Llan residents offered special Christmas deal

In a special Christmas deal Llangollen-based Whitewater Active is offering local residents 20% off a range of outdoor activities.

Until December 24, they can make the saving on white water rafting (Llangollen only), kayaking, climbing/abseiling and gorge walking vouchers.

A company spokesperson said: “At the centre in Llangollen we offer rafting and kayaking on the River Dee, climbing / abseiling at Trevor rocks and gorge walking at Bwlchgwyn.

“We do offer other activities at various locations but it will be the four activities mentioned that we would like to promote to the residents of Llangollen at a reduced rate.

“Rafting takes place on the River Dee here in Llangollen and is a two-hour activity. We provide wetsuits and all safety equipment but the customer is required to bring a pair of trainers that they don’t mind getting wet, swimwear and a towel.

“Kayaking also takes place on the River Dee in Llangollen and again is a two-hour activity. As with the rafting we provide wetsuits and all safety equipment but the customer is required to bring a pair of trainers that they don’t mind getting wet, swimwear and a towel.

“Climbing/abseiling takes place at Trevor Rocks, customers are required to meet at the centre first to collect their safety equipment then they are required to drive to the rock face in their own vehicles. This activity lasts for three hours.

“Gorge walking also lasts for three hours but that does include the travel time to Bwlchgwyn, and again customers are required to meet at the centre first and then drive to the gorge site in their own vehicles.

“Full details of all the activities can be found on our website www.whitewateractive.co.uk.

“You can now purchase a voucher for any of the activities mentioned above for only £44 per person when this is usually £55 per person.”

Conditions are:

·         Vouchers are valid from 25.12.2012

·         Vouchers expire 30.06.2013

·         Bookings required via phone on 01978 860763 quoting reference KLS20

·         Not open to trade customers

·         Minimum number of people required for activities to take place

Roddick wins North Wales PCC election

* Winner - Winston Roddick. 

Independent candidate Winston Roddick has been elected as North Wales' first Police and Crime Commissioner.

Low turn-outs have been recorded in yesterday's elections across the UK.

In Denbighshire turnout is said to have been a meagre 16.7%.

Mr Roddick scored victory over four other candidates in North Wales - another independent, one Labour, one Tory and a UKIP representative.

He is a barrister and former senior legal adviser to the assembly.

PCCs, as they will be known, will be responsible for setting priorities for their police force, overseeing its budget and hiring the chief constable.

Mr Roddick beat Labour's Tal Michael in the second round of counting.

He began his career as a police constable in Liverpool before becoming a barrister and has been a crown court recorder.

The count went to the second round, with the second preference votes from other candidates going forward.

Those candidates eliminated after the first round were Irish-born Colm McCabe, the Conservative candidate, a former chief officer for the special constabulary in North Wales; Richard Hibbs, a Llanduno-based businessman, an independent, and Warwick Nicholson, a retired police officer, was Ukip's only candidate in Wales.

Latest roadworks in the area

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following roadworks in the area:

Berwyn Road, Llangollen, until November 17, temporary traffic lights to allow water works by Dee Valley Water. 

Pendre Road, Berwyn, until December 6, road closure to allow work by DCC Bridges. 

A5, Corwen, Highgate Crossroads to A5104 junction, from November 21 to December 5, road closure to allow work by Electricty Alliance West. 

A5, from Carreg Afon to Heol Llanundain, temporary traffic  lights to allow retaining wall works by CCBC Structures Trunk.  

Bridge Street, Corwen, from November 19-25, temporary traffic lights to allow improvement works by Amberon.

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, junction of Castle Street, November 11, stop go boards to allow drainage works by KTL Contracting.

Louisa speaks direct from India

* Louisa, left, celebrates the end of her marathon ride with a well-earned glass of champagne. 

We have now received the final e-mail from Llangollen Operatic’s Louisa Jones describing how she felt after completing her gruelling 260-mile charity bike ride through India.

Louisa, 33, has been taking part in the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

Along the way Louisa and her fellow cyclists had to contend with pothole-strewn roads and soaring temperatures sometimes over 30 degrees.

In her last message she says: “Well, today at approximately 12:00 Indian standard time, we arrived at our final destination amid much whooping and jubilation.

“I woke up at 6am feeling refreshed and re-energised and the final 40km through hilly terrain just flew by as if it was the first day. It was a great feeling to know we were on the home stretch.

“2km before the finish line, we all stopped, tied balloons to our bikes and helmets, then cycled the final stretch together.

“It was an amazing experience as we celebrated with champagne and group photos and a lot of people were very emotional. Indeed, I still can't quite believe that we have cycled 350km (260 miles) in four and a half days, sometimes in blistering heat, on a diet of curry twice a day (oh for a plate of baked beans!)

“I am even more amazed by the women themselves; I am amongst the youngest of the group. The oldest lady is 65 and the average age is around 42. Many have had or are still recovering from cancer or getting over other personal challenges. Everyone has a story but no one has wallowed in it and the support and camerarderie shown has been humbling; it has been about completing the challenge as a team and not as individuals.

“We are now on the coach to Jaipur where we are looking forward to a proper shower and bed. Tonight we will celebrate our achievement with a party, then tomorrow we have time in the city before heading back to Dehli in the early hours of Sunday for our flight home.”

In earlier messages this week, Louisa told how at one stage along the road she had been catapulted over the handlebars of her bike after being cut up by a jeep.

She also revealed how, later in the trip, she and many of her fellow cyclists had been suffering from the dreaded “Delhi belly”.  

Louisa flew out to the sub-continent on Friday of last week and after a short period of acclimatisation began her marathon ride which took her and around 90 other intrepid women cyclists from across the UK from the city of Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal - through the rural state of Rajasthan in north-west India to the capital, Jaipur.

To maintain their tight schedule the group, ranging in age from their twenties to sixties, had to average around 40 miles a day.

The route followed was far removed from the usual tourist trails and took riders both on and off road.

In advance of her trip to the sub-continent Louisa raised the cash necessary to guarantee her a place on the ride.

Thanks to strong support from family, friends and work colleagues she managed to burst through the £2,800 qualifying barrier some months ago and pledges are still coming in.

She also made  a personal contribution of £500 towards her fundraising total, which will be distributed between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’ Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

+ To make a contribution towards Louisa’s challenge go to http://www.justgiving.com/louisa-jones2012/eurl.axd/5805f2ef88f5e749aa33e11e94dbaeb7   

Louisa completes her Indian charity challenge

* Riders celebrate the end of their charity challenge. 

Llangollen Operatic star Louisa Jones has completed her gruelling 220-mile charity ride through India.

A message on Facebook from the challenge organisers this morning (Friday) says: " ,,,,,,,, And the challenge is over... The last cyclist has crossed the finish line.. Congratulations to the girls of Group 3... Wonderful show!!!"

Louisa and around 90 other intrepid woman cyclists from across the UK have spent the past week riding through the sub-continent as part of the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

Along the way they have battled rough roads and soaring temperatures.

Louisa has been keeping llanblogger readers in touch with her progress with a series of e-mails.

Communications permitting, we hope to bring you her final message later today. 

Help available to get empty homes back into use

People in Llangollen looking to return empty properties back into use can now apply for financial help thanks to a new scheme.

The Houses into Homes scheme has made over £2.35 million available to people across North Wales in a bid to provide people with much needed homes.

In Denbighshire, over £300,000 has been made available.

The Welsh Government scheme provides interest free loans to enable the renovation, improvement and conversion of empty properties for use as residential accommodation.

Eligible properties must have been empty for six months or more.

Single units of accommodation can receive a loan of up to a maximum of £25,000, with a maximum loan of £150,000 available per applicant.

Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for housing, Councillor David Smith, said: “This funding is extremely welcome and will go a long way in helping turn empty or derelict properties into homes for people across the county.”

Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, said: “Empty homes are, quite simply, a wasted resource. There are approximately 20,000 long term empty properties across Wales, depriving people of a much needed home and blighting the community.

“Providing good quality, affordable homes for people is a priority across Wales and we have been exploring a number of ways to help us meet the growing demand. We hope the Houses into Homes scheme will encourage landlords, home owners and developers to come forward and turn empty properties into homes.”

For more information about Homes into Houses scheme, contact
Debbie Nalecz, Empty Homes Officer on 01824 706817 or debbie.nalecz@denbighshire.gov.uk

MEP opens new local office

 

* From left, Wrexham county councillor Arfon

Jones, Jill Evans MEP and Denbighshire

county councillor Arwel Roberts at

the opening of the new office.

Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales MEP Jill Evans has opened a new office in the centre of Wrexham.

The official opening of the Regent Street office means she is the only MEP in Wales to have maintained an office in the north since being elected.

 

She is the senior Welsh MEP, having been first elected in 1999, and covers the Llangollen area.

Ms Evans said: “I’m really pleased to open an office again in Wrexham, which, as the largest town in the north, is such an important regional centre.

“Our office here is in a good position to deal with constituents’ concerns and I’m delighted to have welcomed everyone here for the opening. I encourage people to contact me to give me their views, ask questions or raise concerns. They can do that by coming into the office or by telephone or emailing jill.evans@europarl.europa.eu ”

As well as a number of Party of Wales members, county councillors Arfon Jones (Wrexham) and Arwel Roberts (Denbighshire) attended the opening.

Located in the same building is Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the North Wales Region in the National Assembly, Jill Evans represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament.