Latest roadworks alert from the county council are:
OUTSIDE NUMBER 11 & 9 WILLOW STREET until 18/01/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
Outside 5 CHURCH STREET 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works QUARTZELEC (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure
A Plaid Cymru MS has taken aim at the Welsh Government for axing a community hospital in Llangollen.
Llyr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales in the
Senedd, told Health Minister Eluned Morgan that the controversial closure of a
network of community hospitals in the region is “contributing” to the acute
crisis in the NHS.
The Minister has come under fire after the Welsh
Government told health boards that some patients may need be sent home from
hospital without care packages in place as demand for bed space soared.
In response to intense pressure to get to grips
with the crisis, which has resulted in ambulances sitting outside of A&E
for hours and incredibly low morale among staff, she announced that the Welsh
Government has secured an additional 500 community beds for step-down care.
In a speech on the floor of the Senedd, Llyr
Gruffydd criticised the Welsh Government for closing community hospitals in
Flint, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Prestatyn, and Llangollen and argued that it was now
trying to “recreate and rebuild” capacity that it had lost.
He told Senedd members that the Welsh Government
had been “warned” that it would “regret” closing the hospitals, and asked if
the Minister accepted that doing so was a “mistake”.
The closures, which were part of a shake up by
Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, were fiercely protested by local communities at
the time.
In response Eluned Morgan said that the community
hospitals were “very expensive to run”.
Llyr Gruffydd MS said: “You say in your statement,
Minister, that 12% of bed capacity in the NHS is now full as a result of
delayed discharges, and in response to that, of course, you say that you've
secured an additional 500 community beds for step-down care. Clearly, that is
to be welcomed. It would be good to hear where they are.
“As a Member in north Wales, I would be interested
in hearing how many of those are in north Wales. But of course, we had a
network of community hospitals that used to provide exactly this step-down
service across Wales. That capacity was lost—the capacity that you are now
trying to recreate and rebuild—when community hospitals were closed in Flint,
Blaenau Ffestiniog, Prestatyn, Llangollen, and so on.
“A number of us warned you at the time that you
would regret doing that, because there's always a need for that step-down
provision within the system, or—as we're currently seeing—the system is going
to have blockages and we're going to end up with a situation where 12% of the
bed capacity has suffered as a result of delayed discharges.
“So, do you accept that it was a mistake to close
those community hospitals, particularly those across north Wales? Do you regret
that that happened? Because there's no doubt that that's contributing at least
in part to the crisis that general hospitals are now facing.”
The area's Senedd Member has questioned Royal Mail about the future of the public counter at its Llangollen sorting office.
And an official of the organisation has admitted the counter is part of a general review of similar facilities which follows a drop in footfall.
Clwyd South MS Ken Skates recently received a query from a constituent which said: "It has been brought to my attention (in confidence ) that there is a possibility that the Royal Mail plan on closing the Caller Office Facility based in the sorting office in Berwyn Street, Llangollen.
"Obviously if this is indeed the case then that in effect would mean that the residents having received a ‘non delivery' would no longer be able to collect their parcels and would be expected to travel to Wrexham. This would include the Ceiriog Valley, Llangollen Rural, Llantysilio and Pentredwr.
"Could I please ask that you make enquiries with the Royal Mail for clarification as to what their intentions are."
In response to an enquiry from Mr Skates, a senior Royal Mail official replied: "Royal Mail has commenced a review of the Customer Service Points (CSPs) to determine the right number of sites as it steps up its drive to ensure more first-time deliveries with higher level of convenience for customers.
"The review comes as customer footfall has fallen by around 47% at Royal Mail CSPs compared to pre-pandemic levels. This drop reflects customers' growing reluctance to travel to CSPs to collect missed parcels, as well as their growing preference for free redeliveries to their doorstep.
"Royal Mail has additionally introduced a range of new delivery options designed to further improve its first-time delivery rates.
"These initiatives include a scheme where postmen and postwomen are able to leave parcels in what they consider to be a safe place, as well as 'in-flight' redirections through either the Royal Mail app or www.royalmail.com.
"Research suggests 90% of customers prefer delivery to a safe place or neighbour, or a redelivery option if they are not home to accept a delivery."
The Denbighshire Free Press has a story about a police operation to target illegal off-road driving in the Llangollen and Corwen areas.
* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23239776.police-target-off-road-drivers-corwen-llangollen/
One.Network reports that Fron Bache, Llangollen, has been closed to facilitate urgent works to restore the supply of water to a property by Hafren Dyfrdwy.
* Please note: Because of a problem with the email link provided by the county council to join the online consultation meeting a fresh link has been provided within the story below and here: levellingup@denbighshire.gov.uk
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The views of Llangollen residents and businesses are being invited on a scheme to improve links between the four famous ‘highways’ that run through the heart of the town.
And a local county councillor is urging as many people as possible to get involved.
Following a successful application to the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) Denbighshire County Council wants to enhance the public spaces that connect Llangollen Canal, the old Ruabon to Barmouth Railway line, the River Dee and A5 Holyhead Road.
Some key priorities of the Four Great Highways project, as it is known, are improved accessibility, signage and better materials with the aim of improving the visitor experience and increasing the amount of time they spend here.
Proposals include:
* Better access between the Llangollen Canal, River Dee and town centre
* Inclusive and safe access for a range of users
* Opportunities to incorporate play and exercise
* Strengthened biodiversity and climate resistance
* Enhanced views and rest points
As part of the consultation process three separate online engagement sessions are planned for next week when the contracted designers, Burroughs & The Urbanists, will invite residents, businesses and visitors of Llangollen to discuss the project.
The county council says views and comments shared during the event will inform the design now being worked on.
The meetings, being held via Microsoft Teams, are all on Thursday January 12 - for Llangollen businesses between 6 and 6.30pm, for residents between 6.30 and 7pm and for everyone else between 7 and 7.30pm.
* To arrange to attend one of the sessions, or for further information, e-mail: levellingup@denbighshire.gov.uk
Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards said: “This is part of the South Clwyd Levelling Up Fund project. Wrexham are the leading authority and the Four Great Highways project is Llangollen's share of the pot.
“County Councillor Paul Keddie and myself are due to have a Teams meeting next week with the designers, so we will have a comprehensive discussion with them.”
She added: “This is the start of the wider consultation process, so let's hope that the residents and businesses are interested because it's their voices that matter and certainly from my perspective it's important that there's thorough engagement with everyone who has a vested interest and that they have an opportunity to input into the scheme in order to have an acceptable outcome.”
The Denbighshire Free Press is this morning (Tuesday) reporting that a landslide has partially blocked the A5 between Llangollen and Corwen.
* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23239546.landslide-partially-blocks-a5-llangollen-corwen/
