Blueprint for health and social care unveiled

The Regional Partnership Board have published a new plan for how health and social care services will work together to meet the care and support needs of people in North Wales.

The plan sets out priorities for integrating services between health and social care across North Wales, including for older people with complex needs, children and young people, people with learning disabilities, carers, and mental health.

It’s been written in response to the population assessment which highlighted an increase in the need for care and support. People across North Wales have taken part to have their say about the shape of future services.

Cllr Gareth Roberts is the Chair of the Regional Partnership Board. He said: “Councils across North Wales have worked together with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and other partners to write this plan and consulted widely with people who use services, third sector organisations and other partners. The plan will help us design services to meet the needs of everyone needing care and support, and their carers."

* The plan is available at: https://www.northwalescollaborative.wales/north-wales-population-assessment/regional-plan/

 

Talks to be held on Cefn Mawr health centre

* Ken Skates AM and local councillor Ken

Bathers outside the current Caritas Surgery on Well Street.

Campaigners pressing for a new health centre in Cefn Mawr have welcomed a Welsh Government commitment to discuss proposals with local GPs.

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has agreed to visit Caritas Surgery to meet with the practice manager, Clwyd South AM Ken Skates and Cefn councillors.

Mr Skates, who organised the meeting, said he was delighted the Health Secretary has committed to visiting the Cefn Mawr. He launched a petition in 2015 calling for the "new facility the community deserves", which was signed by more than 2,000 people.

“I’m really pleased the Cabinet Secretary for Health has responded so positively to my invitation and I look forward to welcoming him to Clwyd South next week,” said Mr Skates.

Councillors Ken Bathers and Derek Wright have previously vowed they would not stop fighting for a new facility ‘until there are spades in the ground’.

They say the only hurdle left to clear is securing funding.

“The current is not fit for purpose and it hasn’t been for some time,” said Cllr Bathers. “The community badly needs this new facility and we’ll keep on pushing for it.”

Cllr Wright said: “We have been fighting for this for a long time. As soon as funding is found it’s all systems go and patients in Cefn, Rhosymedre, Plas Madoc and further afield can finally look forward to having a health centre fit for the 21st century.”

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board funded immediate remedial work to improve the current Cefn premises on Well Street in 2016 after agreeing the building was ‘not adequate’ and said it would also develop a plan for more modern premises.

Road closure warning

The Town Council has just published the following message on Facebook ...

Colas Limited has informed the Town Council of an emergency road closure this Sunday for tree cutting. Colas plan to close the A539 Llangollen Road from the Health Centre in Llangollen up to 1km east of the Sun Inn pub, the road will be closed in both directions from 0530am until 12noon at the very latest, access will be granted to emergency vehicles and pedestrians on foot.

Needlefelting event planned for Plas Newydd

An Introduction to needlefelting with June McLaughlin will be held at Y Caban in Plas Newydd on

Saturday April 21, from 11am-1pm.

Cost  £30 and booking is said to be essential. To book a place or for more details, call 07780 000206.

Plaid slams school closure decision

The decision by Wrexham Council to close Ysgol Pontfadog is wrong and short sighted, says Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales.

Yesterday (Tuesday 10 April) WCBC’s Executive Board unanimously voted to close Ysgol Pontfadog in the Ceiriog Valley. The school is expected to receive its last intake in September and will finally close in the Summer of 2019.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson for Clwyd South, said: “Ysgol Pontfadog has served the community of Pontfadog well. The communities of Pontfadog, Dolywern and Glyn Ceiriog all wish to see it remain open. The Governing Body of the federated school have supported retaining Ysgol Pontfadog, and the elected representatives representing those communities wish to see it kept open. Yet the Tory-Independent ruling Executive on Wrexham Council have decided to close the school against all local opinion. This is profoundly anti-democratic and shows a complete disregard for the communities of the Ceiriog Valley. Is it any wonder that people are losing trust in the authority?

“The decision is short-sighted in the extreme as it’s unlikely to save money in the long term and will leave the authority with what will be, once empty, a rapidly deteriorating asset on their hands. The people of Pontfadog, Dolywern and Glyn Ceiriog will be bitterly disappointed."

County gets good report from school inspectors

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed the findings of the recent inspection of its education services.

The report, produced after an inspection in February, judged leadership and management to be excellent and the outcome and quality of education to be good. 

A notable feature of the report stated that "outcomes in Denbighshire are strong across nearly all key indicators over several years in primary and secondary schools, and particularly at Key Stage 4".  

Denbighshire was one of only two authorities to receive excellence for leadership in the last round of inspections and is the first to be awarded an excellent rating for leadership under a new inspection framework introduced across Wales.

One of the other main findings highlighted the recent merger of education and children’s services in the county as having a “positive impact” on services for children, young people and their families.  

Estyn have also asked Denbighshire to prepare a case study on the amalgamation of the education and children’s services, to share as best practice with other councils across Wales.

The report also finds that “the authority has a strong moral purpose that underpins its education services, focusing on an ambition to maximise the life chances of every learner”.

The report also says:

• The authority knows its schools very well.
• The authority has a strong moral purpose that underpins its education services, focusing on an ambition to maximise the life chances of every learner.”
• Pupils’ standards in Welsh first language remain strong over their time in school.
• The authority has a very secure understanding of the extent of elective home education in the county.
• A very strong feature of the authority is the way it consults with children and young people when making decisions that affect them and when evaluating the wide range of services it offers.
• Children can influence decision making.
• Schools work well in clusters of primary schools and their partner secondary schools
• The authority sets clear expectations of all schools and parents in relation to pupil attendance.
• The authority’s Welsh in Education Strategic Plan demonstrates a strong commitment to developing services through the medium of Welsh.
• There are good quality youth services are provided by the authority that meets the needs of a wide range of young people.
• Officers and elected members implement the authority’s modernising education programme successfully.
• The authority’s political and strategic leadership is highly effective.
• The authority’s approach to managing complex change are very effective.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Children, Young People and the Welsh Language, said: “The opportunities for our children and young people are at the heart of everything that we do. We want them to have the best education possible and have plenty of opportunity to thrive and develop as individuals.  We are delighted that this has been reflected in the report in such a comprehensive way.

“The report itself makes very positive reading and we must pay tribute  to the tremendous amount of work that goes on in the local authority to support schools and ensure that all children receive the best than can with the resources available.  

"The approach to working with our partners in the public sector is also a key factor in this success, as is our commitment to enhancing Welsh medium education.   We are all working together with a common goal:  to improve education and opportunities for our children and young people.

“Education in Denbighshire has been a priority for a number of years and this is paying dividends. We have also made a further commitment to improving education over the coming years and our vision for the best possible education for our children and young people has not changed.

“The report does include a small number of recommendations, as we would expect and we will be drawing up an Action Plan to make these changes."

* The full report can be found on: www.estyn.gov.uk

Plaid fights for three valley schools

Schools in the Ceiriog Valley should be kept open, according to Plaid Cymru.

Plaid Cymru's group of councillors has come out against council plans to close Ysgol Pontfadog and continue dual-streaming in Ysgol Cynddelw.

Group leader Marc Jones said: "The three schools in the Ceiriog Valley federation serve differing needs. Ysgol Llanarmon DC is Wrexham's only naturally Welsh-speaking school serving the higher end of the valley.

"Ysgol Cynddelw has been a dual-stream school but, of late, the Welsh-medium stream has proved so popular that it is effectively becoming a Welsh-language school. Ysgol Pontfadog currently offers English-medium education for the valley. 

 "We recognise the reality of developments in Cynddelw and believe it should become a Welsh-medium school to serve the main population centre of the valley. We also believe Ysgol Pontfadog should continue to serve the community as an English-language school.

 "This option safeguards provision in both languages and provide the best choice for parents. It is also supported by the federation's governing body."

The group has challenged the council to explain how their proposals to close Pontfadog would result in school improvements, given that there will be a need to invest in increasing provision at Cynddelw as well as providing transport for pupils from Pontfadog.

Cllr Jones added: "In many ways, this is a good news story for the Welsh language right on the border. Parents who don't speak Welsh currently have the choice of two streams and are increasingly opting for the Welsh-language stream. It makes no sense that this positive advance for the Welsh language should be undermined by closing Ysgol Pontfadog, which should continue to provide a dedicated English-language provision.

 "The federated school appears to be working well and the three sites offer pupils on the valley good options. Only 16 of the 253 respondents to the consultation favoured what the council is proposing, which in itself raises questions about the purpose and value of such consultations."

 "Our other concern, if the council's proposal to close one school is taken, is that it could ultimately lead to the centralisation of all education in the valley on one site and that would be problematic for pupils living in the very uppermost reaches of the valley."

A decision on the three options facing Wrexham Council's Executive Board will be taken today (Tuesday).

Health centre café needs volunteers

Friends of Llangollen Health Centre have sent out the following plea:

Have you a few hours to spare?

Would you be interested in giving a little time to help in our friendly café?

We are looking for volunteers to help in the café which offers hot and cold drinks and various snacks to the patients and visitors.

The café is completely run by volunteers and the proceeds are used to raise funds for the benefit of the Health Centre, with over 9,000 patients registered at the practice, covering Llangollen, Plas Madoc and Glyn Ceiriog surgeries.

* If you are interested in being involved with the general charity activities or helping at the café, please contact: Audrey Brameller – 01978 860684, or email: brameller@btinternet.com

World Heritage Site up for discussion

Alison Powell, Associate Technical Director at Arcadis, will address the next meeting of the Civic Society at 7.30 on 18^th April, at Seion Chapel Vestry. Entry next to former Nat West bank.

She wants to discuss the future of the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site with local interested parties.

If you want to hear what is proposed and make your views for the future known, you are welcome to attend.

The Civic Society Award for 2017 will also be presented at that meeting.  The recipients will be Llangollen Silver Band, for “service to the community”.

Operatic get ready to stage My Fair Lady

* Fellow cast members drag reluctant dustman
Alfie Doolittle, played by Bill Hughes, second from right, out of the pub.

It's now just over a week until the curtain goes up on the latest show from Llangollen Operatic Society.

Fresh from their recent successes with Sister Act, the Producers and 9-5, a cast of almost 40 will present one of the most popular musicals of all time, My Fair Lady, on the Town Hall stage from Tuesday-Saturday, April 17-21.

And, according to producer Helen Belton, they can’t wait to tackle the Lerner and Loewe masterpiece based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.

She said: “The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from Professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she can pass as a lady.

“The original Broadway and London shows memorably starred Rex Harrison and Julie Andrews but we’ve also got some exceptional performers waiting in the wings.  

“Eliza is played by talented Llangollen Operatic newcomer Esme Sallnow while two of our most experienced members, Christopher Sims and John Clifford, take the parts of Higgins and Colonel Pickering respectively. Alison Ravenscroft, who has also appeared in many of our past productions, is Higgins’ housekeeper, Mrs Pearce.”

* Key cast members line up for a picture session in the park.

Helen added: “The society last performed My Fair Lady around 30 years ago and a few of the people who were in it then are also in the new production.

“Back in the 80s the show proved a massive success for us and we’re aiming for a similar audience response this time.”

Musical director for the show is Leigh Mason and artistic director is Joanne Lloyd.

My Fair Lady is on at 7.30pm each evening of the run and there’s also a 2pm matinee on the Saturday.

Tickets, at £12 and £10 concessions, are available from Bailey’s, Gwyn the Butcher and Jades in Llangollen town centre as well as by phoning Stella Bond on 01978 860441 or by going online at: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety (fee applies). 

* "I'm getting married in the morning" ... but not if Doolittle can help it.

Tidy Town Team readies site of Centenary Square

* Tidy Town members uproot a yew hedge at what will become Centenary Square.

Members of Llangollen Tidy Town Team were hard at work this morning (Friday) preparing the ground for work to start soon on the creation of the new Centenary Square at what has been the Royal Gardens.

They were removing a yew hedge from the site which will be replanted on an area of land between the station and the cemetery.

They were also taking up a number of rose bushes which will be put temporarily in pots outside the RAFA Club before being replanted in the new-look Centenary Square.

The square, of which the war memorial will be a centre point, is being created by the Town Council to mark this year's 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

* Rose bushes are removed by Tidy Town Team members.

Royal Warrant for Rhug Estate

Lord Newborough, owner of the Rhug Estate, near Corwen, has been granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales.

The warrant is for Rhug Organic Farm which incorporates the farm, the wholesale meat business, the cutting plant, the butcher’s counter at Rhug Farm shop and Rhug’s stall at London’s Borough Market.

Lord Newborough (pictured) said: “Being awarded the Royal Warrant is a dream come true, I am so thrilled for my team at Rhug who work so hard to embrace the highest standards of animal welfare and all the rewards of sustainable farming we practise here at Rhug.

"To have this recognition means everything. We are proud to fly the Welsh flag wherever we sell our meat in the world. As far as I know there are less than 20 warrant holders in Wales and I believe, we will be the only organic farm and cutting plant. This is an honour that cannot be bought and only earnt. I am so proud of what we have achieved here at Rhug over the last 20 years this is truly wonderful news.”

The Royal Warrant of Appointment Certificate states Rhug Organic Farm is certified, by command of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, to supply organic meat to His Royal Highness’ households.

Rhug has been supplying meat to the royal households for the past six years including Welsh lamb, chickens, turkeys and bison meat.

Lord Newborough added: “It might be my name on the certificate when it arrives but the Royal Warrant is wonderful recognition and reward for the hard work, vision and dedication to sustainable farming shown by the whole team here at the Rhug who all share the same vision and passion and rewards for sustainable farming.”

Campaign launched to protect heather moorland

* The campaign is launched at Oneplanet Adventure.

A campaign aimed at protecting the heather moorland in parts of south Denbighshire has been launched.

The Sustainable Access campaign aims to prevent further damage to the moorland, which is being eroded due to an increase in use.

Over recent years the area of moorland around Llandegla and Eglwyseg is being used as a popular route into Llangollen. 

As a result the paths and animal tracks are being damaged and the heather moorland is degrading. This has an impact on wildlife in the area, particularly ground nesting birds.

Now the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team and Ride North Wales, in partnership with Oneplanet Adventure who run the mountain bike centre at Coed Llandegla are launching a campaign, which encourages cyclists and other users to stick to official routes.

The campaign includes videos highlighting some of the problems caused, a series of social media activity aimed at cyclists and other countryside users.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, Regulation and the Environment, said: “The stunning countryside and unique terrain attracts thousands of people every year. This campaign is asking them to stick to the Trail Users Code and follow the designated official routes.

"We want to protect this unique landscape and prevent any further damage to the paths, the heather moorland and the wildlife that has made the moorland their home.

“This landscape is unique, but it is also fragile. That is why the AONB and its partners have been working to protect this unique location, but need the public’s help too.

“We appeal for people to be considerate of the countryside and work together to protect it for future generations."

* For further information, please visit: www.ridenorthwales.co.uk or www.beiciogogleddcymru.co.uk  

Vehicle break-in on community hall car park

* A police vehicle on the community hall car park.

Posts on Facebook this morning say that one or perhaps more cars were broken into on the Community Hall car park yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

One said: "Car broken into tonight between 7pm and 10pm at St Collen's community hall car park, the police have been informed but if anyone has seen anything please let us at the hall or the police know."

A police van was in the car park this morning as a scenes of crime officer examined one of the cars parked there.

Chamber of Trade's new line-up chosen

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism has a fresh line-up for officers for the forthcoming year.

At their April meeting in the Hand Hotel last night (Tuesday) members re-elected David Davies as chair while Liz Mc Guinness as elected secretary,  Jan Deeprose as membership secretary and Bob Jacques as treasurer.  

Completing the executive team are Ian Lebbon as vice-chair, Simon Collinge as press and publicity officer and Darren Preston as banner manager. 

Retiring officers  Ian Parry,  Roger Honey and Ralph Robson were thanked for their service.

David Davies (pictured) said: “We extend our grateful thanks for all their work over the past, too numerous to mention years and wish them well in new ventures.”

Mr Davies briefed members on the proposed Shared Spaces team for the town centre.

He said the aim of the project was to create a better environment in and around Castle Street, making its use a much more pleasant experience for both pedestrians and drivers.

He explained that a consultation exercise was about to begin and that the chamber would be involved in the discussions.

The chamber had also been invited to be involved in the drive to secure finance for the project and Mr Davies asked members if they were happy about this.

It was agreed that the chamber would help in any way it could subject to seeing plans for how the project would take shape.

Mr Davies then turned to the issue of the lack in the town of an accessible defibrillator, a potentially life-saving piece of equipment capable of delivering a high-energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest.

“There is no defibrillator accessible in Llangollen 24 hours a day and I want to put that right,” he said.

“I’m therefore pleased to report that the owner of the company currently carrying out work on the old HSBC bank in Bridge Street has offered to have one of the machines on the wall of the building.

“It’s only one but it’s a start and I’m committed to finding the money to pay for it.”

Existing members who have not yet paid their 2018 subscriptions were urged to do so before the end of April to ensure inclusion on the reprinted  town map of members.   

The chamber already has a number of new members whose business location will be added to this year’s map, which is currently in preparation.

* Next meeting of the chamber will be at 6pm in the Hand on Tuesday, May 1.

MP welcomes end of "flying" care visits

* Susan Elan Jones MP with Glyn Meredith, director of

Leonard Cheshire Cymru, and another representative of the charity.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has met in Parliament with disability charity Leonard Cheshire Cymru to mark a new Welsh Government policy that will get rid of 15-minute "flying" care visits.

The law change aims to ensure disabled people and others with personal care needs have a statutory right to longer visits. 

Leonard Cheshire Cymru has described the breakthrough as "really good news".

"This is great news - and a fantastic tribute to the pioneering work of the Welsh Labour Government," said Susan Elan Jones.

"I meet with disability charities in Parliament and also have a close link with the excellent Leonard Cheshire care home in Dolywern in my constituency.

"I know how delighted disability and care organisations are with what the Welsh Government has done. The move will revolutionise personal care and make a real difference to so many people's lives."  

Leonard Cheshire Cymru said in a statement: "This is really good news!

"We're looking forward to working with the Welsh Government to make sure this means that everyone who needs them is able to get dignified home care visits with enough time to do important tasks like getting up and having something to eat."

Bus company asked to pick up "stranded" passengers

Community leaders have called on a bus company to pick up ‘stranded’ passengers in rural Wrexham.

Assembly Member Ken Skates (pictured) has written to Coastline Taxis urging the firm to address the shortage of pick-up points in Garth, between Ruabon and Llangollen.

The X5 Wrexham-Corwen service stops in Ruabon, Llangollen and Glyndyfrdwy, but the chairman of Llangollen Rural Community Council says many older passengers in Garth are not able to make it to the two bus stops on the A539.

Cllr Darrell Wright said: “The X5 service stops at two places on its way through, both of which are on the main road and are a long way for a lot of people to walk to. We have a high proportion of older people in Garth and a lot of steep hills, and many of them simply can’t manage it. They’re stranded unless something changes.”

Mr Skates, AM for Clwyd South, said the Welsh Labour Government had recently announced funding of £25m to help support vital bus services across Wales.

The Bus Services Support Grant (BSSG) is allocated annually to local councils by a formula that reflects their populations and their rural or urban characteristics.

The £25m grant will be shared between the 22 local authorities and will allow each to subsidise bus and community transport within their areas.

Mr Skates said: “Local bus services continue to be the foundation of our public transport system, so I ‘m incredibly proud that the Welsh Labour Government has been able to maintain the Bus Services Support Grant at the same level over the last five years.

“The National Transport Finance Plan says that local authorities should match the funding committed by the Welsh Government, so it is now up to Wrexham Council to ensure they are providing equivalent funding – as other councils have – to help support vital bus services in all parts of the county borough.”

The majority of bus services across Wales are run by commercial operators. When services are not adequately provided, it is for each local authority to determine which services to subsidise, using their own budgets and money from the Welsh Government.

Easter Monday snow for Llan

Llangollen awoke this morning to its third bout of snow in the past few months.

There was a light covering across the whole town although the roads have stayed snow free.

The forecast is for the snow to change to rain which will last throughout the day. Temperatures should reach around 11C, it is predicted.

Happy Easter (and April 1) from llanblogger

Another first for Llangollen ...

Llanblogger understands that a feasibility study is being proposed to provide a bank of self-drive mobility scooters for use by visitors and residents to travel around the town.

* Sat nav guided mobility scooters could whiz visitors around the town.

The scooters would be sat nav contolled and preloaded with optional tours around the town’s attractions and to specific locations such as Plas Newydd,  The Wharf  or a particular shop.    

They would be coin operated and fully controlled by a location tracking system.

The main scooter bank and charging point would be in Market Street car park with some other satellite drop off and charging points strategically located around the town.

Spokesperson for the group  David Davies said this would be another marketing first for Llangollen and a strong attraction for the less agile visitors to explore and take full advantage of what the town has to offer, increasing  the visitor experience and  trade opportunities for local businesses.

Eisteddfod's latest update ...

Llangollen Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies has sent the festival's latest update covering March ... 

The recent launch of our Llanfest line-up means that the concert strand for 2018 is now complete and we are looking forward immensely to this finale to the week on Sunday 8th July when Toploader, The Hoosiers and Kaiser Chiefs will take to the stage. 

Indie pop legends Kaiser Chiefs will headline in what will be one of the first opportunities in 2018 for fans in this region to see the band live.

The five-piece band from Leeds are best known for songs including Oh My God, I Predict a Riot and Ruby (you won’t be able to get this song out of your head for days!)

Kaiser Chiefs (pictured below) will be joined on the bill by renowned pop rock band, The Hoosiers known for chart-toppers Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr. A., and nineties icons Toploader best known for their cover of Dancing In the Moonlight.

We’re delighted that local firm Knights Construction Group are sponsoring Llanfest this year and I look forward to developing a long term partnership with Matt and his team.

It’s so important that the Eisteddfod is grounded in the local community and that we work together to promote Llangollen. 

Tickets are priced at £70 (seated) and £55 (standing) and are now available online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862 001.

We would recommend that you buy early to get the best seats. I’ve already booked mine, but admittedly I did have to ‘You Tube’ some of the support acts to see what their music was like!

But that’s exactly what the Eisteddfod is all about, introducing you to new music that you wouldn’t necessarily listen to usually. So if you haven’t already heard of some of the artists, go look them up and I’m sure you’ll recognise some of their hits.

Llanfest will follow the same format as last year with music on three outside performance areas starting at 2pm before the headline acts in the main pavilion.

Details of the full outside stage programme will be released soon but I predict a riot of popular music throughout the afternoon! It promises to be a great memorable day out.

Llanfest was introduced to spread this message to a wider audience, by bringing new and more contemporary music genres to the festival, while still remaining true to its traditional values. I am thrilled that the Eisteddfod week will end on such a high note. Where else would you see such a varied mix of performers in just six days, and right on your doorstep!

Alfie Boe, Calan, Van Morrison, Red Priest and our own Music Director Vicky Yannoula will all entertain us as part of the concert strand together with instrumentalists, soloists, choirs and dancers from all across the globe. There truly is something for everyone. Do visit the website www.llangollen.net for more details.

Watch out for further announcements about the full outside stage line-up, the field activities and our outreach performances in the town. 

If you are interested in volunteering this year we would like to hear from you. There is a volunteer registration on the website or contact the office on 01978 862000. 

Happy Easter!
Dr Rhys Davies,
Eisteddfod Chairman

Trip of a lifetime for Dinas Bran's Bethany

* Bethany Pierce is South American bound.

A student from Ysgol Dinas Brân in Llangollen is counting down the months until she can take part in a pioneering visit to Patagonia, arranged by the Urdd.

Bethany Pierce, 17, from Corwen, applied to join the trip and was invited for an assessment at Glan Llyn near Bala.

This involved an interview, group work, a video clip and a team building exercise.

She was then one of only 25 students from across Wales to be invited to attend the trip in October.

Bethany said: “I’m so excited about going, if a little apprehensive as I suffer from homesickness, but this is too good an opportunity to miss and I will conquer the homesickness. 

"My local community have really been supportive as l need to raise £2,500.  

"My Uncle is doing a sponsored weight loss, I have set up a Bonus Ball and lots of cake sales."

She added: "I’d heard about the trip and decided to give it a go. Everyone says this is such a worthwhile project and it will certainly open my eyes to the culture and Welsh language traditions amongst families in Patagonia.

“During the visit I will be attending schools and visiting Welsh communities, getting to know families and getting involved in volunteering. This will be an experience of a lifetime.

“I can’t wait!”

Elizabeth's two big band successes

Elizabeth Mwale, a young euphonium player with Llangollen Silver Band, has successfully auditioned for a position with the National Youth Brass Band of Wales (NYBBW).

Elizabeth, 15, (pictured) has also been invited to join the summer course led by Philip Harper, music director and conductor of the world’s number one brass band, the Cory.

During the course Elizabeth will receive tuition from international euphonium soloist and Cory player Glyn Williams.

Following the course, the NYBBW will play a series of concerts across Wales.

One of the guest soloists for the concerts will be former NYBBW player Daniel Thomas who is now
principle euphonium player with the famous Black Dyke Band.

A spokesperson for Llangollen Silver Band said: "Elizabeth will certainly find herself playing alongside and being tutored by some of the world’s finest brass players. We congratulate her on her well-deserved success."

Try Llangollen Country Market for a bargain

* Country Market secretary Joan Sneyd on her own hand-knitted clothing stall.

Llangollen Country Market has opened for business at the start of what it hopes will be another busy trading season.

Nationally, the country market concept goes back to 1919 when they were run by the Women’s Institute (WI).

That is how they were known until about 20 years ago when they took on a more modern and business-like look.

But whatever name they have gone by, the basic principle of the markets has never changed – selling home-made food and crafts of the highest quality at the best prices.

Llangollen Country Market has been trading since 1977, first at the Memorial Hall and later at the Town Hall where it is still based.

Last year it celebrated its 40th anniversary with a fantastic morning attended by the Mayor and Town Crier.

Country Market secretary Joan Sneyd said: “We hold the market every Friday morning in the Town Hall from early March to late December, between 9.45am and 12.45pm, with the exceptions of Good Friday and Eisteddfod week.

“We sell quality locally hand-made, fresh home-grown and hand-crafted goods , including cakes and preserves, in season fruit and veg, plants (indoor and garden) and many types of crafts such as jewellery, children's wear, cards, walking sticks, hand knitted, crocheted and sewn items.

“We offer refreshments to our customers and everything is at very reasonable prices.”

* Craft stalls bulging with bargains.

* A jewellery stall all a-glitter.

* A wide selection of knitted goods on display.

* Some tasty-looking treats on the home-made cake stall.

* A range of home-made jams.

New timings for chamber meetings

At the Annual General Meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism held on Monday 5th March the members agreed that from April 2018 the monthly meetings would now take place on the first Tuesday of the month starting at an earlier time of 6.00pm.

The meetings will continue to be held at the Hand Hotel in Llangollen. It was hoped that these changes would make it easier for more members to attend the monthly meetings.

Eisteddfod gets £25,000 funding boost

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod has been selected to receive a £25,000 funding boost from the ScottishPower Foundation.

Backing charity initiatives as diverse as wildlife conservation and science-themed education to mental health awareness and theatrical productions, ScottishPower Foundation chose the festival’s Inclusion Project, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

* Music Director of the Llangollen

Eisteddfod Vicky Yannoula.

The project helps promote unity and diversity throughout North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire.

A diverse mix of groups from the local communities will come together and perform on the main stage at the festival in July.

The £1m ScottishPower fund was announced yesterday by Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation, Ann McKechin, at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow another of the recipents. 

Each of the 17 charities to receive funding from the ScottishPower Foundation will deliver events, information or campaigns that directly benefit people living in their local communities or regions.

Other projects include a theatre production by the National Theatre of Scotland, a marine conservation initiative by RSPB Scotland and STEM learning programmes by National Museums Scotland and Dumfries House.

Ann McKechin, Trustee and Executive Officer of the ScottishPower Foundation said: “Applications for this year’s funding blew us away with the incredible and diverse work happening around the UK, and to see the effects of funding in action here today is extremely moving.

"The ScottishPower Foundation is proud to be able to support these projects by helping them to realise their vision of making a positive difference to the lives of people in their communities.”

Music Director of the Llangollen Eisteddfod Vicky Yannoula, said: “Promoting opportunities for all and reducing inequality of opportunities is core to the ethos of the International Eisteddfod.

“Thanks to the ScottishPower Foundation’s continued support and funding the Inclusion Project has been able to continue its good work and enable people from all walks of life to perform on the Eisteddfod stage."

The ScottishPower Foundation was established in 2013 with the aim of making a significant and lasting contribution to society, enhancing the lives of people living in communities throughout the UK.

It provides funding to registered charities which are involved in the advancement of education, environmental protection, citizenship and community development. The Foundation also supports non-profit organisations working in science, the arts, heritage or culture as well as the prevention of poverty and relief of disability or other disadvantage.

Man airliftted to hospital following A539 collision

The Leader is reporting that a man has been airlifted to hospital following a serious three-vehicle crash on the A539 near Llangollen.

Fire and ambulance services were called to the incident close to the Sun Trevor Inn this afternoon (Monday) while an air ambulance was also in attendance.

The collision has led to disruption to local bus services,

* For the full story see: http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/

MP welcomes GP surgery revamp

An Assembly Member has welcomed confirmation that work to revamp a town’s GP surgery will be completed this year.

Ken Skates vowed before his 2016 re-election he would help deliver increased spending on health and social services in Clwyd South and subsequently secured a promise of investment from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief executive Gary Doherty.

A £1.5m project to refurbish and modernise Corwen Family Practice got under way last month and will see extra GP consultation rooms, improved waiting areas and a new dental suite created.

A range of community services will also be based in the new-look building, including health visitors and district nursing.

Mr Skates said: “I was delighted to see work on this welcome refurbishment get under way and I’m sure many of my constituents in Corwen and its surrounding communities will be pleased their surgery is seeing this significant investment.”

Mr Skates was also involved in the campaigns to bring brand new health centres to Chirk and Llangollen.

He said: “After pressing hard for these improvements for Corwen. I recently wrote again to Gary Doherty and he informed me that he anticipates the work to be completed in the autumn.

"I have previously pledged to help deliver increased health spending Clwyd South, so this investment in Corwen is particularly pleasing.”

Some services, including physiotherapy and podiatry, are currently being run from temporary accommodation on-site, while dental services will continue to be provided from the current location while refurbishment progresses.

For the duration of the building work, the pharmacist in Corwen town centre will accept repeat prescriptions, while Corwen Family Practice will accept repeat prescriptions between 8am and 6pm on Monday to Thursday and from 8am until 5pm on Fridays.