MP slams decision to close HSBC branches

BREAKING NEWS ...

Clwyd South MP has slammed the decision, just announced, by the HSBC bank to close its branches in Ruabon and Chirk.

In a statement she says: "I have just received a letter from HSBC (attached & see email below) that basically informs us that decades of loyalty from residents and business customers in our area count for absolutely nothing as HSBC will be closing its branches in Ruabon and Chirk.

* Susan Elan Jones MP.

"These branches are relied upon by people of all ages to do their personal banking. They are also essential for local businesses of all sizes to do their day-to-day banking. Both branches are situated in areas of growing business development and serve customers from villages around them. HSBC's decision comes after decisions to close branches across many other villages and small towns across the country, including Llangollen, Corwen, Cefn and Rhosllannerchrugog.

"I plan to take HSBC and the UK Government to task over today's shameful decision. The Government is partly to blame for these proposed closures as a couple of years ago BIS (Department of Business, Innovations and Skills) abandoned its agreement with the banking that the last bank in every community should be kept open.

"At around 7pm in the House of Commons, I will be asking the Speaker if I can make an urgent point of order on the floor of the House of Commons to ask a Government Minister to make a statement in Parliament on UK Government policy and its effects on villages and towns UK-wide.

"While I will of course meet with HSBC and present any petitions or other representations from Town and Community Councils in Parliament, I think we have to recognise that what is needed here is co-ordinated national action; and if the Government doesn't act now, our small town and village high streets will suffer even more than they have so far."


LETTER

Susan Elan Jones MP

House of Commons

London,

SW1A 0AA

Dear Ms Elan Jones

 

I am writing to let you know that we have taken the difficult decision to close the HSBC branches in Chirk and Ruabon, which are located within your constituency, on Friday 8 April 2016.

We have made this decision with great reluctance, but after a careful analysis of both branch’s commercial viability it was clear that they are no longer generating the custom necessary to justify their continued operation. As I am sure you will appreciate, customer banking habits have changed dramatically in recent years, with many customers now using branches where they work or using the 24 hour convenience of telephone, mobile and internet banking. In response to these changing patterns we need to ensure that our branches are in the right locations and we invest in the development of our internet and mobile facilities. Unfortunately that means that we sometimes have to close branches to ensure our network remains fit for purpose.

 

We will be writing to each of our customers of Chirk and Ruabon branches on, Monday 11 January 2016 advising them of the closures. Our main priority will be to ensure that we are aware of any difficulties faced by our customers and that our customers’ banking needs will be catered for in the best possible way.  With this in mind, our branch staff will be available to talk through the many alternative ways of banking which are open to our customers, and will take steps to proactively contact customers who may have problems accessing alternative banking facilities. In these cases we will offer them one-to-one appointments to provide customers with advice and practical solutions, including training on phone and internet banking where appropriate.

I also want to stress that the closure will not result in any of our people becoming redundant – all of the Chirk and Ruabon branch staff will be redeployed to other branches.

 

Following the closure, we will automatically transfer the administration of our customers’ accounts to our Wrexham branch which is within 11 miles of Chirk and 5 miles of Ruabon. This branch has longer opening hours, better facilities and more staff to assist with our customers’ banking needs. In addition, there are other HSBC branches at Ruthin and Mold in addition all HSBC and first direct personal current account customers can now access their bank account at Post Office branches. As a result, customers will now also be able to use the Post Office located at 16 Church Street, Chirk, Wrexham LL14 5HA and 1a New High Street, Ruabon, Wrexham Clwyd LL14 6NL both of which are within walking distance of the respective branches, for cash withdrawals, cash deposits, cheque deposits and balance enquiries.

I hope that this helps to explain the reasoning behind this very difficult decision, and to set out how HSBC will provide assistance to our customers affected by the closures. If any individual cases of difficulty are raised with you, I would be grateful if you could bring them to my attention so that we can do our utmost to arrange for appropriate assistance.

If you would like to meet to discuss any of the points raised above, I would be more than happy to do so.  My office can be contacted on 07827 357049 and we can arrange a meeting in due course.

Yours sincerely

Jonathan Byrne

Regional Director

* Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Candidate for Clwyd South, has expressed his severe disappointment at HSBC’s announcement of their intention to close their branches in Chirk and Ruabon.

 

He said: "The closure of the HSBC banks in Chirk and Ruabon is a big blow to both towns. I am really disappointed by these decisions particularly as these branches are the last banks in the communities. 

 

"Bank branches like these are very important to everyone locally, particularly elderly customers, the disadvantaged and local businesses, especially small and medium sized businesses.

 

"It is vital that HSBC make it a top priority to discuss new arrangements with their customers, particularly the elderly, and to lessen the impact of this decision as far as possible if the bank decides to go ahead with these proposals.

 

"Many people locally have been loyal customers for many years and I hope that HSBC will think again before closing these branches."

Police boss urges more victims to come forward

* Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick. 

A police boss has urged more victims of domestic abuse to come forward after the introduction of a new law.

According to North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick, the legislation targets domestic abusers who use controlling behaviour on their victims.

The offence introduces a maximum five-year jail term and fine for controlling or coercive behaviour.

It relates to an intimate or family relationship, and could include humiliation or intimidation, regulating behaviour, isolating people and depriving them of the means to escape such as through access to money.

Mr Roddick said “Controlling and coercive behaviour is despicable crime which can have a devastating and long-lasting impact on the lives of victims.

"It is therefore good news that we now have a new weapon to arrest and punish the perpetrators.

"The legislation recognises that the psychological and emotional impacts of abuse can be just as damaging to individuals' and families' lives as physical abuse. We hope that the introduction of this law will give more victims the confidence to come forward

 

"We are sending a clear message that it is wrong to violate the trust of those closest to us and that emotional and controlling abuse will not be tolerated.

 

The types of behaviour associated with coercion and control include monitoring someone’s time, checking their phone or social media accounts, preventing them from seeing people or having a job, controlling their finances, putting them down, threatening them or someone they love, damaging their things and telling them what to wear.

 

Last year Mr Roddick established a new Victim Help Centre and funded Independent Sexual Violence Advisors and Independent Domestic Violence Advisors.

 

The commissioner revealed the success of the new Victim Help Centre has "exceeded all expectations" with thousands getting in touch asking for help.

The one-stop-shop for victims covers the whole of North Wales and is based at divisional police HQ in St Asaph.

Each victim receives a response specifically tailored to their situation.

Mr Roddick added: "Tackling domestic abuse is a key objective in my Crime and Police Plan which sets a framework for the work of North Wales Police.

"Domestic abuse is  a crime which crosses, age, financial and diversity gaps and is an issue which can and does affect not just those who are being directly subjected to abuse, but also those who see and hear is going on.

 

"Domestic abuse is simply not acceptable and I would urge anyone who is experiencing domestic abuse to seek help. Domestic abuse is not a way of life – it is a crime.

 

"I want victims to realise that North Wales Police attaches importance to this crime and we will dedicate resources to it to ensure that the victim's journey from making a complaint to the police, through the court system and thereafter is made as comfortable and safe as is possible because all the public have a real interest in the complaint being made and being dealt with appropriately.

 

"The message is clear. Come forward and you will be taken seriously and treated sensitively."

17 fined for dog fouling and littering

Denbighshire County Council’s tough stance on dog fouling and littering  in the county continues – with a further 17 people receiving fines through the courts for environmental crime.

 

All 17 individuals received a £75 fine following recent court hearings at Llandudno Magistrates Court. They were also ordered to pay £85 costs and £170 in court costs.

 

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, said: “Our residents have told us they want to live in a clean environment and that is why we have made cleaner, tidy streets one of our main priorities in Denbighshire.

 

“The majority of residents in our county treat the environment with complete respect and that leads to a better quality of life and improves the visual image of the area.

 

“However, there is a minority of people that are responsible for environmental crime such as dog fouling  and littering and don’t clean the mess.  Those are the people we are targeting as part of our on-going education campaign which has received support from local communities.

 

“We will not tolerate examples where people wilfully allow their dogs to foul in public or drop litter.  Enforcement action is very much a last resort and we will continue to be vigilant and work with communities to try and rid our communities of any kind of environmental crimes."

 

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct shortlisted for major award

Pontcysyllte  Aqueduct near Llangollen has been shortlisted in 2015/16 Heritage Site of the Year awards run by BBC Countryfile Magazine.

 

The list, nominated by BBC presenter John Craven, also includes famous sites in Northern Ireland, Yorkshire, Shropshire and Northumberland.

 

People are invited to vote for their choice of winner via the magazine's website.

 

Sites in the running are:  

 

PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT, WREXHAM
This engineering masterpiece was Britain’s longest, highest aqueduct when one of my heroes, Thomas Telford, completed it in 1805. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it still carries the Llangollen canal over the Dee Valley in a 307m-long cast-iron trough, held by 19 pillars of 30m. Cross by narrow boat or on foot – you’ll need a head for heights.

  

DUNLUCE CASTLE, COUNTY ANTRIM

The ruins of this magnificent medieval fortress perch on top of the steep, sheer cliffs of a rocky promontory along the gorgeous Antrim coast. Not far away is the Giant’s Causeway, so two top heritage sites in one! The views are stunning, its bloody history is well told, and fans of Game of Thrones may recognise it as the seat of the House of Greyjoy.

WHITBY, NORTH YORKSHIRE
The scene of childhood holidays to which I never tire of returning. History is round every quaint corner. Captain Cook lived here and explored Australia in the Whitby- built HMS Endeavour; it was Bram Stoker’s backdrop for Dracula; and at the top of its famous 199 steps stand the dramatic remains of Whitby’s Benedictine abbey, dominating the skyline.

HADRIAN’S WALL
Having trekked along parts of it through landscapes seemingly as wild as when the Emperor ordered it to be built in AD 122, how could I exclude this 73-mile wonder? Stretching from the Solway Firth to Wallsend (of course) it remains a lasting achievement of Roman endeavour. Together with the Antonine Wall, 100 miles north, they make up one of Britain’s 25 world heritage sites.


STOKESAY CASTLE, SHROPSHIRE
My favourite little gem from the Middle Ages (and not due to family links – long-past owners the Earls of Craven were no relation!). Too small to be a real castle, it’s defined by English Heritage as “quite simply the finest, best-preserved fortified medieval manor house in England”. On seeing it, I promptly fell for its charms, which have changed little since it was built in the late 13th-century.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates, who is also Deputy Tourism Minister, said: “We are incredibly lucky in Clwyd South to have two National Trust sites as well as the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the first trans-national UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“The aqueduct is an engineering masterpiece and stretches for 11 miles through some of the most important industrial heritage anywhere in the world.

“I’m delighted Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been recognised and nominated for this award by the BBC and such a tremendously well-respected broadcaster as John Craven, and I would encourage my constituents to vote and help ensure another success story for Clwyd South.

“This is a great start to 2016 – the Year of Adventure in Wales.”

You can vote for the winner here:

http://m.countryfile.com/explore-countryside/places/heritage-site-year-201516

AM calls for smaller class sizes

Speaking on the first day of a new school term yesterday, Aled Roberts AM (pictured) has said that parents’ wishes for smaller class sizes have been ignored for too long.

 

Over 71,740 infant pupils in Wales are currently taught in classes of 25 or more, with 59% of infant classes having over 25 pupils.

 

Despite the fact that class sizes are growing, in July it was revealed that over 800 teachers and support staff are being made redundant across Wales, which will have a major impact on pupils and their learning. 

 

Going into the Assembly election, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have made clear that they would cap class sizes for infants at 25. 

 

The party says it would ensure that schools have the funding to employ more teachers so that class sizes can be capped at 25, to protect the quality of education for pupils.

 

Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Education and Assembly Member for North Wales, said: “Many children are going back to school today and will be taught in classes of well over 25 pupils.  That is simply too big for a teacher to have the time to give children the individual attention they need.

 

“Time after time I speak to understandably worried parents whose main priority is for their children to be taught in smaller classes. Parents’ views have been ignored for too long. 

 

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats would work to ensure that infant classes normally contain no more than 25 pupils, prioritising the largest classes first.  We would invest in more teachers, to give them the time to focus on a child’s individual needs which we believe is central to raising standards.

 

“The average class size in Wales is higher than nearly all other developed countries.  That isn’t good enough and our pupils deserve better.

 

“This policy is a key signal that the Welsh Liberal Democrats are on the side of pupils and parents.”

Police pioneer flood evecuation system

A new software solution to help identify occupied or evacuated properties devised by North Wales Police came in to play during last week’s severe weather.

Exodus was readied for use in both St Asaph and the Dee Valley when properties were at risk of flooding. 

Fortunately in these events the water receded before it was actually activated, but the system has previously prompted interest from other multi-agency partners across the UK and as far afield as America.
PC David Abernethy-Clark of North Wales Police (pictured), who devised the system, said: “In an emergency situation every minute counts.

Exodus enables us to coordinate resources much more quickly and efficiently for those areas at risk of flooding so that we can prioritise our evacuation efforts and save lives.

“Once we have the at risk area defined the system calculates how many emergency responders are needed or how long it would take to visit each and every property within it, should the number of emergency responders be fixed.  It means that we can very quickly assess the need to scale up or down the response depending on the amount of time we have before the flood is likely to happen.”

All properties in an affected area are allocated a ‘homeowner pack’ containing posters for displaying externally – one to say that the occupants remain in residence, another to say that they have evacuated, plus an information sheet to be handed to any police officer with information of how they can be contacted.

PC Abernethy-Clark said: “The packs also contain a third poster which indicates that the property needs further investigation, this would be used when we’ve knocked on the door and no one answers.”

This colour coded scheme means that as an area becomes flooded any emergency responders returning by boat, can see at a glance the status of each property.  They will then target those properties that are occupied or in need of further investigation, to make sure that people are safe, offer them the chance to evacuate and if need be to rescue them.

“We have already had interest in the system from other multi-agency partners, UK police forces and from Universities in America and Canada. It’s a system which could be used anywhere and I’m sure that following the events this week in parts of England and Scotland we may get more interest,” said PC Abernethy-Clark.

The system will not just be used during floods, it could be used whenever there is a need to evacuate property.

New Year greetings!

llanblogger wishes a Happy New Year to all its readers ...

Latest ambulance figures on target

The standard emergency ambulance response to the most acutely ill patients was five minutes and 30 seconds, latest figures show.

 

Statistics for November, the second month of a year-long pilot to test changes to the way the Welsh Ambulance Service responds to patients, show that 70.8% red calls were responded to within eight minutes.

The expectation is that at least 65% of responses to the most life-threatening emergencies – known as red calls - should arrive within eight minutes.

The new figures for November also show:

• More than a third of ‘red’ patients received a response within just four minutes;
• There were an average of 1,223 emergency calls per day;
• All health board areas, with the exception of Hywel Dda University Health Board area, achieved at least 70% within eight minutes.

Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “I’m pleased to see the Welsh Ambulance is achieving the new response time target and helping to deliver excellent patient outcomes, as the pilot continues.

“These figures reveal the demands placed on the ambulance clinicians, clinical contact centres and hard-working first responder volunteers who work tirelessly to save people in life-threatening situations.

“The new system is helping to ensure people with an immediately life-threatening condition receive a response within eight minutes – this is helping people to get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.

“I recognise that more needs to be done in some areas and I expect the service to build on these early results and continue to improve to ensure people who need the life-saving skills of ambulance clinicians do so in the quickest time possible and get the best possible outcomes.”

Two honoured for services to Llan community

Two people have received the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List for their services to the community in Llangollen.

Thomas Delwyn Roberts, 79, receives a BEM for voluntary service in the town, where he has been involved in the Rotary Youth Exchange Programme arranging visits between local children and children from India.

He is a volunteer driver helping the housebound, helped raise £600,000 to build a community centre in Trevor and volunteers for the Llangollen Eisteddfod.

A magistrate and lay preacher, Mr Roberts is also a Deacon in the Welsh Baptist Chapel.

Also receiving a BEM is Mrs Rosemary Corbett Thomas, District Cub Scout Leader, Llangollen, for services to the Scout Movement in the Llangollen District.

* For details of the full Honours List in Wales, see http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/new-years-honours-list-2016-10667164

Prospective candidate hears of flooding concerns

 

* Simon Baynes on the Chainbridge near Llangollen on Wednesday.

 

Simon Baynes, Prospective Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for Clwyd South, says farmers and residents have expressed their concerns to him about flooding. 

 

Water levels are currently receding but a few days ago there was extensive flooding in several areas.

 

Yesterday (Wednesday) Mr Baynes visited Llandrillo, Cynwyd, Corwen, the Chainbridge Hotel and Llangollen.

 

He said he spoke with local residents and was relieved to see water levels were down even though the River Dee was still flowing very strongly.

 

On Monday, Captain John and Mary Ormrod, who farm near Bangor-on-Dee, showed him the widespread flooding across their land from both the River Clywedog and the River Dee.

 

In Bangor-on-Dee, local resident and retired magistrate Michael Bishop commented on the water level under the bridge and discussed the flood avoidance measures that have been taken in the town in recent years.

 

Mr Baynes said: “Farmers I have spoken with are particularly concerned about the upstream management of the River Dee and very keen that Natural Resources Wales should better manage the river, its tributaries and surrounding land in a way that will mitigate flooding downstream.

 

“It is important that the Welsh Government, like the Westminster government, provides generous emergency relief where needed and constantly reviews its flood prevention measures.

 

“If you are concerned about further flooding, you can sign up for Natural Resources Wales Floodline Warnings Direct service. Please call Floodline on 0345 9881188."

Llan mansion to become luxury wedding venue

 
 

The Daily Post has a story about Tyn Dwr Hall in Llangollen being transformed into a luxurious wedding venue.

For the full story see:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/llangollen-mansion-transformed-luxury-boutique-10663018#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Libraries issue daring reading challenge

 

* Reading whilst sky diving ©Stephen Megison.

 

Why not sign up for a year of Reading Daringly with north Wales’s libraries?

 

Each month two of the 24 specially chosen books, one English language and one Welsh language, will be revealed creating a calendar of captivating reads.

 

Librarians from across North Wales will choose books that challenge you to read something different. 

 

Whatever your reading tastes there is something here to entertain, challenge and enrich your reading experience – a real adventure in your armchair.

 

Readers are also encouraged to share their experiences and opinions of the books online via Facebook and Twitter or via the eye-catching postcards available from libraries.

 

The reading challenge has been devised by Estyn Allan a partnership of libraries in North Wales which aims to offer new opportunities for readers to take an active role in their own development and to share reading experiences with others.

 

The aim is to develop imaginative projects which increase people's enjoyment of reading and take the pleasure of reading to new audiences and to promote contemporary writing in Welsh and English.

 

Bethan Hughes, from the Estyn Allan y Gogledd libraries partnership, said: “The idea is that A Year of Reading Daringly would run almost like a reading group without the need to actually attend.

 

"People often get stuck in a ‘reading rut’ reading the same authors or genres and we are encouraging people to challenge themselves and try something new in 2016.

 

"And as 2016 has been designated as the Year of Adventure in Wales this is a chance for people to sign up for lots of new adventures."

 

* For more information visit the Year of Reading Daringly Facebook and Twitter page or pop in to your local library.

 

https://www.facebook.com/A-Year-of-Reading-Daringly-1506238289671199/?fref=ts

@ReadingDaringly

 

The first books will be announced on 1^st January 2016.

Police issue flood driving warning

Don’t travel unless you have to’ is the message this afternoon (Saturday) from North Wales Police, as roads across the region are closed due to heavy flooding.

A multi-agency response is in operation to deal with the flooding, which has led to several road closures and a number of flood warnings being issued.

With the ground already saturated heavy rain over the past 24 hours has caused rivers to rise rapidly.

Supt Nigel Harrison said: “There is serious flooding across North Wales and we are advising people not to travel unless it is absolutely essential, and then to allow extra time for journey as driving conditions may be difficult.”

The A55 is closed in both directions between Junctions 11 and 15 due to flooding. The B5109 Llanfaes Beaumaris is closed as is the A5/A470 Junction at Waterloo Bridge. There is also heavy flooding on the A487 Bangor and the road is closed from Vaynol Roundabout up to the St David's Retail Park.

Reiterating the message from Natural Resources Wales he said: “We’re asking people to take care near water and to keep themselves and their friends and family safe.”

There are currently flood warnings in place for river flooding in St Asaph, the Conwy Valley, Pwllheli, and the Lower Dee. However this is expected to rise later today.  There are also 30 flood alerts in place across Wales.

People living in the areas at risk are being urged to take steps to ensure their own safety and as far as possible that of their property. They are also advised to keep an eye on local news and weather forecasts for news of any disruption in their area, and are reminded of the dangers of driving through flood water.

* For updates on road closures in North Wales due to flooding please follow @NWPolice and @NWPControlroom .

Government consults on blue badge eligibility

The Welsh Government is to consult on extending Blue Badge eligibility for temporary conditions and on streamlining the assessment process.

 

North Wales South East Wales South West WalesTransport Minister, Edwina Hart, has published the responses to the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group, set-up to consider ways to improve the Blue Badge Scheme, which provides free parking to people with disabilities in Wales.

 

 

The Minister agreed some immediate actions, including working with other organisations to improve enforcement and a communication campaign on the importance to badge holders and to deter abuse and misuse of the scheme.

A public consultation will be undertaken early next year on extending the Blue Badge eligibility to people with temporary qualifying conditions that are likely to last at least 12 months.

Changes to the assessment process will also be consulted on, including the need for GP assessments and speeding up the process for those re-applying for a badge.

Mrs Hart said: “The Blue Badge Scheme plays a vital role in improving access to employment and services for people with disabilities.  The Welsh Government has already made some important changes to extend eligibility and ensure consistency and fairness in the way it is delivered.

"However there were some problems with the assessment and delivery process of the current system and I set-up the Task and Finish Group to look at ways to improve the scheme. I am very grateful for the work of the Group and will look to take forward these important improvements as soon as possible.”

llanblogger brings you season's greetings ...

A special story for Christmas ...

* The Chess Players, a picture which hangs at Chirk Castle. 

 

Llanblogger is delighted to bring you this special story for Christmas

“I say, you will stop a while and play a game before you go, won’t you?”

When she heard the unexpected invitation Sarah turned round to see where it had come from.

But there didn’t seem to be anyone else in the room.

It was a pretty marvellous room, with a very high ceiling, big, old fashioned furniture and creaky wooden floorboards. But, apart from her, it was most definitely quite empty.

When looking around Chirk Castle it’s the room you enter after going into the Saloon, itself a wonderfully big space filled with all sorts of squashy armchairs, paintings, a big welcoming fireplace and even, in the far corner, a grand piano which sometimes someone plays just to add to the homely atmosphere.

On the day Sarah was there the Saloon had only quite recently been opened to the public to show how the family which once occupied the old castle actually lived many years before.

The rest of the castle, which someone told Sarah had been built in medieval times, was a bit grisly and wasn’t really very homely at all.

Okay, it was quite interesting to see because of all those suits of armour and the dank, scary dungeon in the cellar but you couldn’t exactly call those cold stone walls and flagged floors terribly cosy.

Sarah liked history and so did her grandparents but then they would like it, she thought cheekily, because they were part of it, weren’t they!

What she loved about history weren’t boring old suits of armour, swords and muskets but tales about lovely princesses finding their princes and then marrying them to live happily ever after.

But then she would, wouldn’t she, because she was 12 years old, so it obviously all that stuff came with the territory.

But Grandad and Granny were nice old things and if they wanted to drag her along with them to Chirk Castle well that was okay with her.

After all, Grandad often said that if he kept forking out all that money each year for their National Trust subs they might as well get their money’s worth by visiting Chirk, which was just around the corner from where they lived in Llangollen, as often as they could. 

Sarah, who was staying with them for a couple of days at the start of her Christmas holiday from school, had gone along with them to Chirk as she always did.

And it was Christmas-time and the old castle looked a bit brighter than it usually did because of all the big colourful banners fluttering outside on this cold and rainy afternoon and all that holly and stuff which had been prettily arranged on top of the fireplaces and sideboards in the big rooms inside.

Sarah had just wandered into the room after the Saloon and she was enjoying the loud clattery noise her boots were making on the wooden floor as she tried to catch up with the old folk who had gone on ahead as they usually did.

Then came that voice – a young girl’s voice and quite posh, too – and Sarah was left wondering who had spoken as she was definitely alone in the room.

Actually, she didn’t much like the experience and it sent a bit of a shiver through her body.

The best thing to do was hurry up a bit and to try and find her wandering grandparents.

Then it came again.

“Hello, little girl, I say. Yes, I’m talking to you. Would you care to come and play with us before you leave?

“You see my sister and I are playing chess. But we’ve been playing for simply ages and I’m getting awfully bored because …” and the voice lowered to a stage whisper, “she’s not terribly good at it and I’m looking for a much worthier opponent.”

Sarah knew that there wasn’t another person in the room and the voice was too loud and clear to be coming from an adjacent room, so it must be coming from somewhere close at hand.

But where?

“I know,” thought Sarah to herself, “it’ll be coming from someone hiding behind one of those big sideboards in the corner of the room for a joke. Yes, that’s it.”

So she ran to the nearest, biggest wooden sideboard and looked very closely at it.

And it was quite clear that nobody could be hiding behind it as it was far too close to the wall for anyone to fit in.

Was it someone hiding behind the old brown leather armchair on the other side of the room perhaps?

Her boots clattered more urgently on the polished floorboards and she almost tripped over one of the nicks between the boards as she dashed over to have a look behind it.

But there was no-one there and Sarah was now getting more frightened and just wanted to dash out of this room as fast as she could and find Grandad and Granny.

“I say, little girl, don’t be frightened. Er, it’s me speaking to you and I’m up here,” said the disembodied voice again.

“I am ecktually up here … in the painting, do you see? Look, up here!”

Sarah was looking only at the door but, in her peripheral vision, she could see a big painting on the wall to her left.

But all she wanted to do was ignore the spooky voice and get out of that room as quickly as her legs would carry her.    

She knew the painting was there, of course, because she’s seen it loads of times before when she’d been visiting the castle with her grandparents.

When she thought about it, it was quite a nice painting and she quite liked it.

The colours were a bit faded as it must have been very old but she recalled that it showed two young girls, probably of about her own age, sitting on a mat on the floor concentrating on playing some sort of game.

If you had a closer look at it, which she once had out of sheer boredom on one of her many trips around the castle’s staterooms, you could work out that the girls were playing whatever it was on the floor of the Saloon, the room she’d just been in.

But she didn’t know and had never much cared about whom the girls were or what they were doing.

Now, it seemed, one of those girls was speaking to her … from the picture!

Sarah forced herself to look to her left.

Thankfully, nothing happened and the painting appeared just as lifeless as it always did.

Sarah thought she must have been hearing things, or that maybe somebody was having a laugh with her.

Well, if they were, it certainly wasn’t very funny because it was too creepy and had made her feel very scared.

She decided to ignore the voice and get out of that horrible room.

As she headed for the door she risked one last glance towards the painting and was immediately sorry that she had.

Because as she looked at it, one of the girls – the one sitting on the left of the picture – began to speak.

And she actually did speak because Sarah could see her lips, and in fact, her whole face moving as the words came out.

“I’m so sorry, my dear, if I’ve frightened you by speaking to you. But, as I said earlier, I’m so frightfully bored that I simply had to say something to you.

“You see, my little sister here is ebsolutely useless at chess and couldn’t give me a decent game if she tried. Which she never does, of course.

“She just wants to get it over as soon as possible each and every time we play and, well, we may as well not bother at all, do you see?”

Sarah did see. At least she looked on, in fascination, as the girl’s lips kept moving but was so terrified by what she was seeing that she was taking hardly any notice of what was being said to her.

One part of Sarah wanted to run out of the room but, strangely, the other part of her wanted to stay and listen.

“Er, perhaps if you’d be kind enough to get up here and join us, we could play a game together and my sister could toddle off and do something else which she might find more interesting,” mouthed the girl in the painting from which vantage point she looked down directly at Sarah standing a few feet in front of her.

Crazy as all this was, Sarah was enthralled by what seemed to be happening and when she had pulled herself together a little decided to speak back to the girl up there.

“I’m sorry,” she said looking upwards, “I didn’t think people in paintings could talk, so I’m a bit shocked to hear you.”

“Oh, thet’s quite alright,” said the painting girl, “I fully realise it must be a bit of a shock but I wouldn’t have said anything if I hadn’t been so awfully bored with this game.

“And, ecktually, you do look quite intelligent and as though you could play a proper game of chess if you tried.”

Sarah was still feeling extremely uneasy about the proceedings but thought it was only polite to respond to the painting girl, who was blonde, quite pretty, polite and very well spoken. Much better spoken than Sarah, she thought.

In fact, the girl was so well spoken that she sounded like she was playing a part in one of those TV costume dramas which she loved watching because of all their gorgeous ladies’ costumes, if not the boring plots.

“Er, hello, I’m sorry, no,” said Sarah to the girl, “no, I can’t play chess, although one of my friends at school did try to teach me once.”

Sarah was about to add that she had quickly given up all hopes of ever trying to learn chess because it was such a boring thing to do.

But the girl was being so nice and friendly – even if she was speaking from an old painting – that Sarah decided she didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

“I can actually play draughts, though. Er, if that’s any good?” she added as a helpful after-thought.

“Oh no, not draughts, my dear. Not draughts for that would too, too plebeian, as Daddy would have it,” replied the painting girl.

“Oh well, I suppose there is absolutely no alternative but to play on with my sister and face dying of utter boredom from the sheer tedium of it all.”

“I’m very sorry,” Sarah responded, “if I could play chess I’d certainly help you out and play a game with you.

“Maybe I could come back one day when I’ve learned. I could ask my friend at school if she’d try and teach me again. And this time I’d do my best to concentrate a bit more.”

“Yes, that’s extremely nice of you. I’m always here, so any time you’d care to come back and give me a decent game you’d be so awfully welcome, you know,” said the painting girl.

“By the way, my dear, what’s your name? Mine’s Margaret and my little sister’s name is Rosemary.

“Most of the time it’s terribly interesting living in a castle but sometimes, you know, it can become a teeny bit boring.

“By the way, my dear, I know you come here quite a lot with some elderly people in tow because I’ve seen you frequently and always think what a charming young lady you appear to be. So whenever you fancy a decent game of chess, you know …

“Oh, before you desh off, what did you say your name was?”

Sarah was just about to tell her when she heard her Granny calling her and decided that it was time she caught up with the old folks to see the rest of the castle for what must be the millionth time.

But maybe this time it had been a little different.

* The painting referred to here is entitled The Chess Players and is by Sir John Lavery (1929). It shows the Hon. Margaret and the Hon. Rosemary Scott-Ellis, daughters of the 8^th Baron Howard de Waldon whose family once occupied Chirk Castle.                

Santa helps raise £356 for Air Ambulance

 

* Members of the Littel Helpers team who won the quiz at The Ponsonby. 

 

Santa has been out and about around Llangollen this week helping raise funds for Wales Air Ambulance.

 

On Monday night the Narrowboaters who overwinter on the canal around Llangollen, hosted a Christmas party at the Sun Trevor.

 

Santa joined them and auctioned the secret Santa gifts they had all donated and raised £156

On Tuesday evening Santa’s Magical Christmas Quiz, staged at The Ponsonby, raised a magnificent £200.70.

Santa says he would like to thank everybody who took part  in both events and the Sun Trevor and Ponsonby for  their hospitality.

Don't make unnecessary 999 calls say police

Emergency services are pooling their resources in a bid to reduce the amount of unnecessary and inappropriate calls made to the Joint Communication Centre in St Asaph over Christmas.

In addition to the police and fire officers, a paramedic and a mental health worker will be based in the control room over the busiest days to be tactical advisers to the Force Incident Manager.

Supt Alex Goss said: “Traditionally Christmas and New Year are among the busiest times of year for the police, fire and ambulance and we are asking everyone to be mindful before dialling 999.

“This year we will have a multi-agency desk. The additional assistance from the mental health workers will mean we have professional advisors available to us if anyone is threatening harm or at risk they can provide the appropriate advice, thus taking the pressures off police officers.

“78% of the calls into the control room are not crime related. This is a massive drain on resources, so anything that can help to reduce the extra demand is beneficial to the public and the service provided.

"People are always encouraged to use 999 in a genuine emergency and never put themselves at risk.
For those people who do not have an emergency please use the single non-emergency 101 number.

“We don’t want to deter anyone from calling 999, but we want them to think twice before they do.We are asking people to use the system wisely to help ensure a genuine emergency is not missed over the holidays.”

Live web chat is catching on as more and more people use it to talk to North Wales Police.

Since the service was introduced at the beginning of July, over 400 people have used the live web chat facility to report various things to the force.

Live web chat is also now a 24 hour service that allows visitors to the North Wales Police website to communicate with control room staff in real time, via on-screen messages.

Call Centre Manager, Paul Shea said: “With over 400 people using the service since it was introduced in July people are obviously becoming aware that online reporting is a good alternative way of contacting North Wales Police.

“One of its big benefits is that it’s good for the deaf or hard of hearing community, as well as non-English/Welsh speakers who may not feel comfortable speaking to someone.”

The live web chat runs alongside the facility to ‘Report an incident online’, which are different methods of trying to cope with demands, but in an emergency people should always call 999, which runs on a separate system.

The service is intended for non-emergency enquiries, providing quick and positive feedback.

County issues rogue trader warning

Trading Standards officers are urging residents to be aware and to tell the authorities if rogue traders cold call in their area offering to do gardening, tree cutting, tarmacing, roof repairs and general odd jobs.

 

The arrival of poor weather conditions can bring out traders looking for work door to door. 

 

These traders can do a poor job and subsequently charge over the odds for that work, ask for cash and then simply disappear, say officers. 

They are usually untraceable when things go wrong as they give false names, addresses and phone numbers.

 

Denbighshire Trading Standards urge people to be on their guard and to follow these simple steps to avoid being caught out:

 

* Be cautious with anyone who turns up at your door without an appointment.

 

* Ask for identification and get comprehensive contact details. A mobile telephone number is not good enough.
 

*  Always make sure you get a written quote for any work to be carried out including written cancellation rights.

 

* Only pay after the work has been satisfactorily completed

 

* If in doubt, keep them out!

 

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire's Public Protection Manager, said “We are concerned that unscrupulous traders may try and take advantage of people on their own doorstep.

 

"Unfortunately, there are people who prey on the vulnerability of others, don't become a victim of these cowboy con men. If work needs doing then make your own appointments with reputable tradesmen - if you didn't call them then don't use them.

 

"Genuine trades people will welcome you asking for references and identification, check them both carefully."

* Anyone wanting advice on doorstep trading, or to report an incident, can contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language) which gives free, independent and impartial advice on all consumer issues, or the police on 101.  Any person feeling intimidated or threatened by any doorstep seller should shut the door and call the police emergency number 999. 

Operatic sings carols around the town

* Members of Llangollen Operatic Society helped people to get into the seasonal spirit by singing carols around pubs in the town last night (Tuesday). Here, they give voice to another stirring number at the Wynnstay Arms.

Sunday club donates to Llan foodbank

* Sunday club members hand over their donation to Llangollen Foodbank.

Members of Bethel Chapel, Cynwyd's Sunday Club, have donated a large box full of food to Matt's Foodbank, Llangollen, in readiness for Christmas and to finish off their Sunday Club project.

The Sunday Club has been collecting donations for the foodbank at the Cynwyd Shop and Post Office as part of a learning project.

Matt's Foodbank provides emergency food and support for people and families in crisis,and covers communities from Corwen through to Chirk.

It is based at the City Church in Brook Street, Llangollen and is open Mondays and Fridays between 11am and 1pm.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, one of the Sunday Club coordinators, said: "The children have been learning stories from the Bible for some time, and enjoying playing with each other on Sunday mornings in a safe environment.

"But they felt that they should put what they have learnt into practice.

"One Sunday we were learning about Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, and starting discussing the relevance of this to us today, and how we could share more and help others.

"That's when they settled on this project to collect donations for Matt's Foodbank, which also helps our small community.

"The Village Shop and Post Office in Cynwyd also helped out a lot by letting us have our box there for donations."

Recent figures show that dependency on foodbanks is on the rise in Wales.
The charity Trussell Trust, which co-ordinates foodbanks across the UK, say that between April and September 2015 the number of people in Wales to whom they supplied three days' emergency food stood at 39,245.

That's a rise on the previous figure between the same dates last year, when 39,168 people received three days' emergency food.

Matt's Foodbank in Llangollen is built on simple Christian principles of compassion, honesty, kindness and care of all people.

Others wishing to donate food to Matt's Foodbank can do so at the church itself on Brook Street, Llangollen, or at Canolfan Ni, Corwen.

It would welcome breakfast cereals, biscuits, dried pasta, dried rice, Smash, sugar, tinned fish, tinned meat, tinned vegetables, and tins of soup,beans, spaghetti, fruit, rice pudding, evaporated milk, custard, small jars of coffee, tea and long-life milk.

Be a good Christmas neighbour says county

Denbighshire County Council has issued a Christmas message, urging people to be a good friend or neighbour and look after those people who could otherwise be lonely this festive season.

 

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: “With Christmas just around the corner, many of us will be looking forward to spending time with our friends and family, we are busy organising food and presents and enjoying social gatherings.

“Sadly, Christmas is not so good for everyone, it can be a time when we are lonely, perhaps some have suffered sensory loss confining activity, their families may live away, or they may have suffered bereavement, so at this time of year, spare a thought for an older person you know who may be lonely this Christmas – give their door a knock, say hello, or invite them round for a cup of tea or a drink. Little things like these can often make a big difference, can make someone's day.
“For some people, this is what every single day is like, with nothing to do or look forward to. Many organisations, work tirelessly across Wales to tackle loneliness and isolation, organisations like Age Connects, Age Cymru, Red Cross and many others, who deliver essential befriending services that so many older people rely on; The Silver Line in Wales took over 275,000 calls last year from older people who just wanted someone to talk to. The positive impact of services like these is clear: it is estimated, for example, that spending £80 on befriending services could save up to £300 from other budgets by reducing the need for formal, high-level support. 

Councillor Feeley added: “Denbighshire has the second largest population of older people and we are working hard to encourage and support independence, thinking of new and imaginative ways to provide our residents with services to ensure sustainability into the future. Denbighshire's 'Ageing Well' programme has been a catalyst for much of the work, we are encouraging neighbourliness, involving communities and importantly tapping into that wealth of volunteers, who work selflessly to help care for loved ones, support children and grandchildren and sustain charities and communities wherever they can.

“We realise how important it is to have social contact, friends, hobbies, reasons to get up in the morning, it's good to recognise and air these things, and brilliant that so many of us are highlighting, a once taboo subject, and making great strides to tackle the problem head on."

 

Winter's Tales at Methodist Church

United carol service this Sunday

* Llangollen Town Hall: venue for the carol service this Sunday evening.

A united carol service involving churches of different denominations in Llangollen will be held at the Town hall this Sunday evening.

Refreshments will be served from 5pm and the service begins at 6pm.

Musical accompaniment will be provided by Llangollen Silver band.

Organisers say everyone is welcome.

Christmas play with a difference comes to St Collen’s

* St Collen's Church. 

A maverick vicar who approaches large companies to sponsor the nativity play at the church school, gets more than he bargained for. 

A leading children’s clothing store asks him to create two Jesuses, a baby and a toddler variety, so that they can show case their whole range.

A large car salesroom also responds positively on condition that he gives the Holy Family a car.

These are just two of the problems faced by Vicar Joe in Peter Read’s fictitious comedy, The No No Nativity, which will be performed at St Collens Church Llangollen tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday. The play is a double hander between Vicar Joe (Dave Edgar) and the school governor Marjorie Pritchard (Paula Sutton).

It was first performed at the Grand Theatre Swansea in 2010 and has been reprised by The Grown In Wales Theatre Company in a mini tour throughout North Wales.

The two final performances will be at St Collen’s this weekend.

In the play, a school choir sings two Christmas songs and they will be performed by Gwernant Primary School on Friday and Ysgol Bryn Collen on Saturday.

Peter Read is a Wrexham-born playwright who has won awards for his work, including five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe for his plays about Dylan Thomas.

He also wrote and directed the play about the Ladies of Llangollen performed at Plas Newydd this summer after being previewed at the Eisteddfod.

Grown in Wales present The No No Nativity is at St Collen’s Church Llangollen on Friday December 18 and Saturday 19 at 7pm. Tickets are £6 and £5 concessions. For advance tickets, call 01978 861768 or pay on the door.