Couple of Llan couple "on run" reports BBC

BBC online news is reporting today (Tuesday) that the killer of a Llangollen couple has gone on the run.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-31911403

County reduces free swimming provision

Denbighshire County Council has expressed its concern and disappointment at news that the Welsh Government is to reduce the council’s free swim funding by £20,000 – with only six weeks notice.

The Welsh Government provides funding on an annual basis to all local authorities to provide free swimming for under 16s and those aged over 60.

The amount is reviewed on an annual basis and local authorities are informed of the outcome.

In recent years, Denbighshire has been able to provide more than the minimum required by Welsh Government, but as a result of the reduction in funding  announced in February, now warns that the programme will need to reduce.

The changes mean that the council will not actually cut any swimming lessons for children.  It will be maintaining the programme but says it will need to charge for the majority of lessons in the holidays.

The council is also maintaining free access for over 60s in public sessions, but people will need to pay for swimming lessons.

The council has written to the Welsh Government to express its concerns.

Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Tourism, Youth and Leisure, said: “The council  is making it absolutely clear that it has no option but to remove all free swimming sessions, considered over and above sessions that we are required to provide under the terms of the agreement with Welsh Government, given the reduction in funding.

"We recognise some authorities in Wales have had much greater reductions through the formula, but nevertheless, it is almost impossible for a council to forward plan and make allowances for funding when decisions are made so late in the day, with little consultation.

"The council will do all it can, to protect as many sessions as possible within the context of the remaining grant allocation.

"At a time when Welsh councils are under pressure to protect important front line services, this is yet another big blow, and one which we are left with, to communicate to the public. Welsh Government continue to plough funding into health, but cutting free swimming will inevitably have a longer term impact on the health and well-being of our residents.   

“Every authority in Wales has been affected by the funding cuts but our main concern is over the lack of communication and notice from Welsh Government in introducing this fundamental change to the funding formula.

“Councils plan their budgets well in advance and we feel that it is unfair to introduce a cut so late in the financial year, as we now need to adapt our free swim offer, in light of the funding allocation, unfortunately there will be a reduction in the number of sessions."

Rufus Wainwright brings unique talent to eisteddfod

 

 

* Rufus Wainwright.

 

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright who collaborated with Robbie Williams on his latest album is bringing his unique talent to North Wales.

 

Wainwright has written an opera in French, partied with George W Bush’s daughter and appeared alongside Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous and now he’s set to appear at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

The son of folk music giants Loudoun Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle will headline the Friday night concert at this year’s 69^th Eisteddfod which opens on Tuesday, July 7, and runs until Sunday, July 12.

 

The American-Canadian is promising the audience an eclectic mix of genres from pop to opera on his North Wales debut and he says he’s very excited about the prospect as Welsh audiences are, in his opinion, uniquely ‘different’.

 

Rufus, speaking from his Toronto home, says he’s performed in Cardiff and enjoyed a driving tour of Wales but the opportunity to appear on the same Llangollen stage that has been graced by legends such as Pavarotti and Carreras was something he wanted to grab with both hands.

 

He said: “There is something about Wales, the audience is just different. They seem to have an instinct for music and appreciate a performance in a different way. English, Scottish, even Irish, audiences are different despite being geographically so close.

 

“A Welsh audience can be quite rowdy and vocal and then just melt when they hear a particular poem or piece of music. There is something immediate about the experience.

 

“So I’m really looking forward to appearing at Llangollen especially having learnt something of the history of the festival. Looking at the long lists of performers who have appeared in the past is like a who’s who of music – so many big and influential names. I really am looking forward to it.”

 

Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Eisteddfod, said: “We are thrilled to have Rufus Wainwright as part of the line-up for this year’s event and headlining the concert on the Friday night.

 

“His talents span such a wide range of musical genres but what stands out is the quality of what he does and that’s what we are dedicated to bringing to Llangollen.”

 

The stellar line-up this year also includes Oscar-winning songwriter Burt Bacharach who'll open the festival on Monday, July 6, and classical heart-throb Alfie Boe who'll be performing songs from musical theatre and movies on the Thursday night, July 9.

 

The closing Sunday night festival on July 12 will star music legend Ali Campbell, the voice of UB40 who sold 70 million records, who'll be reunited on the Eisteddfod stage with two other founding members of UB40 - percussionist, trumpet player and vocalist Astro and keyboard player Mickey.

 

Born in New York, in 1973, the son of folk singers, the late Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III, Rufus had his first piano lesson aged six and by the age of eight he was regularly appearing on stage with the McGarrigle Sisters and Family alongside his mother, sister Martha, and aunt Ann.

 

He has now released seven studio albums and three live albums including Rufus does Judy, a tribute to gay icon Judy Garland and recorded at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2006, which was nominated for a Grammy award.

 

Wainwright has collaborated with many of the world’s top artists including Elton John, Joni Mitchell, The Pet Shop Boys, Burt Bacharach and his most recent collaboration, on the title track of Robbie Williams’ latest album, Swings Both Ways, which he co-wrote and sung as a duet.

 

He even appeared on BBC TV comedy Absolutely Fabulous in a cameo role in 2002 thought his memories of it now are vague, admitting: “I was pretty off my rocker at that point.

 

“They got in touch with me. Like any properly brought up and well-intentioned gay man at that time I was completely obsessed with that show and would have killed my mother in order to be on it.”

 

As a member of folk music royalty he has also partied with the like of President George W Bush’s daughter Barbara and Marianne Faithful and battled addiction to crystal meth but is now happily settled with a husband and a daughter he fathered with Leonard Cohen’s daughter, Lorca.

 

But as well as being a celebrated popular music performer Wainwright is one of the few artists able to cross over to the classical world with equal success.

 

His acclaimed first opera, Prima Donna, premiered at the 2009 Manchester International Festival and has since been performed in London, Toronto and New York.

 

In 2010 Wainwright was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony to compose and interpret five Shakespeare Sonnets, a five song cycle to orchestra and voice that have since been performed around the world.

 

And the Canadian Opera Company has commissioned what will be his second opera about Roman Emperor Hadrian which is scheduled to premiere in Toronto in the autumn of 2018.

 

Wainwright added: "I gather Llangollen is going to be a bit special and I’m really looking forward to it. I understand tenor Noah Stewart delighted the audience by singing in Welsh the last two years.

 

“Now that’s a challenge, but at least I have a little bit of time. We will have to see what I can do. I might have to get my good friend the Welsh actress Siân Phillips to help me out!”

 

The Eisteddfod will also feature Children’s Day and the Parade of Nations on the Tuesday, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite before the evening Heart of Llangollen concert featuring a galaxy of international talent.

 

Highlights of Wednesday will include the debut of the International Young Musician of the Year and the Children’s Choir of the World while Thursday’s competitions will see another first, the International Voice of Musical Theatre Trophy.

 

Friday’s Open Category for choirs will showcase styles like gospel, barbershop, jazz, pop and glee styles and will also see the International Voice of the Future decided with the prize including the chance to sing at one of the evening concerts the future.

 

The Blue Riband event, the Choir of the World for the Pavarotti Trophy, is decided on Saturday night as well as the Lucile Armstrong Dance Final and Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert with Ali Campbell, Astro and Mickey.

 

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

llanblogger says ...

Councillor has more questions about A5 roadworks

* The roadworks on the A5 which are causing more problems,

according to Cllr Stuart Davies.

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies is again asking questions about the long-running roadworks on the A5 heading into town.

He says he is concerned that the works are causing issues for residents.

"Speeding cars and inappropriate vehicles are using Maes Mawr Road and Birch Hill to avoid the hold up caused by the single laning of the A5," he explained.

"I have been pressing those responsible for the works, the Wales Trunk Road Agency who work for the Welsh Government, to let us know what exactly is going on and a time scale for completion.

"I am also calling for them to help address the issues caused by their single laning on Maes Mawr Road and Birch Hill."

Carl Fogarty to guest at Motorcycle Festival

World Superbike king and I'm a Celebrity winner Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty MBE, the most successful World Superbike (WSB) racer of all time, will be guest of honour at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 15 on Saturday, August 1.

The 49-year-old winner of four WSB titles and eight world crowns will open the two day family-friendly event, spend the day meeting fans and provide plenty of opportunities for autographs and photos.

In addition to his unprecedented 59 victories from 219 race starts, he won the fourteenth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2014.

Carl said: “I’m looking forward to being back in Wales in August for LlanBikeFest. I was at the Llangollen show a few years ago and received a great reception - but now I hear the show is bigger and better, so it promises to be a fantastic weekend for anyone who loves their bikes.”

The site has previously hosted successful bike shows – the last in 2011 – but LlanBikeFest 15 is being organised by a new team of local motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Harry Edwards.

Harry said: “The opportunity to meet Carl will be the icing on the cake for what promises to be a fantastic celebration of every aspect of motorcycling.”

The Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival at the town’s Pavilion is set amid some of Britain’s best biking roads - at the foot of the Horseshoe Pass and its famously bike-friendly Ponderosa Café.

On-site attractions will include displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment. There will also be ride-outs from the site to explore some of the area’s most beautiful roads and scenery.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival. Follow Carl Fogarty on Twitter at @carlfogarty and Facebook at www.facebook.com/CarlFogartyOfficial.

* Book tickets and stands online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk or contact the festival office at 07960 693398 or office@llanbikefest.co.uk.

AM calls for end of uncertainty over disabled funding

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to end the "uncertainty" for the thousands of disabled people and their carers who are anxiously waiting to hear whether funding will be available to enable them to continue to live independently.  

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) delivers financial support to disabled people so they can choose to live in their communities rather than in residential care.

 

Speaking in the Assembly Chamber this week, Mr Isherwood (pictured) said there is real concern among disabled groups that the Welsh Government are not proposing to ring fence ILF.

 

Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on the matter, Mr Isherwood said: “I call for an update on Welsh Government’s intentions for the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The Minister will be aware that, after the responsibility and funding was transferred from the UK Treasury to the Welsh Government for this, supporting disabled people to live independently, disabled groups expressed concern that the Welsh Government was not proposing to ring-fence the fund.

 

“Well, we’re now into March, with less than four months to the final closure of the existing funding on 30 June, and we’re still awaiting a decision following the consultation that ended before Christmas, I understand, which leaves very little time for new arrangements to be put in place. Therefore, there are many anxious existing ILF recipients and carers, fearful about their future ability to continue living independently.

 

“Concerns have been exacerbated by rumours, which may be no more than that, that Welsh Government will delay a decision for 12 months, which, if the case, it’s hard to imagine anything other than the funds being transferred to local authorities against the opposition of recipients, carers, the Wales Alliance for Citizen Directed Support, Disability Wales and other third sector organisations.

 

“I understand that some local authorities, certainly in North Wales, are writing to people regarding their final care plan from the ILF, telling them that, for funding after June, they should contact the local authority social services department, and giving a named person to contact, who’s already left.”

 

Mr Isherwood claims the Minister for Government Business, Jane Hutt AM, failed to address the points he raised and instead laid blame with the UK Government.

  

Mr Isherwood added: “This had been raised with me as Co-Chair of the Cross Party Group on Disability as a matter of serious concern to disabled people and their carers. I’m disgusted that this Minister chose to score cheap political points rather than address this.

 

“As the Scottish Government stated, current funding for this support to disabled people has been transferred from the UK Treasury to them, but this Labour Welsh Government won’t admit that the same applies in Wales. This was transferred to the devolved administrations so they can decide how  ILF users in their nations will be supported. Scotland has appointed a full time ILF Business Manager and embedded a project assistant within ‘Inclusion Scotland’, Disability Wales’ sister body.

 

“It is simply not acceptable that disabled people in Wales are being left in the dark as the closure of the existing scheme fast approaches.”