Strengthened links between council and business

Efforts to strengthen links between Denbighshire County Council and businesses accessing its planning and public protection functions is being piloted in the county – the first project of its kind in Wales.

The Council has a regulatory function to protect the health and well-being of the public through food hygiene, health and safety, Trading Standards, licensing, planning and building control activities.

As part of its Economic and Community Ambition Programme, the Council is now working with the Government’s Better Regulation Delivery Office, with the intention of making sure that businesses receive a co-ordinated response from the Council on regulatory matters through one contact, rather than having to deal with numerous departments.

This initiative is being supported by the Federation of Small Business and the West Cheshire and North Wales Chambers of Commerce.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Protection, said: "We want to improve services to our business customers and we’ve already spoken to a number of them about their perceptions. Whilst they understand the need for the various services, there is a clear need for a more seamless service, for closer joint working and for providing assistance and support through advice and guidance.

"We also want to put more emphasis on working with businesses from day one to get things right from a regulation perspective and avoid enforcement action later.

Derek Payet, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills | Better Regulation Delivery Office, said: "The Government’s priority is business growth and it’s great to see local businesses and Denbighshire County Council’s regulatory services working in partnership to achieve this.  It’s good to have an open approach to improvements that will meet the needs of businesses in the area and I’m pleased to be supporting the project through the Better Business for All programme."

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: "Improving links with businesses and making the Council more accessible forms part of our Economic and Community Ambition Strategy. The success of the local economy is of utmost importance and we must play our part in assisting businesses to comply with the law and contribute to their future success.

"We look forward to working closely with businesses over the coming months to make this ambition become a reality."

Federation of Small Businesses North Wales Chair Gwyn Evans said: "Every business faces some form of regulation, but if that regulation is done in a clear and proportionate way it makes life easier both for businesses and regulators themselves.

"The FSB has called for more to be done across Wales to improve the quality of regulation and last year we published a major report – Better Regulation for Wales – on this issue.

Colin Brew, Executive Director of West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce said: "West Cheshire & North Wales Chamber of Commerce are pleased to be supporting this positive initiative and would encourage businesses of all sizes to engage and participate and have their voices heard."

Weather stays fine for Plas Newydd Garden Fete

* Plas Newydd field was full of fun activities during the Garden Fete.

Scores of people came flocking to the annual Garden Fete held at Plas Newydd yesterday (Saturday).

The event was organised by members of Llangollen Rotary Club, Inner Wheel Club and the newly-formed Dee Valley Rotary Club.

Llangollen Silver Band played selections, while youngsters were entertained by Punch and Judy, face painting  and a treasure hunt.              

People also had the chance to try their skills at various games and competitions.

There were numerous stalls, including home-made cakes and a plant stall.

A tea tent provided a range of refreshments.

Announcements were made by town crier Chem Cheminais.

Public urged to have a say on doctors' building

* The current health centre on Regent Street.

 

Llangollen people are being urged to tell the Welsh Government how they believe the town’s current health centre could be saved as a community asset.

The building in Regent Street will be left empty when the GPs practice moves to fresh headquarters in the new £5 million primary care resource centre now nearing completion in Mill Street.

A number of people have voiced their concern that the Regent Street building should continue to be used for the benefit of the community.

But Mike Edwards, a board member of Llangollen Cittaslow group, recently discovered by making Freedom of Information request to its owners, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, that after being offered for possible redevelopment as affordable housing – with no takers – the building is to be put up for sale on the open market.

Mr Edwards has since discovered that the Welsh Government is currently running a consultation exercise called Protecting Community Assets in which it is seeking people’s views on how this should be done.

He said: "As a Cittaslow board member, I'd urge people to complete the online survey to provide the Welsh Government with the community's view on these proposals which already apply in England."

 

The consultation exercise began last month and is due to end on September 11 this year.

* Comments can be submitted online at: http://gov.wales/consultations/people-and-communities/protecting-community-assets-consultation/?status=open&lang=en 
or by post to: Protecting Community Assets Consultation, Welsh Government, Communities Division, Rhydycar, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1UZ.

The government says that it intends to publish a summary of the responses.

County responds to library and TIC closure rumours

DENBIGHSHIRE County Council has denied rumours about the future of Llangollen library and Tourist Information Centre (TIC).

In the past few weeks there have been speculation in the town that, that in the face of on-going financial cuts, the council was thinking of axing both facilities, which are housed in the same building on Castle Street.

However, this has been denied by the county council.

In a statement issued to llanblogger, a spokesperson said: “Denbighshire, like all other councils in Wales and the UK, is facing significant financial cuts in the coming years due to the economic climate. This is on top of millions of pounds of cuts already made.

“We have carried out a rigorous budget setting process for the current year during which members committed to maintaining all six of our libraries as it is agreed that these are really important community facilities and so we are looking to develop them further by increasing the One Stop Shop and Self Service facilities in them, so there are no plans to close any or sell them off at this time.

“We recognise the importance of TICs and, again, there are no current plans to close them from Denbighshire, although members did agree for the council to cease running gallery space at Llangollen, Denbigh and Rhyl as this was considered a costly service in the face of such sizeable cuts.
“The gallery at Llangollen is due to finish by late October.”

Giant coloured gorillas heading for Llan

* The troop of gorillas making their way to Llangollen.

A troop of giant multi-coloured gorillas will stand guard over this year’s Llangollen International Music festival.

The 10 sheet metal gorillas, standing 6ft tall and weighing nearly 16 stone, will go on show for the first time when the iconic festival of singing and dancing gets underway on Tuesday, July 7.

The spectacular primates, each clutching a huge bunch of bananas, have been created at the British Ironwork Centre near Oswestry.

After Llangollen, the gorillas will be taken on  a tour of festivals across the UK.
Their creator is Clive Knowles, 53, chairman of the British Ironwork Centre, who are supporting this year's Eisteddfod.

Last year a single giant gorilla sculpture made from 20,000 caused a sensation on the Llangollen Eisteddfod field and Clive is expecting an even bigger reaction this time.

He said: “The original spoon gorilla was designed and created as a result of a challenge I was set by Uri Geller. We were making some Victorian lampposts for his driveway and he was visiting the site when he challenged me to use spoons to make a giant gorilla.

“Well, we managed it, and used 20,000 metal spoons in the process. Uri Geller came to Oswestry to unveil the sculpture along with Prince Michael of Kent.

“They were both amazed and Uri Geller couldn’t believe what we’d achieved. To be fair, there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world. That sculpture was such a massive hit and was on TV reports around the world from Argentina to Zimbabwe and the US to China.

“It’s now on a tour of hospitals and hospices all around the UK. So I decided to make a whole troop of gorillas, but out of colourful metals, and adopt the gorilla as our signature sculpture.

“All the new gorillas are made from sheet metal discs which are individually hand-beaten. I designed them; my history is in art, design and metal work. Each one takes six weeks to complete, we have four metal workers on the task, and we started making the troop in June of last year.”

He added: “After Llangollen they will also go on a tour of the UK and are set for the Great Gorilla Run in London in September. That’s an event that raises funds for gorilla conservation in the wild.

“But, other than here at the British Iron Works Centre, their first public appearance will be at Llangollen. I’m proud to be associated with the International Music Eisteddfod, it’s such a unique and wonderful event.

“The atmosphere is just fabulous and the fact the ethos is all about peace and harmony is just wonderful. Children are incredibly drawn to the gorillas and that’s why I wanted to make the troop colourful and fun.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the reaction when Eisteddfod visitors see the gorilla troop. They really are striking.”

Other big draws during Eisteddfod week include Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach, the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone.

 

There will also be the world premiere of a new work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia in a concert that will also star former royal harpist Catrin Finch.

 

Other big draws during Eisteddfod week include Oscar-winning music legend Burt Bacharach, the immensely popular Canadian singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, heart-throb tenor Alfie Boe and TV choirmaster Gareth Malone.

 

There will also be the world premiere of a new work to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia in a concert that will also star former royal harpist Catrin Finch.

 

The Eisteddfod's musical director said: "We have a really exciting programme this year that is going to once again transform the beautiful town of Llangollen into a multi-coloured melting pot of music and dance.

"And this year visitors will be given an even more spectacular welcome thanks to the troop of giant multi-coloured gorillas. They are going to give us even more wow factor."
According to Clive Knowles, his next project is also massive.

He said: “With the backing of the Home Office we are currently working with all 43 British police forces and supplying them with boxes so the public can dispose of blades and weapons as part on an amnesty.

“We then intend to build a 24ft high angel out of the weapons as a monument against aggression and violence.

“It’s our intention Chief Constables, Police and Crime Commissioners, former offenders and prisoners, victim support workers and so forth will come to Oswestry and each weld a knife, or other weapon, into place as part of the sculpture.”

He added: “We want the sculpture to be made of 100,000 blades and knives that will, as a result of amnesties, have been removed from UK streets. We have started on the angel but its design is being kept secret and we hope to have it unveiled by a senior member of the Royal Family.

“It will be going on show on the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square once it’s complete which will be wonderful. It’s all about getting every UK police force to embrace the idea and work with us so we have the materials to work with.

“We hope to have the angel finished by the end of the year or early in the New Year. In the mean time I know our troop of giant gorillas is going to be a massive hit at Llangollen. I can’t wait to see the reaction.”     

* To book tickets for Llangollen International Musical Festival and for more details about what's on go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk  

 

Plas Newydd garden fete this Saturday

The annual Garden Fete will be held at Plas Newydd this Saturday June 6, from 2pm.

Members of Llangollen Rotary Club, Inner Wheel Club and the newly-formed Dee Valley Rotary Club will be there to welcome you.

Llangollen town band will be there to serenade you, Punch and Judy will entertain and you can try your skills at various games and competitions.

There will be numerous stalls, including home-made cakes and a plant stall.

The tea tent will provide teas, coffees, soft drinks, sandwiches and cakes.

Apart from the Punch and Judy Show, the children can enjoy plenty of fun games, face painting  and a treasure hunt.              

NatWest is to close Llan branch in September

NATWEST Bank has announced this afternoon (Wednesday) that it is to close its branch in Castle Street, Llangollen in September.

A statement from the bank says: "We have taken the difficult decision to close the NatWest Llangollen branch on the 21^st September 2015.

"We are working hard to ensure there are a number of alternative ways for people in the area to continue to bank with us.

"We have reached an agreement with the local Post Office, which is 0.1 miles away from the branch so that our customers can check their balance, deposit and withdraw funds, and business customers can get coinage. 

 

"We will keep the ATM in the local community, and there are also 4 other free to use ATMs within 1 mile of the branch.

 

"We are introducing a mobile branch service to the community and we will be engaging with our customers and the local community to understand the best day and time for the mobile branch to visit. 

 

"The number of transactions taking place at NatWest Llangollen branch has dropped by 38% since 2011 and only 35 customers use the branch on a regular weekly basis.  Sixteen of these customers already use other branches in the area. 

 

"We are committed to following the UK Government protocol on branch closures, and we have made the decision following careful consideration of a wide range of factors including branch usage and the alternative ways our customers can bank with us locally. 

 

"Our customers are increasingly using alternative ways to bank with them such as online and mobile banking.  As a result, branch transactions have declined by around 36% since 2010 whilst online and mobile transactions have grown by more than 300%. Only 9% of their total transactions are now undertaken in branches in comparison to 25% in 2010. 

 

"We are writing to all of our customers who use the branch, as well as displaying posters in branch to let them know of the closure. Between now and the closure date, we will engage with all of our customers, local businesses and the wider local community to make sure they are aware of the alternative ways of accessing their banking with us in the local area, and to answer any questions they might have."

 

The announcement has caused anger amongst local politicians.

 

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates, who has his office in Llangollen, said: “I am bitterly disappointed by this decision and will be seeking an urgent meeting with NatWest.

“I am a NatWest customer myself and this will mean people will have to go to Wrexham for a face-to-face service, which remains particularly important to many. It’s not even in the same county and it’s simply too far to travel for some.

 

“Loyal customers haven’t even been consulted about this and many will find out that their branch is closing through the local press, so NatWest shouldn’t be surprised if people show the company the same disregard and opt to take their money elsewhere.”

 

He added: “If these closures are pushed through, I will demand assurances that the mobile unit mentioned by NatWest will visit Llangollen several times a week and that all customers will be fully informed about when it will be available.” 

 

Local county councillor Stuart Davies said: "I am deeply disappointed to hear this news.

 

"All banks should remember that with the right to make a profit comes responsibility to communities such as Llangollen.

 

"This closure will cause particular difficulties for the large number of businesses in the town plus local clubs and societies who have cash and cheques to bank.

 

"These will now have to be taken to other branches, leading to major inconvenience and security problems."

 

As yet there has been no confirmation of the move by NatWest.