Welsh Tories unveil "new deal" for older people

* At the launch of the new welsh Conservatives' policy at Glyn Wylfa.

Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate for Clwyd South, launched his party's new deal for older people at the Glyn Wylfa social enterprise centre in Chirk.

Mark Isherwood and Suzy Davies, Welsh Conservative Assembly Members in the last Assembly term, presented the new deal to an audience of local residents.

They outlined the Welsh Conservatives' plans to implement a £400 weekly cap on residential care costs and to protect £100,000 of assets of those in residential care, providing dignity and ensuring people do not lose their life savings to care costs.

Mark Isherwood said: "We will support older people across Wales to remain active members of the family, community and society, while providing security for the future with clear action on residential care costs. Welsh Conservatives will also put an end to age discrimination and promote and protect older people’s rights."

Simon Baynes said: "I have a strong interest in care for older people through my work running the charity Concertina - Music for the Elderly http://www.concertinamusic.org.uk/ which provides musical entertainment for older people to combat loneliness and reawaken happy memories from the past.

"The Welsh Conservatives believe that old age is something to be celebrated. We believe that older people deserve dignity and respect as well as independence and the freedom to make decisions about their lives." 

Bank investigates after cashpoint fails to pay out

A BANK has agreed to investigate after a Llangollen man received no money when he used a cashpoint in the town.

Well-known town crier Austin “Chem” Cheminais had something to shout about when tried to withdraw £200 from the ATM outside the Co-op supermarket in Regent Street on Saturday April 9 for a weekend trip away nd the machine failed dispense any money.

His bank, HSBC, has since reimbursed him with the full amount but says it is now investigating with the cashpoint’s operating company why he had a problem.    

Mr Cheminais (pictured) said: “After the machine returned my card but failed to let me have my cash I immediately phoned the help number displayed on the cash machine and after a wait spoke to a someone who then put me on hold before passing me on to some else. 

“They checked and confirmed that there had been a problem and agreed that the machine hadn't given me any cash.

“They then told me that my account had been debited but there was nothing that they could do and that I would have to go through my own bank to dispute the transaction. 

“Two people came to use the machine whilst I was still there and when I told them what had happened they said, `It is always doing it! It's been doing it for weeks’.

“Frustratingly, when I contacted my bank they suggested that it would have been better and a lot easier had I used a HSBC cash point. 

“I pointed out that they had closed all of their local branches and that using their cashpoint would require a 23-mile round-trip.

“I worry that it could happen to someone in different circumstances who needed the money to feed their children or at an urgent bill.” 

HSBC has no credited Mr Cheminais’s account with the £200.

And a bank spokesperson said: “We are now investigating why there were issues with the ATM with its operator.”

A spokesperson for Cashzone, which operates the cashpoint, said: “We are very sorry for the inconvenience experienced by Mr Cheminais.

“Whenever we receive reports of service issues we send out our expert team of engineers as quickly as possible because we know how important it is for the community to have reliable access to cash.

“People who experience issues when withdrawing money should check their bank accounts and get in touch with their bank who will be able to assist them.”

Skates warns over tax returns scam

People in the Dee Valley are being warned about a tax returns scam.

Clwyd South Assembly candidate Ken Skates is urging people not to fall foul of the email con trick, purporting to be from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

The Welsh Labour politician said: “I have been made aware of this scam, which on the face of it looks like an official email from the Crown.

"The message says that the recipient is entitled to a significant amount, often hundreds of pounds, in tax returns, but it’s merely a ruse designed to con you into giving personal details.

“Any legitimate tax return due to you will be in the form of a letter and enclosed cheque, and you should never give card or bank information online in this way. It all looks above-board, but I cannot stress enough how important it is not to be hoodwinked.”

The email invites the recipient to follow a link and input personal details onto a form which uses HMRC logos and, on first inspection, looks official.

“If you are ever in any doubt about the authenticity of emails like this, especially when large sums of money are promised, you should check with HMRC or seek advice from Trading Standards before proceeding,” said Mr Skates.

Mr Skates can be emailed at ken4clwydsouth@gmail.com, or contacted through Facebook at www.facebook.com/kenskates4am

Mike dashes to triathlon triumph

* Mike, right, with his daughter Claire and son Christian after finishing the triathlon.

AN INTREPID Llangollen man has raised over £300 for the Wales Air Ambulance by taking part in yesterday’s Chirk Triathlon.

Mike Edwards finished the event in a respectable time of 1:44.09 and was second in his age group category.

The gruelling challenge was a family affair for him as his son 43-year-old son Christian and eldest daughter Claire, 30, also took part.

Christian finished in 1:22:39 and Claire in 1:34:00.

Wales Air Ambulance is a cause close to Mike’s heart.

Following a heart attack five years ago he regained his fitness and took up the triathlon event. 

“I am a keen supporter of  the air ambulance, being well aware of the value of a speedy response in my sport,” he said.

Mike is also a long-term cyclist, regularly hitting the mountain bike trails at Coed Llandegla  and pounding the roads in the Wrexham and Llangollen areas.

Mike’s Virgin Money Just Giving page at: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=MichaelEdwards262

Pengwern Wild Spaces Project event

Pengwern Wild Spaces Project has asked us to display these posters about a forthcoming event:

History group's talk on fascinating subject

Llangollen Museum is hosting a talk by Ruth Tams on the history of toilets, entitled Flushed with Pride, on Wednesday April 27, starting at 7.30pm.

Entry fee is £3 which includes tea or coffee.

Police investigate damage to former GPs' surgery

Police officers were this afternoon (Saturday) investigating the breaking of glass in the front door of the former GPs' surgery in Regent Street, Llangollen.

The building has been empty since the practice moved to the town's new £5 million health centre in Mill Street last summer.

A number of residents have expressed concerns about its future use.