Drink drive campaign sees 76 arrests

North Wales Police arrested 76 people during the recent all Wales Christmas Anti-Drink and Drug Driving Campaign.

Led by Dyfed Powys Police the month-long campaign 30,718 drivers throughout Wales were breath tested between 1^st December 2014 and 1^st January 2015.

 

The force carried out 15,627 breath tests with 76 being positive. Six people were also arrested for driving whilst under the influence of drugs.

Some of the highest readings recorded during the campaign in North Wales were 147, 106 and 105 compared to the legal limit of 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. All three Individuals have been charged and have appeared before the courts.

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “We set ourselves a tough target this year in relation to drink and drug driving during the festive period.

"That target was ZERO. That is zero deaths on our roads as a result of drink or drug driving. I am pleased to report, that with the support of our communities, we achieved that.

“Our campaign this year was heavily focussed around preventing drink/drug driving although unfortunately we still found that some people were willing to risk their lives and the lives of others by drink/drug driving. Although we saw a downturn in the number of people we caught this year, which is encouraging, there are still too many willing to take the risk.

“We have had overwhelming support and I would like to thank those who positively engaged with the campaign."

He added: “Operation Sodium - our anti-drink/drug driving campaign continues throughout the year. The operation involves police officers using a number of tactics in specific areas to ensure we catch people who take the risk. Our message is simple yet strong – don’t do it, the people around you do not support what you are doing, the consequences can be devastating plus we will catch you.”

* If you have information relating to someone you think is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please contact North Wales Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.

AM takes up rail link cut fears

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has reacted to concerns over the future of a peak-time rail link from this area to the Midlands.

The 07:47 train from Wrexham to Birmingham has been left out of a draft timetable for May published online, according to the Shrewsbury to Chester Rail Users Association (SCRUA).

If the service is axed commuters face waits of half an hour for a connection at Shrewsbury, the group said.

Arriva Trains Wales has said "nothing has been finalised" on their May timetable.

Ken Skates said: “I have made repeated representations over this issue as the axing of the service would cause major inconvenience to many of my constituents who use Chirk and Ruabon stations, as well as Wrexham.

“I have written to Arriva Trains Wales and have also relayed concerns to Welsh Government Transport Minister Edwina Hart, who recognises the importance of rail travel in North Wales and the border areas.

“I will continue to fight for the best service provision possible for my constituents.”

Young Llan director goes on tour

* Director Natalie Evans.

A budding theatre director from Llangollen will soon be going on tour with a new stage production, supported by the town's own Twenty Club Amateur Players.

Natalie Evans, 21, will direct Winona, a new work from Welsh playwright Christopher T.Harris, which follows siblings Kate and Daf as they retreat to the family cottage following the sudden deaths of their parents.

* A publicity image for the play (Dorit Fuhg).

When a stranger named Ed comes to visit, however, their somewhat quiet retreat turns into something quite different.

Along with Natalie, the production stars fellow Twenty Club members Andy Evans and Ally Goodman on stage, with technician Jack Shimmin behind the scenes.

* The cast of Winona.

Natalie is currently pursuing her career in theatre directing and has previously taken charge of two Twenty Club productions - The Glass Menagerie (2013) and Season's Greetings (2014).

She has also taken the helm in productions with both Aberystwyth and Chester Universities and her own graduate theatre company, Quintus.

Winona will be performed at venues in Liverpool, Aberystwyth and Cardiff in February with more dates to be confirmed for later in the year.

 

The Twenty Club, with its aim of supporting young local theatre talent on stage and behind the scenes, will assist with the production costs along with the Arts Council of Wales.

 

Tickets for the tour start at £5 and more information can be found on the websites below:

Lantern Theatre, Liverpool - 12th February - lanterntheatreliverpool.co.uk
Aberystwyth Arts Centre - 19th February - aberystwythartscentre.co.uk
The Gate, Cardiff - 20th February - thegate.org.uk

Consider fostering says county council

Denbighshire County Council is encouraging people to make a new year's resolution - to consider becoming a foster carer.

The Council is running a campaign called Love Fostering, to increase the number of applications and enquiries received about fostering in the county and to promote the benefits of fostering county-wide.

The 'Love Fostering' campaign includes a new information website, promotional banners and booklets and the fostering team is arranging a programme of information events providing advice and information to prospective foster carers.

There are a number of differing types of fostering including general fostering (short and long term), respite care to allow other carers to take a break from their duties , short break care to support families who have children with disabilities, support care to enable families to overcome difficult periods in their lives and emergency foster care that can see children placed at very short notice.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Social Care, said: "The start of a brand new year is a great time for people to look forward to the future and to consider a fresh new start. We want to use this opportunity to make people think about the possibility of becoming foster carers.

"We have a dedicated team of staff at the other end of the phone who would be more than willing to have an informal chat and advise people about the fostering process, the benefits of fostering and what it involves.  

"Making that phone call may make a real difference to the life of a child or young person in Denbighshire."

* To find out more, visit: www.lovefostering.co.uk or call 0800 7313215. 

Provide more community beds, says campaigner

 

* Mabon ap Gwynfor with Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood outside Llangollen Hospital.

 

Hospital wards should be re-opened as a matter of urgency, following revelations that there are 400 fewer beds in North Wales compared to last five years.

 

That’s the view of a health campaigner, who made his call in the wake of an emergency medicine consultant at Wrexham Maelor blaming lack of beds for the pressures on A&E.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of the North Wales Health Alliance and Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidate for Clwyd South, called on the Welsh Government to set a strategic goal that no District General Hospital should have acute bed occupancy levels of more than 80%.

 

In addition, he said beds should be re-introduced into communities following the closure of four community hospitals in north Wales.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor said:  “When we formed the campaign to keep hospital beds in Llangollen, it was exactly because of this reason. We knew that patients would find themselves staying longer in General Hospitals or be discharged only to be re-admitted again immediately afterwards.

 

“Staff are working extremely hard and it’s unfair to expect them to work in such conditions. It’s not surprising that morale is low when they’re under such pressure.

 

“This is the consequence of a centralisation agenda by both the Welsh Government and local health board, which has meant taking services away from our communities and also failing to invest properly in a proven alternative before rolling it out. Patients should not be used as guinea pigs for an unproven Home Enhanced Care programme.

 

“Hospital acquired infections are far more likely to occur in hospitals that have 85% occupancy rates or higher, therefore the partial closure of two wards in Wrexham Maelor over Christmas because of noro-virus should not have come as a surprise. Unless drastic changes are made, this will happen again and it will continue to place significant pressure on the hospital and their staff.

“The Government’s by now regular financial injections merely deals with the symptoms and not the cause. They should use the money to invest in community hospital beds and get the service back to working order.

 

"By investing in opening wards and re-introducing community beds, this would take occupancy levels down and ease much of the pressure we are seeing with delayed transfers of care and re-admission.”

Tractor crash road stays closed

Yesterday afternoon's tractor crash on the A5 Chirk bypass will mean a section of the road is closed until tomorrow (Wednesday) according to a story in the Daily Post.

See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a5-chirk-tractor-crash-bridge-8475639

Paths group plans latest public meeting

THE lobby group which aims to combat the damage it says is being caused to the countryside around Llangollen by off-road vehicles is to stage its latest public meeting next month.

Save Our Paths (SOPS) was set up last year to oppose what it claims is widespread abuse and trespass by 4x4s and motorbikes in the hills around the town.    

The group held its first public meeting at Llangollen Town Hall last October which was attended by affected residents along with representatives of local councils, police, countryside organisations and the off-roaders themselves.

SOPS is now planning a follow-up meeting at the Town Hall starting at 7pm on Thursday, February 19.

Organisers say that questions under discussion will include if the councils and police have listened to the arguments put forward at the last meeting and whether local MPs and AMs have taken up the SOPS cause.

 

They say the meeting is for all residents of the area.

 

Cost of policing to rise by 3.44%

A  3.44 per cent increase in the cost of policing North Wales has been agreed - it works out at 17p a week for Band D households in the region.

 

The rise in the precept was unanimously approved at a meeting today (Monday, January 19) of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel in Conwy.

 

Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick CB QC, pictured below, said: "Its importance to the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of policing North Wales is vital as it is to the ability of the force to keep north Wales a safe place to live work and visit.

 

"That last objective is more challenging now than at any other time. Keeping the people safe has become the policing imperative."

 

Mr Roddick pointed out that 2015/16 will be se fifth consecutive year of severe cuts for North Wales Police, with £19.6m having been cut over the previous four years.

 

He said: "Grants were cut by 18 per over the same period. All the political parties

are committed to reducing the nation’s annual deficit over the next Parliament and we are told that we are only half way there.

 

"It is very likely, therefore, that cuts of a similar level will be made over

the next four years as were made during the previous four years.

 

"Although inflation has been kept to a minimum in the budget itself, it is still a challenge. The cost of the national IT service, for example, has increased by 22 per cent."

 

According to Mr Roddick, the force would need to cut a further £15.5m over the next four years.

 

The Commissioner added: "The front line has been protected as far as possible, but the more cuts that are made the more likely it is that they will affect front line services.

"In the meantime, there are new demands on the police, such as the increased terrorist threat, cyber crime, child sexual exploitation and the new victim’s code.

 

“The HMIC - Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary - report last year found that North Wales Police had identified the savings to cope with the cutbacks.

 

“Since then, of course, there have been further cutbacks but we are satisfied that we will be able to police North Wales effectively although it will be a greater challenge.

 

“I have asked the Chief Constable if he is able to cope and he has said that provided the precept can make up for some cutbacks then North Wales Police will be able to cope.

 

"In future, we will need to ensure we achieve even greater value for money and there is more work to be done in terms of collaborating more with other forces.

 

"A recent example was the alliance we have formed with Cheshire Police in relation to armed response.

 

"At a time when budgets are tight, strategic alliances like this makes a great deal of sense.

 

"Through innovative collaboration like this, we can continue to provide enhanced policing to communities across North Wales and reduce costs at the same time.

 

"I take my responsibilities very seriously and we have struck the right balance between sensible financial management and the operational effectiveness of the force."

Accident on A5 Chirk bypass

The Daily Post's news blog reported just after 2.20pm today (Monday) ...

ACCIDENT: Reports of queuing traffic on the A5 Chirk bypass due to accident involving up to three vehicles . Traffic between A483 (Halton Roundabout) and B5070 Chirk Road / Station Road (Gledrid Roundabout).

Llangollen Fire Station tweeted about 3.30pm ...

Llangollen Fire ‏@Llangollenfire 26m26 minutes ago 
              

Traffic backing up through CHIRK as A5 is shut as tractor is in a dangerous position.


The BBC reported about 4.05pm ...

Tractor hanging off bridge closes A5 Chirk bypass, Wrexham

A car driver has been taken to hospital and a major road in north Wales is closed as a tractor is left hanging off a bridge following a crash.

The A5 Chirk bypass is shut in both directions between Halton roundabout and B5070 Chirk Road, following the incident which also involved two cars.

 

Methodists enjoy New Year gathering

FORTY-TWO members of Llangollen Methodist Church enjoyed a New Year gathering at the White Water Hotel in the town recently.

A carvery meal was followed by a quiz organised by John and Gill Newbrook, which was won by Sue Smith and Laura Davies.

* Church members tuck into their lunch.

 

 

* Quiz winners Sue Smith and Laura Davies with, centre, Gill Newbrook.

Hospital beds question under discussion

North Wales has nearly 400 fewer hospital beds and 350 fewer nurses than five years ago, according to new figures obtained by Plaid Cymru – the Party Of Wales.

The figures, released following a series of Freedom of Information requests, shows that in October 2009 the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board had 2677 in-patient beds and employed 6276 nurses. By October 2014 the figures were 2284 in-patient beds, a 15% fall, and 5907 nurses, a 6% drop.

Wrexham Maelor Hospital saw a drop of 50 beds coupled with the closure of Flint and Llangollen community hospitals during that period (1).

At the same time, the number of inpatient cases in North Wales rose from 80,867 to 86,249 – a 6.7% rise. But in Wrexham Maelor the rise in the past year alone has been 15% - from 26331 to 30409.

Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd said that such a reduction in beds and nursing staff was contributing to the difficulties the NHS was facing in terms of coping with a growing elderly population and ensuring there were beds for those brought in by ambulance to A&E.

Mr Gruffydd said: “Closing wards such as the Acton ward in the Wrexham Maelor , coupled with the loss of many community hospitals, help explain why we are seeing long queues of ambulances outside our main hospitals and why people waiting so long for operations.

“The health board claims that nurse recruitment is the problem but nurses tell us they’ve applied to work Bank shifts and not heard back from the board. Instead, we’re seeing expensive agency nurses being recruited when we need longer-term planning in terms of workforce recruitment and retention.”

He was also critical of the health board’s claims that care was now focussed in the community: “These cuts in hospital services would be easier to stomach if we had seen an equivalent increase in funding for community care and GPs, but the truth is that we are facing a looming crisis in GP and primary-care services. I fear GP shortages will be the ‘health story’ of 2015, unless something drastic is done about it.

 “Care at a hospital might be an out-dated concept for health bosses who want to see more care delivered at home but, until the structure and provisions are in place to ensure that home-care is functioning properly and can be delivered within budget, then there is a real danger that the system will fail if they reduce the number of beds and nurses.

 “In recent years, Labour has underfunded the NHS in Wales and, as a result, we have seen a health service struggling to meet demand, which is rising with every new medical breakthrough and with a population that is living longer. The Cardiff Labour Government is presiding over an NHS that employs fewer nurses and has fewer facilities than it did five years ago – that’s a huge indictment of their misrule.”

* See the statistics at:  

1     https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Activity/NHS-Beds/NHSBeds-by-Organisation-Site

* In a related story local health services campaigner Martin Crumpton has contacted llanblogger to say:

“The current BBC website story in which an emergency medicine consultant has blamed a drop in his hospital's performance on a lack of capacity in parts of the region shows that at last, somebody with a voice they can’t ignored has told them what I’ve been saying all along, but studiously ignored. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30863360

“As llanblogger readers will know, this confirms everything I’ve been campaigning against since our Cottage Hospital and others were closed. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve written to the Board of Betsi Cadwaladr urging them to reopen our hospital and others in North Wales so misguidedly, reprehensibly and disastrously shut in the now-infamous `North Wales Health Is Changing’ debacle.

“Blaming this on internecine political wars between the Welsh and English NHS authorities is nothing short of ludicrous and is procrastination instead of action. Last week, I watched the Parliamentary Select Committee in which it was made crystal clear that the NHS cannot un-knot itself from the bed shortage without a sharp and immediate increase in bed capacity – well, the capacity was there all along until the bean counters of the loathed Mary Burrows regime decided they could spreadsheet their way to major savings.

“And it’s going to get worse because of the same ill-thought-out policy: When the GP practice and the chemist move to the wholly-unnecessary new and bedless Health Centre at the far edge of Llangollen, are going to react instinctively and dial 999 if they develop worrying symptoms or their children sustain deep cuts. It’s human nature, especially where children are involved. Ambulances DO NOT take people to clinics or Minor Injury Units, only to hospital A&E.

“Llangollen is an elderly town with a high proportion of residents without private transport. For the majority, it’s relatively quick and easy to get to the Regent Street Health Centre for worries and minor injuries. Anyone’s understanding of human nature and physical capability will know that the River Lodge site is beyond reach if you don’t have a car, and you’ll certainly think twice about leaving blood or vomit all over a taxi, if you can afford one – if you can risk waiting for one, as they’re not bound by NHS target times to arrive.

“Something I find genuinely disturbing is the silence coming from the doctors at the Regent Street Health Centre. To date they’ve only given one statement  - they opposed the closure of the Cottage Hospital.

“I ask the doctors to reconsider moving to the new health centre, and to put their weight into helping the campaign to have the Cottage Hospital re-opened. There cannot be a better outcome for us and North Wales at this time.”

Step out in Llan's walking festival this May

* The beautiful countryside around Llangollen where some of the walks will be held.

PEOPLE are being invited to step out in the annual Llangollen Walking Festival, which takes place in and around the town this May.

Organiser Mike Smart, of Summerhill-based walking guides company Treksmart, said: “We’re inviting people to come and join us in this beautiful Victorian town where walkers are welcome, for short, medium and long walks all within the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the nearby UNESCO World Heritage Site.”

Programme for the festival, which takes place over three days on May 2, 3 and 4, is:

Saturday May 2

• UNESCO World Heritage Site walk (easy walk of 4.5 miles)

• Llangollen town history walk (easy)

• Castle, cliff top, valley and fantastic views (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Ponderosa, World's End, High Moors, Cliff Top, castle and fantastic views (strenuous walk of 12 miles)

• Evening entertainment, with local food and drink, Welsh folk tale storytelling (in English), music and song

Sunday May 3

• Food and drink walk (easy 3.5 miles)

• Steam train ride and walk (moderate walk of eight miles)

• Steam train ride and walk and high moors and wilderness trek (strenuous walk of 15 miles)

Monday May 4

• History in the landscape walk (3.5 miles)

• Photography walk (easy)

• Chirk Castle, two aqueducts, Offa's Dyke, battle site and Pilgrims Way (strenuous walk of 12 miles) 

• Nordic walking for beginners

• Nordic walk advanced level

Mike Smart added: “Apart from all this we’ll also have free Welsh beer for the over-18s and other free refreshments on some walks.”

 

* For more information go to: http://www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ or e-mail to hello@treksmart.net. The festival is also on Facebook. 

Town awakes to covering of snow

* Castell Dinas Bran with a covering of snow this morning.

Llangollen awoke to a covering of snow this morning (Sunday).

The forecast for the rest ofSunday is that it will be another cold day across the country with some sunny spells and also a wintry mix of showers, especially across western and northern parts.

Snow showers will mainly over the hills in these parts.

Young 'Uns to stage Half a Sixpence

* The full cast of Half a Sixpence line up. (Pictures by Barrie Potter).

LLANGOLLEN Operatic Society’s junior section, The Young ‘Uns, are busy with final preparations for their 26th annual show, Half a Sixpence. 

This is a sparkling new version of the smash-hit musical, based on the novel by H G Wells, which toured across the UK in 2007/2008.

It has all the familiar storylines and characters of the original show and the 1967 film starring Tommy Steele but has been re-imagined for today’s audience with additional scenes, bigger roles for some of the supporting characters, more pace and more humour.

The chorus has as much if not more involvement than in the original show and there are many new minor roles which have given the Young ‘Uns chorus members an opportunity to shine.

Charlie Hackforth (pictured below left) plays the part of Kipps, the oldest draper apprentice in the business. 


Joanna Stallard (pictured above left) is Anne, his long term sweetheart despite Kipps’ short-lived engagement to Helen Walsingham, played by Amy Jones. 

Cassius Hackforth plays Chitterlow, an eccentric actor/playwright who discovers Kipps and shows him he has inherited ‘a fortune’. 

Luke Haynes plays Young Walsingham, who becomes Kipps’ financial adviser and speculates his fortune away, and Beth Evans plays Mrs Walsingham, their mother.

Audiences can expect plenty of singing and dancing from cast members ranging in age from six to 18.

Producer Pamela Williams also provides choreography, Chrissie Ashworth is the artistic director, Dee Smith is assistant producer and Julian Cattley has joined as musical director.

The show will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, February 5, 6 and 7, at 7.30 p.m. On the Saturday there will also be a matinee performance at 2.30pm.

* Tickets, priced at £8 for adults and £5 concessions, are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre, Jades Hair and Beauty, Gwyn Davies Butcher or Stella Bond on 01978 860441.    

 

The day last the last train ran through Llan 50 years ago

* Llangollen GP Dr Rhys Davies, as a young boy, waits to board the final passenger train to run through Llangollen 50 years ago.

* Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, the fireman on the last

 train through Llangollen, returned the station to meet the crew

of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

 

To mark the 50th anniversary today (Friday) of the day the last passenger train ran through Llangollen before the service fell victim to Dr Beeching's axe, llanblogger brings you this special feature prepared with the help of Llangollen Railway's George Jones ... 

THE last train through Llangollen on the Ruabon to Barmouth line ran on January 16, 1965.

And to mark the 50^th anniversary of the momentous event George Jones of Llangollen Railway, who remembers it very well, has been looking back to when Dr Beeching’s infamous axe fell on the passenger service.    

He recalled: “The Ruabon to Morfa Mawddach/Barmouth line was listed for closure in a report published by the British Railways Board (BRB) in 1963, entitled The Reshaping of British Railways.

“This was at a time when Dr Richard Beeching was chairman of the BRB having been brought in from ICI by the Minister for Transport, Ernest Marples.

“The decision to appoint him followed a statement by Harold McMillan, the then Prime Minister, in March 1960 to the House of Commons, when he said: `First the industry (i.e. railways) must be of a size and pattern suited to modern conditions and prospects. In particular, the railway system must be remodelled to meet current needs, and the modernisation plan must be adapted to this new shape.’

“This was at a time when the British Railways operating deficit had reached £86.9m rising to £135.9m when interest and other charges were added and was causing popular national concern.

“The report and its conclusions were handwritten by Dr Beeching, with financial information added, but nowhere does his name appear in the document. Despite this it is popularly known as The Beeching Report.

“Whilst Dr Beeching might be seen as the ‘axeman’ in the eyes of the public and the popular press, it is generally accepted now that the ideas set out in the report to reshape British Railways were sound, even if some of the individual line closures were questionable on the basis of the limited information available on which to make the decisions.

“A continuing criticism of the report is that it gave no consideration to future population growth and economic expansion of certain areas.

“The estimated annual loss for keeping the line open, as quoted at the TUCC Objectors meeting, was - operating cost £152k less revenue £47k - £105k a year plus £93k for track renewals in future years.

“The original date for closure was set as November 23, 1964 but delayed due to the need for Crosville to arrange the bus service.”

George added: “Objections to line closures were to be made to the Transport Users Consultative Committees and would only be accepted for cases of hardship resulting from the closure.

“Due to the absence of other public transport along the length of the line west of Llangollen, the objections of hardship were accepted and recommended to the Minister.

“However, the result was to arrange for the Crosville bus company to provide a rail replacement bus service along the line of route to allow for its closure. This was delayed until such time as Crosville could acquire the additional vehicles to operate the new route as the X94 from Wrexham through to Barmouth.

“When the vehicles were available the line’s closure was set for January 18, 1965, effective from Saturday, January 16, the last day of trains to Llangollen and Barmouth to Bala – the service between had been suspended due to flooding in December 1964.

“It was soon recorded that the X94 route was the biggest loss making bus route in Wales.

“Whilst the passenger service was withdrawn in January 1965, the line to Llangollen remained open but only for goods traffic to the yard west of the station until final closure in April 1968.

“This situation was maintained despite the town pleading for excursions to be operated to the station during Eisteddfod week.

“The railway was then dismantled in its entirety and Llangollen station became derelict for the want of agreement for it to be redeveloped.

“It was only after 10 years disuse that the preservation scheme took hold and returned it to use from 1975. Without the railway venture taking off the site would likely have been cleared and a notable feature of the Llangollen scenery would have disappeared.

“Many people who come to the heritage railway today to enjoy the heritage line and lament the line’s closure say it should have been kept open.

“Had it been retained the line would have been severely rationalised and probably only the main stations – Llangollen, Corwen, Bala, Dolgelley - would remain.

“In today’s world it would be operated by Arriva Trains Wales with a minimal diesel service, not unlike that provided on the Central Wales line.

“There would be no aspects of the steam age heritage as have been recreated by the Llangollen Railway which is what a lot of people come to experience and enjoy as elements of a bygone age.

“As someone once said, Dr Beeching did us a favour in closing the line as it gave us, the volunteers, a reason for recreating it – even if it has taken 40 years to achieve the dream of rebuilding 10 miles from Llangollen to Corwen – with a bit still to do.”

Christopher Magner, a rail enthusiast who travelled from Wirral to record the final day, said: “I was very sad when I travelled on the last train  from Llangollen. It was so frustrating that all the efforts  to keep the route open had come to nothing in the face of officialdom."

How the press recorded the occasion

Under the headline “The Beeching axe fell on the Barmouth line on Saturday night,” this how the Leader of the day recorded the closure.

“Hundreds of people waited at stations to watch the last trains go by.

“Scores bought tickets for momemtos, while others made the trip.

“Yesterday, (Monday 18 Jan) the Wrexham-Barmouth bus service, replacing the train came into operation.

“The first bus left Wrexham at 7.25 was empty. The first fare was picked up at Llangollen.

“Business in the opposite direction was much better.

“The last train from Ruabon left at 5-50pm on Saturday (16 Jan). Normally, only a handful of people travel on it. On Saturday 40 passengers, some with tape-recoding equipment to catch the last hoots, whistles, etc, were aboard. Flashbulbs popped. It was more like an opening than a closure.

“Railway enthusiasts, some having travelled from the South of France, the Midlands and Merseyside had a bitter pill to swallow when the train reached Llangollen.

“Recent floods had closed the Llangollen-Bala section of the line and the rail passengers had to leave the train and travel that section by bus.

“About 100 people were on Llangollen station to see it chug in and unload. It turned round at 7-15 and went back to Ruabon.

“At Bala about 70 people were on the train for Barmouth. Once more, people crowded the station platform which was bare of lamps, seats and other fittings which had been bought mostly by the 70-odd station staff.”

llanblogger helps unearth rare picture

llanblogger has helped the town’s heritage railway unearth a rare picture of the last British Rail train to run through the local station.

We put out the call to our readers and swiftly received a reply from well-known local GP, Dr Rhys Davies.

He sent in an atmospheric black and white picture – thought to be one of only a few in existence – showing himself as a boy along with a group of other travellers gathering by the final train into the station.

Dr Davies said: “The picture is of the last train into Llangollen in January 1965. I'd gone on it with my mother and one of my brothers.

“I am the little lad in the duffle coat looking at the engine after we'd got off. I kept the ticket, but I think it's long gone!”

Railway spokesman George Jones said: “The picture is excellent. The locomotive number looks right – 46509.

“Our expert Chris Magner has studied it and says it is a notable find after all these years.

“The loco is an Ivatt 2 Class as used in the latter days of the line and known as a Mickey Mouse.

“The last train, with driver Fred Taylor and fireman Elwyn Jones, both of Croes Newydd shed, Wrexham, was an historic occasion and a bitter end to a battle to retain train services to the town.”

“As there is no train service planned in January 2015 beyond the 4th, Llangollen Railway will not recreate the event as such on the anniversary date.

“However, finding this picture is very significant as I had been unaware of any photo of the last train leaving Llangollen.” 

Llanblogger editor Phil Robinson said: “I am delighted our news website has been able to help the railway in this way. My thanks to Dr Davies for getting in touch.

“The last British Rail train out of the station was a landmark occasion in the history of our town.”

Last fireman returns to the station

The man who was the fireman on the last British rail passenger train through the station 50 years ago made a sentimental journey back to Llangollen last weekend.

Elwyn Jones, from New Broughton, was on the footplate of the 7.15pm from Llangollen on January 16, 1965.

Mr Jones returned the station last Saturday to meet the crew of the heritage steam engine 'Jessie' including driver Mike Pearce, left.

Speaking about the occasion 50 years ago, he said: “My abiding memory of the occasion was thinking. `this will be the last time I do this here’, as I put the water hose into the engine's tender to top up the water level for the journey back to Ruabon.” 

Skates welcomes funding boost for disadvantaged areas

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates has welcomed Welsh Government funding of more than £30m to help people in some of the country’s most disadvantaged areas.

The £31.7m boost was announced recently as part of the Communities First programme and will benefit areas close to Llangollen.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates, a member of the Welsh Government, said: “This investment will benefit 52 areas, known as ‘clusters’, and support some of the most vulnerable people in Wales by combating poverty and promoting education, health and economic prosperity.

“These areas will benefit from the funding between April 2015 and March 2016. The announcement includes £1.25m being split between two clusters in the Wrexham County Borough Council area.

“As well as the Caia Park/Hightown patch in my colleague Lesley Griffiths AM’s constituency, the Urban Villages Wrexham cluster in – which includes Pant, Penycae, Plas Madoc, Gwenfro and areas of Brymbo and Cefn Mawr – will also benefit from further Welsh Government support.

“The funding is another boost from the Welsh Government for its work to support Wales’ most vulnerable communities and narrow the economic, education and health gaps between our most deprived and affluent areas.”

Welsh health service gets £40m boost

The Welsh Government is allocating an extra £40m to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15 to help it deal with winter pressures, Finance Minister Jane Hutt announced today.

 

The extra investment, which comes from the Welsh Government’s reserves, follows the announcement that an additional £200m is being allocated to the Welsh NHS in 2014-15.

 

The £40m investment is the equivalent amount for Wales to the additional £700m the UK Government has given to NHS England to help it deal with winter pressures.

The Welsh NHS – like health services across the UK – has experienced sustained pressure over the Christmas and New Year period as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

Pressures on the NHS in Wales have included:

• GP out-of-hour services experienced their busiest festive period since they were established
• The Welsh Ambulance Service saw a significant rise in the most critically-ill patients using its services, with unprecedented levels of demand over recent weeks
• Hospital emergency departments across Wales have reported an increase in admissions of patients with acute conditions, complex needs and dependency.

Finance Minister Jane Hutt said: “The additional £40m I’m announcing today means that in 2014-15, the Welsh NHS will have received nearly a quarter of a billion pounds in extra investment to deliver high-quality, sustainable health services.

“With an additional £295m being invested in 2015-16, which includes the £70m revenue funding as a result of the Autumn Statement, it means increased investment in our Welsh NHS of more than half a billion pounds over two years.

“This demonstrates our clear commitment to a sustainable NHS in Wales based on the reforms outlined in the Nuffield report.”

Welcoming the additional investment, Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said: “This additional investment in our health service will help our NHS deal with the significant pressures the service is facing – pressures that are being experienced across the UK as a result of increased demand from an influx of sick patients.

“Winter is a very busy period for our health, social care and social services – but our urgent and emergency care services, in particular, are seeing significant extra demand on their services.

“I want to thank staff who are working tirelessly, often in difficult situations, to ensure that those people who have needed urgent and emergency care have received high-quality treatment and services and have been treated with care and compassion.”

Entrants sought for Llan sponsored walk

* Walk the hills around Llangollen in aid of Cancer Research UK.

ENTRANTS are being sought for second Llangollen Round Challenge to be staged this summer in aid of Cancer Research UK.

When the sponsored walk was last held three years ago almost £36,000 was collected for the charity and organisers say they are hoping to beat that amount this time round.

The idea is to walk 35 miles in the hills surrounding the town in either one or two days on Saturday and Sunday, May 30 and 31.

The route will be fully waymarked and marshalled, with checkpoints offering refreshments, and certificates and medals will be awarded to those completing the course.

For more details, call 07905 330788, or visit www.llangollenround.info for further information and an entry form.

Llan's MP slams PM over oil prices

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has criticised David Cameron's Government for failing to regulate energy prices for oil. 

Speaking today (Wednesday) in a debate on energy prices in the House of Commons, she said: "The Government has totally betrayed people living in rural communities on this issue.

"It hasn't even brought oil prices under the scope of the regulator Ofgem.

"It just shows how out of touch the Government is when they think what matters to people living in rural areas is bringing back fox hunting, not everyday issues like the cost of oil."

Today's debate was tabled by the Labour Party who called on the Government to bring forward new laws to ensure energy suppliers pass on price cuts to consumers.