Discounted bus travel scheme is extended

The MyTravelPass discounted bus travel scheme for younger people is being extended to include everyone aged 16 to 21 resident in Wales.

North Wales South East Wales South West Wales Previously only open to 16 to 18 year-olds, Transport Secretary Ken Skates has announced today that the scheme is not only secured until March 2020, but will be available to many more people.

The one-third discounted offer began in 2015 when Welsh Government launched a pilot discounted bus travel scheme to provide all 16, 17 and 18 year-olds with discounted bus fares for any journey within Wales. The extension should take effect from early December 2018.

Existing MyTravelPass holders who have a 16 to 18 years pass, and who wish to take-up this exciting offer, need not do anything now, but should reapply shortly before their existing pass expiries.

Ken Skates said: “I’m pleased to announce that following the consultation exercise I undertook last year and talks with the bus industry we have been able to increase the upper age for discounted bus travel from 18 to 21 years.

“I would like to thank the bus industry for agreeing to this improvement. We appreciate their co-operation, as although the Welsh Government pays, their participation is voluntary.

“We will continue negotiations with our bus industry partners during 2019 to identify any further enhancements, potentially involving some of the key issues raised during the consultation we might jointly achieve.

“Today’s enhancement of the MyTravelPass scheme will not only help young people in training or apprenticeships, and during the transition into work, but will hopefully also encourage more to use the bus for more of their journeys. This way, they will be helping to tackle congestion and air quality in our towns and cities."

The MyTravelPass scheme was originally established as part of a budget deal between the Welsh Government and the Welsh Liberal Democrats during the last assembly term.

* To keep in touch with the date from which applications may be made, visit www.mytravelpass.gov.wales or call 0300 200 22 33.

Police chief's Brexit fallout warning

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

Brexit will help blow a £5 million black hole in the pension pot of North Wales Police over the next two years – and could mean 133 fewer officers or a massive increase in council tax.

That's the warning from North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

And he says there is even worse to come because of proposed changes to the police pension scheme which would see a 10 per cent hike in employer contributions.

The £1.9 million shortfall next year would rise to nearly £5.3 million a year in subsequent years, putting an even greater strain on the thin blue line.

This latest blow comes on top of cuts of over £30 million that have already been implemented by North Wales Police since 2010.

As it stands, retired officers are paid their pensions through the contributions of currently serving officers, employers’ contributions from the force and then topped up by a grant from the Home Office.

However, the Home Office is proposing to increase the employer contributions by forces – without increasing the funding to match it.

One of the main reasons for the pensions bombshell, said Mr Jones, was the uncertainty caused by Brexit and whether or not a deal could be struck.

The proposed changes are based on the pre-Brexit economic forecasts of the Office of Budget Responsibility and reflect the uncertainty prior to the Brexit vote which continues to blight the forecasts.

Across the UK the police pensions cost is set to increase by £165 million in 2019/20, before rising to £417 million, which could mean 4,000 fewer officers next year and ultimately 10,000 fewer from 2020/21.

According to Mr Jones, the proposals flew in the face of an official review of police pensions  by John Hutton, the chair of the independent Public Service Pensions Commission, which had sought to ensure employer contributions to public sector pensions were affordable.

As a result, the stark choice is to massively increase police precept by £16.92 or to drastically reduce the number officers policing North Wales.

The commissioner has now written to all North Wales MPs and AMs to flag up his concerns about the “unaffordable and unnecessary cost pressures for policing in North Wales”.

He has invited the elected representatives to a briefing by him and the new chief constable, Carl Foulkes, in January.

In the meantime, he is calling on the Government to reconsider the "potentially disastrous" pension changes.

Mr Jones said: “The current proposals are for a 9.7 per cent increase in the employers’ contribution rate, potentially increasing that rate from 24.2 per cent to 33.9 per cent.

“Police and Crime Commissioners cannot, by law, set an unbalanced budget.  This means that this money must be found from increasing council tax, drawing from reserves, or by reducing expenditure.

“In North Wales, we estimate that the cost in 2019/20 will be £1.982 million, and £5.286 million in each subsequent year.

“Reserves are a one-off resource, and while they may be used to help in the short term, to rely on these is unsustainable. Therefore, the money must come from a combination of cuts and council tax.

“We’ve already suffered years of cutbacks because of austerity and the budget for 2018/19 is £31 million lower than it would have been had funding kept pace with inflation. 

“This means that in the last eight years, £162 million less has been spent on policing North Wales than would otherwise have been the case. 

“Whilst we continue to strive to deliver further efficiencies, unexpected and unnecessary cost pressures such as this put a major strain on our limited budgets.

“Reducing the budget a further £1.982 million would be approximately equivalent to 50 police officers while £5.286 million is approximately 133 officers. 

“To reduce the workforce by such a high number would inevitably impact on workload and morale, but would also impact upon the safety of our communities across North Wales. 

“Whilst other savings are in the process of being identified, staffing costs form 80 per cent of our budget, therefore a reduction in the establishment must be considered.”

Legion group meet old soldier George on Remembrance Day

* The Royal British Legion group visit George Humphreys at the Old Vicarage. 

Royal British Legion members in Llangollen had a special Remembrance Day meeting with a veteran of the Second World War this morning (Sunday).

As the country marked the 100^th anniversary of the World War One Armistice Bethan Masceranhas, who runs the Old Vicarage nursing home, thought it would be nice to have someone from the Legion come in to meet 97-year-old resident George Humphreys who served in the army during World War Two.

And her invitation was quickly accepted by Llangollen branch chairman Phil Stroud who arranged to go along to the home before taking part in the annual Remembrance Parade in the town centre later in the morning.

He and colleagues Phil Silverton and David Thomas, who visited the First World War cemeteries back in the summer, brought along their branch standard and spent some time chatting to George before performing the Act of Remembrance for him at his bedside.

His son Phil, who lives in Llangollen, recalled that George, who is originally from Bangor of Dee, was called up for duty in 1941, joining the Royal Army Service Corps with which he served as driver/mechanic.

He took part in the Allied invasion of North Africa and Italy and fought through with the British Army’s 5 Corps all the way to Austria.

Leaving the army in 1946 he ran a coal merchants business in Bangor on Dee for over 60 years.

George was married to his wife Helen, whom he met while stationed during the war in Glasgow, in 1947 and the couple had two children, Phil and Alison, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Helen died four years ago.

For a number of years George, who moved into the Old Vicarage three years ago, was an active member of the Legion’s Bangor on Dee branch, of which he was a co-founder, and took a keen interest in the annual Poppy Appeal.

He also represented the branch on a number of occasions at the national Remembrance Service at the Cenotaph in London.  

“When contacted by Bethan at the Old Vicarage to see if someone from the branch could go along to meet George on Remembrance Day I was delighted to help and it was a pleasure to meet an old soldier such as him particularly on this very special day,” said Llangollen RBL chairman Phil Stroud.

Llangollen remembers for the first time in the new square

* Standards are lowered during the service.

Hundreds turned up to see the first Service of Remembrance being held in Llangollen's New Centenary Square this morning (Sunday).

Ex-service oganisations and a wide range of local groups assembled before the Venerable Chris Potter led the worship which this year marked 100 years since the Armistice in World War One.

The event was held against the backdrop of over 3,000 poppies, hand-made by local volunteers, which have been fixed to the rear wall of the square and will remain until the end of the year. 

Wreaths were laid, bugle calls were sounded and the traditional minute's silence was observed leading up to the chiming of 11 o'clock on the Town Hall clock.

The names of the local people who fell were read out by David Thomas of Llangollen Royal British Legion.

For the first time, poppy petals were released at the climax of the service to drift down onto the heads of those in the square.

Llangollen Silver Band then led the parade on a circuit around Castle Street and Bridge Street to end the ceremony.

* Mia Thomas of Llangollen Silver Band sounds Last Post on the bugle.

* Poppy petals flutter down over the war memorial. 

* Mayor Jon Haddy lays a wreath on behalf of the Town Council.

* Wreaths are laid on behalf of service organisations at the war memorial.

* Youth organisations honour the fallen whose names are recorded on the memorial.

* The Silver Band leads the parade away from Centenary Square.

  * Standards are paraded along Bridge Street.

* The Brownies take part in the parade.

* The Guides march down Castle Street.

Moving Festival of Remembrance staged at Town Hall

* Flags are lowered during the Act of Remembrance.

* Actress Eleri Jones comperes the event.

* Sam Jones reads the words of poet Hedd Wyn.

* A reading comes from Deputy Mayor, Cllr Issy Murray Richards.

* Llangollen Silver Band plays during the evening.

A moving Festival of Remembrance was held at the Town Hall last night (Saturday).

Llangollen Remembers, hosted by the Town Council and featuring performances by professional actors and the Silver Band, was even more poignant than usual as it marked 100 years since the end of World War One.

Opened by the Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, the event was compered by Eleri Jones, the actress daughter of Deputy Mayor, Cllr Issy Murray Richards.

First on the programme was a sing-along session, accompanied on the keyboard by Chris Simms, which saw the audience joining in with popular songs from the First and Second World Wars, such as It's a Long Way to Tipperary and Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag.

Eleri Jones along with her colleague Sam Jones from Theatr Equapoise then presented a tribute to the Welsh poet known as Hedd Wyn who was killed in 1917 while fighting on the Western Front only weeks before winning a bardic chair.

A reading was presented by Deputy Mayor, Cllr Murray Richards, from the stage before the Silver Band, conducted by Mia Thomas, ended the first half of the programme with rousing World War One numbers such as Hello, Hello Whose Your Lady Friend and Blighty.

The second half revolved around a drumhead service, conducted by the Venerable Chris Potter, of the type often attended by troops before they went into battle.

Prayers were interspersed with hymns, including Abide With Me and Calon Lan.

The Act of Remembrance, including bugle calls and the parading of standards by members from the local branches of the Royal British Legion and Royal Naval Association, was brought to  a moving close by the symbolic release of scores blood-red poppy petals from the balcony.

Later this morning, from 10.30am, the annual Service of Remembrance will be held - against a backdrop of over 3,000 locally hand-made poppies, at the town's new Centenary Square.

Famous faces promote Christmas food campaign

Two local food groups have come together to make it easy for you to try and buy the amazing range of local produce we have on our doorstep this Christmas.

And some famous names from Llangollen are helping to promote the initiative.

Clwydian Range Food & Drink group and the Llangollen & Dee Valley Good Grub Club have organised Light Up Local Food pop-up Christmas markets across the region.

Each market has its own unique flavour, but you can expect: locally produced food & drink stalls where you can sample and buy as well as festive cookery demonstrations alongside seasonal music, carol singing, Santa, Christmas parades, craft stalls and much more.

Among those promoting the campaign from Llangollen are Pip Gale from Gales Wine Bar and Carol Allen from Llanvalley Natural. Llangollen Brewery is also a backer.

Come and meet our merry band of local producers and more at Light Up Local Food markets across North East Wales at:

1. Llangollen Christmas Festival – 24th November (1pm-5pm)
2. Mold Christmas Lights On 27th November (3pm – 7pm)
3. Denbigh Christmas Market – 30th November (12-8pm)
4. Ruthin Christmas Market – 1st Dec (10-4pm)
5. Wrexham Victorian Christmas Market – December 6th (12-8pm)

To find out more visit: http://goodgrubclub.wales/christmas/.

Funding for the project has been provided by Welsh Government, Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB, Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire County Council and Wrexham Borough Council.

MP pedals away on Legion's Poppy Ride

* Susan Elan Jones MP taking part in the Poppy Ride in Parliament

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has taken part in Parliament’s Poppy Ride to promote the Royal British Legion’s 2018 Poppy Appeal.

She said: “I did warn the event organisers that I wouldn’t do very well in terms of cycle speed! However, I’ve worked closely with the campaigns team of the Royal British Legion over the years so I was delighted to support the occasion.

“Right across the constituency of Clwyd South there are a huge number of events taking place to commemorate the Centenary of World War 1.

“There are extremely moving displays, events and services happening in our towns and villages with strong input from local children and young people.  As the local MP, I feel very privileged that I will join residents of four different communities at commemorative services and events.”