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Massive Leisure Development for Holyhead

It is hoped the plans will offset the loss of 400 jobs when the firm closed most of its operations two years ago.
A leisure resort could be developed on land owned by Anglesey Aluminium Metals near Holyhead, creating up to 600 jobs.

The company said they intended to work with 'tourism developers' Land & Lakes, Anglesey Council and the Welsh Government to develop what is currently run as a country park. Land and Lakes said its objective is to create a 'quality destination' leisure resort.

Richard Sidi, chief executive of Land and Lakes, said: "Our objective is to create a 'quality destination' leisure resort of national significance to provide a sustainable economic legacy for the area. This is a unique site in a unique location and we are hugely excited about developing our plans for this 'flagship' leisure resort which will include extensive local amenities," he added.

"Land and Lakes has been in talks with Horizon Nuclear Power with regard to the possibility of utilising some of the land to provide accommodation for the nuclear construction workforce," said Mr Sidi. "This would provide enhanced facilities for the resort and the general public," he added.

Anglesey council has welcomed the proposals for the site. The smelting works closed in September 2009. The commissioner with responsibility for economic development, Alex Aldridge, said it was "potentially a huge boost to both Holyhead and Anglesey".

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "I am delighted that the owners of Anglesey Aluminium have announced these ambitious plans to bring both investment and jobs to Holyhead."

He said the plans could "enhance the tourism offer of both Anglesey and north west Wales".

Duchess of Cambridge walks down the aisle - at Waitrose!

A couple of weeks ago she was walking up the aisle in front of a global audience of billions. Now, a dressed-down Duchess of Cambridge is strolling down aisles of a more mundane kind as she does the weekly shop.

In a loose-fitting green poncho and white V-neck sweatshirt worn with skinny jeans and ballet pumps, Kate pushed a trolley among dozens of shoppers at Waitrose in Menai Bridge.

Onlookers said she had a spring in her step as she filled several carrier bags and loaded them into the boot of her Audi A3. No doubt her already buoyant mood was lifted further with the news that she and Prince William are to take America by storm with a whirlwind visit to Hollywood this summer. There they will receive the full celebrity treatment and no doubt help the Isle of Anglesey to gain international acclaim.

Kate smiled at locals as well as the photographer as she ‘skipped’ across the car park to return her empty trolley before driving back to the remote farmhouse that she shares with her new husband.

For anyone who has remained oblivious to months of build-up to their wedding, the only clues to Kate’s royal status were three police bodyguards, a back-up car and the jewellery on her wedding finger. Tucked behind her sapphire engagement ring was the plain Welsh gold band that marked her transformation from a commoner into Her Royal Highness at the end of last month and will eventually guarantee her a seat on the throne.

Early Sightings of Bottle Nose Dolphins off Anglesey

Another plus for the Isle of Anglesey. As if the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge haven't boosted the island enough, Anglesey offers yet more treasures to the "would-be" purchasers of holiday homes. Dolphin-watchers on Anglesey got an early-season surprise when a bottlenose calf was spotted.

The bottlenose dolphin calf was spotted with its mother and is thought to have been born in November 2009.

UK bottlenose dolphins give birth in the summer months so this is quite early. The sighting continues a trend of changing behaviour, with Scottish east-coast dolphins having been spotted further south last year than ever before.
Dolphins on the west-coast of Scotland have also been seen off the Irish and Cornish coasts.

Sea Watch research director Dr Peter Evans is keen to continue monitoring their movements. "We need to understand more about them to shape conservation policies, which will allow the dolphins to thrive in UK waters."
"We can learn a lot from the dolphins around the UK - the way they live and the challenges they face," he said.
Sea Watch are currently planning their annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch, running from 7 to 15 August.
The event encourages the public to send in photos of the fins of dolphins from around the UK. The photos help to provide more information on dolphin movement patterns and behaviour.

Prince William may buy a House on Anglesey

THE Queen had to hang on to her hat last Friday when she visited grandson Prince William’s RAF base in Anglesey in high winds. She and Duke of Edinburgh saw William for the first time in his working environment as he gave them a personal tour of a search and rescue helicopter at RAF Valley.

The couple were greeted by station commander Group Captain Bruce Hedley, and were played the National Anthem before being taking to the search and rescue headquarters (SAR), where Prince William carries out his duties. The visit comes as the prince has been speaking of the importance of his work after showing his skills in a practice mission. William, who also revealed his nerves over his forthcoming wedding, met his grandmother in a hangar next to the SAR building, where he greeted her with a “hello” and a kiss.

He said: “I was worried your hat would blow off” before showing her and the Duke around an RAF Sea King helicopter.

In an interview with the BBC William emphsised how much he and his future wife Kate have enjoyed living on Anglesey and that they did not discount the possibility of having a home here in the future. Anglesey Property

Wylfa B Under Threat

Protesters on Menai Bridge campaign against a new nuclear power station at Wylfa. The new power station is being planned by Horizon Nuclear Power to replace the old Magnox reactor currently reaching the end of it's service with two or three new reactors.

The project, if progressed would create hundreds of much needed jobs on Anglesey and is seen by many as the great white hope for the island in the coming years. However, in the wake of the recent Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami and the subsequent radiation scare from the Fukushima reactors, governments around the world are reviewing their position on the concept of nuclear fuel and the risks that it inevitably carries.

Alan Raymant from Horizon said that the industry had been shocked by what happenned in Japan and insisted that lessons will be learnt for Wylfa. The Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has cast considerable doubt on whether nuclear plants would ever be built. A new power station at Wylfa B would certainly boost the property market in Amlwch and the surrounding areas, if not the whole of Anglesey. Particularly the lettings market which is currently relatively weak.

Wills and Kate attend their first Official Engagement on their own doorstep

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been welcomed by crowds of hundreds of people on their first official engagement as a couple. Miss Middleton cracked open a bottle of champagne on a new RNLI lifeboat at Trearddur Bay on Anglesey. The prince, who is based at RAF Valley, told the crowd: "I do the talking, she does the fun bit". Miss Middleton sang the Welsh national anthem, as well as a hymn in Welsh.

A palace spokesman said the couple asked for their first joint engagement to be on the island, where they have a rented home. They arrived by black Land Rover, and were met by a welcome party before attending an official ceremony. Miss Middleton wore a cream tailored coat, with brown velvet trim and had her hair swept up into a pony tail and fastened with a black feathered fascinator. The Prince wore a dark suit and winter coat.

Both joined in to sing God Save The Queen, followed by the Welsh anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, as Miss Middleton showed an early grasp of the Welsh language. At the lifeboat dedication ceremony, the prince spoke briefly in Welsh to applause from the crowd. He preceded his speech by paying tribute to Welsh rescue workers who travelled to help those caught up in this week's earthquake in New Zealand.