Welsh Country March-April 2017

newsround
Wales' Reports Roundup
Road Safety Initiatives Available
Wealth Of Inspiration For Fans Of Wool And
Natural Fibres
22 nd & 23 rd April
Fibre fans can learn techniques for fantastic felting, perfect
plying, beautiful beading, daring design, wonderful
weaving and scintillating spinning at workshops
being organised as part of the wool and natural fibre
extravaganza at this years Wonderwool Wales.
The hugely-anticipated annual show is taking place from
April 22 nd and 23 rd at the Royal Welsh Showground, Builth
Wells with a programme of Woolschool workshops filled with
lots of ideas for creative endeavour. Participants can learn how
to produce beaded crochet; chain-plied yarn; a woven willow
bark bird or a small mat using Mapuche weaving, a method
used by artisans in southern Chile. For felting enthusiasts, show
organisers are delighted to welcome back talented needle felt
artist, illustrator and sculptor Jenny Barnett who will be showing
how to sculpt wool fleece into a charming little spring lamb.
As usual, visitors to Wonderwool Wales will also have
lots of other opportunities to learn new skills – there will be
demonstrations and have-a-go sessions offered on some of the
stalls; regular demonstrations by members of the Welsh Guilds
of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and hands-on activities in the
interactive area. The show will burst at the seams with stalls,
and special exhibitions and The Sheepwalk, a woolIy take on the
catwalk, will add to the entertainment. U
For more details visit www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk
Motorists in Powys have the opportunity to become safer road
users thanks to a number of road safety initiatives provided by
the county council. Powys County Council’s Road Safety Unit
provides education, training and publicity in an attempt to make
Powys roads safer. The majority of this work is funded by the
Welsh Government.
Some of the initiatives now available to Powys motorists
include Pass Plus Cymru, Driver Theory Refresher, Mature
Motoring, Ride On and Biker Down.
Pass Plus Cymru is a young drivers scheme available to all 17-
25 year olds, consisting of a two-and-a-half hour theory session
and a nine-hour paired practical session. The course, which costs
just £20, also covers motorway and city driving and may help to
reduce insurance costs by making you a safer driver. Full details
can be found at www.dragondriver.com
Drive On is a free one-hour driving assessment, which is
provided for all residents aged 65 years and over. The assessment
is completely confidential and is designed to enable participants
to continue driving with more confidence and safety. Numerous
schemes are also available for motorcyclists. U
For further information email: road.safety@powys.gov.uk or
telephone: 01686 611586.
Watchdog Chief Executive’s Suspension
It has been revealed that the head of the patients' watchdog has
been suspended on full pay since February 2016, however the
Board of Community Health Councils (CHCs) is refusing to say
why chief executive Tony Rucinski was suspended.
Leader of the Welsh Conservatives Andrew RT Davies said:
“This revelation comes completely out of the blue and one is left
wondering why a year has passed without an explanation from
the Welsh Government as to the circumstances of Mr Rucinski’s
suspension. I will be seeking answers from the Cabinet Health
Secretary as to why the decision was made to keep Assembly
Members in the dark over this issue and why this protracted case
hasn’t yet been brought to a conclusion. I note that Mr Rucinski
is still registered as the Chief Executive on CHC’s website along
with two other joint Acting Chief Executives - no doubt at a
considerable expense to the taxpayer. The Cabinet Secretary is
fond of waxing lyrical about transparency, which stands starkly
at odds with this case. I look forward to a full and satisfactory
explanation from the Welsh Government.” U
C Welsh Country Magazine M @WelshCountry www.welshcountry.co.uk
22 Mar-Apr 17