“We must advocate stricter planning regulations to prevent building on delicate environmental areas, such as Greenfield sites and floodplains.

 “This would prevent unsustainable and economically unviable developments.

 “I am also calling for a redefinition of Brownfield sites to exclude gardens to curb the increasing trend of ‘garden-grabbing’ by developers.

“Empowering communities is what planning reform must be about, and I look forward to progress in Wales of changes to planning guidance.”

“Within 24 hours of announcing Enterprise Zones in England the UK Government had set a deadline by which time local authorities will have the power to discount business rates for specific businesses. Such rate relief is worth up to £275,000 per business over five years.

“I call on the Welsh Government to bring a similar rate of relief on stream as soon as possible, and by a specific deadline, for Enterprise Zones in Wales.

“In addition to this I call upon the Welsh Government to promise the people of Wales that they will work more closely with the business community and the private sector over the coming months.”

“The target set by the Welsh Government is that all business and residential premises in Wales will have access to Next Generation Broadband by 2015 and I fully support this.

“Full availability of Next Generation broadband would enable many businesses across Wales to access vast amounts of valuable information and resources and would also give an opportunity for businesses to boost their profile abroad thus helping to foster a more global outlook for enterprise in Wales.

“There are fears however, that the Welsh Government will miss its own target, with BT estimating that only 40% of premises in Wales will have access to next generation broadband by 2014.

“I call upon the Welsh Government to pull out all the stops to ensure that this target is not missed.”

As well as the usual stalls including books, cakes, tombola, bottle stall and bric-a-brac, this year’s entertainment has been stepped up a notch. There will be a magical appearance by Peter the Magician, a Fun Dog Show, football competitions, face painting, hot dogs, the Youth Bus, Parisellas Ice Cream and more, all topped off with Rockin’ Ron – a popular local singer – and compered by Bryan George.

The event is being held to raise money, along with various grant applications, to allow the Friends of Queens Park to move onto the next phase of renovating the park. The Friends hope to renovate the entrance pillars and to install a Sensory Garden. 

Cllr Janet Finch-Saunders AM – local Assembly Member and one of the founder members of Friends of Queens Park – said: “This is a perfect example of The Big Society in action.  

“There is a true partnership between the local residents, Councillors and Conwy County Borough Council. Without this partnership approach we could neverhave imagined the possibilities of improving the park as we have.

“We have received anonymous donations and are most grateful to these unsung heroes as every penny is appreciated. 

“We are most grateful to many local shopkeepers and businesses within Craig-y-don and Llandudno who have been very generous and provided us with many items for the raffle and stalls. 

“Fingers crossed for good weather!”

 Janet also paid tribute to those who have helped ensure the continued success of the project, including the dedicated committee members, including Margaret and Richard Own, Barbara Meredith (Chairman), Frank Bradfield (Treasurer and Grants Officer), Cllr Joyce Audus Williams and Laura Oldfield. Also the fundraising committee members, including Cllr Christine Jones, Cllr Mike Pearce, Lindsey Pearce, Carol Burns, Francis and Sonia Davies, Sandy Halliday, Carol and Dave Oldfield and Gareth Saunders. Janet also gave special thanks to Lyn Davies, Peter Barton Price and the parks department at Conwy County Borough Council for all their help, support and advice. 

The Party in the Park will kick off at midday at Queens Park, Queens Road, Craig-y-don on Saturday 20^th August 2011.

28th March 2011 - Mark Isherwood and Janet Finch Saunders were delighted to launch the start of the Bo to AV campaign in North Wales ably supported by Councillors and Activists.  Janet Finch Saunders said,  "The Alternative Vote System will fail our democracy.  AV will lead to constant co-alition government.  This is not in the best interest of our nation.  Please ensure that you use your vote to say No to AV."

 Nick Bourne AM said: “The Welsh Conservative message at the Assembly elections is a strong one, focusing on our priorities of health, education, economic growth and sound finances.

 “Labour’s had its chance and failed. Health targets are being missed, our education system is going backwards and we are the poorest part of the UK.

“It’s time for a new voice to represent the people of Wales. That’s the Welsh Conservatives.”

 Janet Finch-Saunders who is standing as the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate said " I am proud to be fighting to win this seat with some real common sense policies and a genuine focus on the health service for our residents in Aberconwy. For too long we have suffered as we have witnessed the frequent down grades to our local hospital and an absolute withdrawal of our only E.M.I unit"

She added, "Since the Welsh Assembly was formed we have only had Labour and Plaid policies here in Aberconwy - It is time for common sense and it is time for change"

This acknowledges the expertise that Cllr Finch-Saunders has gained whilst she has been actively involved within the Conservative Party, in particular as a member and Senior Officer of the Aberconwy Conservative Association.

Cllr Janet Finch- Saunders has vast political experience being recognised as an approved Parliamentary Candidate and Welsh Assembly Candidate, narrowly missing out last time and Janet is also a Conwy County Councillor and has served on Llandudno Town Councillor for the past 17 years,

Janet is currently the Conservative Group Leader and Leader of the Opposition, chairing the main Principal Scrutiny committee. She says; "I am really looking forward to working with Nick Bourne A.M. and the Welsh Conservative Assembly team, as we set out our policies for the forthcoming Welsh Assembly Election Manifesto, the elections of which will be held on May 5th 2011"

Before any readers assume that I agree with the proposals being made let us put the issue in context;

1. A steering group to look at the future of LH was set up in 2007. The first meeting was held in July 2007 and the second in October 2007. The papers are available.

2. A review was undertaken by Frank Burns during the period May – Dec 2007. He made 50 recommendations concerning the future of the hospital. The report is also an open document and available to all.

3. A project board was established in June 2008 to consider his report. There were eight working groups established to consider the themes within the report. This included representatives from the League of Friends, CHC and LHAGS.

4. The final report of the Board was published in March 2009. Within this it is recorded that the work group concluded that MIU should close after midnight. It was the project board that decided to investigate nurse led service after midnight with medical support from the GP out of hours services. The board resolved to take advice from Prof. Mike Harmer on the future role of the MIU. The options that he was to be asked to consider were:

• Nurse led with support
• Developed as an out of hours centre – GP’s out of hours contract to be renegotiated in October 2010 and felt that perhaps there was some room to do something creative her.
• Develop as a new build.

5. After the publishing of the report – the Llandudno Hospital project was set up in January 2010. The aim was to consider recommendations of the Burns report and provide detailed plans for;

• Unscheduled Care
• Elective Treatment & Diagnosis
• Rehabilitation
• Women’s Health
• Mental Health

6. To achieve this aim there was to be a project team, a stakeholder group (to include LHAGS), expert support group and a communications group (to include LHAGS).

7. At the meeting of the Stakeholder Group on 24th March 2010 it was AGREED that MIU could not safely be managed without appropriate numbers of qualified staff. It was suggested that doctors were paid more for working at Llandudno but the consultants present said it was a national problem – rather than money. I have investigated this issue since my meeting with the Trust and can confirm that the issue of a shortage of trained doctors / consultants is a current national problem which is worse in Wales at this moment in time.

8. It was AGREED that no emergencies would be admitted after 6pm.

As you can imagine, the paperwork provided by the Trust in support of their decision in relation to the MIU was substantial. I have read and sought advice on many aspects of the recommendations. I continue to be unhappy about issues such as access times and the availability of ambulances in the Llandudno area if the MIU closes as a 24hr facility and as such I have requested a further meeting with the Trust to seek detailed assurances on these issues.

However, it is clear from the paper trail that the proposal to reduce the hours at the MIU has been fairly well documented since 2007 and it is misleading to suggest that this is a bolt from the blue. Even my comments in April alluded to the fact that the cost savings that closure would bring were being investigated in detail prior to the first closure of the MIU overnight at that time.

I have also spoken with or had my staff speak with members of LHAGS and the League of Friends and they have confirmed that the process in their view has been open and transparent. One individual specifically stated that they were “delighted that all the decisions are being made by clinicians and practioners rather than “pen pushers”.

Coupled with confirmation from a Consultant in Cardiff as to the levels of Doctor and Consultant shortage in Wales I have to admit that the case appears to be medically driven rather than financially inspired. And yet....

I remain concerned that the practical impact of the downgrade of the MIU will be a huge blow to the town, the population and the hospital. I will be holding a number of ‘open surgeries’ and ‘public meetings’ during August and September and would ask interested parties to come along and highlight your own concerns. Having read the background papers and copious minutes from numerous meetings I feel that there continue to be questions in need of a response from the Trust and as such will report back following my further meetings with the Trust team dealing with the specific MIU proposal and the wider re-development of Llandudno Hospital.

Guto