Towards the end of 2015 Denbighshire council decided to cut back on the element of housing benefit that relates to Careline, an emergency call service installed in the homes of elderly tenants of Pennaf/Clwyd Alyn and possibly other housing associations.
Clwyd Alyn, despite being one of the biggest sponges of public money in North Wales, rounded on its elderly tenants demanding that they should make up the difference by paying more than £110 a year.
In the ensuing row it came to light that Clwyd Alyn had been charging for Careline even in cases where tenants did not have a telephone landline on which Careline operates - and therefore they had no way of accessing the service.
In the short term Clwyd Alyn should make refunds in respect of those people, and then reorganise its finances so as to avoid twisting the arms of its comparatively poor tenants (off whose backs the company has made a fortune over the years).
In the longer term the value of Careline needs to be re-assessed. Some tenants ignore the service and contact the emergency services directly believing it is quicker to do so - because a delay could be fatal.
Some years ago I collapsed with a painful kidney infection, called Careline and heard a voice at the other end say, "It's Sunday night. Can you wait 'til tomorrow and see your GP?"
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DAVID SIMMONDS
David Simmonds of the Labour Party, a member of Rhyl Town Council for Brynhedydd Ward and county councillor for Rhyl East (and ex-Mayor of Rhyl) has been charged with rape.
Read the story in Daily Post:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/former-north-wales-mayor-charged-10672788?ptnr_rid=381515&icid=EM_DailyPost_Nletter_News_smallteaser_Text_Story2
ALBERT GUBAY
Albert Gubay the Rhyl-born entrepreneur and mastermind behind the Kwik Save grocery shops and supermarkets, and Total Fitness keep fit centres, has passed away aged 87:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/albert-gubay-who-founded-kwik-10696149
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ALBERT GUBAY
Albert Gubay the Rhyl-born entrepreneur and mastermind behind the Kwik Save grocery shops and supermarkets, and Total Fitness keep fit centres, has passed away aged 87:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/albert-gubay-who-founded-kwik-10696149
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