Update on Llan Railway landslip

* The length of track where the landslip took place. 

Llangollen Railway has given an update on the riverside landslip that occurred on the line west of Glyndyfrdwy station over the Christmas period.

 

This was caused by heavy rainfall and water level flows in the River Dee.

 

The line runs close to the river at this point and the slip took the bank away below a length of the railway's fencing, although the erosion has not yet intruded on to the track base. 

The slip has produced an intrusion which measures some 20m by 3m, but the high level of the Dee means that the precise impact on the lower riverbank cannot be seen until the water level drops.

The implications for the stability of the track means that the passage of trains west of Glyndyfrdwy cannot be authorised until repairs are completed to restore the riverside infrastructure and will possibly include improvements to the landside drainage system in this area.

As a safety precaution train services were terminated at Glyndyfrdwy station from Boxing Day to New Year's Day.

 

Passengers were understanding about the situation and concerned for its timely resolution, but the reduced train service adversely impacted on business originating from Carrog and at the station tearooms there.

 

Station staff at Glyndyfrdwy responded to the operational needs by opening up the station building to provide facilities at a time of the year when the building is normally closed.

At Llangollen station, a hole has been found to be opening up on platform 2 on the riverside stretch.  

 

A preliminary investigation revealed a voided area existed below the surface, likely to have been caused by water seepage through the riverside stonework but the area is subject to further investigation. 

Both incidents are subject to a claim on the Llangollen Railway's insurance and the extent and cost of the repair is subject to contractors' estimates which are currently being sought. 

 

Given the current predictions that further heavy downpours are likely in the future the railway will have to fund improvements that have been recommended to strengthen flood defences along the river bank. 

Further details will be known when the appointed contractors begin work and a completion date is given.

The railway's operations director Peter Evans said: "Llangollen Railway regrets the disruption to services which the landslip has caused and hopes to be able to resume train services to Carrog when the 2013 season begins on February 2.

 

"Priority will be given to the repair of Platform 2 used extensively for Thomas the Tank Engine events and contingency arrangements have already been made to ensure that the February series of Days Out With Thomas TM event will take place."

Meanwhile, the railway reports a successful season of Santa Special trains. I

 

In the course of eleven days of operations between December 1 and Christmas Eve, 44 trains ran and a total of 9,486 passengers were carried to "Lapland" at Carrog - a 90% seat occupancy. 

This is an increase of 4% on 2011 and is seen as a very satisfactory result in the current economic circumstances when family groups from within our base catchment area, and further afield, supported the seasonal entertainment.

George Jones for Llangollen Railway said: "The success of the annual Santa trains operation is down to the many volunteers who undertook a wide range of tasks involved in this festive season occasion.

 

"On all eleven days of the season operational duties on the trains and at stations, plus the various helpers for Santa and his elves, were covered by a wide range of volunteers of all ages.

 

"They came together to make up several teams which were rostered to cover the train services."

Wintry weather warning from council

Denbighshire County Council is advising motorists to take extra care on the county's roads, as wintry weather is forecast.

The Met Office has issued a yellow warning of the potential of snow and ice affecting parts of Wales over the weekend and into next week.

As a result, the council is asking people to allow extra time for journeys and to follow news and weather bulletins for further information.

Staff from the council's highways department will be monitoring weather forecasts and will be out treating the county's roads if frost and ice is forecast.

Book your place at crunch health meeting

Anyone wishing to attend next week’s meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board at which the future of health services in Llangollen will be discussed is advised to book their place in advance.

The meeting will be held from 10am-12.30pm next on Friday, January 18, in the Conference Room, Optic Centre, St Asaph.

A board representative writing to Llangollen health services campaigner Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “As attendance of members of the public to observe this meeting is expected to be high we would appreciate if you could let us know how many people would like to attend.”

·         The board can be contacted on 01248 384384.

Llan prepares for Peter Pan panto fun

* The Davies family - known as Llangollen's Panto Von Trapps.

Ten-year-old twins Ella and Jake Davies, of Pengwern, are starring together in the town’s production of the pantomime Peter Pan.

This will be Ella's third show but the first time she is being joined by twin Jake.

The youngsters will also be accompanied by seven other members of their family  -earning them the title of Llangollen’s Pantomime Von Trapps.

Ella who plays one of the pirates, said: “It feels really good having my brother in the panto with me, everything makes him laugh."

 

She made her debut in Llangollen Panto alongside her Aunty, Ali Burke, who this year plays one of the shows idiots, Miss You.

 

Ella and Jake's cousin, 19-year-old Aaron Davies of Wrexham, is this year's bright new talent and plays Peter.

 

Aaron has previously starred in Nia Ben Aur at the National Eisteddfod, High School Musical at the Stiwt Theatre, Rhos and Llangolen Operatic Society's production of Scarlet Pimpernel.

 

Ella and Jake will also be joined on stage by their dad Rob who plays another pirate but cannot be named.

 

Aaron’s sister, Tesni, is performing in her second show and plays the wife of the Indian Chief.

 

Ella and Jake's mum, Chris, is doing hair and make-up and Debbie and Phil, Aaron and Tesni's mum and dad are helping backstage and with sewing.

 

This is the third consecutive year that the Llangollen Pantomime has been staged at the Pavilion, with the previous two years seeing nightly sell-out shows. 

 

Director and Dame Simon Orton-Jones said: “This year’s show is a musical pantomime with an even bigger cast than last year.

 

"We have a fantastic 50-strong cast and crew, live band and the excellent lighting and sound facilities that the Pavilion has to offer.

 

"Following from last year's show, Sarah Marshall, the resident choreographer, has once again come up with fantastic new dances."

Chairlady Sharon Jones, who has been associated with the pantomime for 13 years, said: “The show tells the story of Peter Pan but Nanna the dog has become this year's Dame!

 

"Music is predominant in the show with songs such as Wings' ‘Live and Let Die, Queen’s I Wnt to Beak Fee’ and Crocodile Rock by Sir Elton John.

 

"The 18 songs are played by our eight-member band, led by our wonderful musical director Paul Young.

 

"The show is another huge production which has been made real thanks to the help and experience of our stage manager Michael jones and his crew.

 

"We have once again diverted from panto tradition by having Peter played by the talented Aaron Davies, supported by our ever-amazing Jo Potts (Tinkerbell) and the fantastic newcomer Dani Chamberlain (Wendy).”
 

* The show runs from Wednesday, January 16 to Saturday, January 19 at Llangollen Pavilion.

 

Doors 7pm, show 7.30pm, Saturday matinee (doors open 2pm, show 2.30pm).

 

Wednesday £5/£3 concessions, Thursday – Saturday £7/£5 concessions.

 

Tickets are available from Jades Hair & Beauty, Llangollen, Gwyn Davies (Butchers), Llangollen, or by calling 01978 860297.

North Wales is possible site for new super-jail

The BBC is reporting this afternoon that UK ministers say north Wales is being considered as a possible location for a so-called super prison, housing more than 2,000 inmates.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-20971109

County facelifts almost 3,000 homes

Denbighshire County Council has refurbished 2,972 properties across the county as part of its efforts to ensure that its entire housing stock meets the Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

A further 477 properties are due to be refurbished in the next 12 months and by the end of 2013, the total number of properties refurbished will be 3,463.

The council has sought to use the contracts for the works to support local sub-contractors and supply chains within Denbighshire.

Examples include:using local apprentices; all sub contractors used by Adever and 69% of site personnel with Brammal came from the county; all kitchens supplied locally; 100% of heating contract works dealt with by local workforce.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Cabinet Lead Member for Community Development, said: "The original objective of Welsh Government was that all social housing stock would be brought up to the standard by the end of 2012.

"However, this has not proved to be a realistic target for many landlords. Here in Denbighshire, the programme has been smoothed to reduce an over-reliance on one contractor, some small delays in approving contracts and respecting the wishes of tenants not wanting work carried out around Christmas time have all added to the 2012 target being exceeded.

"The majority of residents say they are happy with the work undertaken, with satisfaction rates of over 90% being recorded on all completed contracts. The Welsh Government says it is also happy with progress being made by Denbighshire and the Council continues to make improvement to its housing stock a key priority over the coming years."

The Head of Housing and Community Development for Denbighshire, Peter McHugh has been appointed to a Ministerial Task Force to advise the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage on options to enable local authorities to achieve Welsh Housing Quality Standard.

Group seeks new singers

Llangollen-based all-women singing group, Melodic Mondays, have put out the following notice seeking new members:

One step closer to rail electrification

The Minister with responsibility for Transport, Carl Sargeant, has announced that the Welsh Government, working in collaboration with the regional transport consortium, Taith, is to develop a business case for the electrification of the North Wales line.

 

The Minister has confirmed that a robust business case will be developed that will capture the full social, economic and environmental benefits for north Wales.

The business plan for modernisation will build on previous work done to date, including the important North East Wales Area Based Transport Study.

Carl Sargeant said: “I want to see North Wales properly connected to the UK electric infrastructure, with effective cross-border links.

“I want to see rail operations across Wales developed to achieve enhanced services with efficiency savings leading to a fairer deal for passengers and taxpayers.

“Our prioritised National Transport Plan recognises that transport is an enabler for many aspects of the Welsh economy and we will continue to focus on improving the capacity and reliability of the main east-west road and rail corridors in Wales.

“Modernising the North Wales rail line is a key element of this ambition and has the potential of greatly improving the rail services and unlocking economic growth for the region, which will in turn help tackle poverty.”

In addition to the North Wales Coast Main Line (from Holyhead to Crewe), consideration will be given to the rail network in north-east Wales (including the Wrexham to Bidston line, the line from Wrexham to Chester, and the line from Chester to Warrington Bank Quay) in order to maximise the social, economic and environmental benefits to the region resulting from modernisation.

Work now begins on establishing the strategic case for investment, which will define the scope, objectives, benefits and long-list of options for the project. This in turn will lead on to a robust case for change, which will be complete this summer.

Politicians' fury over benefit changes

Local Labour politicians have reacted with fury to the numbers of people who have been told by HMRC that they could lose their child benefit.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and AM Ken Skates have condemned the changes which have seen 440 households across their constituency receive letters from HMRC saying their benefit could be cut.

Families with one parent with a taxable income of more than £50,000 will lose some of the benefit, and it will be withdrawn entirely if one parent earns above £60,000.

Across the UK, HM Revenue and Customs said it had written to nearly 800,000 people but it estimates 1.1 million will be affected by the move.

Susan Elan Jones said: “The Government have made a complete mess of these child-benefit reforms. A family with two children could lose up to £1,752 a year in child benefit, an important and valuable top-up to the monthly household income.

“In particular these changes are unfair because they penalise single-income families, who will be put under additional financial strain at the same time that heating, household food and other living costs are set to soar even higher.

“There are many people in my constituency who have not had a pay rise for two or three years and the added costs of childcare and transport on top of all this is pinching working families very hard.” 

Ken Skates said: “Means-testing child benefit is simply mean spirited. The gradual withdrawal of benefit from people earning more than £50,000 a year will only increase the enormous financial pressures faced by families in Clwyd South.

“It is ridiculous that single earners on £50,000 will see their child benefit cut whilst couples earning £98,000 could end up keeping theirs.

“What a terrible new year gift for families in my constituency. A letter from the Chancellor saying that he is taking money away from them at exactly the time when they need it most. That’s not fair and it’s not right.”

The UK Government does not have precise information on how many households in Wales should lose child benefit, but it has written to 20,630.

The highest number were in Cardiff North (1,530), followed by Monmouth (1,300), the Vale of Glamorgan (1,110) and Cardiff West (1,090).

The fewest letters were sent to households in Rhondda (130), followed by Blaenau Gwent (140), Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney (190) and the Cynon Valley (210).

According to the Silk Commission launched by the Wales Office to examine devolution, in 2010-11 there were 89,000 higher rate taxpayers in Wales.

Campaigners hit back at health changes survey

Keep Llangollen Health Services campaigners have slammed Betsi Cadwaladr’s consultation process on closing Llangollen Hospital as “meaningless and designed to say what the Government and the board wants to hear”.

The consultation gathered thousands of responses from public meetings, petitions and questionnaires but it’s been criticised for favouring the findings of one group of questionnaires rather than another.

KHLS campaigners say open questionnaireresponses, which are far more hostile towards the planned closure of Llangollen Hospital, have been ignored.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of KLHS said: “This consultation has been flawed from the start. We were given only one option – to close the existing community hospital and then wait for a new health centre to be built somewhere sometime in the future.

"People locally are rightly sceptical of these plans – a new health centre would cost more than £5 million and Betsi Cadwaladr health board admits it’s in financial trouble.

"The way the findings have been presented proves that the Government and their puppets at the health board have got what they wanted through this sham exercise to tick the boxes.

"Many of the questions were loaded and, where the opposing view is clear and concise, they choose to ignore it. This is very shoddy work.”

To support his claim, Mr ap Gwynfor noted that the survey states: “Significantly higher proportion of residents who live within 10 km of Llangollen Community Hospital disagree with proposal to move inpatient beds (74%).”

However, in its conclusions the report authors say: “Divided opinions on removing inpatient beds 35% for, 29% against (HS).”

Mr ap Gwynfor said: “They have based their conclusions on the household survey, of which there were no more than a dozen respondents, because the result suited their agenda.

 

"The Open Survey shows the polar opposite! So those dozen people carry more weight than the 1,200 people who signed our petition and the hundreds who sent representations in the post or on-line.

“The report cannot be trusted. They also say that there is an ‘Absolute majority support for primary care centre in Llangollen’ – of course there is!

 

"Who wouldn’t want to see local health services improved in Llangollen? That is why we formed our group because these proposals threaten to diminish health care in Llangollen.”

Mr ap Gwynfor said his group was also concerned about the way the report authors seemed to dismiss petitions out of hand.

The board will consider recommendations at a special meeting which will take place in the Optic Centre, St Asaph at 10am on Friday, January 18.

* The report can be found at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/docopen.cfm?orgid=836&id=204213.

Health chiefs to discuss big shake-up on January 18

* Issues surrounding Llangollen Cottage Hospital will be discussed by the health board on January 18. 

Results of a test of public opinion are said to reveal that an “absolute majority” supports plans for new primary care centre in Llangollen.  

But there were said to be “divided opinions” on removing in-patient beds from the town’s closure-threatened Cottage Hospital. 

These results will be considered when the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) discusses a major shake-up in health services across north east Wales at a special meeting on January 18. 

News that, as part of the major changes it is proposing, the board intends to close the Cottage Hospital and replace it with a new health centre – possibly on the site of the derelict River Lodge off the A539 – and move its in-patient beds either into the community or to Chirk Hospital caused a storm of protest last summer. 

This led to the staging of two packed public meetings in the Hand Hotel.

Ahead of any decision being made, the health board carried out a comprehensive public consultation on its plans over the autumn.   

To allow board members to make up their minds on the entire change package, consultants have produced an exhaustive interpretation document. 

Running to 127 pages, this reveals that a total of 1,899 people across the region filled in an open questionnaire on various aspects of the package. 

A total of 683 people (14%) took part in a household survey on the issues involved. 

Denbighshire had the largest number of people in the region - 42% - taking part in the questionnaire, while 14% of people from the county took part in the household survey. 

In their interpretation document the consultants, Dale Hall and Kester Holmes, say that there was “absolute majority support” for primary care centre in Llangollen in the household survey and open questionnaire, while there were “divided opinions” on removing inpatient beds – 35% for and 29% against in the household survey.  

Full results were: 

Question: Do you agree or disagree that an extended primary care centre be developed in Llangollen? 

Household survey: 57% agree, 30% neither, 12% disagree

(38% of respondents answered this question) 

Open questionnaire: 52% agree, 24% neither, 23% disagree

(35% of respondents answered this question) 

Question: Community inpatient beds should be moved from Llangollen Community Hospital to local care homes or Chirk Community Hospital? 

Household survey: 35% agree, 35% neither, 29% disagree

(37% of respondents answered this question) 

Open questionnaire: 27% agree, 23% neither, 50% disagree

(35% of respondents answered this question)  

The consultation document also reports that a petition containing 1,240 signatures was sent into the board about Llangollen Cottage Hospital.

This called on the board to ‘draw up several alternatives for discussion’ rather than only status quo or closure.

A total of 89 people turned up at the three public consultation sessions held on the board’s proposals at Llangollen Town Hall in September and October, which was amongst the highest number recorded in the region.

Concerns were voiced over:

·       Transport

Distances to travel, the cost of transport and overall access

·       Transition

Current services would cease before new services in place

·       Remaining Llangollen service

Will they cope with future demand increases?

·       Funding

Is funding for the new service secure?

BCUHB chief executive Mary Burrows said: “We were very pleased and encouraged that so many people took the time and trouble to give their views.  

“The consultation feedback will be a significant element alongside other evidence that the board will consider on how best we can provide safe, effective services for the people of North Wales as a whole.” 

The board will consider the recommendations at a special meeting which will take place in the Optic Centre in St Asaph at 10am on Friday, January 18.  

The full interpretation document can be viewed at: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/836/2012%2012%2024%20ORS%20BOARD%20PRESENTATION%206.pdf.pdf

Call for direct local rail link to London

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on the UK Government to restore a direct rail link between Wrexham and London.

Following the collapse of the franchise process for the West Coast Main Line last year, Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced in December that Virgin trains had been awarded a two-year extension to its franchise on the line while a new tendering process was developed.

The stop gap solution also saw the UK Minister announce a new direct rail service between London and Shrewsbury, but said that the service will not carry on to Wrexham.

The Clwyd South AM, a member of the Welsh Assembly Transport Committee, said the arrangement ‘short changed’ his constituents and called for an urgent re-think.

Mr Skates said: “The fiasco over the West Coast Mainline franchise is turning out to be very damaging to passengers and businesses across North East Wales.

“We do not know what West Coast services to Wrexham will look like in the long-term and while they clear the mess up we will also be denied a direct rail link to London because the new service will stop at Shrewsbury and go no further.

“Proposals for a direct service to Shrewsbury without an equivalent service to Wrexham short changes passengers and businesses in my constituency. The previous Wrexham to Marylebone open access service was rated one of the best on the network by passengers proving there is a viable market for such a route.

“Virgin had previously stated that they would develop a Wrexham to London direct service three times a day, and the chaotic mismanagement of the West Coast franchise has now seemingly scuppered this with only a direct London to Shrewsbury service being promised out of the mess.

“The UK Government and the Department for Transport seem to have an on-going policy of ignoring North Wales when it comes to strategic rail investment. We have no plan for electrification of the North Wales mainline, we’ve missed out on a Wrexham to London direct service and we have no concrete timetable for the introduction of either.

“Other areas are much better served when it comes to rail, with serious investment being ploughed into other parts of the regional rail network. It’s time for the UK Government to start playing fair by passengers and businesses in North East Wales and start planning long-term investment and services for the area.”

The original franchise process for the West Coast Main line fell apart in October after it was discovered officials had made mistakes in their calculations over the £5 billion process.

A damning report attacked the Department for Transport over its handling of the franchise process.

Former Dinas Bran pupil bids for national fame

* Former Dinas Bran pupil Natalie Timmins is a finalist in Britain's Next Top Model.

A young actress and model who went to school in Llangollen is bidding for national fame.

Twenty-three-year-old Natalie Timmins, who attended Ysgol Dinas Bran, has reached the grand final of the 2013 Britain’s Next Top Model competition.

Born in Wrexham, Natalie grew up in Trevor and Garth and moved Oswestry in her late teens, later living in Plas Madoc.

She took A Levels in drama and theatre studies, dance and media studies at Yale College in Wrexham.

After finishing her studies last year, Natalie moved to Liverpool to enable her to attend professional acting classes.

She is also currently appearing in The Love Machine on Sky Living TV and is a main “picker” on the dating show presented by Chris Moyles.

Natalie said: “I auditioned for Britain's Next Top Model to gain a little bit of exposure and recognition to try and encourage my acting career.

“I am visiting Hollywood in the summer to audition for agents and to get work over there and at the moment I am trying to arrange some charity events to help raise money for Children with Cancer UK as part as being a candidate for the competition.”

The online voting system is now open and you can vote for Natalie on www.topmodeluk.com 

She is in the natural beauty category under Natalie T from Liverpool.  

It costs £1 to vote and all proceeds go to Children with Cancer UK.

Register your bike to help cut crime, say police

Did you get a new bicycle for Christmas? Or have you treated yourself to a new bicycle in the sales?

If so, North Wales Police are requesting that all bike owners register them to help reduce bicycle crime.

Over recent months many bicycles have been stolen from across North Wales, with many of these being specialist and expensive bikes.

North Wales Police and local Community Safety Partnerships are working in partnership with ‘BikeRegister’ - the UK’s leading online bicycle identification and registration initiative, to help reduce thefts and identify stolen cycles within North Wales.

 

Bicycles can be registered for free by providing the frame details.

 

However, options are available to purchase Bronze, Silver and Gold marking kits which offer different levels of protection.

Once registered owners can go onto theBikeRegister website with their unique password and communicate with others. A search facility for stolen bikes and so much more is also available.

If your bicycle is stolen, report it to the police on 101 and flag it as stolen on your account as soon as possible. Reporting your bike as lost or stolen helps the police match its description and return it to you.

It's not too late for a flu jab

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is urging those most at risk of developing serious complications from seasonal flu, and who have not already done so, to get a free jab.

Dr Sian Owen, Immunisation Lead for the Health Board, said: ‘The annual seasonal flu immunisation campaign was launched in October and is one of the largest public health campaigns which the NHS runs to protect the population from flu infection."

 

Up to this week, 68.4 percent of people over 65 in North Wales have already had their jab but the target is for 75 percent to have the jab.

 

If you are due to have your 65^th birthday before the end of March 2013 you are eligible for a free flu jab. The GP practices still have flu vaccine available to give protection to their patients against flu virus.

Leigh Pusey, Nurse Immunisation Coordinator, said: “With the announcement that the flu season has now started in the UK, it’s particularly important for children and adults who have an ‘at risk’ condition such as diabetes, heart disease or any other long term condition such as lung, kidney or liver problems to have their seasonal flu jab. If you’re not sure if you’re eligible please contact your GP to check.

 

"It’s important to remember that the seasonal flu vaccine is safe and does not contain any live virus, so it cannot cause flu. Those who had a seasonal flu jab last year will need to get a new jab this winter. As the flu virus changes every year, the flu vaccine is updated to match the latest flu viruses circulating in the community.”

Practical tips to help avoid spreading germs to others and to help avoid infection yourself include always carrying tissues, covering your cough and sneeze with a tissue, disposing of the tissue after one use and cleaning your hands as soon as you can.

 

Talk to your local GP, nurse or pharmacist to find out more or visit the NHS Choices website at: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Flu-jab/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Campaign aims to create foodie heaven in region

* A toast to the new Holy Grail Ale at Valle Crucis Abbey with Robert Price from Cadwyn Clwyd and 

Ynyr Jeffreys-Evans of Llangollen Brewery.

The Hamper Llangollen and Mold food festivals and a host of award-winning producers are to star in a campaign to transform North East Wales into a foodie heaven for visitors.

 

The aim is to give tourists a taste for the area so they have an appetite to come back again - and again.

 

It's all part of the drive by Tourism Partnership North Wales to make the region a top five UK destination for visitors.

 

The renown of Welsh lamb has already travelled far and wide with the likes of American President Barack Obama and the Pope tucking in.

 

But organisers say the Food North Wales campaign is about more than just lamb, beef and pork.

 

Apart from the award-winning butchers there are bakers and brewers, buffalo herders and bee-keepers, fudge, paté and cheesemakers, and even a purveyor of garlic products.

 

They will be showcased on the new Food North Wales website that's being hailed as a gateway to gastronomic delight.

 

The campaign will be officially launched at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre in the Conwy Valley on January 16.

 

Carole Startin, Marketing and Events Executive with Tourism Partnership North Wales, explained: "Food North Wales is all about bringing together for the consumer under one umbrella.

 

"We have wonderful food and drink that’s produced locally. As well as our marvellous meat, there are our fantastic vegetables and heavenly bread, exquisite liqueurs and fine ales - they are part of the wonderful taste of North Wales.

 

"The website will also include information about where to eat and drink and the latest news stories about the fine food available in North Wales.

 

"We are what we eat and food is an integral part of our identity, it helps embed our unique sense of place.

 

"It therefore makes perfect sense for the food sector and the tourism industry to work more closely together than ever to make it easier for the tourist to find some quality food and drink while they’re here on holiday in Wales - and also help with their research before they come."

 

"As a perfect complement to our fine produce and truly exceptional restaurants, we have some fantastic food festivals across North Wales such as Conwy Feast, Mold Food and Drink Festival, Hamper Llangollen and the 700-year-old Conwy Honey Fair.

 

"We also have the newly established Clwydian Range Food Trail and we'd like to see more trails like this developed."

 

It was a sentiment echoed by Tansy Rogerson, the Marketing Manager of the £6.5 million Bodnant Welsh Food Centre that was officially opened by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall last summer.

 

Ms Rogerson said: "We’ve got so many fantastic artisan producers on our doorstep as well as nationally in Wales that we need to shout about them.

 

"The purpose of this campaign is to tell people outside Wales about the fantastic food on offer and to signpost them to where they can find it.

 

"Increasingly people want to know where their food comes from and we have 100 per cent traceability with our meat.

 

"By supporting local producers, we are keeping the economy going as well as keeping and creating jobs in rural North Wales."

 

Dewi Davies, the Regional Strategy Director of Tourism Partnership North Wales, is a passionate advocate of the economic benefits of promoting the food sector.

 

He said: "Our vision is to make North Wales a top five UK visitor destination and our strategy is geared up to achieve this goal.

 

"To be successful we have to provide brilliant visitor experiences and food is a central part of these experiences.

 

"There were already a number of good food initiatives in different corners of North Wales but we felt it was important to have an all-encompassing campaign highlighting all the great food stories that we have across the whole of the region.

 

"We have some fantastic producers - like Llaeth y Llan Village Dairy, Snowdonia Cheese, Patchwork Paté and Halen Môn - and we need to make information about them available in an interesting way to our visitors.

 

"As part of the campaign, we will identify those places where you can actually buy all this wonderful food - whether it is the Blas ar Fwyd delicatessen in Llanrwst, Edwards the butcher in Conwy, the Bison Grill at the Rhug estate, Hawarden Farm Shop or indeed Bodnant Welsh Food where the launch is taking place.

 

"All this fantastic food gives people another reason to come to North Wales, another reason to dwell - and another reason to make a return visit."

 

For more information go to www.foodnorthwales.co.uk

Tributes to 17 year old who died after collision

On New Year's Day we reported the sad news that a 17-year-old youth had died from his injuries after being involved in a road traffic collision in Gwersyllt.

 

North Wales Police has just posted on its website this official tribute to him from his family: 

 

"The family of 17 year old Ian Gallagher have paid tribute to the selfless, loving student who died on New Year's Day following a road traffic collision.

 

* Ian Gallagher was training to become a soldier.

Ian's parents, Alan and Andrea, his brother Phillip, sister, Beth, his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins have been overwhelmed by the immense support from the student's friends and the local community.

Alan said: "The messages and the outpouring of support from the communities of Denbigh, Caerwys and Wrexham have been incredible, we have been so touched by the warmth of feeling from his many friends."

A former pupil of Denbigh High School, Ian was also well known in Caerwys, where his grandparents live.

Ian was well on his way to achieving his lifelong ambition of becoming a soldier. For the past six months Ian had been a student at the Motivational Preparation College for Training (MPCT) in Wrexham and had started his application to join the Army.

Alan said: "In our eyes he was already a soldier, we are extremely proud of him and all that he achieved. Ian was never afraid to raise his head above the parapet and stand up for the right things. He cared deeply for his family and friends and always put others before himself."

Ian had a special place in his heart for the newest member of the Gallagher family, his nephew, nine month old Riley Jay.

Riley Jay's father, Phillip (Ian's brother) said: "Ian looked out for everyone. He loved Riley, the teddy bear he gave him for Christmas is a special present which we'll keep for him until he's older."

Alan and Andrea also paid tribute to all those who helped Ian following the collision which happened on the A541 Mold Road, Wrexham, during the early hours of New Year's Day.

Alan said: "The emergency services, the medical staff, those who were with him, we are deeply grateful for everything that they did for Ian, we cannot thank them enough."

KLS chair slams "march" of out-of-town developments

The chair of a group dedicated to preserving Llangollen’s small shops has hit out at what he calls the “continuing march of out-of-town developments”.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) has just called on MPs to prioritise listening to local businesses and to help halt the decline of high streets.

It has recommended that taking action against the rising cost of doing business in the UK is the number one thing that MPs should do to help high streets.

The BRC is asking them to support calls for the government to freeze business rates, which are set to rise by 2.6% in 2013.

Mike Edwards, (pictured left) chair of Keep Llangollen Special which has strongly opposed the new Sainsbury’s store planned for the town, said: “This article is clearly aimed at Westminster MPs, but applies equally to Welsh Assembly politicians.

“However, the issue of high business rates raised by the BRC whilst being a real factor for independent businesses trading in the high street, masks the real problem of the continuing march of out-of-town retail developments.

“Despite having planning policies in place to protect town centres and sustainability to discourage increased vehicle journeys these are blatantly ignored when a corporate business comes along and waves its financial muscle at LPAs and WG.” 

He added: “The First Minister in his New Year message strongly states his aim to encourage new economic developments, but this is clearly to the detriment of local independent businesses and economies.  

“Government states that they wish to involve local communities in decision making, but in practice they and local authorities treat residents of communities with total disrespect and treat anyone who makes their views known as some sort of activist and politicians tell local communities what is good for them.  

“What is the point in allowing out-of-town super stores if that decimates a vibrant town centre and leads to businesses closing down and a loss of employment in those businesses? 

“In a separate article the BRC makes reference to an improved situation in vacant shop premises in town centres, but when you look at the figures the improvement is marginal and on average 14% of retail space is still vacant in town centres up and down the UK.”

Workers will benefit from tax changes says AM

New figures show that 224,124 workers in North Wales will benefit from the Conservative-led UK Government’s changes to income tax in April 2013 and 11,720 people in the region will be taken out of tax altogether.

 

That is the claim of North Wales Assembly Member and Shadow Minister for North Wales, Communities and Housing, Mark Isherwood, who said: “These figures demonstrate how Conservatives in Government are taking tough decisions to ensure work pays.

 

"They are ensuring a fairer tax system by providing support to individuals on low and middle incomes, and by increasing the rewards to work.

“Out of the 1.42 million tax payers in Wales, almost 1.1million workers in Wales will benefit from the Conservative-led UK Government’s changes to income tax in April 2013, with 57,007 people in Wales taken out of tax altogether.

“We now look to the Welsh Government to bring forward substantive plans to invest its £227million windfall from the Conservative-led UK Government in major infrastructure projects, which will help create conditions for economic growth in Wales.

“Under Labour the UK borrowed itself into trouble, now we have to earn our way out.”

AM brands rail fare rises as "unfair"

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has branded the latest rise in rail fare prices as ‘unfair’ to passengers in North Wales.

For the 10th year in a row ticket prices in Wales have risen above inflation, with average rail fares having gone up by 3.9% across England, Wales and Scotland.

The rises are designed in part to fund major infrastructure improvements over the next few years, but Mr Skates said it was “unfair” commuters in the region were being asked to pay higher fares without a major commitment to electrify the North Wales mainline.

He said: “This is the tenth year in a row that rail fares have been hiked up above inflation. In North Wales commuters are faced with a rail fare increase as real wages are stagnating and the cost of living is rising.

“In part the justification for this latest rise is to pay for the major infrastructure upgrades that are going to be happening over the next few years. My issue with this is that rail passengers in the region have not been given any sort of commitment about when an upgrade of the mainline in North Wales might take place.

“Electrification is now being timetabled on the Great Western Line between London and Swansea, the South Wales valleys lines will be electrified too and a major High Speed Rail (HS2) route is being planned through central Englandtowards Scotland.

“However, we in North Wales have not been given any indication that the extra money we will pay in rail fare increases over the coming years will go toward funding an electrification programme of the North Wales mainline. It is only fair that major increases in rail fares being paid for by passengers and local businesses are linked to infrastructure upgrades."

 

He added: “We need to see the business case for North Wales electrification progressed urgently and then a coherent plan, backed by both the UK and Welsh Governments, to get the North Wales mainline electrified as soon as possible.

“Research by the Campaign for Better Transport has highlighted that rail fare increases have run 20% higher than real wage rises over the last ten years and I believe that any future increases in rail prices in North Wales over the next few years should be linked to a major plan to provide quicker routes for passengers in the region.”

The Campaign for Better Transport (CBT) and independent campaign group Railfuture have both calculated that some rail fares have increased by 50% or more in the past 10 years.

The UK Government have said further fare rises are planned for January 2013 and January 2014 of RPI plus 1%.