as some of you may know powys county council are in the midst of selling off their unwanted premises,mostly because they are surplus to requirements as the budget from cardiff wag does not allow pcc to employ as many people as in previous years,despite cheif exec mark kerr receiving an above inflation pay rise of 5%.
one of these said venues is located at the bottom of lant avenue and graig road.pcc have sold it to wales and west housing assoc who plan to convert it to temporay short stay accom for homeless,in prionciple a fine idea but unwarrented as llandod does not have sufficent numbers of homeless to support a six bedroom venture as their is already a family hostel at fairview.
very active in opposing these proposals is mr harold Nichols,well known tory landlord.
Now Mr Nichols used to accomadate several dss recipients during the eighties and nineties and despite still having several properties in llandod decides now not to help them by renting out his rooms to them.
we guess thats his choice,so as harold is not a resident of this area in which this venue is proposed why is he so active in generating support to oppose it?.
Perhaps hes afraid that if pcc agree to take homeless people forom outside powys and theres no temporary bolt hole fpor them and with little chance of intergrating into the community owing to the lack of available jobs they will become dss recipients and forced to be accomadated in his flats,perhaps pcc will pay harold an incentive to accomadate these people,surely not, that cant be his point of interest.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Like sh*t on a stick
just when we thought it was safer or even safer.
despite councillor Keith Tampin being disposed from his county council seat owing to a vacancy in the south ward he has returned or probably as he would put it he has arisen.
i used to beleive that you had to live in the ward district to be nominated and elected but obviously cllr tampin has so many friends on the council that he has returned.
despite councillor Keith Tampin being disposed from his county council seat owing to a vacancy in the south ward he has returned or probably as he would put it he has arisen.
i used to beleive that you had to live in the ward district to be nominated and elected but obviously cllr tampin has so many friends on the council that he has returned.
Monday, 30 June 2008
migrant workers exploited
Heres an example of how the system of migrant workers are being exploited and whilst recognising it is in no way comparable to the way staff at the Metropole are treated or rewarded it emphasises the potential to exploit when there is an endless supply of cheap and accessible labour.
It is typical of the way the 'borgoise' can maximise their profits whilst at the same time furthering social ills.
Atthe metropole the migratory staff are mostly contracted through agencies and are made to work long unsociable hours for wages that work out at barely the minimum wage when you consider the length of shifts and the times of the day that the shifts cover.
it also alienates the large number of local unemployed who quite rightly decide not to put up with such measures in 2008.
Gangsters make migrants work on building site for 22p an hour
EXCLUSIVE: Scandal of immigrant builders who work for peanuts with no sick pay or holidays
(What's this?)Ruthless gangmasters are putting migrants to work on building sites for as little as 22p an hour.
The scandalous pay abuse saw one man get £8.80 for a 39-hour week and another £66 for 70 hours.
Mean bosses are illegally deducting large sums from wages for rent and utility bills - leaving many workers destitute. One had £228 taken in a week for tools.
Despite grafting round the clock, most do not get overtime, sick pay or holidays.
Scandalously, the worst example of the modern-day slavery was found on a £600million Government redevelopment site.
But with 800,000 immigrants having arrived from Eastern Europe in four years, it is feared the abuse could be far more widespread.
Alan Ritchie, boss of construction union UCATT, said: "This case is the worst we have seen, these workers were virtually destitute.
"We have been building up a big file on abuses of ganged workers.
"The fact it has occurred on a Private Finance Initiative site using taxpayers money is scandalous."
In the worst case the Mirror uncovered, Lithuanian men were recruited to work on the Government site by small dry wall lining firm called Produm Ltd.
Payslips show on top of money deducted for accommodation, each man had £76.80 taken weekly as their payment to the "construction industry scheme".
This basically registers them as self-employed - meaning their employer does not have to pay National Insurance But it is in breach of the law because none of the workers are believed to have given consent.
The pay abuse only came to light after some workers' wages stopped altogether with Produm owing up to five weeks' pay.
Last night most of the workers were too frightened to talk.
But one colleague, who refused to be named, said: "At the beginning of this month there were seven workers living in a cramped three bedroom flat in Mansfield. They cycle to work every day and are very hard grafters.
"They are being paid around £6 an hour but were hit heavily by illegal deductions which left them with next to nothing to take home.
"One week Produm took rent or tool money, then they'd take for utility bills, it was unbelievable.
"They struggled to find money for food some weeks. £8.80 won't even get you a few pints."
The migrants had been working at the Kings Mill hospital site in Mansfield, Notts, which is a closelymonitored development. According to industry guidelines, workers there should earn a basic £7.31 an hour.
Experts said wages of the man paid £8.80 for 39 hours makes a mockery of the National Minimum Wage, which is £5.52 an hour.
It is typical of the way the 'borgoise' can maximise their profits whilst at the same time furthering social ills.
Atthe metropole the migratory staff are mostly contracted through agencies and are made to work long unsociable hours for wages that work out at barely the minimum wage when you consider the length of shifts and the times of the day that the shifts cover.
it also alienates the large number of local unemployed who quite rightly decide not to put up with such measures in 2008.
Gangsters make migrants work on building site for 22p an hour
EXCLUSIVE: Scandal of immigrant builders who work for peanuts with no sick pay or holidays
(What's this?)Ruthless gangmasters are putting migrants to work on building sites for as little as 22p an hour.
The scandalous pay abuse saw one man get £8.80 for a 39-hour week and another £66 for 70 hours.
Mean bosses are illegally deducting large sums from wages for rent and utility bills - leaving many workers destitute. One had £228 taken in a week for tools.
Despite grafting round the clock, most do not get overtime, sick pay or holidays.
Scandalously, the worst example of the modern-day slavery was found on a £600million Government redevelopment site.
But with 800,000 immigrants having arrived from Eastern Europe in four years, it is feared the abuse could be far more widespread.
Alan Ritchie, boss of construction union UCATT, said: "This case is the worst we have seen, these workers were virtually destitute.
"We have been building up a big file on abuses of ganged workers.
"The fact it has occurred on a Private Finance Initiative site using taxpayers money is scandalous."
In the worst case the Mirror uncovered, Lithuanian men were recruited to work on the Government site by small dry wall lining firm called Produm Ltd.
Payslips show on top of money deducted for accommodation, each man had £76.80 taken weekly as their payment to the "construction industry scheme".
This basically registers them as self-employed - meaning their employer does not have to pay National Insurance But it is in breach of the law because none of the workers are believed to have given consent.
The pay abuse only came to light after some workers' wages stopped altogether with Produm owing up to five weeks' pay.
Last night most of the workers were too frightened to talk.
But one colleague, who refused to be named, said: "At the beginning of this month there were seven workers living in a cramped three bedroom flat in Mansfield. They cycle to work every day and are very hard grafters.
"They are being paid around £6 an hour but were hit heavily by illegal deductions which left them with next to nothing to take home.
"One week Produm took rent or tool money, then they'd take for utility bills, it was unbelievable.
"They struggled to find money for food some weeks. £8.80 won't even get you a few pints."
The migrants had been working at the Kings Mill hospital site in Mansfield, Notts, which is a closelymonitored development. According to industry guidelines, workers there should earn a basic £7.31 an hour.
Experts said wages of the man paid £8.80 for 39 hours makes a mockery of the National Minimum Wage, which is £5.52 an hour.
Friday, 27 June 2008
its been a while! and lots has happened.
so due to other commitments its been some time since ive posted.Ive also missed laurences messages,i guess hes caught up in business.
Drinks ban!
ok as foreseen the ban looks likely to take place and after the delay caused by powys county council it is likely to become official in august.
So we all knew it would happen.....but...... due to the intervention of humane locals such as david peters those who were drinking in the gardens have dissappeard from sight.....perhaps baird murray or venter has had them disposed of.
actually davidpeters has helped solve their social problems which was always the way forward but not good enough for the hang em and flog em brigade.
May elections
hope it wasnt connected to the negative publicity over the ban but long time county councilor keith tampin got kicked out on his arse....couldnt of happened to a moredeserving person.....although he was beaten by a tory!
so congrats to mike hodges,although david peters also got voted out due in part to harold nichols smear campaign,someone who has benefitedfrom dss tennants in the past but now refuses to house them and in doing so contributes to llandods social problems of which he often voices his displeasure.
what goes around comes around.
Post office closures
of the two sub post offices targeted to close the tremont stores branch has been saved.proprieter and newly elected tory councillor mike hodges is obviously delighted as we all are its just a shame that the tory machine seem to be using it to further their own needs.
typical!!!
Drinks ban!
ok as foreseen the ban looks likely to take place and after the delay caused by powys county council it is likely to become official in august.
So we all knew it would happen.....but...... due to the intervention of humane locals such as david peters those who were drinking in the gardens have dissappeard from sight.....perhaps baird murray or venter has had them disposed of.
actually davidpeters has helped solve their social problems which was always the way forward but not good enough for the hang em and flog em brigade.
May elections
hope it wasnt connected to the negative publicity over the ban but long time county councilor keith tampin got kicked out on his arse....couldnt of happened to a moredeserving person.....although he was beaten by a tory!
so congrats to mike hodges,although david peters also got voted out due in part to harold nichols smear campaign,someone who has benefitedfrom dss tennants in the past but now refuses to house them and in doing so contributes to llandods social problems of which he often voices his displeasure.
what goes around comes around.
Post office closures
of the two sub post offices targeted to close the tremont stores branch has been saved.proprieter and newly elected tory councillor mike hodges is obviously delighted as we all are its just a shame that the tory machine seem to be using it to further their own needs.
typical!!!
Friday, 28 March 2008
victoriana or something more modern
below is a copy of the fast becoming famous article that apperaed in the Guardian! the saturday that wales rugby won the grand slam.
It claims that llandrindod is the party town of the WHOLE of BRITAIN!
with more drinking spots per head then any other town.
The question then if this article is to be believed is does the council support this claim and the fact there are going to be drunken revellers marauding the streets as thats what happens in the big cities and towns.
what about the towns genteel victorian image.
its going to be a tough one for Cllr Tampin and the boys as alcohol and all that it brings with it is economiclly viable, or will they be setting up exclusion drinking zones or is that just for local alcoholics who have seemed to have dissapeared from temple gardens of late.
Paul Rees
Saturday March 15, 2008
The Guardian
Why Wales is on a high, and it's not just the Rugby
Singing sensation
Duffy, currently No1 in the singles charts with Mercy and at the top of the album rankings with Rockferry, is from Gwynedd.
Sienna Miller's moving in
Yesterday's Mirror quoted the actor as saying that she "loves Wales". "I think it is the most beautiful country in the world," she "told pals".
The place to party
Llandrindod Wells (pop: 5,024) was recently named the best place to go out in all of Britain, having more pubs, wine bars, restaurants and takeaways per capita than any other town.
Unmissable sights
It's not just the castles: the National Slate Museum in Llanberis is home to the largest working waterwheel in mainland Britain.
Boxing and sheepdog trials
Last year Gavin Rees became Wales' 10th boxing world champion. Other recent sporting achievements include Aled Owen winning the 2007 International Sheepdog Trials with his faithful partner Roy.
It claims that llandrindod is the party town of the WHOLE of BRITAIN!
with more drinking spots per head then any other town.
The question then if this article is to be believed is does the council support this claim and the fact there are going to be drunken revellers marauding the streets as thats what happens in the big cities and towns.
what about the towns genteel victorian image.
its going to be a tough one for Cllr Tampin and the boys as alcohol and all that it brings with it is economiclly viable, or will they be setting up exclusion drinking zones or is that just for local alcoholics who have seemed to have dissapeared from temple gardens of late.
Paul Rees
Saturday March 15, 2008
The Guardian
Why Wales is on a high, and it's not just the Rugby
Singing sensation
Duffy, currently No1 in the singles charts with Mercy and at the top of the album rankings with Rockferry, is from Gwynedd.
Sienna Miller's moving in
Yesterday's Mirror quoted the actor as saying that she "loves Wales". "I think it is the most beautiful country in the world," she "told pals".
The place to party
Llandrindod Wells (pop: 5,024) was recently named the best place to go out in all of Britain, having more pubs, wine bars, restaurants and takeaways per capita than any other town.
Unmissable sights
It's not just the castles: the National Slate Museum in Llanberis is home to the largest working waterwheel in mainland Britain.
Boxing and sheepdog trials
Last year Gavin Rees became Wales' 10th boxing world champion. Other recent sporting achievements include Aled Owen winning the 2007 International Sheepdog Trials with his faithful partner Roy.
Monday, 17 March 2008
it's all kicking off!
there has been quite a few feathers flying around the old town lately.
Mike Parkers tv show 'great welsh roads 4' visited llandod and mr parker proceded to pour scorn on the idea of a town basing its future on its victorian past.mr parker doesnt think much of the idea of a town basing its future on its victorian past,and made mocking commentsto the effect that why doesnt the town go the whole way bysending kids up chimneys and adding cholera to the water suply.Mildly amusing but taken out of context by a precious few.
these sentiments have been opposed by the town council of course but supported by some of the locals.
the county times journo andrew Morris added flames to the fire with a muck raking sensationalist piece of tatty journalism as well.
By Andrew Morris
SHOCKING claims that could damage the image of Powys' county town have been made by an ITV television presenter.
Last night's episode of Great Welsh Roads, saw presenter Mike Parker, 41, travel through Llandrindod Wells and onto other towns in Powys.
It was while visiting the town during last year's Victorian Festival in August that he said on camera: "Why don't they go the whole hog and introduce cholera in the town's water supply or send the kids up the chimneys?"
ITV's programme synopsis added insult to injury, claiming: "Llandrindod Wells' Victorian past seems to be the only key on offer to the town's future."
The comments have been blasted by irate county councillor Gary Price, who said that if Mr Parker re-visited the town, he would see an area undergoing great regeneration in preparation for a promising future.
He said: "These comments are shocking. They could damage the image of the county town of
Powys. I really don't think that Mr Parker has seen enough of the town to offer a full and fair judgement.
"If he came to speak to me or anyone else from the town it would be clear to him that we are an area that is not relying on the past for the future.
"We are soon to be welcoming a new out-of-town development for the emergency services, while last year £2.5million was spent on updating older buildings.
"The Victorian Festival is a time of celebration of our past, yes, and it attracts tourists from far and wide, but we are a town on the up."
Councillor Derek Law, Mayor of Llandrindod Wells, supported Cllr Price's views, he said: "I would depricate any suggestion that we have nothing to offer, we have plenty to offer.
"Yes as far as the Victorian past is concerned it is very acceptable and very popular and it brings alot of people in. But we also happen to have alot of wonderful parks. How many towns are there in Britain where the green truly comes into the town?"
We also have the lake which people come from far and wide to see, from Wales and beyond. As well as our beautiful neighbouring countryside", he added.
Cllr Price also stressed that he was worried Mr Parker's comments about cholera could give some people ideas.
"What kind of comments are these? To say this could be dangerous. Imagine if someone listened to him and upset the watercourse. And as for saying that about our youth, I'm speechless.
"I grew up in Llandrindod Wells and know that while every town has a few bad eggs, the youth here are good people.
heres some of the letters that have appeared from old and young alike!
"grumpy youth",Llandrindod 29/02/2008 20:50:54
I personally agree with Mike Parkers comments , along with my family, friends and colleagues. This town offers nothing at all for people who aren't over the age of 70.
Apart from one measly attempt at a night club there is nothing here for us young people. When one of our local buisness men offered us a bowling alley and many other things in one building the people of the town turned it down because they were afraid of the noise, there are only elderly people in the council so no young people's views are being heard. If it was not for my job I would of left town along time ago along with most of my friends. There is nothing to keep us here, along with settens possibly closing down it brings little hope of anyone staying in town.
We have in place a conservation order, this means we are not allowed double glazing along with sky dishes on the front's of our house's. Although this seems quite a nice idea I feel the only reason this is in place is beacuse the councilors want us to keep up the victorian image. There is no hope of us ever moving into the 21st century, the sooner we do that and drop the 'retirement village' image the better for the town. We do not want to wreck the town or cause havoc but to have somewhere to shop, somewhere to go out, something to do on the weekends, a job!!
The only thing this place has to offer is it's scenery and the dreaded victorian week...
that wa a leeter from a young person and heres one from a senior citizen!
Victorian slurs are close to the truth
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »
View GalleryVICTORIAN slurs: i note your story in the County Times of February 29.
Mike Parker's comments are a little over the top, but he is not far from the truth.
I was born here 65 years ago. Yes this town tries to live in the past. Yes the Victorian Festival brings in a lot of people just for a few days a year, but for the benefit of a few, mostly hotels who employ foreign staff, like they did in the 50s and 60s. Then they had staff from Italy.
This a town run by councillors who live in the past, as always nothing for the young, that's, why they wander the streets.
It was never any different in the 50s and 60s. It's run by councillors who as always have their snouts in the trough at Powys county hall.
As for it being a town on the up and up, it seems to me it's become a town for dropouts from all over the country. It's a town of day people and night people.
As for the regeneration, very nice if you own the property. But as always, nothing for the young, very little work here outside of powys council.
Will it change? I don't think so.
lon cwm
Llandrindod wells
Mike Parkers tv show 'great welsh roads 4' visited llandod and mr parker proceded to pour scorn on the idea of a town basing its future on its victorian past.mr parker doesnt think much of the idea of a town basing its future on its victorian past,and made mocking commentsto the effect that why doesnt the town go the whole way bysending kids up chimneys and adding cholera to the water suply.Mildly amusing but taken out of context by a precious few.
these sentiments have been opposed by the town council of course but supported by some of the locals.
the county times journo andrew Morris added flames to the fire with a muck raking sensationalist piece of tatty journalism as well.
By Andrew Morris
SHOCKING claims that could damage the image of Powys' county town have been made by an ITV television presenter.
Last night's episode of Great Welsh Roads, saw presenter Mike Parker, 41, travel through Llandrindod Wells and onto other towns in Powys.
It was while visiting the town during last year's Victorian Festival in August that he said on camera: "Why don't they go the whole hog and introduce cholera in the town's water supply or send the kids up the chimneys?"
ITV's programme synopsis added insult to injury, claiming: "Llandrindod Wells' Victorian past seems to be the only key on offer to the town's future."
The comments have been blasted by irate county councillor Gary Price, who said that if Mr Parker re-visited the town, he would see an area undergoing great regeneration in preparation for a promising future.
He said: "These comments are shocking. They could damage the image of the county town of
Powys. I really don't think that Mr Parker has seen enough of the town to offer a full and fair judgement.
"If he came to speak to me or anyone else from the town it would be clear to him that we are an area that is not relying on the past for the future.
"We are soon to be welcoming a new out-of-town development for the emergency services, while last year £2.5million was spent on updating older buildings.
"The Victorian Festival is a time of celebration of our past, yes, and it attracts tourists from far and wide, but we are a town on the up."
Councillor Derek Law, Mayor of Llandrindod Wells, supported Cllr Price's views, he said: "I would depricate any suggestion that we have nothing to offer, we have plenty to offer.
"Yes as far as the Victorian past is concerned it is very acceptable and very popular and it brings alot of people in. But we also happen to have alot of wonderful parks. How many towns are there in Britain where the green truly comes into the town?"
We also have the lake which people come from far and wide to see, from Wales and beyond. As well as our beautiful neighbouring countryside", he added.
Cllr Price also stressed that he was worried Mr Parker's comments about cholera could give some people ideas.
"What kind of comments are these? To say this could be dangerous. Imagine if someone listened to him and upset the watercourse. And as for saying that about our youth, I'm speechless.
"I grew up in Llandrindod Wells and know that while every town has a few bad eggs, the youth here are good people.
heres some of the letters that have appeared from old and young alike!
"grumpy youth",Llandrindod 29/02/2008 20:50:54
I personally agree with Mike Parkers comments , along with my family, friends and colleagues. This town offers nothing at all for people who aren't over the age of 70.
Apart from one measly attempt at a night club there is nothing here for us young people. When one of our local buisness men offered us a bowling alley and many other things in one building the people of the town turned it down because they were afraid of the noise, there are only elderly people in the council so no young people's views are being heard. If it was not for my job I would of left town along time ago along with most of my friends. There is nothing to keep us here, along with settens possibly closing down it brings little hope of anyone staying in town.
We have in place a conservation order, this means we are not allowed double glazing along with sky dishes on the front's of our house's. Although this seems quite a nice idea I feel the only reason this is in place is beacuse the councilors want us to keep up the victorian image. There is no hope of us ever moving into the 21st century, the sooner we do that and drop the 'retirement village' image the better for the town. We do not want to wreck the town or cause havoc but to have somewhere to shop, somewhere to go out, something to do on the weekends, a job!!
The only thing this place has to offer is it's scenery and the dreaded victorian week...
that wa a leeter from a young person and heres one from a senior citizen!
Victorian slurs are close to the truth
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »
View GalleryVICTORIAN slurs: i note your story in the County Times of February 29.
Mike Parker's comments are a little over the top, but he is not far from the truth.
I was born here 65 years ago. Yes this town tries to live in the past. Yes the Victorian Festival brings in a lot of people just for a few days a year, but for the benefit of a few, mostly hotels who employ foreign staff, like they did in the 50s and 60s. Then they had staff from Italy.
This a town run by councillors who live in the past, as always nothing for the young, that's, why they wander the streets.
It was never any different in the 50s and 60s. It's run by councillors who as always have their snouts in the trough at Powys county hall.
As for it being a town on the up and up, it seems to me it's become a town for dropouts from all over the country. It's a town of day people and night people.
As for the regeneration, very nice if you own the property. But as always, nothing for the young, very little work here outside of powys council.
Will it change? I don't think so.
lon cwm
Llandrindod wells
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