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North Wales Live
7 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
Delayed plans to redevelop North Wales hospital branded a 'farce'
An outspoken Rhyl councillor has slammed the Welsh Government, describing plans to develop Rhyl's Alexandra Hospital as a 'farce' and 'political stick'. Last week a Denbighshire Council scrutiny committee spoke about a delayed meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which had been put back from September to October. Betsi chiefs attended a council meeting in February where Denbighshire councillors were told to expect a planning application for an extension to the hospital between March and August. But despite it already being mid-July, a planning application is yet to be submitted, leading to several Denbighshire councillors calling for Betsi to attend a now-postponed September meeting to 'face the music'. Originally planned as a project that would cost tens of millions, the new plans have been scaled back post pandemic, but the health board have said construction could start in the first quarter of 2026. Betsi is targeting Welsh Government funds, which are yet to be secured, with the new building planned as 'a third-sector hub' supporting patients, as well as having support services such as catering facilities, reception, and staff rest areas – with a café also to be part of the plans. S ign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. The health board say the plans will also include a bedded unit and minor injuries and ailments unit. But after his comments at last week's scrutiny committee, Rhyl Conservative councillor Brian Jones is claiming the Welsh Government is using the hospital as a 'cheap vote-winning trick'. 'Whilst any commencement of work to the Royal Alex is to be welcomed, I have to say the project that is on the table is a very poor shadow of the original project,' he said. 'A lot of local people are ex-health board employees. The whole thing is a farce. This is being used as a political stick to try and hoodwink the electorate that they are going to be building an extension in Rhyl and mirrors what happened at the last Senedd elections, whereby Betsi Cadwaladr was taken out of special measures just before the elections. It then went back into special measures, and it is still in special measures now.' He added: 'If they turn up and come to the scrutiny meeting in October, the question will be raised: Is this a political move to try and push this new Rhyl development forward as what happened previous to the last elections? It appeared to be just a cheap vote-winning trick.' Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's Central Integrated Health Community Director Gareth Evans responded to the criticism. 'We are in regular contact with Denbighshire County Council about the progress of the Royal Alexandra Hospital development,' he said. 'A contract has been awarded to design the new build element of the site, and a planning application will be submitted within the next month or so. We have repeatedly confirmed the new-build plans include a bedded unit and Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit (MIAU). 'The progression of the scheme is conditional on formal board approval, planning permission being granted, and Welsh Government approval of our full business case. "We expect all elements to have been submitted by the end of the calendar year and, if successful, would hope to start construction in early 2026. "Reparations and improvements to the existing Royal Alex site are planned to go ahead separately to the new build.' A spokesman for Welsh Government added: 'We are awaiting a revised full business case for the Royal Alexandra Hospital to be submitted to us by the health board later this year. The scheme, if approved, would receive funding from the NHS All-Wales Capital Programme and Integration & Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF).'
Rhyl Journal
15-07-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Royal Alexandra Hospital redevelopment thrown into doubt
In February this year Denbighshire Council's partnerships scrutiny committee was updated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on plans for the hospital. At the meeting, councillors were told that the health board is now planning a much smaller building on site than the one originally proposed before the pandemic, having presented a business case to Welsh Government. The committee was informed about the scope of the work and the proposed timescales and the available funding – which is yet to be secured. The new building is planned as 'a third-sector hub' supporting patients, as well as having support services such as catering facilities, reception, and staff rest areas – with a café also to be part of the plans. MORE NEWS: Man charged after 'extremely serious' attack leaves victim in coma Rhyl mourns 'local legend', DJ, biker and community hero Glan Clwyd nurse who was burns victim as child is now inspiring others 25 years later Back in February, the council was given a list of dates from the health board, with a planning application due to be submitted between March and August this year. But as yet, no plans have materialised – despite the proposals being on hold for over a decade. Betsi was due to update councillors at the committee in September, but that meeting has now been delayed until October when a joint partnerships scrutiny and communities meeting will take place instead. Speaking at July's partnerships scrutiny committee at the council's Ruthin County Hall HQ, Rhyl councillor Brian Jones said he wanted Betsi to 'face the music' as planned, despite no update being available. Cllr Jones said: 'I've got the (hospital redevelopment) timeline in front of me. January to April this year, they were going through the procurement. It was ongoing. 'By March to August the planning application (was due). To hear they want to delay is extremely disappointing when you look at the overview of this project on the number of years it has been going on. 'I'd like to propose we have them here in September as per the arrangement that was agreed for them to give us whatever the update is. 'On the timescale they should have hit all these gateways, so I don't think it'll do any harm for gentle persuasion if we get them here in September so they give us a high-level view of where this is. 'Will the new build start in the first quarter of 2026? 'Because that is the date they declared back in February, so I think we should have them back here for what might be an awkward conversation with them, but they need to come and face the music in my book, because there was obviously a lot of interest locally in this. 'It was heralded as a big step forward in February that the spades would be going in the ground in January 2026, and now in this short space of time since February more doubt has been cast over it.' Cllr Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones said: 'They do have us jumping through hoops, don't they? 'Betsi Cadwaladr, they give us this; they give us that; they give us nothing. 'I think we should hold them to account and say, no, you will come. You said you would, and so let's be having you in September. 'It's time we stamp our foot on this because they do mess us about a lot.' Corporate director Gary Williams responded: 'When we talk about making people come to face the music or stand their ground type-thing, the authority can invite people, but it has absolutely no power to summon people to come to the committee.' Mr Williams then reminded councillors they were better waiting for Betsi representatives to be ready, rather than wasting time, adding: 'Are you better having people when they are in a position with something to be able to tell you that you can scrutinise, or do you just want them to be here so you can tell them off?' Cllr Brian Jones said he would eat humble pie if the hospital was built next year, as timescales had indicated. 'I did put on the table back in February I would have baked a cake, a humble pie, and would have eaten it,' he said. 'I still didn't believe these timelines. I still believe there won't be any spades in the ground in 2026, and so I'll keep the humble pie for October or whenever, and I can't see it happening. I can't see this thing happening.' The committee and health board are now scheduled to meet in October.
Newsweek
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Republican Hopes of Turning California Red Evaporating
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Republican Party's hopes of winning the state of California may have taken a hit as the proportion of Republicans registering in the state has declined. According to voter registration data, the number of Republicans in the state is falling. Newsweek contacted the California GOP by email for comment. Why It Matters Historically, California has leaned Democratic. The state has elected a Democrat in every presidential election since 1992. But recent polls have indicated that the tide could be turning. The state shifted toward the GOP by 12 points in 2024 compared to 2020, with Donald Trump increasing his vote share in nearly every county. The Republicans also flipped three seats in the state Legislature last year. This has led some Republican strategists to set their sights on California, with state Senate GOP Leader Brian Jones previously telling Newsweek: "Our mission is clear: break the Democratic supermajority and Fix California. As Senate minority leader, that means flipping four Senate seats next election. Californians are fed up with one-party rule." Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/AP What To Know According to party registration data, the proportion of people in the state who have registered as Republicans has dropped from 28 percent in December 2024 to about 23 percent in June 2025. At the same time, the proportion of those registering as Democrats has increased from about 43 percent in December 2024 to 46 percent in June 2025. The proportion of independents has remained relatively stable. Meanwhile, when only examining new voter registrations—those with no identified voting history—the proportion of new Republicans as a sub-section of the new electorate in general decreased from about 26 percent in December 2024 to 19 percent in June 2025. The data was shared on X, formerly Twitter, by Paul Mitchell for the publication Capitol Weekly. However, it is not over for the GOP since there is well over a year until voters head to the polls in the state. What People Are Saying Thad Kousser, professor of political science and co-director of the Yankelovich Center at the University of California, San Diego, told Newsweek: "Because the president's party so often loses state legislative seats just as they lose congressional seats in a midterm, California's GOP may be playing defense rather than offense in 2026. President Trump's immigration actions, which have been deeply unpopular in this deep blue state, along with his Medicaid and education cuts, may put some incumbent Republicans in danger. But over the long term, California's Republicans can have a realistic hope that the national gains their party made with a broad set of demographic groups will rejuvenate their fortunes in this state." What Happens Next As voters head to vote in the midterms, the California State Legislature elections will be held on November 3, 2026. All 80 seats in the California State Assembly (which has two-year terms) will be up for election. Meanwhile, 20 of the 40 seats in the California State Senate (which has four-year terms) will also be contested.
Cambrian News
02-07-2025
- Business
- Cambrian News
Bow Street FC celebrates 21st junior football festival
Brian Jones, chairman of Castell Howell Foods said: 'As the Bow Street Football Festival reaches a magnificent 21st year of bringing teams together for the best junior football event in the UK, we are very proud to be partners of the event for the fifth year.
CBS News
27-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
California's gas prices are set to increase on July 1. Here's what to know.
Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Confusion grows for California drivers over how much gas prices will go up come July 1 Many Californians are confused by how much more they will be paying at the pump come July 1. Starting July 1, the state excise tax for gas will increase by 2 cents, going from about 59 cents to 61 cents per gallon. That is a number politicians on both sides agree on, but the confusion is coming from the new Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) passed by the California Air Resources Board last fall and how it will impact gas prices. A University of Pennsylvania report found it would be a 65-cent increase, sparking the confusion. Senator Brian Jones created a petition against it that has garnered over 30,000 signatures and counting. In a post on X, he called out Gov. Gavin Newsom. "All Californians have to do is look at their wallet," Jones said. "Their wallets are being emptied every single week as these gas prices continue to climb." UC Davis associate director in the Energy Futures Program, Colin Murphy, said 65 cents is the worst-case scenario. Instead, his models show it would increase by 8 or 9 cents per gallon. "If the credit price spiked up to the ceiling, then 65 cents per gallon would be reasonable; however, there is no evidence suggesting that the credit price is going to rise anywhere near that," Murphy said. Newsom's office released what it is calling a fact-check sheet, saying Republican lawmakers and the oil industry are spreading misinformation. "I think it's very offensive for California motorists who are buying gasoline every day to get to work, for this governor to keep trying to split hairs on how much it is going to be," Jones said. "The bottom line is, it is going to be more." The Office of Administrative Law has not approved LCFS yet, but Murphy believes this action will happen by the end of July. USC associate professor Michael Mische told CBS Sacramento last month that his studies show that the price per gallon by the end of 2026 will be $8. "We built models, multiple models," Mische said. "It really doesn't matter whether it's $8 or $7 or $7.50. The models all indicate the price of gas is going up." Murphy said that it is highly unlikely and a worst-case scenario.
