarette displays is now a criminal offence.

Large businesses have had to cover their tobacco displays since 2012, but small businesses have been given extra time to prepare for the change in the law.

 

The new rules will also change the way in which tobacco products must be priced – only three types of price lists and labels for tobacco products are allowed.

 

The display ban is aimed at reducing the uptake of smoking among young people in particular by removing eye-catching tobacco displays. Smokers will still be able to buy their cigarettes and tobacco from small shops and the new rules will not limit availability.

 

Retailers can contact their local trading standards office for advice to ensure they comply with the new law.

Surveys have consistently shown strong public support for a ban on the display of tobacco products. A 2010 survey by Cancer Research UK found 73% of people asked supported for the removal of point-of-sale displays.  

 

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “We have come a long way in our efforts to tackle the damage tobacco can do to our heath – from regulating advertising and sales, to banning smoking in public places. We have made progress in reducing smoking rates, with the Welsh Health Survey showing 21% of Welsh adults saying they currently smoke. However, we need to take further action.

“The ban on displaying cigarettes and tobacco is the next step to help us limit the attraction of cigarettes, especially among young people, and further raise awareness about the dangers of smoking. Evidence from Cancer Research UK shows that despite the success of the ban on tobacco advertising, prominent displays remain a key factor in encouraging young people to take up smoking.

“Although fewer people smoke than ever, it still causes around 5,450 deaths in Wales each year. Around half of all regular smokers will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses – that’s why we will continue to work tirelessly to reduce smoking levels to 16% by 2020.”

New dementia help plan unveiled

A new £1m to plan to recruit new primary care support workers to help people diagnosed with dementia has been unveiled as part of a new Welsh Government drive to tackle the disease.

North Wales South East Wales South West Wales

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford also said he wants health boards to work towards a 50% diagnosis rate by 2016. The Alzheimer’s Society estimates that 57% of people with dementia in Wales have not yet had it clinically confirmed.

Residential and nursing homes will be provided with additional support to train staff and make their buildings more dementia-friendly.

The policies are part of the Welsh Government’s ambition to make Wales a truly dementia-friendly nation and builds on progress to improve care and support for dementia sufferers and their families.
In 2014, there were an estimated 43,477 people in Wales living with dementia - that number is expected to increase to more than 55,000 by 2021.

The new plan for dementia in Wales includes:

• A new target for health boards to improve dementia diagnosis rate to at least 50% by 2016.
• Funding for 32 new primary care support workers, who will provide face-to-face support, information and advice on accessing the right care and services for people diagnosed with dementia. They will also work in their local communities to raise awareness of dementia and help people with the disease to live longer in their communities;
• New funding for four additional primary care link nurses who will visit the 675 residential and nursing homes in Wales to provide training for staff about how to identify dementia, provide post-diagnosis support, link up with local GP services and advise how to make buildings more dementia-friendly;
• Increasing the number of people in Wales trained as dementia friends who are able to spot signs of the illness and help sufferers and create more dementia supportive communities. There are currently more than 9,800 dementia friends in Wales and 400 champions. The Welsh Government will provide funding for the next three years for the Alzheimer’s Society’s dementia friends campaign;
• Publishing a new guide on the steps people can take to reduce their risk of developing dementia;
• Encouraging more GP surgeries to take up Welsh Government-funded dementia training - to date 30% of GP practices in Wales have already completed the training, with virtually all of them subsequently agreeing a dementia lead and action plan.

Ministers are providing an extra £1m to support the new dementia policies, with £800,000 to fund the new primary care support workers.

This is in addition to the £130m invested in new elderly mental health facilities across Wales; funding for the Alzheimer’s Society to provide special patient information packs; supporting a free, 24-hour Wales Dementia Helpline and providing books on prescription about dementia in every public library.

Professor Drakeford said: "Our aim is to improve dementia diagnosis rates across the country and better support people who have been diagnosed with the illness. We must make sure both they and their families have access to the best information and care available.

“Currently one in five people over 80 have dementia but in the next six years the number of people in Wales with dementia is set to increase by almost a third.

“Our society will need to change to meet this demand, becoming more aware of the signs and symptoms of dementia. All those who work in our health service will need to become more aware of the disease and know what care, advice and support they can offer to improve people’s lives.”

Gareth Malone showcases new choir at Llangollen

* Choirmaster Gareth Malone.

Britain’s favourite choirmaster will showcase his new choir at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Gareth Malone OBE, who masterminded the meteoric rise to fame of the Military Wives choir, is looking forward to playing a part in the climactic Choir of the World event when choirs will compete for the prestigious Pavarotti Trophy.

 

And Gareth’s new Voices choir will perform at the glittering event while he also has ambitious plans to recruit some members from the international choirs to put on a very special joint performance.

 

He said: “I’m really excited about visiting Llangollen and soaking up the festival’s unique atmosphere. Llangollen has such history, I can’t think of any English festival that compares or comes even close.

 

“I have visited the Eisteddfod once before but we were filming for The Choir: Sing While You Work and it was so chaotically busy filming, that I didn’t get the chance to see as much of the festival as I’d have liked.

 

“This will be one of the first performances of my new Voices choir. We begin a UK tour in November and I have auditioned and put together a whole new choir for this year, although some of last year’s vocalists are still with me.”

 

The Eisteddfod’s Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, says he’s looking forward to welcoming Gareth Malone.

 

He said: “Gareth has quickly become a national institution and rightly so. He has done so much to bring choral music to the fore and I’m looking forward to listening to his Voices choir.

 

“The Eisteddfod’s Saturday evening Choir of the World event and concert is the climax of a week of competition and it’s always a concert and an evening I particularly enjoy.

 

“The standard is always extremely high, which is what you would expect from one of the world’s leading choir competitions.

 

“Having someone of Gareth’s undoubted talent and calibre on the Llangollen stage is fantastic for the event and the festival as a whole and I’m sure it’s going to be a wonderful evening.”

 

Gareth says he wanted to change his choir for this year to include an element of gospel but the ability to sing isn’t the only thing he looks for.

 

He aded: “I look for three elements, firstly the ability to sing, the voice. Secondly it’s skill. Yes, many people can sing but haven’t the skill to harmonise, to adapt. Thirdly it’s personality.

 

“All my work is about bringing people together. And in terms of live performance I find 16 voices, eight male and eight female, all working together toward a common goal, incredible.

 

“There is something so beautiful about it and I love it. It’s endlessly entertaining. And music goes before all, when diplomacy fails music often still brings people together.”

 

Gareth, a Royal College of Music vocal student, was honoured with an OBE in 2012 for his services to music, and is perhaps best known for TV shows such as The Choir and The Choir: Military Wives, an ensemble of wives and partners of military personnel serving in Afghanistan.

 

Their song, Wherever You Are, a love poem compiled from letters between the women and their husbands and partners, was set to music by St Asaph-born composer Paul Mealor, and was the 2011 Christmas number one.

 

In November 2014 Gareth was back at the top of the charts with a group of celebrities he mentored with the Children in Need charity single, Wake Me Up, a cover of a song originally recorded by a Swedish dance act.

 

He said: “I hope to spring a few surprises at Llangollen and treat the audience to something special.

 

“They can expect anything from William Byrd to Queen and U2 or Dire Straits to choral composers like Eric Whitacre.

 

“We are working on developing a wide repertoire and there are some surprise choices which I think audiences will enjoy. And I’m particularly looking forward to putting something together with my own Voices choir and some of the singers from the competing choirs.

 

“It’s going to be something special, a fabulous evening and I and my Voices choir members are really excited about Llangollen. It’s going to be a very special evening.”

 

Among the other highlights at this year's Eisteddfod will be the Thursday night concert when heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe will be joined on stage by Britain’s Got Talent star Jonathan Antoine.

 

Other big draws include Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach, the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright and former royal harpist Catrin Finch.

 

For the final concert on Sunday, July 12, Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, will be reunited on the eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of the group, percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.

 

Children’s Day and the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite will take place on the Tuesday afternoon before the evening Heart of Llangollen concert.

 

Wednesday’s programme will include a new competition for the International Young Musician of the Year as well as the Children’s Choir of the World while Thursday’s competitions will see another first, the International Voice of Musical Theatre Trophy.

 

* To book tickets and for more details on the 2015 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk