Flooding hits trains between Shrewsbury and Wrexham

The National Rail Enquiries website says today (Sunday) that ni train are running between Shrewsbury and Wrexham general stations until further notice due to flooding at Gobowen.

The operator afected in Arriva Trains Wales and the route is Birmingham International, Birmingham New Street, Wolverhampton, Codsall, Cosford, Telford Central, Shrewsbury, Gobowen, Chirk, Ruabon, Wrexham General & Chester.   Further further updates see: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/sa5686a6467547bebd35cc5ca219eef6/details.html

Val sees superstar relative on screen

 

* Valerie Hall at her home in Llangollen.

 

 

 

 

* Relatives of Valerie Hall who all have connections

to Russell Crowe including her great-grandmother

(centre) Sarah Jane Crowe.

 

A trip to the cinema to see her long lost relative Russell Crowe in the blockbuster film Les Miserables will be just the tonic for a Llangollen woman fighting leukaemia.

 

Valerie Hall, 66, came forward after an appeal to find relatives of the Oscar-winning Australian superstar by the manager of the Odeon cinema at Eagles Meadow in Wrexham.

 

The first five family members who can show a connection will each get a pair of tickets to see the screen adaptation of Les Misérables, the hit 1980s musical based on Victor Hugo’s classic 19th-century novel.

 

The enthralling story of love, passion and redemption - nominated for a host of Oscars including Best Picture - is showing to packed audiences at the Odeon and is already promising to be the biggest film this year.

 

Gladiator star Crowe can trace his family roots to Wrexham where grandfather, John Crowe, ran the grocers, Crofruit, before emigrating to New Zealand in the mid-1920s.

Valerie had hoped to meet Crowe in 2009 when had been due to return to his family roots in Wrexham for the BBC Wales programme, Coming Home, but unfortunately the project fell through.

 

She said: “I believe that Russell Crowe’s grandfather, John Edward Crowe, and my grandmother, Sarah Jane Crowe, were sister and brother.

 

“The family were big in the Wrexham area and spread out from there. There really is a great many Crowes in the area and beyond. But one thing that stands out and how you always know it’s a Crowe your talking to is the eyes.

 

“Those icy-blue eyes are a real family trait I’m afraid, all the Crowe’s have them, they are not just peculiar to Russell.”

 

She added: “I'd love to have the chance to meet him out of curiosity more than anything.”

 

And while Russell Crowe’s grandfather left Wrexham to start a new life in first New Zealand before finally settling in Australia, Valerie’s ancestors stayed closer to home moving to Liverpool where she spent much of her life.

 

She said: “My maiden name was Dovaston, a name I can trace back to the times of William the Conqueror. It actually means ‘dark stump’!

 

“I moved to Llangollen 26 years ago and initially ran a guest house although I have worked at a care home, in a wine shop and as a charity worker too.

 

“I haven’t been in the best of health in the last few years and am currently taking a trial drug from America as I was diagnosed with a form of leukaemia known as Philadelphia chromosome.

 

“A trip to the Odeon at Eagles Meadow with my husband to see Les Misérables would be a real pick-me-up especially as there is that family connection, however distant it is.

 

“I do think Russell Crowe is a wonderful actor and it’s amazing to think we share a common ancestry. I hope if he ever comes back to North Wales he drops in for a chat. I think I’d like to meet him now.”

 

Odeon Manager Andy Elvis was delighted to invite Valerie Hall to the cinema to see Les Misérables.

 

He said: “We have had a phenomenal response to our appeal for relatives of Russell Crowe to come forward.

 

“Les Misérables is proving a big hit with Wrexham cinema goers and it’s certainly a wonderful film and deserves every one of its Oscar nominations. I think audiences are amazed at the sheer scale of the film.

 

“It’s a truly first class cinema experience and I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t seen it to book a seat and come along for a wonderful night’s entertainment.” 

TV stardom for Eddie's Angels

* Eddie's Angels appear on Sky TV's Got to Dance show at 6pm on Sunday.

 

 

Millions of viewers will see a Llangollen-based dance group put in a gold star performance on TV tomorrow (Sunday) evening.

Eddie’s Angels are a strictly-for-fun outfit which meets every Monday morning in the Town Hall under the instruction of local dance teacher and choreographer Julie Thomas.

The oldest member of the group – and the man from whom it takes its name – is 97-year-old Eddie Clark – who drives himself in from Minera Mountain for the weekly sessions.

Also in the group is Eddie’s daughter Deborah Smith from Erddig and other  members come from Ruabon, Wrexham, Acrefair, Cefn, Chirk, Bala and Oswestry.

Tomorrow night, Eddie’s Angels will be featured in Sky TV’s Got to Dance programme, starting at 6pm.

Members of the troupe along with their friends and supporters will gather in The Bridge End Hotel, Llangollen, to watch the performance on a large flat screen TV upstairs in the function room from 6-8pm.

Julie Thomas said: “We got three gold stars from the judges, Ashley Banjo, Kimberly Wyatt and Aston from JLS, plus a standing ovation from them and the 700-strong audience.

“Eddie is a sprightly 97 year old and his daughter Deb is also dancing, along with our oldest Angel,  81-year-old Jean Gardiner. I am so proud of them.

“There's 20 of us to watch out for and we are definitely the novelty act, so please come and join us to enjoy this amazing dance show.”

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.”