Council Watcher
Forum Replies Created
-
Posts
-
The biggest complaint the public should have about Berwyn ‘residents’ (this is the new official term for the men/prisoners) is that if someone arrives they are normally whisked straight through the waiting area to see a Doctor with two guards one being handcuffed- clearly, the hospital wants them out asap.
The physical facilities on the Berwyn site are like a small hospital and they have their own x-ray machines, dental, ophthalmic and other treatment services — their issue is that they don’t have the staff to operate at full capacity.
It is correct that there is a legal requirement for each county to have a site- this, however, is still not the case across all counties of Wales- there is also ambiguity about the number of caravan pitches required for both static and ‘travellers’ hence the added controversy. In some areas travellers have bought their own land – the most controversial in Wrexham was the establishment of ‘Berryland’ just past Ysgol Clywedog- fighting this cost the Council many £100’s of thousands of pounds.
The time period for a response is a statutory requirement so in this case, the Council are not delaying- miraculously they might respond early as all information should be readily accessible.
Can we get back to the thread title — does anyone know if the travellers have now moved or is there a standoff for legal process to take place.
Really interesting FOI to Wrexham Council based on news article in Liverpool Echo from a Kindom employee whistleblower
Llangollen is a fundamentally different place to Wrexham – for start, it is defined as a tourist town with a range of attractions within an easy walking distance of the main car parks thus allowing for a good visitor experience of many things for everyone.
River
Railway
Canal
Park
Arts and Crafts
Weekly Market
Horseshoe Pass and Falls
Fishing
Eisteddfod develops international links and a venue for conferences and other events
Camping and caravan parks
Large range of hotels, B & Bs and food outlets
Small independents — there are probably only a couple of Nationals- Spar, Edinburgh Wool, (regional businesses the old Village Bakery shop).
Most are all within a mile of each otherIts ease of access for coaches makes it the ideal stop for trips from the Midlands and Cheshire when they come over the border in Wales so they have a tea and toilet stop. The traders for many years have provided inducements to the coach drivers to stop- this is a vital part of the day trip and coach holiday trade if you want them to stop.
These are just a few of the points that make a difference between Wrexham and Llangollen and why there are thriving shops.
I give Wrexham 10 years of decline- There should be a palliative care plan developed to ensure that the decline is managed in a way that still leaves the basics that will be required for a community of people living in the town. Within 10 years Wrexham Town will have more of a feeling of a large village main street. People will be living in properties once thriving as retail outlets. The lack of jobs in the town will mean more developments like on Grosvenor Road catering for older people and those with support needs.
The levels of pedestrian footfall will be so low that traffic can move around Regent Street and High Street with relative ease.
The new ‘village feel’ will be created with more ‘chill’ space such as small cafes- Ty Pawb will be a Community Centre and only the Guildhall left as a centre for the Council.
Ian Lucas has raised this on several occasions and clearly has been given information to keep him quite at the time and accepted in good faith the matter was being dealt with.
I would suggest that they pursue with some urgency a Section 106 community benefit clause in the building of the new Aldi/Lidl supermarket on the site and get them to retain the tunnel between the current Police Station and Law courts and build a cell block in a basement.
It is quite ironic that if Ian Lucas has the evidence that either a Minister or Government Official has provided information that was knowingly incorrect then that is a criminal offence- possible case for Wrexham Magistrates Court so they can see the situation first hand.
Jimbow interesting they have said no funding has gone to Techniquest yet has previously been part of discussions for feasibility pans from the WG Vibrant and Viable Funds that the Council administer.
I wonder if the Council are now throwing the VVP at the financial shortfall on Ty Pawb.Jimbow – no doubt your Market Trader friend has told you that the traders have nearly all given up attending any meetings with Council Officers as there is never any action. The early meetings were full of promises that have not come to fruition. The traders have become a voice in the wilderness with their financial worries increasing day by day as we should not forget for most of them their stall is their livelihood.
Don’t be surprised to see the Council making an announcement that they have gone into partnership with Techniquest rather than them go into TJ Hughes! Purely to try and ride on the back of their footfall.
As far as the Council has a Board – there is no way that they want people who have ideas, business acumen or other professional skills as they would eat up the Council Officers and Lead Member for breakfast.
The traders need to demand a meeting with the Arts Council and tell them what it is really like in Ty Pawb and also demand a copy of any reports the Council have submitted so far as they will probably find one of the greatest Fairy Stories ever written-oh sorry just realised that storytelling is an art form so the Council have complied with their grant conditions!!
Somebody needs to get in their with a load of lifeboats to save the project sinking quicker than the Titanic.
