West of Centre

Listening to "Thought for the day" on the Today programme yesterday morning, I was reminded of the Catholic principle of subsidiarity. Put simply, subsidiarity is an organsing principle which states that matters ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralised competent authority. The Oxford English dictionary defines it thus: "The idea that a central authority should have a subsidiary function, performing only those tasks which can not be performed more effectively at a more immediate or local level". Apologies for the rather wordy introduction but it makes you think doesn't it? Only this week, North Wales was treated to another example of subsidiarity being badly needed. This time, the story relates to Anglesey County Council. Like all other councils up and down the land, Anglesey has had to find huge savings in it's budget while at the same time putting up council tax by 4.5% - far higher than the current rate of inflation. An Anglesey c...

In North Wales this week, we have witnessed yet more acts of corporate arrogance which continue to anger and infuriate the local population. As I observe events unfold, one thing strikes me in particular. As angry as people undoubtedly are, they don't quite seem to know what to do about it. But that is not their fault. This week alone, three decisions in particular have dominated our local news. The week began with news that the plight of a 90 year old lady had finally been addressed by the local council. But let us not get too carried away with ourselves. It is only the plight of one elderly lady which has been addressed. The decision of the local council to close the three local council-run care homes was met with a good degree of opposition. In the first instance, a young lady from one of the towns affected achieved a petition with over 5,000 signatures. Given the modest size of the local population, that was a considerable achievement. The response of the council to this am...

In recent weeks, we have observed major shifts in international political direction as first Greece and then Spain have thrown their support behind radical left wing political parties. A brief glance at the history books suggests such a move to be far from novel. Following the austerity of the early 1930s, two major ideologies grew throughout Europe. The extreme right wing sought to take over Europe and, mercifully, failed. The extreme left wing existed beyond the symbolic wall in Berlin and it's influence exerted a vice-like grip across Eastern Europe. But when that wall was brought down in 1989, it ushered in the closing days of the far left in mainstream European politics. Until now. Then as now, a sustained period of economic austerity has brought the political pendulum swinging back to the left. In the UK, it is surprising to observe the Labour Party floundering to express itself in the most fertile conditions for left wing politics imaginable. They have either lost their le...

The only constant is change. That has to be the premise. The town of Corwen in North Wales has enormous cultural significance in the context of the Wales and the Welsh culture. It was just outside Corwen in 1400 that Owain Glyndwr declared himself the Prince of Wales. A statue of him remains in the centre of Corwen and he remains the last native Welshman to be Prince of Wales. For 14 years he was a thorn in the side of successive English monarchs and has since become synonymous with the Welsh Independence cause. So Corwen can justifiably boast to be at the epicentre of Welsh culture. The Eisteddfod is a Welsh festival of literature, music and performance. Although the first such event is reputed to have taken place in 1176, the first large national scale event is known to have taken place in Camarthen in 1451 just a few years after the death of Owain Glyndwr. By coincidence, it was in Camarthen in 1997 that the last votes were counted which ushered in the Welsh Assembly Government - ...

After our daughter had died from meningitis in June of 2006, my wife and I made the decision to escape to Europe to grieve. We have never regretted that decision because it gave us the space and the time to try and come to terms with a devastating life event. For me, it was my first long term exposure to French culture and I have remained a Francophile ever since. I have so many happy memories from that time but I would like to share one with you in particular. Before we left France and moved South and East to Italy, we spent a few days in Avignon. It really is a beautiful city with an atmosphere all of it's own. Sitting in the Place de L'Horloge during the famous festival d'Avignon, my eyes wandered to the impressive town hall which featured the large clock which gave it's name to the square. Underneath were written three words. Three simple words which can be found on public buildings throughout France. Three words which emerged in the aftermath of the bloody French R...

On the 27th January 2014, I started a facebook group dedicated to the growth of my local High Street in Denbigh in North Wales. Since that time, 460 local people have joined the group but I am more interested in the effect on our High Street. I am happy to say that since then, my local High Street has become progressively more vibrant. The site of the former Woolworth's still remains vacant but there has been much about which to become more optimistic. Initially, the facebook site became something of a talking shop in which local people cited those areas which were sadly missing fro our high street. The suggestions which came forward were a revelation as a wide variety of local people pointed to the types of shop they would support if such shops were here. On balance, it's fair to say that the independent retail sector in Denbigh has flourished in the last year with a number of new shops opening all of whom are catering well to a hungry market. The events organised by local...

The recent cuts to public services proposed, and in many instances agreed, by Denbighshire county council have caused palpable anger among the residents of the county. The leader of the cabinet charged with making these decisions has repeatedly referred people like me to the Denbighshire county council website to find the information we are seeking. That information is not available on the website as he suggests so for the benefit of anyone living in Denbighshire who really would like to know more about what these cuts will mean, I have spent some time doing the council's job for them. Before I do that though, I wish to be crystal clear about something. I am not disputing that the council has to make savings of approximately £17 million over the next two years. Those cuts have to made and whether I or anyone else disagrees is largely irrelevant. That amount needs to be saved. In Phase 1 of their cuts, Denbighshire county council cabinet has already agreed to making the cuts as pr...