Keep Llan Special chair speaks out

Mike Edwards, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, has given llanblogger the following update on the group's recent acivities:

"The Management Committee of Keep Llangollen Special have held various meetings since the last Llangollen News. Interestingly we went on a site visit to Dobson & Crowther as a fact finding exercise to understand the Company's position in relation to the planning applications to Denbighshire Denbighshire Council to relocate their premises to Cilmedw. This visit was arranged for us by Ken Skates AM and we met with Paul Holden Managing Director and his highly motivated team when taken on a tour of the factory. It was extremely interesting to hear Paul's presentation and to learn about the range of products they produce many for household names and then to see the factory in action. We would like to thank Paul Holden and his team for meeting with us. 

"The Company are operating in a very difficult market place at a time of recession and to some extent we understand why they have teamed with a speculative property developer to relocate their premises to Cilmedw. However it is the groups view that Llangollen Town Centre will pay a heavy price if a Sainsbury's supermarket is built outside the main shopping area. The application for a supermarket on the busy A5 tourist trunk route is contrary to Welsh Government Planning Policies which protect the vitality and vibrancy of town centres. Also the application is contrary to the sustainability policies because it will lead to increased vehicle journeys. The developer's recent amendment to include traffic lights at the junction into the new Cilmedw Industrial Estate will interrupt the two way flow of traffic which already experiences blockages at the Castle Street traffic lights and the Sorting Office pelican crossing.  Also of course there would be a new entrance into and out of the proposed supermarket which in our view is all a recipe for massive congestion on the A5.  

"Do we really want to lose our local butchers, greengrocers, delicatessens etc and see masses of empty shops in the town like many other towns up and down the UK?

Buy Local Day

"The last Buy Local day took place recently centring on Llangollen Cafes this time and the day was an outstanding success and our Secretary, Jude Williams reports that the majority of cafes participated with Dragons Den, Cottage Tea Rooms, Village Bakery and the Courtyard Cafe in particularly reporting doubling their sales of teas and coffees. These dedicated "Buy Local" are becoming more and more successful and we plan to hold a day covering all shops in the town centre next month. Thanks to Jude for all her hard work on behalf of Keep Llangollen Special.  

NHS Reforms

"We are endeavouring to find out as much as possible about the reorganisation of health services in Llangollen following the announcement by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board of proposals to replace the existing Community Hospital on Abbey Road with a new multi-purpose Health Centre to be erected on the site of the former Woodlands Hotel now known as the Riverside Lodge. The biggest concern is that the Health Board propose to close the existing Hospital early next year, but not replace it until 2015 which will mean Llangollen residents having to travel to Chirk and Wrexham for many services. We also understand that BCUHB have to present a Business Case to Welsh Government to acquire the Riverside Lodge site, so their scheme has many hurdles to jump including receiving Planning Permission before it comes into being. At the moment patients can walk or take a short journey to the existing Health Centre in the middle of town, but residents will be forced to travel by car or public transport to get to the new Health Centre, if and when it's built. Residents can find out more on the 26th September, 2012 when the Health Board hold briefing sessions to explain their proposals, but residents need to ring 0800 678 5297 to book their place.

 

Chair of Keep Llangollen Special

"Unfortunately Martin Crumpton has had to stand down as Chair of the Group due to poor health. The new Chair is Michael Edwards and Vice Chair is Philip Jones. The Group wish to place on record their thanks to Martin for all his hard work in setting up Keep Llangollen Special and are pleased that he is able to continue as our Researcher and contribute to the future work of the group."

Chair@keepllangollenspecial.org.uk

Ysgol Dinas Bran celebrates its best ever GCSE results

* Successful students jump for joy at their fantastic GCSE results.

                                                                   

* Some of Ysgol Dinas Bran's high GCSE achivers.

Staff and students at Ysgol Dinas Bran are celebrating their best ever set of GCSE results today (Thursday).

The outstanding results mean that 98.2% of all students in year 11 achieved five or more equivalent passes at GCSE. 

And this year more students than ever have achieved five or more A*s to C grades.   

A highly creditable 98.2% of Dinas Bran students achieved five or more pass grades, which is nearly the whole of the year group, and 100% passed the level one threshold. 

A school spokesperson said: "They worked so hard this year and all the efforts have paid off. 

"Well done to everyone  - we are so proud of all the students and the staff who have supported them through their studies. 

"Well done to all!"
 

llanblogger also passes on its hearty congratulations to the successful students.

Notable individual achievements came from:- 

 

	A*	A	B
Jaya Entwistle	9	1	0
Samantha   Pennington	8	1	0
Wilf Wort	8	2	1
George Wort	6	3	0
Kitty Cartwright	5	2	3
Sarah Tipuric	5	4	1
Iestyn Watkin	5	4	2
Toby Pearce	3	4	1
Susan Cragg	3	4	3
Alice Gonzales	3	7	0
Jillian Howe	3	6	0

 If you didn't manage to get the grades you wanted, check out this website here:

http://beta.careerswales.com/server.php?show=nav.9282&outputLang=en 

Minister for Education and Skills, Leighton Andrews, today joined pupils at Cynffig Comprehensive School as they celebrated their GCSE and Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification results.

 

The Minister said:

“Students across Wales, like those in Cynffig who I am visiting today, deserve our congratulations as they take this significant step on their learning journey.
“Our students’ performance in GCSEs shows the overall pass rate remains at 98.7 per cent, with passes at A*-C at 65.4 per cent which is encouraging.”

GCSE results for students in Wales published today show that:

• the overall pass rate remains at 98.7%.
• the proportion of passes at grades A* to C was 65.4%;
• the proportion of A* and A grades was 19.2%;
• the proportion of A* grades was 6.5%;

The Welsh Baccalaureate, Intermediate and Foundation Diplomas have been available across the 14-19 phase since 2006 and are now widely available in both Key Stage 4 and in post-16 learning. Today’s results show that;
At Intermediate level:

• Almost 10,000 (9,940) learners completed the Welsh Baccalaureate programme;
• 8,119 achieved the Core certificate; and
• 7,210 achieved both the Core certificate and the Options requirement and have been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Intermediate Diploma.

And at Foundation level;

• Over 3,500 (3,521) learners completed the Welsh Baccalaureate programme;
• 2,515 achieved the Core certificate; and
• 2,236 achieved both the Core certificate and the Options requirement and have been awarded the full Welsh Baccalaureate Foundation Diploma.

The Minister added:

“More students than ever have earned a Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification in addition to their other achievements, it continues to establish itself as a key feature of 14-19 learning in Wales and is a valued qualification.”

AM hails new agreement on Dee caneoing

* A new agreement covers caneoing on the River Dee.

Local Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed news that anglers and canoeists have reached an agreement over access to the River Dee in and around Llangollen.

The ground-breaking agreement clears the way for many more canoeing events to be held on the river, while enabling anglers to enjoy their pastime.

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: “I want to pay tribute to everyone who has been involved in negotiating this agreement.

“I know how much hard work has been put into bring all the parties together and discussing this issue with the best interests of the region as a whole at heart.

“Both canoeing and angling are important sources of revenue for Llangollen and the Dee Valley, bringing visitors from throughout the UK – indeed the world – to enjoy our world class waters.

“This agreement will reduce conflict and allow huge stretches of the river to be used throughout the year, providing an enormous boost to local economy, particularly in the winter.”

The agreement will see unrestricted access for canoeists to the river Dee from below the Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen town weir between October 20 and March 31 each year, with provision for access to the river below the Chainbridge at certain river levels.

Councillors raise no objection to revised print works road scheme

llanblogger exclusive 

Town councillors raised no objections to new access details submitted for the scheme to build a new print works on land at Cilmedw Farm, Llangollen, at a meeting of the planning committee on Tuesday night.

The scheme is closely related to a separate one to build a new Sainsbury’s supermarket on the site currently occupied by the Dobson & Crowther works off the A5 nearby.

Planning committee chairman, Cllr Mike Adams, said the revised scheme for Cilmedw had been submitted because the access needed to be widened and made safer.

There would also be traffic lights added as well as widening the road.

Cllr Phil Thane said there were already traffic lights at the end of Castle Street and additional lights near the proposed works entrance could  lead to traffic tailbacks which would cause an obstruction to the canoeing centre nearby.

Cllr Adams said he thought this potential problem may have already been identified and looked into by county council planning officers.

The mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, said that although heavy traffic along that stretch of road may have been a problem 15 years ago before the opening of the A55 took congestion away from the town, it was no so now.

There were now, basically, only two busy times of the week when that stretch of road was busy – “on Saturdays going out and on Sundays coming back”.

Members raised no objection to the plan, with two members abstaining.  

Project officer works on Dee Valley scheme

A special project officer is now working with Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism on moves to enhance the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty centred on the Dee Valley.

Details of the appointment of Arwel Jones were given to members of the Town Council are their meeting on Tuesday evening by chamber chairman John Palmer.

He said Mr Jones, who is working two-and-a-half days a week until September 2013, was assisting in the formulation of a clear strategic plan for tourism and other activities and consulting with tourism businesses on the development of projects for the valley that would support local communities.

In his presentation to members Mr Palmer also said the chamber was currently consulting with local businesses prior to making a detailed response to the Sainsbury’s supermarket plan.

He also invited a small number of councillors to join a working group on an initiative to brighten up the town.    

Train newlyweds say thanks to llanblogger

* Duvain and Kristie Ashe-Kenny's big day on the station.

llanblogger has receuved a nice message from the couple who took a ride on the train at Llan Railway immediately after tying the knot recently.
As we reported at the time, there was a definite transatlantic flavour to the event when Duvain Ashe-Kenny and his new wife Kristie turned up on the platform with scores of guests after their marriage at the nearby English Methodist Church.
Because Kristie is from Fort Worth, Texas and Duvain is from Denbigh and originally hails from Liverpool.
The couple, who met at a traditional Thanksgiving Party in the States, are returning across the Atlantic to make their new home.
After the story about their big day appeared on llanblogger, Duvain wrote to say: "Thanks very much for the article.
"We shared it with our families and everyone really appreciated it.
"Llangollen is a beautiful place and we were thrilled to have our wedding there.
"Thanks again!"
* If you live locally and there's something special about your big day, let us know and we'll give you a free mention on llanblogger.
Just email us with details at: llanblogger@gmail.com



llanblogger exclusive

* Martin Crumpton, left, is interviewed by Adrian Masters. 

An ITV Wales film crew turned up in Abbey Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Headed by political editor Adrian Masters, they were there to interview Llan campaigner Martin Crumpton for a report on a forthcoming episode of Sharp End, the station's flagship political programme, about the controversery surrounding the health board plans to shut down the town's Cottage Hospital.

It is understand the segment, which was shot on the pavement opposite the hospital, will be screened on September 25.

Mr Crumpton has been campaigning against the closure proposal, which earlier this week went out to public consultation until October 28.