Assembly Member welcomes £40,000 museum boost

* Valle Crucis Abbey

Local Assembly Member Ken Skates today welcomed news that Llangollen Museum is to receive nearly £40,000 from the Welsh Government.
The money, announced as part of a £200,000 fund to make the nation’s treasures more accessible to the public, is a joint initiative between the Welsh Government and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) who have contributed £105,766 and £99,900 respectively.
Llangollen Museum has been awarded £39,650 under the Sharing Treasures scheme to bring to life the story of the Valle Crucis Abbey/Eliseg Pillar site and create an exhibition based on finds from archaeological excavations.
Mr Skates, member for Clwyd South, said: “I’m delighted that nearly forty thousand pounds is being allocated to Llangollen Museum to help celebrate and recreate the history of the Valle Crucis Abbey.
“The Abbey tells reflects back to us an important part of how Llangollen came to look the way it does.  I’m really looking forward to learning more about the history of the nine hundred year old architecture and about the Cistercian monks who lived and worshipped there.
“Making our local history more accessible to the public in North East Wales and helping local museums like Llangollen to establish partnerships with larger national museums will hopefully allow more exciting and interesting artefacts to come to Llangollen so they can be put on display.
“The story of Llangollen, the town and the abbey is a fascinating one and I’m hoping more people will come to this stunning part of the world to see the exhibition and learn more about our local heritage and the town itself.
“We have such a rich treasure trove of archives and libraries and we need to make sure more of those interesting pieces go on display in local museums like Llangollen.”
The funding will assist with the costs of setting up the exhibitions as well as alterations and improvements to the museum to make it suitable for loaned exhibits.
Other museums to benefit are:

·       Cyfarthfa Castle, which will receive £50,000 to create a permanent exhibition space within Cyfarthfa Castle Museum. The new gallery’s first temporary exhibition will be a display of works from the National Library of Wales’ collection of paintings by Sir Kyffin Williams., one of Wales’ most well-known artists.
·       Buckley Museum, which will expand its collection of excavated Buckley pottery with items borrowed from National Museums Liverpool. The funding of £49,817 will allow the museum to improve interpretation elements to tell the story of the Buckley potteries from the medieval period to the Second World War and to explain their relevance to the people of Buckley today.
·       Wrexham Museum, which will receive £16,200 for a project that will explore the cultural impact of Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn’s Grand Tour of Italy and France in the 18th Century. It involves the creation and staging of a fine art exhibition featuring the work of those artists he sponsored on his return.
·       Abergavenny/Chepstow Museums which are jointly undertaking a three year project to explore the cultural impact of Tintern and Llantony Abbeys culminating in two concurrent exhibitions at Chepstow and Abergavenny Museums. The project has been made possible with funding of £50,000.

Announcing the funding,Housing, Regeneration and Heritage Minister Huw Lewis said: “Sharing Treasures is an excellent project that will allow artefacts belonging to national collections to be displayed in the communities whose stories they tell.

“Increasing access to our history to all in Wales is an important commitment for the Welsh Government and this project will achieve just that. It is an excellent example of what can be achieved when we all work together.
“I look forward to seeing the exhibitions when they are ready and wish all the museums the best of luck with their projects.”
Jennifer Stewart, Head of HLF Wales, said: “We are delighted to support the Sharing Treasures scheme and in doing so to have encouraged a wider range of museums and libraries to plan exhibitions using national collections.  Our funding will also support activities around the exhibitions which will help local communities learn and get involved in the project, sharing it with future generations.”
David Anderson, Director General, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales said: “Amgueddfa Cymru works with local museums in Wales in many ways, supporting them in presenting and interpreting the history of different regions across the country. Our involvement in Sharing Treasures helps to strengthen our relationships with partner museums, ensuring that expertise is shared and the national collections are as widely available as possible. The national collections do, after all, belong to the people of Wales!”

Railway's 60s weekend is a swinging success

* Sophie Francis

sings 1960s style
                                 

                                                                     * The St Helens Leyland

departing Llangollen.

* The Lancaster Corporation open

topper Ullswater returning.

Nostalgia buffs were out in force for Llangollen Railway’s 1960s weekend last Saturday and Sunday.

And one of the stars of the show was 18-year-old A-level student Sophie Francis who can usually be found hard at work in the railway’s own Victoria's Tea Rooms on the station.

Sophie swapped her waitress's apron for a Mary Quant mini-dress when she sang live as the event.

Sophie, who has lived in Llangollen all her life is no stranger to live performances, reached the final of the OpenMic UK talent contest earlier this year.

She said: "I enjoy singing - it's an escape from the tribulations of the real world and something
that's mine.”

Sophie was joined by singer and railway volunteer Matt Grindley for trackside performances on Saturday and Sunday afternoon .

Saturday evening saw Rhyl-based four-piece tribute band "The Cavernites" and Elvis

impersonator Neil Vincent performing a lively set of 1960s rock and pop hits.

Those living near the railway in the Dee Valley were invited to join in the fun, with a £10 ticket available including return train travel from Carrog or Glyndyfrdwy to Llangollen, with a train back after the concert.

On Saturday the 60s weekend provided a high level view of the road to Carrog when a period St Helens Leyland No.54 bus ran between stations.

The free ride proved popular with visitors as a contrast to the train journey.

Event co-organiser Tez Pickthall said: "This is the third 60's weekend that we have organised andit was the best yet.

“The railway ran a busy timetable of steam, diesel and railcar trains - just like would have been seen on Britain's railways in the 60's.

“It was a time of great change with steam locomotives disappearing altogether in 1968, along with many miles of branch line at the hands of Dr Beeching's modernisation plan - including the line that is now the Llangollen Railway.

“As well as the great live music we had a range of trade and society stands and a real ale barat Llangollen.

“At Glyndyfrdwy station there were over 100 vintage vehicles on display; from the humble Ford Anglia to the sleek Volvo P1800S made famous by Roger Moore in The Saint.

“We also applied a special temporary rust-coloured paint to our usually immaculate steam

Next events at the railway are a Day Out with Thomas - 4/5 August and 9-12 August.

There is a bus rally due on Bank Holiday Weekend, Saturday/Sunday, 25/26 August billed as a Classic Transport weekend.

It involves intensive train service and a free classic bus operating between Glyndyfrdwy and Corwen to promote interest in the railway's extension from Carrog.

There will be exhibits on the field behind Glyndyfrdwy station, with final details yet to be released.

The autumn steam gala is lined up for 31 August/1/2 September.

In addition there is another Murder Mystery on the evening train Saturday 18 August.

Nearby supermarket plan recommended for refusal

Llan people opposed to a new supermarket in our town may be interested in the following story in today's Leader:  

"Plans for a new supermarket have been recommended for refusal.
The proposals for the development on Vauxhall Industrial Estate, Ruabon, will go before Wrexham Council’s planning committee today (Monday).

Planning officers, though, believe that the scheme should not go ahead.

A public consultation held earlier this year suggested “overwhelming support” for the £6 million project, according to Manchester-based developers Capital and Centric PLC, with 92 per cent of those consulted voting in favour.

The firm behind the proposed supermarket, which would serve the people of Rhos, Johnstown, Penycae and Ruabon, has not been disclosed but is believed to be one of the ‘big four’ chains.

Director of Capital and Centric PLC, Adam Higgins, said the 46,000 square foot store, about half the size of Sainsbury’s Plas Coch site, would service about 20,000 people in the four villages.

It is claimed the supermarket could create 250 jobs.

The application is welcomed by Ruabon Community Council.

However, a report by Wrexham Council’s head of community wellbeing and development, Lawrence Isted, says a retail assessment undertaken “fails to demonstrate there is a need for a development of the size proposed”.

It says other sites have not been adequately assessed, nor “the detrimental impact the development is likely to have upon the vitality and viability of the district shopping centres of Rhos and Ruabon”.

The report concludes the development would not reduce the need for residents to travel and is poorly served by public transport.

The car park, it also says, would have a “detrimental impact upon the appearance of the locality”.

"Serious defects" found in taxi checks

Officers from Denbighshire County Council’s Licensing and Community Safety Enforcement Teams worked in partnership with North Wales Police and VOSA to check on the roadworthiness of six taxis and one non-licensed vehicle suspected to be operating without a licence.

The operation was carried out on Friday, 27 July in north Denbighshire. As a result of serious defects, VOSA officers issued two immediate roadworthiness prohibition notices. Three other vehicles were issued with delayed roadworthiness prohibition notices. Denbighshire County Council’s Licensing Officers issued one immediate suspension notice and four deferred suspension notices.

As part of ongoing partnership working, the agencies involved will continue to carry out Taxi and Private Hire vehicle roadworthiness checks.

Appropriate action will be taken by officers if public safety is in any way compromised by Taxi and Private Hire operators and drivers.

NHS reducing hospital admissions for chronic conditions

New figures published today show a significant reduction across Wales in hospital admissions for people with chronic conditions.

Monday 30 July 2012

The figures – from NHS Wales Chief Executive David Sissling’s Annual Report which will be published this week – show emergency admissions for heart disease, respiratory conditions and diabetes fell by almost 12 per cent overall in 2011/12 compared to the previous year.
Emergency re-admissions for these conditions also fell by almost 23 per cent overall.
The new figures are published as health boards across Wales prepare to consult on plans to improve their services, and according to the NHS Wales Chief Executive, they help reinforce the need for new models of healthcare.
David Sissling said:

“The NHS has made significant strides in reducing hospital admissions for chronic conditions.
“These reductions illustrate two important developments – the improved treatment of once-fatal diseases through better care – often in community settings - and because of that, less reliance on hospitals for the treatment of these conditions.
“It shows the NHS is making progress in shifting the balance of care from hospital to community settings, and that the current hospital configuration – which exists from a time when these diseases were less treatable – can be changed to reflect these improved outcomes.
“Because of reduced admissions, many community hospitals are underutilised which is inefficient for both patients and the NHS.
“To continue to deliver better outcomes we need an even greater focus on community-based services – alongside specialist centres of excellence – which will provide better results for patients.
“In order to meet these challenges, we need to modernise our health services and over the coming months communities across Wales will get a chance to voice their opinions on changes to health services in their areas."

Inpatient care could "go private" if Cottage closes

INPATIENT care will be “outsourced to the private sector” if plans to close Llan Cottage Hospital are approved, reports the Daily Post today.

Health chiefs want to close the 137-year-old hospital as part of a radical overhaul of primary and community care.

The newspaper report says the town’s GPs are opposed to the closure which would see inpatient care provided seven miles away at Chirk – or if no NHS beds are available – in local care or nursing homes.

The health board believes that by rolling out a comprehensive “enhanced care at home” package it can slash the number of hospital admissions in Llangollen, and across North Wales.

Last year there were 117 admissions to the town’s 10-bed facility.

The report adds that a spokesman for the Health Board said patients don’t want to be in hospital if they can be cared for in or near their own home.

“We are confident that the majority of care can be delivered in this way if we enhance community services capacity and work closely with the local GPs.

“Where NHS beds are needed we plan to provide these at Chirk hospital.”

The use of extra care housing, nursing or residential homes are all options than can be explored during the consultation process, he added.

The consultation will be launched from August 20.

Quilt exhibition runs for another month

* Jan Wallis with some of her work.

Panelled walls, a four poster bed, and an intricately carved door.

This is embroidered quilting to take your breath away.

It has taken textile artist Jan Wallis two years to complete the work, based on 16th and 17th century wood carvings at Plas Newydd in Llangollen.

The whole installation, together with ghostly trees and mythical beasts, has been running successfully in Y Caban, the gallery in the grounds of Plas Newydd and has now been extended until the end of August.