Talk Talk to sponsor Llangollen FC

Llangollen Football Club has received a £600 financial boost from TalkTalk, he home phone and broadband provider.

The club will be sponsored by TalkTalk for the next 12 months and the funding will be used to buy new training equipment.

Residents in Llangollen, Dinbren and Berwyn will also benefit from a £50,000 investment by TalkTalk, which is expanding its Next Generation Network to provide residents with access to fast, reliable, better value and more secure broadband.

Built into the broadband network itself and unique to TalkTalk is the network-level security service HomeSafe™.

Homesafe gives customers control over the type of websites their household can access across every single device that connects to the internet in their home.

Robert Evans, Chairman at Llangollen Football Club, said: “We are very pleased that TalkTalk has chosen to support Llangollen Football Club over the next twelve months. The donation has been used to purchase new training equipment."

Tristia Clarke, commercial director at TalkTalk, said: “By investing in the exchange in Llangollen TalkTalk will be able to bring our great value offers to even more families in the area and give customers access to our fantastic security service HomeSafe™.

"In this amazing Olympic year, TalkTalk is also delighted to be supporting sport at grassroots level up and down the country. Llangollen Football Club is a fantastic example of a local club engaging and enthusing the next generation to enjoy sport. We wish them every success with future endeavours."
  
By installing its own equipment in the local exchange, TalkTalk claims it can offer even better value services and innovative products to its customers.

The NGN enables speeds of up to 14mb and customers who have recently been upgraded to the new network experience an average increase in broadband speed of 50%.

Bids invited for Oakleigh by mid-January

* Agents say bids for Oakleigh should be in by January 18.

Anyone interested is buying Oakleigh, the former mental health facility in Abbey Road, Llangollen, now has just a couple of weeks to put in an offer for the property.

That’s the message from agents acting for the vendor, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The imposing property, which stands off the A5 in front of the eisteddfod field, has been empty for some years and is now being sold off by the board as surplus to its requirements.

A spokesman for agents Legat Owen’s Chester office, which is handling the sale, recently told llanblogger that Oakleigh had an asking price of £350,000 and that they had been contacted by a number of potential buyers.     

We have just heard again from Stephen Wade, director business space for Legat Owen, who said: “In view of the level of interest in Oakleigh we are inviting Best Offers by 1.00pm on Friday 18^th January 2013.

“Anyone wishing to be bid should register their interest with our office and we will provide them with a form for the submission of an offer.”

The sale details show that Oakleigh covers 306 square metres (3,293 square feet) on a site of 0.28 hectares (0.69 acres).  

The description continues: “Oakleigh comprises an attractive two storey period propertyfof brick construction under a pitched timber framed roof with clay tile covering.  

“Internally the property retains many of its original features.  

“The property has a rateable value of £10,000 and is available for sale freehold.  

“The property offers potential for a variety of alternative uses subject to securing the appropriate planning permission.  

“Planning permission has recently been granted for a change of use to a residential dwelling.”

Continued heavy rain leads to warning

The Daily Post is reporting tonight that on its website that Environment Agency Wales is asking people to remain alert to the risk of localised flooding as forecasts indicate that more heavy rainfall is likely to affect large parts of Wales.

See the story at:
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/12/29/warning-to-remain-alert-as-more-heavy-rain-set-to-hit-wales-55578-32514450/

llanblogger now back in action!

Following our Christmas break, the llanblogger editorial team is now back in action and looking forward to providing readers with all the latest news - local, regional and national.

If you have got anything you share with readers, either from over Christmas or looking ahead into the new year, just get in touch with us at the usual e-mail address - llanblogger@gmail.com.

We're waiting to hear from you!

Landslip leads to reorganisation of train services

* The locomotive No.802 at Glyndyfrdwy where

the Mince Pie Specials are temporarily terminating

due to a riverside landslip.

 

A riverside landslip has led to the temporary reorganisation of seasonal train services on Llangollen Railway. 

Railway officials discovered on Boxing Day that a short section of banking had fallen into the river just west of the station at Glyndyfrdwy where the heritage line runs close to the river. 

For safety reasons they immediately suspended services between Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog.  

Railway spokesman GeorgeJones said:  “Pending further investigation of the situation, and any potential for the landslip intruding on to the track, the decision was taken to terminate the winter-time series of Mince Pie Special trains from Llangollen at Glyndyfrdwy.” 

Railway chairman, Jim Ritchie, said:  “Llangollen Railway regrets the disruption to visitors' plans for visiting the Dee Valley for the train ride through to the terminus at Carrog.  

“The riverside situation requires a detailed assessment as to the repair which may be needed, but we will be unable to put this in hand until after the New Year period. 

“In the meantime, we trust our visitors will still enjoy the shorter run by steam train through to Glyndyfrdwy and take advantage of the opportunity to explore the Welsh countryside." 

Train time departures from Llangollen have been revised to start 11.15am, 1.15pm and 3.15pm through to the end of the festive season services on  January 1.

Pick a safe party say health chiefs

Emergency Department staff are calling on revellers to choose a safe night out on the eve of the year’s busiest party season.
 

NHS staff working in the regions three emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Glan Clwyd Hospital and Wrexham Maleor are supporting the Choose Well campaign as the festive season begins to get into full swing.

Year on year, Wales’ emergency departments and ambulance service have seen a rise in the number of people using both services. Emergency Department attendances in Wales are up by 12 per cent since 2005

December attendance at the three emergency departments in North Wales has increased from 12,642 in 2009 to 13,280 in 2011.

Welsh Government figures also report that only 27 per cent of people who go to Emergency Departments are admitted as an Emergency.

The Choose Well campaign centres on a colour coded thermometer to assist people in linking their symptoms or injury to the right service, which is right for their need.

And this year NHS partners across North Wales have reached out to the younger generation to help make sure the right services are available for the right patients across the winter months.

Stats have revealed that people aged between 15-29 regular use an emergency department when their ailment could be dealt with more quickly and efficiently by a pharmacist , GP or minor Injuries units for cuts, bites and strains.

Dr Aruni Sen, Consultant in Emergency Medicine said: “We all know that traditionally, December can be a busy month following the onset of colder weather, increase in flu and norovirus cases and above all, the aftermath of the Christmas party season.

“We don’t want to spoil the festive season for people but we would urge them to make the right choices while out for the night, be sensible when consuming alcohol and keep safe whilst in crowded places.

“Emergency Departments are ready first and foremost for those facing a life threatening situation. Having to deal with a person sleeping off the effects of too much alcohol could draw out resources away from someone who really needs our support urgently.”

If you do need help over the festive season, please remember the services below:

• Self care –Many illnesses can be treated at home by using over-the-counter medicine, taking plenty of fluids and getting plenty of rest. Self care is the best choice to treat very minor illnesses and injuries.

• NHS Direct Wales offers confidential health advice and information 24 hours a day by either calling 0845 46 47, or via the internet www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk Contact NHS Direct if you are ill and have any questions about health. The service can also help you to find health services in your local area.

• Pharmacist Visit a pharmacy when you are suffering from a common health problem which does not require being seen by a nurse or doctor. Your local pharmacist can give you advice on common illnesses and the medicines you need to treat them. They may help if you have run out of your normal repeat prescription. They can also provide Emergency Contraception

• GP and Out of Hours Services - During office hours please contact your GP for advice and treatment of most illnesses. GP advice is available outside office hours from your local out of hours service, To contact out of hours services, telephone your usual GP number or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47.

• Dental Services For advice contact your registered Dentist. If you are not registered with a dentist and need urgent treatment, you can call the North Wales Dental Helpline on 0845 60 10 128 to find out about emergency dental clinics.

• Minor Injuries Units– Located at some hospitals, these should be used for the treatment of minor injuries such as cuts, bites, stings and muscle and joint injuries. There is no need for an appointment. Minor Injuries Units are located throughout North Wales. They can treat minor injuries and give you health advice. For details of your nearest Minor Injuries Unit, please contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

• Emergency Department (A&E) or 999 – Emergency Department (A&E) can treat people who are very ill or badly injured. They can be found in Bangor, Bodelwyddan and Wrexham. You should always call 999 in a life threatening emergency - if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Hillsborough survivor welcomes new inquests

* Survivor - Kelvin "Kelly" Davies.

 

A HILLSBOROUGH survivor fsys news that fresh inquests are to be held into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 disaster is an “early Christmas present” for relatives.

Yesterday, the High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts returned on those who died in the crush which developed on the terraces at the Shefffield stadium.

The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge also ordered fresh inquests following an application by the Attorney General.

And, in a separate development, Home Secretary Theresa May has announced a new police inquiry into the tragedy.

These moves have been welcomed by 56-year-old Kelvin “Kelly” Davies, who narrowly survived death himself and had to be carried unconscious from the terrace on an advertising hoarding which fellow fans had ripped from the side of the pitch.

After being given emergency first aid he came to surrounded by dead bodies in the stadium’s gym, which was being used as a makeshift mortuary.

Mr Davies, who  works as a machine operator at the Dobson & Crowther factory in Llangollen, still has flashbacks of a young boy dying right next to him as they both lay fighting for breath on the terraces.

He said of yesterday’s developments: “This is very good news for the relatives of those who died and for the survivors – it has come as an early Christmas present for us.

“It has taken a long time for this to happen but at last it has and these are two important steps on the long road to final justice.

“As a survivor of that day I have gone through hell over the past 23 years, so god knows what the relatives of those people who died have had to endure.

“It’s as though the 96 who died were just swept under the carpet and didn’t mean a thing.”

He added: “I was at the original inquest and sat there for two days without being called and now I intend to take some time off work to attend the new hearings.

“It would be marvellous to see the inquests this time go in favour of the families.

“Two or three years ago you’d never have dreamt that things would develop like they have today but we’ve had some good people helping us out.

“They’ve been prepared to step up to the mark and demand something is done to set the record straight at last.

“Hopefully, when this new legal process is over someone will be held accountable for what went wrong that awful day.”