Museum stages art competition

Llan event showcases food and drink sector

 

* Rhian Cattell with her company's new roasting machine.

 

A coffee roasting company is brewing up plans to double the size of the business.

 

Denbigh-based Owen & Edwards will be one of the star attractions at an event to promote the food and drink industry in Denbighshire.

 

Another role model at the A Taste for Local networking event at Llangollen's International Pavilion on Wednesday March 9 will be Ruthin-based Patchwork Pate which is about to launch the UK’s only dairy-free chicken parfait.

 

The aim of the event being organised by Denbighshire County Council is to give people involved in the hospitality and tourism industries the chance to mingle with some of the county’s top local producers.   

 

It's being held as part of Denbighshire Business Month starting on March 2 and people wanting to attend can do so via the website Denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness

 

Richard and Rhian Cattell launched Owen & Edwards a year ago and have since built up a solid customer base at cafes and restaurants across the Clwydian Range area.

 

After investing around £20,000 in state of the art coffee roasting equipment they are now aiming to brew up even more success by doubling the size of their business with an expanded range of products and a much larger number of sales outlets.

 

Rhian said: “We’re both coffee lovers and decided to start the business as something we could do and enjoy together.

 

“We developed Owen & Edwards with a coffee roasting business owned by my husband’s family in Devon and they have given us lots of help with it.

 

“We came up with our own blend called Espresso No.1 and began distributing the coffee around the Denbigh area.

 

“We gradually developed our range to include blends called Famau, after the mountain, and Hiraethog after the moorland above Denbigh, along with a decaf.

 

“We are doing well with our local customers but have decided to step things up by making a major investment in a roaster, which is now installed at our base on the Denbigh Industrial Estate.

 

“This now gives us the ability to expand into other areas such as Llangollen and Wrexham and to double the number of places where our products are on sale. We’ll also be looking to expand our range of blends.”

 

Rhian added: “We both have other part time jobs – myself with a housing association and Richard as a project manager – and cover the coffee business between us during the week.  But we're now getting to the stage where it can support more of our time, which is great news."

 

“We’re really looking forward to the networking event in Llangollen where we’re hoping to get some fresh business opportunities and meet new customers.”

 

Also eager to meet new people to do business with at the March 9 event is Rufus Carter from Patchwork Paté.

 

Rufus said: “The dairy-free chicken parfait is designed to appeal to the growing `free-from’ market – free from wheat, sugar and dairy.

 

“The parfait is traditionally a smooth pate made with 60 per cent butter. But we’ll be using a machine developed for the paint industry to inject vegetable oils into the recipe.

 

“We began to develop the new product in January and it is due to be launched in April.

 

“From our point of view meeting potential new customers at the Llangollen networking day is a fantastic opportunity and we’re looking forward to being there.”

 

Another Denbighshire based business saying cheers to the event is former computer software programmer Alyn Ashworth, founder of Denbigh Brewery, or Bragdy Dinbych in Welsh.

 

He said: “I produce a range of beers including a light and hoppy bitter called John the Thumbs, a brown ale called Earl’s Folly, Goblin Tower, which is a ruby mild, a seriously strong ale and a lager.

 

“I also do occasional beers like Christmas Ale and another called Plum Ale, which uses and celebrates the distinctive type of plums that the Denbigh area has long been famous for.

 

Alyn added: “I usually show off my products at events like beer festivals and local food markets, so I’m looking forward to the networking opportunity at Llangollen because I’m a small company with big ideas.”

 

Among the guest speakers at the event will be TV hill farmer Gareth Wyn Jones who will issue as rallying cry for better networking  between food suppliers and producers.

 

Carolyn Brindle, Denbighshire council’s lead officer for Business Support and Local Growth, said by embracing local produce, restaurants could make their businesses distinctive. 

 

 “If a place wants to be chosen as a destination then it has to have a unique and distinct offer,” she said.

 

“Everything from edible flowers, through to bread, beer, meat, ice cream, cider, cheese, whole food bars and much, much more is made in Denbighshire.”

 

Carolyn said March for Business month was designed to help businesses help themselves.

 

"It features a mixture of speakers, workshops, one-to-one advice and networking covering subjects such as HR and employment and social media over the course of the month,” she said.

 

“One particular focus is on promoting our food and drink offer.

 

“We have a number of great producers in the county and we would like to see more B&Bs, retail and hotels using this produce when they refresh their menus, for example.”

 

* A Taste for Local will start at 10.30am and finish at 1.30pm, at Llangollen’s International Pavilion, on Wednesday March 9. People wanting to attend can book their place at Denbighshire.gov.uk/marchforbusiness or ring Janet Turner on 01824 706896.  Places are free but space is limited.

 

AM welcomes pledge on older people's tax break

 

*Ken Skates AM with Llangollen resident Viv Burke.

 

A promise to give older people in North East Wales ‘a £26,000 tax break’ has been welcomed by the area's Assembly Member.

The Welsh Labour has announced six key campaign pledges for May’s Assembly elections.

 

These include doubling the capital limit people can keep from the sale of their homes if they need to go into residential care.

Ken Skates, Labour AM for Clwyd South, said: “We believe that people in old age who need extra help – those who have played fair and paid in – deserve a fairer deal.

 

“We will double the capital limit they will be allowed to keep on the sale of their home should they need to go into care – effectively a £26,000 tax break for thousands of older people in Wales.”

 

Mr Skates’ constituent Viv Burke, who suffers from a degenerative condition, said the pledge would be ‘a huge help to older people and their families’.

Viv, from Llangollen, added: “My mother is in care. This would be massive for countless people like me and families like mine, and a reward for those of us who have paid their way all their lives.”

Other Welsh Labour pledges include tax cuts for all small businesses and free childcare for working parents.

Warning over council tax refund calls

Trading Standards officers in Denbighshire are warning residents to be on their guard against potential scam phone calls advising of a council tax refund.

 

The warning comes after reports were received that residents are being telephoned and the caller has some personal information such as their name, address and council tax banding.

 

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager said: “This appears to be a national scam or at least a variation on similar events reported nationally.  Our advice is to put the phone down on these scammers and then report the call.  Anyone concerned about their Council Tax account is able to get more help from calling 01824 706468.

 

"If people think they've been scammed, or know someone who has fallen victim to a scam, they can get advice and report it to trading standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06, for the Welsh language service call 03454 04 05 05, or alternatively report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, to help stop it happening to others."

 

Steam Gala comes powering into Llan

*Headliner: Dinmore Manor. 

Llangollen Railway's Spring Steam Gala will take place over three days from Friday 8th April to Sunday 10th April.

Headlining the event are two very special guests: 4-6-0 No. 7820 "Dinmore Manor" and Small Prairie class 2-6-2T No. 4566.

The gala should also feature the return of the railway's resident 4-6-0 No.7822 "Foxcote Manor" following a major overhaul, supplementing locos from the LR's home fleet: 5199, 6430 & 80072. Expect to see double headers, express workings and an intensive timetable recalling the sights and sounds of the Cambrian routes in the 1950s and 60s. A gala programme including timetables will be available free from stations when purchasing tickets - while stocks last.

HIGHLIGHTS

* It's the first time two BR unlined black Manors have run together in preservation.
* Recreated named trains and railtours of the 1950s & 60s, including the 'Cambrian Coast Express'.
* First visit of No. 4566 to Llangollen in 25 years!
* Community railway film screening by New Dot Cinema (Friday evening only) in Llangollen town hall
* Illustrated Talk "A History of Railway Preservation" courtesy of the NRM (Saturday evening only).

AT THE STATIONS

Llangollen
* The Station Café Bar - serving fresh coffee, teas, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages as well as freshly prepared sandwiches and cooked meals.
* Yard and shed open for a browse - check out the progress on our new build and under overhaul locos.
* Well stocked retail shop
* Photographic display in the Henry Robertson suite on platform 1

Berwyn
* Station tea room - serving delicious home made sandwiches and cakes.
* Oldest chain link bridge in the world spans the River below the station
* Great photo opportunities from the lineside viewing area at Berwyn Tunnel (1/2 mile walk from the station)

Glyndyfrdwy
* Station tea room - serving delicious home made sandwiches and cakes.
* The Cambrian Bar - featuring a selection of real ales
* Barmouth South Signal Box open as a photographic vantage point overlooking the station
* Station shop on the platform, selling second hand books, railwayana, pictures, prints & DVDs.

Carrog
* Station refreshment room offering Tea, Coffee, freshly made sandwiches, pasties and homemade cakes
* Carriage shops selling second-hand books, railwayana, pictures & DVDs.

Corwen East
* Large car park available adjacent to the station
* Corwen Museum featuring railway displays open to the public (5 - 10 min walk). Free entry.
* Guided site tours around the under construction Corwen Central station.
* Refreshments (subject to availability)

FARES

One Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £23, Senior – £20, Child – £12, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £50
One Day Rover – On the day: Adults – £25, Senior – £22, Child – £16, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £60

Two Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £42, Senior – £36, Child – £22, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £90
Two Day Rover – On the Day: Adults – £45, Senior – £40, Child – £29, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £108

Three Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £55, Senior – £48, Child – £29, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £120
Three Day Rover – On the Day: Adults – £60, Senior – £53, Child – £38, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £144

Standard Return (not available to pre book)  – Adult – £18, Senior – £16, Child – £10, Family – £48.

Full details including the latest programme can be found at: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-8th-april/

           

County completes traveller site study

Denbighshire County Council has completed an assessment of gypsy and traveller accommodation and will be presenting its findings to the Welsh Government later this month.

 

All local authorities are required to undertake an up to date assessment by February 26 and every five years after that.

 

The 2015-16 assessment has been carried out jointly with Conwy County Borough Council.

 

This was as a result of the 2013 assessment which called for a shared transit site for the two authorities as a high proportion of unauthorised encampments occur in the north of the county in the border area.

 

The county does not currently have any authorised sites for gypsies and travellers.

 

Councillor Hugh Irving, Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, said: “The latest assessment has revealed a clear need for a transit site(s) or stopping place given the incidence of unauthorised encampments and under the Housing (Wales) Act, the Council will be required to address this need.

 

“The need for any future provision of sites is a regional issue, given the movement of gypsies and travellers in North Wales and the limited Welsh Government funding available for sites."

 

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, said: “New guidance from the Welsh Government specifies that authorities should consider a regional approach in relation to the development of new gypsy and traveller transit sites and Cabinet has approved this approach."

Museum hosts history talk tonight