The recent 20 mile charity tractor  run in aid of St Kentigern's Hospice looked like it was to have an unlikely start to the day.  As tractors arrived at the Kinmel Field in Llandyrnog, through lashing rain and thunder and lightening. Farmers were jumping off their tractors in the field in case of being struck by lightning! And others took shelter in the village bus shelters as torrential rain fell.

 

This weather did not stop the keen vintage machinery lovers and 23 tractors turned up for the tractor run some having travelled up to two hours in the rain to get to the event. All were determined not to let the weather ruin their day.  While the tractors left the field for their journey across the Clwyd range, the sun came out! This put smiles on the faces of the 50 walkers who turned up at midday to do the guided walk of Llandyrnog.

 

 

After a couple of hours the tractors and walkers arrived back at base to the smell of Clwyd the local butchers local bacon and sausages. over 200 sandwiches were hungrily eaten and the last sandwiches went to Robert Owen, the owner of the field.

 

The day ended with the well deserved donated prizes of Best Vintage tractor and Best Working Tractor.

 

So much was the success of the day, the locals have decided that this will be an annual Llandyrnog event.

 

The grand total raised for St Kentigerns was £652.00.  Thanks to all involved

 

Thanks to all involved

 

 

 

Over the last few weeks , I have had progressive concerns about the finances and performance of Denbighshire Council leaders and the effectiveness of our MPs and AMs.  The Daily Post highlighted similar views in an article "Budget alert got me sacked from Cabinet", 9th September.

 

In it we learnt that Paul Marfleet, Financial Chief was sacked for doing his job and telling the Council that we are heading for a cash black hole. I don't know about you but this is what I thought the cabinets financial leder is there to do! Forecast any problems, manage the budget and stop financal disaster.  Councillor Marfleet believes that he has been removed from post due to the fact that he has alerted the Council leaders of possible financial disaster.

 

By removing him, we still have not removed the potential risk of a possible  6 million pound black hole!

 

Denbighshire is currently one the poorest arears  in Wales yet , Rhyl High School has just lost crucial funding due to not giving out enough free school dinners!  thank you  New Labour for your great Education fuding policy. To top that, Denbighshire's deprivation grant is the lowest in North Wales (Despite having 3% of the most deprived aeas in Wales)

 

If the Welsh Assembly truly believes in the fair distribution of wealth and funding why is this not happening in Denbighshire? Or are we the wrong side of the M4 again.

 

To summarise, at a time when Denibighshire is in danger of falling into a black financial hole - we sack our Cabinet lead member of Finance, and appear to be bottom of the pile for urgently needed grants.

 

We need our cabinet leaders, MPs and AM's - Councillors to fight our corner and get Denbighshire top of the list for grants and back on a sound financial footing and into longer term economic prosperity!

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Lynne at Home-Start Wrexham on 01978 66660

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In her latest letter Gwyneth Kensler of Denbigh "Wide of the mark" has made some very inaccurate statements in her letter about me.  So much so I wonder if she was at the same meeting?  People need to understand what was discussed at the meeting and then I really feel that the bickering should stop and we should all work together for the benifit of Denbigh . This is after all what my objectves is as I have so often said previously.

 

At the meeting, of Councillors Business Groups and Council Offices where the aim was to discuss the future of Denbigh town centre I asked the question of whether there was an up to date business and community plan for Denbigh.  I then stated if not, that the local businesses and community groups should be involved in putting together such a plan and a consultation process should take place.  'gwyneth is way off the mark with her comment that I offered to help form a business group.  Of course I know that a business group exists.  I went to one of t heir committee meetings as a guest chaired by Sharon last year before the General election .  Perhaps I need to explain that most businesses not all nowadays have a business plan , 3 year, or 5 year and this is what I wanted to see. As locals and business people we need to understand what the Town Council have planned for Denbigh.

 

It is all very well to tell locals to contact Sharon and the business group.  But my point is, Gwyneth that people do come to me.  You can try the local card but what I want to know is if you are so locally based then why an earth did the latest 2006 - 2007 Denbigh Town Guide with title of "boosting business in Denbigh" get printedin Kent , England  and not locally !!  This is exactly what I am trying to point out to all of you !

 

You really are not practicing what you preach.

 

I am disappointed that you have tried to make this last  meeting revolve around party politics.  I was there with Gwyn Evans of Denbigh  in our voluntary roles in the Federation of Small Businesses with our ultimate hope of helping in the meeting.

 

In your elected rols "Gwyneth, why not pick the phone up to me and discuss ways forward for Denbigh and not use the press and create playground politics using the press as your platfrom in the same way as you say I do

 

I will continue to use the press in this way as it is getting results and creating debate and what is more is raising awareness in so many more people and this can only be healthy for the area.  I will of course also continue in my current voluntary roles in business, community and Trustee organisations locally.