Net is cast for volunteer lock-keepers

* The Canal & River Trust is offeroing the chance to help out on the canals. 

The Canal & River Trust, the new charity which cares for 2,000 miles of waterways in England & Wales, is calling on communities to get involved in a scheme that will see them becmoning volunteer lock keepers along the Shropshire Union and Llangollen Canals .

 

Lock keeping has been a fixture on the canals for hundreds of years and the role of the modern-day volunteer lock keeper is to help the Trust look after the waterways, including helping boaters through the locks, providing a polite and friendly welcome to waterway visitors and helping to maintain many historic, listed locks.

Actor and adventurer Brian Blessed supported the first appeal during 2012 which saw over 250 people come forward and become volunteer lock keepers.

Now, the Trust is asking for public support to try and double these numbers in over 50 locations across the country.

Paul Corner, volunteer coordinator for the Canal & River Trust, said: “As a new charity we were heartened by the amazing support we received for this role last year.

 

"Volunteers are integral to the future of the nation’s waterways and our growing groups of volunteers have been making a huge difference to local canals and rivers up and down the country.

 

"This is one of the oldest and most iconic roles on the waterways so we’re asking the millions of people who visit the nation’s canals and rivers each year to get active and become a volunteer lock keeper.”

In a recent survey with volunteer lock keepers who took part in 2012, 99% said they planned to return in 2013 and over 70% of people said that ‘keeping fit and active’ was one of the major motivations for waterways volunteering. In total, they collectively contributed over 4,500 volunteer days.

Throughout the season, it’s also estimated the volunteer lock keepers assisted 1,500 boats and engaged with over 1,700 towpath visitors on average per week, helped reduce water loss by encouraging lock sharing and making sure lock paddles were closed and also improved safe passage through locks.

Paul added: “Working outdoors and staying fit have been a key incentive for people, as has a sense of pride in knowing they’re helping protect this 250-year-old working heritage. It’s extremely important to us that we offer volunteers something appealing where they feel like they’re making a difference which this role certainly does.

“The waterways are a national treasure that everyone can participate in and our volunteers have been able to provide so many additional benefits on top of the year round work Canal & River Trust staff carry out.

 

"Whether it’s helping a boat through the lock, talking to customers or local practical tasks, it can really make a huge difference to a visitor’s appreciation of the waterways in North Wales and make sure they’re supported for many more years to come.”

 
 

Volunteers can start quickly and no prior experience is necessary as a full induction, training and a uniform will be provided. The key qualities the Trust is looking for is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

The Canal & River Trust will care for 1,654 locks and there are approximately 5 million ‘lockings’ each year (passages through locks). Over 32,000 boats now call the waterways home; a figure higher than at the height of the industrial revolution.

Full details about how to become a volunteer lock keeper and location details are available by:

 

· Visiting: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/volunteer

 

· Emailing: volunteer@canalrivertrust.org.uk

 

· Phoning: 0303 040 4040.

Impairment focus panel meets

If you have a physical disability and/or a sensory impairment this is your opportunity to be listened to.

Denbighshire's Physical and Sensory Impairment (PSI) focus panel will provide you with an opportunity for consultation, information exchange and discussion on local and national issues.

The first meetings are:

February 6^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Rhyl Community Fire Station, Coast Road Rhyl

March 4^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Erianfa Community Centre, Factory Place, Denbigh
April 9^th 10.30am to 12.30pm, Corwen Sports Pavilion, War Memorial Park, Corwen
Rona Roberts, PSI Facilitator based at the Disability Resource Centre in Bodelwyddan, said: "Everyone's views are important, and we want to hear them so that the planning of services in Denbighshire can be influenced.

"If people wish to become involved and cannot attend the meetings, or have specific requirements to enable them to have a voice on the panel, please contact me via e-mail, text or telephone."

Rona can be contacted at the Disability Resource Centre (on the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd site at Bodelwyddan)

( 01745 534 525
Mobile 07432812887
E-mail Rona.Roberts@wales.nhs.uk

Heavy snow fall in Llan

* The view along Regent Street at 8.40pm.  

It is currently snowing heavily in the middle of Llangollen - in line with earlier weather forecast.

Twitter shows it’s snowing across a wide area – from Overton to Llay and from Bwlchgwyn to Summerhill.

One tweet says Llangollen Road through Plas Madoc to Acrefair totally thick with snow.

Flashing warning sign says the Horseshoe Pass is closed.

GHA buses says it is bringing its buses home early.

Visibility extremely poor on the A483 near Wrexham.

Further tweets say:

Just took me half an hour to get from Plas Coch to rhosymedre. Roads are dangerous.

Visibility so bad cars are driving at a maximum of 30mph on A483 bypass near Wrexham.

11.31pm: Tweets says: Reports of jacknifed lorries, abandoned cars - not just bypass but A55 & M56 :

11.40pm: Wrexham.com reporting hearing some staff in Tesco, Wrexham, spending the night there as they are snowed in. Others stuck in vehicles - and pubs in and around town.

11.50pm: Heavy rain now falling in Llangollen - perhaps the prelude to a thaw.

Tide of new betting shops should be stemmed, says Skates

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for councils to be given stronger powers to stem the numbers of betting shops popping up on high streets in North Wales.

The AM (pictured below) said the recent closure of major retail stores such as Peacocks, Game and JJB Sports as well as scores of small independent shops on the High Street risked more Betting shops opening up in their place. 

 

He believes local councils needed to have stronger planning powers to restrict their numbers in disadvantaged areas.

A report last year for the High Streets First campaign said more than a third of betting shops in Wales are in the most deprived communities.

 

Mr Skates said: "In the last year alone we have seen major retail players such as Clinton Cards, Blacks, Peacocks, Game and JJB Sports all disappear form the High Street, in addition to the recent problems HMV and Blockbuster have suffered. Added to this, scores of small independent shops have also closed their doors.

“The risk is that in the next few months and years these vacant properties will be taken up by betting shops, which prey on vulnerable communities and disadvantaged areas hit hard by unemployment and joblessness.

“In areas like Wrexham, as it is across North Wales, High Streets are more than just a collection of shopping outlets, they form part of the soul of the town. We can’t let the high street become clustered with these addictive betting shops.

“A recent report I did as part of the Assembly’s Enterprise and Business Committee highlighted that vacant sites in our Town Centres now account for 11.5% of all High Street premises, a figure indeed higher than the overall UK average.

“Planning rules need to be changed to allow local authorities in North Wales to stop the excessive spread of betting shops and the clustering of outlets in run down high streets.

“All too often in North Wales you find a row of bookmakers, empty shops and loan companies on a high street, with very little diversity in between. It represents a very unappealing offer to potential investors and seriously affects the way people see their own high street.

“Often this happens because planning rules allow stores with the same ‘use’ license to replace a similar store. So when a café, shop or bank closes in my constituency a new one can open up regardless of the numbers of similar such outlets nearby.

“At the moment bookmakers fall into the same category as banks, which are financial services so it means these facilities can be changed into betting shops without our democratically elected local authorities having a say. This must change.”

Campaign begins over axed hospitals

According to the Daily Post this morning (Friday) Health Minister Lesley Griffiths must intervene in a health board’s decision to transfer intensive care services for the most at-risk newborns to England and controversial plan to axe hospitals and services.

See the full story at:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2013/01/25/call-for-health-minister-to-step-in-over-north-wales-hospital-cut-and-baby-care-move-55578-32676849/

Chamber feels "cheated" over Sainsbury's plan

MEMBERS of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism believe they have been “cheated” over the controversial plan to build a new Sainsbury’s supermarket in the town.

And they say that if they had known the outcome of  Denbighshire County Council’s planning process they would not have supported the scheme in the first place. 

They also accuse Sainsbury’s of “riding roughshod” over local opinion. 

When the details of the scheme to build a 20,000 square foot food store on land currently occupied by the Dobson & Crowther print works off Berwyn Street was first revealed the chamber decided that rather than object to the application it would support it. 

This was on the strict understanding conditions would be imposed preventing a café being operated on the premises, there would be no delicatessen or butchers counters and that pedestrian access to the town from the supermarket car park would be changed. 

Chamber chair John Palmer stressed these stipulations when he made a short presentation to the planning committee as it considered the application last October. 

The committee approved the plan subject to certain conditions but the formal certificate of decisions later indicated there would be no café permitted. 

Some of the other conditions were rather vague, according to the chamber.  

Soon afterwards the developers submitted an appeal against some of the conditions, including the one covering the café ban, and it became clear they were in fact seeking an extension of the original café area.  

When it was considered last December, the planning committee decided to uphold the appeal despite another presentation from Mr Palmer objecting to the proposal on the basis the town stood to lose a considerable amount of passing trade.   

Mr Palmer said this week: “In the discussions with the developers before the application was submitted it was made very clear to them the chamber would object to a café as part of the development and we were led to believe that it would not be included in the application.  

“The reason for objection to a cafe was to protect existing café businesses in the town centre.

 “The fact that it was included but rejected as part of the committee’s original decision suggested that the outcome was satisfactory.  

“However, the results of the appeal now mean that some of those businesses are vulnerable.” 

Mr Palmer added: “There would appear to be no legal redress for  the chamber and members feel the planning committee succumbed to the power of large organisations and were afraid of any legal challenge if they failed to uphold the appeal.  

“Our members now feel cheated and had they known the outcome of the café issue, would not have supported the original application.  

“The power of the supermarket over local opinion has succeeded again.”

Responding to this story when it was carried in the Leader yesterday (Thursday) Andrew Sanderson, development manager for Sainsbury’s, said: “While Sainsbury’s has not been leading on this supermarket application, we met several local people including John Palmer during public consultation.

“We do not feel a small coffee bar in the supermarket would compete with the range of cafés in the town. Customers use our cafés while doing their food shopping, not as a destination.

“An independent retail consultant commenting on the planning application agreed a café is unlikely to be as attractive to most tourists as existing facilities, which we accept are primarily serving a tourist market.

“Sainsbury’s wants to work with the town and has already offered free marketing space in the store for use by local independent businesses.

“We want to encourage shoppers using the store to also make trips into the town to enjoy the hospitality Llangollen has to offer.”

A spokesman for Denbighshire Council said: “All of the planning applications relating to the food store development in Llangollen have followed a due process of consultation, assessment and determination by the elected members of the planning committee.

“Decisions have been made having regard to all representations received and in accordance with adopted planning policies and guidance.”

Historic US church backs eisteddfod choral contest

 

* The Welsh Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles.

One of America’s most historic churches - where Oscar-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins attended a memorial service for his mother - has backed a major choral competition back home in Wales.

The Welsh Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles held its final service last month after 124 years but its legacy will support the Male Voice Choir competition at the world famous Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for the next three years.

The church was founded in Los Angeles in 1888 when the West was still wild and when the city had a population of fewer than 50,000 – these days it is the second biggest in the USA with nearly four million inhabitants.

It had a proud history too - its choir sang at the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco in 1938 and at the San Diego World’s Fair in 1935.

They also played a part in another piece of Hollywood history, singing and taking walk-on roles in How Green Was My Valley, which won the 1941 Best Picture Oscar and Best Director award for John Ford.

So it was a sad day when the last service was held on Sunday, December 16, according to Gwyn Phillips, (pictured below with wife Mair dressed for a St David's Day event) a retired insurance broker, now 81, originally from Cwmfelinfach, near Newport, and who emigrated to Canada in 1956.

He met his wife, Mair, a Welsh-speaking nurse from Llysfaen, Colwyn Bay, there and they moved to LA in 1960 and have been there ever since, bringing up three children, David Wyn, Bryn Morgan and Glenda Elen.

Gwyn was an elder of the church and Mair a deacon and he said: “The church has been around for a long time but for the last five or ten years numbers have been declining and we weren’t really able to carry on.

“It was a synagogue and we bought it from the Jews in 1929 and now we’re selling it back to them as a heritage centre – it must be the only Welsh church with five or six Stars of David in the windows.

“We used to hold a regular Cymanfa Ganu and that was very popular and so was the three-day weekend eisteddfod we had and whenever there was a Welsh choir in southern California we’d try and invite them and we’ve had the Llanelli and Rhos Choirs here and the Three Welsh Tenors, Rhys Meirion, Aled Hall and Alun Rhys Jenkins.

“We even made the church earthquake-resistant in the 1980s and raised £250,000 ourselves to do it.

“We are at least glad that we have been able to support events like the Llangollen Eisteddfod – it was a must as far as we were concerned and we were delighted to be able to sponsor the make voice choir competition.

“Music and singing is all part of our heritage and even last year when Wales played England at rugby we went down to this bar and I counted 62 Welsh people there and we all stood to attention to sing Mae Hen Flad Fy Nhadau – even the English loved it.”

Eisteddfod Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths said:“While we’re obviously saddened to hear that this historic church has had to close we’re very grateful for their kind sponsorship and support.

“It’s a wonderful and very appropriate gesture that this church which has been attended by immigrants from Wales for well over a hundred years should support an international event back home in Wales – I’m sure the generations of Welsh Americans would approve.”

Gwyn and his wife, who was brought up at Plas Farm, Llysfaen, have visited Wales many times and Mrs Phillips still has three brothers and a sister living in Wales.

They say that the church, founded by the Rev David Hughes, from Llanwchllyn, near Bala, in 1888 when its 22 members met in the back room of a shop in Los Angeles, has been a big part of their lives and will be missed.

One of its members was Mary Griffiths, whose brother, Griffith J Griffiths, donated the 3,000 acres of Griffith Park to the city of Los Angeles – a journalist who made his money in gold mining, Griffith served two years in gaol after shooting his wife.

She survived but unsurprisingly divorced him and Griffiths, who had professed to be a teetotaler but turned out to be a secret drunk, died of liver failure but not before making further bequests to the city.

The church, in Valencia Street, has been a hub of Welsh life in southern California since then and Gwyn added: “We have been able to support a number of Welsh institutions, including the Llangollen Eisteddfod, the National Eisteddfod, the National Library and St David’s Cathedral, and they’ve been thrilled by the money we’ve sent them.

“As far as we’re concerned here, while that money is being used it’s working and doing something for Wales. That’s the important thing because it is Welsh money.”

A video of the Welsh Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles is on Youtube on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmJ5Pt1FVeo

For more details on this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen