Budding opera star from Antrim to open for superstar soprano

* Helenna Howie at Llangollen Railway Station with, seated from left,

vocal coach Janet Haney, Anne Williams-King,

vocal coach Deborah Lea and David Bartleet.

A budding opera star from Northern Ireland will join singers from across the UK as a warm-up act for superstar soprano Katherine Jenkins at this summer’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod

Helenna Howie, from Whitehead, near Carrickfergus, will be among opera singing students who are in for the experience of a lifetime after being invited to appear on the outdoor stage at July’s 70^th Eisteddfod opening day ahead of Katherine Jenkins’s Carmen concert.

They have been raising the roof at a Llangollen church while being put through their paces by husband and wife opera voice coaches Anne Williams-King and David Bartleet.

Anne has returned to her Pen-y-Cae home after spending most of the past 20 years living and working in London with her husband David.

She’s now just finished her third sell-out course for aspiring opera singers at Llangollen’s Methodist church in Princess Street and is thrilled her students will be at the iconic festival.

The top soprano, who has performed at opera houses around the world, said: “I moved back from London to be closer to my mum some six years ago now. However, she passed away three years ago.

“There isn’t anything in the area for aspiring opera singers so I decided to run these courses. It isn’t just about teaching voice it’s about working on characters too.

“We want to give aspiring opera singers an idea of what it’s like in the business. I want students to learn the skills they need in the correct way.”

Williams-King, who successfully battled ovarian cancer a decade ago, added: “The Eisteddfod Musical Director, Eilir Owen Griffiths, has invited my students to perform on the outside stage ahead of the opening concert by Katherine Jenkins on Tuesday, July 5. What an amazing honour for them!

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to showcase their voices and acting talent and believe me, we have some wonderful singers who deserve to be heard and who will grab this amazing opportunity with both hands.”

Anne Williams-King’s husband David Bartleet, who won the Opera Scholarship at the Royal College of Music, said: “Anne and I decided to run opera courses in Llangollen as there are very few opera companies in the UK and conservatoires are so expensive.

“We have students coming from all over the UK and beyond and the standard on our courses is remarkable.”

Mezzo soprano, Helenna, says she suffers from nerves so having the chance to appear on a stage at Llangollen International Music Festival would be invaluable experience for her.

The 23-year-old, who will be performing in the chorus for the premiere of The Belfast Opera in June and with Northern Ireland Opera later in the year, said: “Singing and being on stage at the International Music Festival is great exposure to a wider audience. The whole event will be wonderful and such a fantastic experience.

“I attended Bangor University in North Wales and graduated in 2014 with a degree in music.

“I want to make as a many contacts as possible and progress to the next level. I heard about Anne’s opera course through the university and it’s been absolutely amazing. I’ve really enjoyed it

“I just can’t wait for July and the chance to impress on the Llangollen International Music Festival stage. The fact Katherine Jenkins is appearing at the festival the same day is both amazing and wonderful.”

Eilir Owen Griffiths said: “We are always looking to showcase new talent especially those who have had instruction from a renowned soprano like Anne Williams-King and a tenor like David Bartleet.

“This will be the 70th Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod and I’m incredibly proud to be associated with it.

“I’m sure these young opera stars of the future will enjoy the experience and I’m sure the festival audience will welcome them with open arms.

“It is important the eisteddfod continues to showcase the very best music and voices and I know festival goers are going to thoroughly enjoy seeing Anne and David’s students perform.”

Tickets sales for the concerts at this year’s Eisteddfod, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, are already going well, especially for the opening night when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen.

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, switched from Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

County throws spotlight on noise problems

Denbighshire County Council is aiming to raise awareness of noise problems and solutions during the current Noise Action Week.

In the last year the council received over 500 complaints about noise – everything from loud music, barking dogs, shouting, banging and DIY to early morning deliveries, construction work and wind turbines.

It’s estimated that investigating noise complaints cost councils £130 - £7k per complaint. 

Housing providers, mediation services and the police are also frequently involved in resolving noise disputes, representing a huge amount of time and money. 

Denbighshire says it is asking all residents to show some consideration to their neighbours when considering any noisy activities.

* For further information and advice contact Denbighshire County Council Public Protection Team on 01824 706080.

Town Council objects to Vicarage Road homes plan

* The site of the proposed new homes off Vicarage Road.

LLANGOLLEN Town Council has formally objected to a plan to build 99 homes on land at Vicarage Road in the town.

Castlemead Homes recently submitted an application to Denbighshire County Council for the development, which includes a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

But the scheme has sparked fears amongst people in the area that local roads will not be able to cope with the extra traffic it will generate both during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

As part of the formal consultation process, the town council has been able to give its official response to the application although a decision on it rests with the county council.   

And all seven members of the town’s planning committee present for last night’s meeting at the Town Hall voted to object to the proposal.

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted to Castlemead on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

And Castlemead  recently submitted a new application to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses on four parcels of land.

A statement issued on behalf of the company by planning consultants in support of the application says it would not be economic to build the access road before construction work starts on the houses and suggests it should be put in place by the time the 31^st dwelling has been occupied.

Planning committee chairman, Cllr Sheenah Burrell, said the town council had received 57 separate representations about the scheme from people in the area, which would all be passed to the county.

Opposition to the scheme was led by the Mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, who said that while there was a desperate need for modern, cost-efficient housing in the area, there were a number of points on which objection could be made to the scheme.

These, he said, included the “loss of visual amenity” across the valley which the development would lead to, an inadequate number of parking spaces in the proposal and highway safety.

“There are very narrow access roads to the site and the planned increase in traffic is bound to present an additional hazard,” he argued.

He added: “The traffic generation of these additional homes should be taken into consideration.

“I believe we have genuine grounds for concern and I therefore propose we object to the current application.”

Former town Mayor, Cllr Bob Lube, also spoke against the application, saying: “I don’t think we can possibly agree with this until the road is done.”

Fellow members of the committee voted unanimously to object.

Cllr Burrell said: “I think we have been prudent and taken the emotion out of it and I thank everyone for their interest and information.”

Just over a dozen members of the public were at the meeting to hear the discussion.

The Welsh Government recently told the county council not to decide on the application until major road issues are clarified.

As part of the usual consultation process, the council asked the Welsh Government for its views on the application.

In a letter to the county’s planning chief an official from the government’s Department for Economy, Science and Transport writes: “I refer to your consultation of 14 April 2016 regarding the above application and advise that the Welsh Government as highway authority for the A5 trunk road directs that permission be withheld until further notice while additional information is sought from the applicant and/or information provided by the applicant is analysed to enable appropriate highway observations to be made.”

The letter adds: “The applicant must provide previous and proposed Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) values for Hall Street/A5 junction.

“The applicant must increase the future year assessment from 2020 to 20 years from year of opening.” 

Warning from police boss over Brexit consequences

* North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones.

A police boss has warned North Wales will be a more dangerous place if Britain votes to leave the European Union.

According to the newly-elected North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones, a former police inspector, the terrorist threat was a key reason to stay in Europe.

He believes the Paris and Brussels atrocities were stark reminders of what is at stake.

Mr Jones feared the European Police Office, known as Europol which contributes to more than 13,500 cross-border investigations every year, would be weakened if Britain withdrew from the EU.

In addition, life would also be made more difficult for other joint investigation teams tackling a range of crimes from terror to child abuse.

Mr Jones said: "We in North Wales are particularly vulnerable as we have in Holyhead one of the UK's major ports for entry from another EU member state.

"North Wales Police have always worked closely with the Republic of Ireland's Garda to safeguard traffic between our two countries but achieving the same levels of co-operation would be much more difficult in the event of the UK voting to leaving Europe.

"We know that the current UK terror threat remains severe, meaning that a terrorist attack in the UK is 'highly likely'.

"That means that those involved in law enforcement and safeguarding the public need to focus on doing just that and making use of the methods that we and our counterparts in Europe know work best.

"We are not part of the Schengen agreement so we already have border controls that other EU nations don't have and we have that vital sea barrier as well but we still need to work with governments and law enforcement and other agencies in the EU to keep our people safe.

"You only have to be on the A55 at 2am to appreciate the volume of road traffic that is heading to and from Ireland and that makes it vital that we liaise closely with our Irish counterparts.

"We would hope to use these measures to prevent terrorists getting into the country but if suspects are identified we need to be able to rely on our EU colleagues to apprehend them and we need to be able to rely on the evidence they gather to be presented in our courts.

"All that is currently available to us using current EU criminal justice and security measures and we would be unwise to jeopardise that by voting to leave the EU.

"The Brussels and Paris atrocities are a stark warning that we need even greater sharing of intelligence, pooling of resources and joint working across Europe.

"Outside the EU we would find it more difficult to respond quickly and forcefully to those who would threaten our communities and our values, and that's why there is a clear security case for us to stay in the EU."

Mr Jones was also concerned that a vote to leave Europe could trigger a further recession, particularly in rural communities in areas such as North Wales.

He added: "That could lead to a loss of income for farmers and increasing unemployment and rural depopulation and those factors could also make our countryside and its towns more prey to crime.

"I have the same commitment to our rural areas as my predecessor did and they deserve the same care and attention when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public."

Police mount extra mountainside patrols

Wrexham.com is reporting that police mounted extra patrols across Llangollen and Wrexham over the weekend following reports of illegal off-roaders causing damage to several mountainside areas. 

* For the full story, see:
http://www.wrexham.com/news/illegal-off-roaders-cause-damage-to-mountainside-113722.html

Eisteddfod fundraiser is a big hit

* Stage 2 Stage's performance prompted a standing ovation. 

A fundraiser for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod at the Town Hall last night (Saturday) brought a packed audience to their feet at the end of a choral concert and then had them putting their hands in their pockets to the tune of over £1,700 as they bid for lots in a fun auction.

The concert, compered by Eisteddfod stalwart Christine Dukes and musically directed by Elen Mair Roberts, featured a two-set programme by locally-based choir Stage 2 Stage in which they showcased songs from a host of shows and films, from Guys & Dolls and Chicago to Evita and Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

At the end of the performance the packed audience gave them a rousing standing ovation.

In the auction which followed, conducted by Ian Lebbon, Chairman of the Eisteddfod’s Marketing Committee, 19 lots went under the hammer, including pieces of art connected with the festival and items signed by recent star performers such as Rufus Wainwright and Jonathan Antoine.

Lots which created most interest were a Wales rugby shirt signed by all members of the rock band Status Quo, which went for £350 after some hot bidding, and a signed cartoon by legendary singer-songwriter Burt Bacharach of his hit song Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head which realised £210.

Total amount raised by the auction was over £1,700.

Historic garden's new lease of life

* The renovated garden at Nantclwyd y Dre. 

A historic garden at a popular townhouse in Ruthin has been opened to the public after a three-year restoration.

                

The project to rejuvenate the Lord’s Garden at Nantclwyd y Dre cost £220,000 and has been funded by Denbighshire County Council, Heritage Lottery Fund, Ruthin Town Council and the Friends of Nantclwyd y Dre.

The work of renovating the garden was assisted by over 100 volunteers who learned traditional skills such as hazel hurdling and meadow scything along the way.

The garden is a listed landscape, originating from medieval times and has been lovingly restored to reflect several ages of its history.  The gardens are open at the same time as the main house, as part of the Nantclwyd y Dre visitor experience.

Nantclwyd y Dre is Wales’ oldest dated timbered town house. The house was first built in 1435 and has been added to, updated and upgraded throughout the centuries..

Nantclwyd y Dre has been beautifully restored to demonstrate the changing fashions and the lives of its residents.

Visitors can observe a colony of Lesser Horseshoe bats in the attic rooms via ‘bat cam’, participate in a quiz and use interactive media screens to learn more about the house and its inhabitants.

Nantclwyd y Dre is open on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays during May and September; Open on Saturday – Wednesday from June until end of August.

County comes up with new anti-fouling signs

New signs are being placed on lamp-posts across Denbighshire as part of the county council’s latest initiative to tackle dog fouling.

The warning signs have been designed using images of ‘reflective eyes’ which bounce back light in the hours of darkness and warn the public that the area is being monitored.

* Watching you: the new anti-fouling signs.

Small cameras will also be used in areas that are deemed to be fouling hot-spots and signs will be placed to warn people they may be filmed. 

The council says the cameras used are not covert, are easy to set up and have the flexibility to be moved to another location quickly. Officers from Kingdom Security, working on behalf of the council are focussing their efforts on patrols specifically to identify offenders over the coming two weeks. 

They will be out and about working two shifts, 6am-2pm and 12pm until 8pm. They will also engage with dog owners about the need to clean up after their animals.

Other activities will see the council providing free bags to do owners; dog mess found on pavements will be painted using chalk, in order to highlight the problem and officers will also be gathering intelligence to enable further enforcement.

Dog owners found to be cleaning up after their animals will be  offered the chance to enter into a prize draw as part of the Bin it to Win It scheme.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Public Realm, said: “This is the latest in a range of initiatives undertaken by the Council to tackle dog fouling in the county.

“Residents tell us that it is one of the biggest issues of concern to them. The majority of individuals want to live in, work in and visit an area that is free of dog mess. It is a blight on the landscape and can be detrimental to people’s health and well-being.

“This campaign is about educating people to be considerate and not allow their dogs to foul in public.  The majority of people do act responsibly and we thank them for that. It’s the small group of individuals that we are trying to reach with our message.

“Dog fouling will simply not be tolerated in our county and we hope that our high profile and visible approach will make a real difference."

Responsible owners or any member of the public can contact the Council with information and remain anonymous if they wish. They can report issues through the website: www.denbighshire.gov.uk or through the Customer Service Centre, on 01824 706101.

Trials competition returns at LlanBikeFest

* A Junior Kick Start style competition will roar into LlanBikeFest in July.  

The BBC’s Junior Kick Start style of trials competition is bouncing back at the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival – LlanBikeFest - on Saturday July 23 and 24.

The Kick Start show aired from 1979 until 1988, with the original course laid out by Sammy Miller.

The Junior Kick Start offshoot was hosted by Blue Peter’s Peter Purves and encouraged the talents of youngsters such as trials legend Dougie Lampkin.

At the festival, junior riders from Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club (LLDMC) will have to negotiate a series of obstacles without putting their feet down or stopping, plus there are time penalties. 

LlanBikeFest co-organiser John Hutchinson said: “The Junior Kick Start event will provide plenty of action for spectators to watch and be a tough challenge for the young riders taking part.

“Even more off-road spectacle will be provided by professional trials stunt experts Inch Perfect. 

“Their act features massive jumps up vertical walls, breath-taking ‘drop offs’ and a full range of freestyle tricks.

“They will be joined by the Extreme Mountain Bike Show - Europe’s number one mountain bike and Trials/BMX demonstration team, led by the multiple British and European trials bike champion Danny Butler.”

LlanBikeFest 2016 will build on the success of last year’s festival, with guest of honour Giacomo ‘Ago’ Agostini – winner of an unbeaten 122 Grand Prix wins and 15 World Championships - flying in especially from his Italian home to spend the weekend at the festival meeting fans, judging competitions and providing opportunities for autographs and photos. 

Held at the town’s Pavilion, the festival’s on-site attractions will include hundreds of bikes, displays, stunts, demonstrations, trade and club stands, plus beer, bands and evening entertainment in Llangollen town.

There will also be a charity raffle in aid of Wales Air Ambulance.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival.

Day tickets are £10 on the gate or online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk with concessions, or contact the festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Warning goes out over scam HMRC calls

Neighbourhood Watch members in the area have received the following "scam" warning:

"A number of residents have received automated telephone calls from a person purporting to be from HMRC (HM Revenue and Customs).

"The calls claim that the matter is ‘serious’ and that the recipient needs to call back straight away. The phone calls threaten ‘action will be taken’ if the number is not called.

"Enquiries reveal that this is a scam.  If you receive a telephone call of this nature, do not telephone the number provided, and do not pass on any information. If you have provided information, or are concerned, having received a call of this type please contact North Wales Police by dialling 101.

"If you wish to contact HMRC do so after obtaining contact details for them from a trusted source, not from the telephone cold caller/automated message."

Road closed to allow tree removal work

Denbighshire County Council is informing motorists that the A525 at Nant y Garth Pass will close for up to two weeks as of next Monday to allow essential tree removal work to take place safely.

The council was approached by contractors Tilhill who needed to undertake tree removal work on the pass.

Following discussions, it became clear that the road would need to close fully whilst the work was underway.

The council is working with the contractor to both minimise the length of the closure and to ensure that other essential works needed in the area are carried out at the same time. This would avoid having to close the road again for future work.

Whilst the work is scheduled for two weeks, Tilhill say they are making good progress and will aim to re-open the road under traffic light control as soon as practically possible.

To coincide with the closure, the council has served notice on the other land owners informing them that a closure will be in place and that they should undertake all necessary works so as to ensure that the trees on their land do not cause interference to the travelling public.  Most are using this closure as an opportunity to undertake work.

Denbighshire’s own teams will also be undertaking some tree work on sections of the verge that form the highway and in addition they will be undertaking some sign repairs, structural surveys of culverts, gully cleaning, sweeping and grass cut ting.

The council can also confirm that two school buses using the route will be escorted safely through the road closure, to ensure that the road closure does not have an impact on examinations taking place.

The official diversion route for traffic will be clearly signposted. Additional signs are also being placed at key locations to deter larger vehicles and caravans from using routes that would affect Pentrecelyn and Graigfechan.

The council says it would like to apologise in advance for any disruption an d inconvenience this work will cause and is reassuring the public that it has worked with the contractor to take every possible step to ease congestion and minimise any effects on the local community.

Betty recalls 50 years of Eisteddfod volunteering

* Betty Roberts with one of her Eisteddfod souvenirs.

A veteran volunteer at an iconic festival is adding her voice to an appeal for new recruits to the army of unpaid helpers who have helped Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod reach its 70^th year.

Betty Roberts, from Johnstown, Wrexham, has been one of the vital cogs in the festival’s wheel for 50 years, meeting Diana, Princess of Wales and finding accommodation for thousands of competitors in that time.

She was once faced with the mission impossible of finding beds for 67 hungry Hungarians late one evening in North Wales back in the summer of 1980.

But thanks to Betty’s network of contacts and friends within hours every one of them had been found a place to stay and given a good meal.

The amazing piece of organisation, and many others like it, have all been part of the job for Betty, now a sprightly 84, who is celebrating 50 years as a very active member of the Eisteddfod’s Hospitality Committee, half of that time either as secretary or chairman.

As the 70^th festival approaches in July Betty has been looking back over her incredible half century as an Eisteddfod volunteer and has added her support to an appeal for new volunteers.

Working closely with her fellow committee members it has been her responsibility to lay out the welcome mat and find accommodation for thousands of overseas competitors at the festival since 1966.

Most of the time things have played out as smoothly as one of the festival’s choral programmes. But there have been some challenging times too.

Betty, who has a son and a daughter and three grandsons aged 11 to 35, recalled the time the Hungarians arrived so unexpectedly on that evening 36 years ago.

She said: “In 1979 I was asked to take on the post of Secretary of the Hospitality Committee and I’ll always remember my first year in 1980.

“It was around 7pm on the Tuesday evening. I was in the reception area on the Eisteddfod field on my own when the telephone rang and it was a young man from Llangollen who was at Ruabon railway station and he said there were 67 Hungarians there and no coach for them.

“I had 67 beds to find at 7pm and in those days everyone stayed in private homes so I rang a couple just outside Wrexham to see if they could help. They rang me back to say they’d been out knocking on doors and, unbelievably, they had found 67 beds.

“The Hungarians, who we had fed while they were waiting, wept tears of joy as they couldn’t believe that people would open their doors at such short notice.”

Rhys Davies, Chairman of the Eisteddfod and a volunteer himself, said: “It’s people like Betty who make the event what it is and ensure that it carries on and is now in its 70^th year.

“The volunteers do a fantastic job and are real ambassadors for Llangollen and for Wales and we do need more of them – and they get as much out of the job as they put in.

“That’s why people like Betty and others have been with us for so long and it’s what makes Llangollen unique among festivals.”

Betty’s long association with the Eisteddfod had its roots way back in 1953 when, the year before she was married to late husband Vernon, she met two members of an American singing group who were staying with her mother, Sally Oliver, in Cefn Mawr.

She said: “They were with the Purdue Glee Club from Indiana and I got to know them quite well.

“In fact, I kept up a regular correspondence with one of them, a lady named Bertha Fleming, until she died at the age of 92 over 20 years ago.

“It was meeting her at my mother’s and talking about the Eisteddfod that whetted my appetite for becoming a volunteer. That and a little encouragement from my friend Joyce Davies who was also from Cefn Mawr and Secretary of Hospitality.

“At first I was responsible for finding accommodation for the competitors in Johnstown, where I’ve lived for the past 60 years, but later I became Secretary myself for 13 years and then served as Chairman for another 12 years, finishing in 2004. I was also on the Eisteddfod board for 24 years from the 1980s onwards.

“Things have changed a lot over the years and when I first started we had to find beds for about 2,000 every year, all in private homes in an area stretching from Bala to Whittington in Shropshire.

“Now most stay in schools and hotels but we still have many who want to have the experience of staying with someone and we’re always keen to hear from people who would like to put people up.

“All of us on the committee are still kept very much on our toes and we’d be delighted to welcome new recruits – they won’t regret joining us.”

Over the years Betty has made lots of friends through her work in hospitality and she met the Prince and Princess of Wales when they visited the Eisteddfod in 1985.

Betty remembered: “Diana, who was a very nice girl and seemed to have done her homework about the Eisteddfod, said she hoped I’d be getting tickets for the evening performances as I had been working so hard.

“I recall telling her that we hardly ever got to see the performances because we were too busy, although we do now because we have a TV screen in our hospitality building on which we can watch them as we work.”

Now the festival’s official Hospitality Liaison Officer, Betty never misses an opportunity to promote the Eisteddfod to a wider audience and gives talks to groups across North Wales.

Meanwhile, Tickets sales for the concerts at this year’s Eisteddfod, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, are already going well, especially for the opening night when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen.

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, switched from Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

To book tickets and to become an Eisteddfod volunteer for the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Ken Skates wins promotion in new-look Welsh cabinet

* The new Welsh Government cabinet lines up.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates has won promotion in the Welsh Government's new cabinet.

Mr Skates (pictured below) steps up from Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism to the key position of Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure.

Announcing the new line-up, First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones said: “I am delighted to introduce the team who will be taking Wales forward over the next five years. They will have a central role to play in delivering our priorities and leading and directing the work of the Welsh Government on behalf of the people of Wales.

“As I said in my statement to the Assembly yesterday, this will be an open, inclusive, and transparent administration, ready to work with others where it is in the national interest.

“A critical 5 years lie ahead. My relentless focus, and that of my Cabinet and Ministers, will be on driving improvement in our economy and in the vital public services that the people of Wales rely on every day.

“I am confident this is the team with the talent, the vision and the ideas to deliver opportunity for all, and build a united, connected and sustainable Wales, now and for future generations.”

Cabinet and Ministers

Ken Skates
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure
Vaughan Gething
Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport
Mark Drakeford
Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government
Kirsty Williams
Cabinet Secretary for Education
Lesley Griffiths
Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs
Carl Sargeant
Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Children
Jane Hutt
Leader of the House and Chief Whip
Julie James
Minister for Skills and Science
Alun Davies
Minister for Lifelong Learning and Welsh Language
Rebecca Evans
Minister for Social Services and Public Health

Murder probe police search property in Gobowen

As part of an on-going investigation by North Wales Police following recent information that an unidentified man has been murdered and disposed of on the outskirts of Wrexham, detectives yesterday searched a property in Gobowen. 

Area Commander for Wrexham, Supt Sian Beck, said  “Detectives executed a search warrant in Gobowen for evidence in relation to an on-going murder investigation.

"No one was arrested at the property but during the search the expertise of military personnel with specialist search equipment was required and they remain at the scene.

“This action follows a number of searches conducted over the last few days in the Wrexham and Gobowen area, and is believed to be linked to a historic murder.  

"This is an on-going investigation and we are still attempting to identify the man and where his remains have been deposited.  

"If anyone has any information to assist I’d ask they make contact with us.”

North Wales Police say they would like to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed events to contact them on 101 or via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.   

Alternatively, contact the control room direct via the new web live chat /contact/chat-support.aspx
 

Church concert will mark centenary of the Somme

Llangollen will remember the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme at a special concert in St Collen’s Parish Church on Thursday June 30.

Starting at 7.30 pm, the event is being staged on the eve of the start of the battle which has come to signify the horrors of the First World War.


The concert will reflect on the battle and the cataclysmic events of 1916.

The concert will feature the Glyndwr University Community Choir, conducted by Owen Roberts, performing Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem interspersed with war poetry and other readings by students from Dinas Brân High School.

The Rev Andrew Sully of St Collen's said: "At the end of June a century will have passed since the beginning of the Somme offensive, and it will be a fitting time to gather to acknowledge before God the service and sacrifice of so many people.

"Those 19 weeks of fierce warfare undoubtedly changed the course of history, and it is right to pay tribute to all those who had to bear the enormous human cost.

"During Thursday June 30 and Friday July 1, national and local services and events will be held to commemorate the Battle of the Somme, and to provide everyone with an opportunity to remember those who fought and survived as well as those who fell during the offensive."

Government demands more details of Vicarage Road plan

The Welsh Government has told the county council not to decide on the controversial plan to build 99 homes in Vicarage Road, Llangollen until major road issues are clarified.

Castlemead Homes recently submitted an application to the council for the development, which includes a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

* Mike Edwards's picture showing heavy traffic,

including a mobility scooter user, heading

for the busy Hall Street/A5 junction.

But the scheme has sparked fears amongst people in the area that local roads will not be able to cope with the extra traffic it will generate both during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

As part of the usual consultation process, the council asked the Welsh Government for its views on the application.

In a letter seen by llanblogger an official from the government’s Department for Economy, Science and Transport writes: “I refer to your consultation of 14 April 2016 regarding the above application and advise that the Welsh Government as highway authority for the A5 trunk road directs that permission be withheld until further notice while additional information is sought from the applicant and/or information provided by the applicant is analysed to enable appropriate highway observations to be made.”

The letter adds: “The applicant must provide previous and proposed Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) values for Hall Street/A5 junction.

“The applicant must increase the future year assessment from 2020 to 20 years from year of opening.”

Mike Edwards, a member of the action group which has raised concerns about traffic generation, welcomed the government’s response.

He said: “Members of Vicarage Road Housing Development Group are very concerned, together with having worries about several other issues with the application, that the Hall Street/A5 junction cannot cope with increased vehicle movements to and from a development of 99 houses.  

“The majority of the dwellings will be three, four and some five bedroom properties which would mean there could be between 200 and 250 additional cars using this junction.

“Llangollen residents know only too well of the existing problems they encounter at this junction where Hall Street/Hill Street meets the main arterial tourist route through town exasperated by traffic queuing at the Castle Street traffic lights.

“It is particularly difficult at peak times when people are going to and returning from work. This junction also gives access via Hill Street to the infants and junior schools together with visitors including coaches accessing Plas Newydd.

“The junction is also a hazard for pedestrians, wheelchair, mobility scooter users and parents with pushchairs trying to cross the A5 to access the Town Centre. So we are very glad that this aspect is being looked at carefully by the Highway experts from Welsh Government.”

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

And Castlemead  recently submitted a new application to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses on four parcels of land.

A statement issued on behalf of the company by planning consultants in support of the application says it would not be economic to build the access road before construction work starts on the houses and suggests it should be put in place by the time the 31^st dwelling has been occupied.

Llangollen Fringe programme unveiled

* The Selecter are amongst headliners at the 2016 Fringe festival.

THIS summer’s Llangollen Fringe aims to build on the growing success of the music and arts festival of the past few years, say its organisers.


Latest figures show that its audience has more than trebled since 2009, shooting up by 29 per on the previous year in 2015, and they are hoping to build even further on that this July.


Rising interest in the festival was revealed a the launch of this year’s programme at Llangollen Pavilion and Fringe bosses say it is bigger and more diverse than ever before.  
     
The concert programme opens with Ska band The Selecter on Thursday July 14 in Llangollen Town Hall and continues on the Friday with an appearance by VanGoffey, Supergrass drummer Danny Goffey’s new band.

* Classical pianist Luke Jones plays at the Fringe.

An evening of music combining punk and reggae hits the Town Hall stage on Saturday July 16 in the shape of Jah Wobble who has created his own hybrid style. Sunday July 17 sees poet Sarah Howe, winner of the TS Eliot Prize, showcasing her work at the same venue.

Musical collective Easy Star All-Stars are the headline act at the Town Hall on Tuesday July 19, bringing together rock, dub and indie.

Wednesday July 20 is designated Welsh night at the Town Hall when the key performer is Gwenno, creator of layered, home-fi keyboard sounds wrapped in echoed vocals, and songwriter and musician Duke hits the same stage on Thursday July 21.

Gang of Four play the Town Hall on the evening of Friday July 22, while electro-dub outfit Dreadzone appear there on Saturday July 23.

The grand finale concert comes on Sunday July 24 when Ultra High Flamenco from Madrid perform at Valle Crucis Abbey.

A musician from Wrexham who was the youngest performer at the Fringe in 2005 makes a triumphant return this year.       


Pianist Luke Jones was just 10 years old when he played at the festival 11 years ago.

Now 21 and after studying at Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, the Conservatorio di Musica in Italy and the Royal Northern College of Music, he is back to present a classical programme of Chopin and Mozart with the cellist Jane Oliver at St John’s Church on July 19.

The spoken word continues to feature in festival programming, with the Taking Flight Theatre company staging Romeo and Juliet at Valle Crucis Abbey on July 15 and 16, and Wrexham playwright Peter Read putting on his own The Ghost of Dylan Thomas at Plas Newydd on July 20.

Poetry also figures with Levi Tafari’s Poetry Slam at the Bridge End Hotel in the town on July 16.

Levi is a well-known rasta poet from Liverpool who performed at last year’s Fringe. He will share some of his own work as well as encouraging people to get involved and perform their compositions.

The Orange Blossom Special Train will be running on Llangollen Steam Railway on Sunday July 17.

Inspired by the Johnny Cash song, there will be live country and western music throughout the evening on platforms and on the train during its return journey to Carrog.

On July 13 Llangollen’s New Dot community cinema screens the film Cabaret.

Fringe director Graham Timms said: “We have designed our programme to provide something to interest everyone.

“Featuring some very well-known performers has enhanced the reputation of the festival and grown its audience over the past few years.


“The target was a 10 per cent increase in audience numbers in 2015. The actual attendance increased by 29 per cent.
 
“In fact, since 2009 our audience has more than trebled, consistently showing a steep upward trend and the directors are encouraged to be even more ambitious in the coming years.”


The full programme will be out in mid-June but further details and booking is available on the festival’s website at www.llangollenfringe.co.uk.

You can get in touch at: contact@llangollenfringe.co.uk or telephone 0800 1455 779.

Art exhibition

The Fringe launch also saw an exhibition of work by Llangollen Artists, including Carys Roberts, Jan Murray, Mike Flory, Simon Collinge and Sue Hall, and some of the exhibits are pictured below.