Sale agreed for empty Oakleigh

* Oakleigh has been sold after lying empty for over two years. 

llanblogger exclusive

Oakleigh, the former mental health resource centre on Abbey Road, Llangollen, has just been sold after lying empty for over two years.

Agents Legat Owen, whose Chester office has been handling the disposal of the imposing property in front of the Eisteddfod field, has told llanblogger that its owners, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB),  accepted an offer for it yesterday (Monday).

Asking price for Oakleigh has been £350,000 although Legat Owen said the terms of the agreed sale would remain confidential.

This latest development comes at the end of a formal bidding process which closed on January 18.

A statement from the agents says: “We are pleased to be able to confirm that following a competitive bidding process BCUHB have today accepted an offer for the sale of Oakleigh.
 
“Solicitors are in the process of being instructed to prepare contract documentation with a view to progressing towards an early exchange of contracts and completion
 
“The terms of the agreed sale are confidential between the parties.”

The property has been empty since September 2010 when it was sold off by the board as surplus to its requirements. 

Legat Owen’s details for the sale 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.” 

A Freedom of Information request submitted to BCUHB by llanblogger last year showed the annual cost of maintenance and security of the property while it remained empty was £500 a year. 

Oakleigh has often been mentioned in connection with proposals by BCUHB for major changes to health services in Llangollen.

Legat Owen said it is not able to give any details of the buyer.

Businesses asked to back a new campaign

Businesses in Llangollen are being asked if they would like to “take it slow” by giving speedy help to an exciting new initiative.

Over 50 shops, restaurants, pubs and other firms are being invited to help start a local Slow Food group in the town.

Slow Food is an international organisation that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment by promoting local, seasonal produce and reconnecting people with where their food comes from. 

It is a not-for-profit movement in which local groups, run by volunteers, organise a variety of events alongside local food and drink producers and chefs. 

Membership is open to individuals, however businesses and other organisations can also become Slow Food supporters and/or partners to help organise and promote group activities.  

Each group determines its own aims and activities, which could include ideas such as: 

- Helping to develop kitchen gardens in local schools 

- Sensory taste education workshops for children and adults 

- Local gastronomic tours: visits to local farms, food artisans, specialty stores and wineries 

- Tastings and dinners to highlight local and/or heritage products in the area 

- Running cookery classes and taste education courses 

- Exchanges with other Slow Food groups 

- Maintaining and promoting heritage foods and drinks 

·        If you are interested in learning more about how you can help, or would like to be kept informed of our progress, e-mail

slowfoodllangollen@gmail.com, or phone or text Sal on 07786 623802.

Organisers also want to hear from anyone in Llangollen who is already a member of Slow Food UK.

Irish link could boost north Wales tourism, says AM

Clwyd South Assembly member Ken Skates says a new tourism initiative launched by the First Minister could bring big benefits to North Wales.

Visiting Dublin last week First Minister Carwyn Jones launched a new campaign with Visit Wales, the Welsh Government’s tourism arm, to boost visitor numbers from Ireland by at least 10% over the next five years.

Speaking during the week when Wales play Ireland in the Six Nations, Mr Skates said investment in port facilities in Holyhead could help bring in additional ferry-based tourism through North West Wales and Liverpool.

He also said airport access from Manchester and Birmingham was vital to increasing the share of visitors and holidaymakers who come to North East Wales.

He said: “I’m fully supportive of the Welsh Government’s aim to increase the numbers of Irish visitors to Wales by 10% over the next few years. North Wales relies heavily on tourism so I’m keen to ensure the campaign focuses on attracting visitors from the emerald isle to destinations right across the region.

“North Wales is potentially very accessible from Ireland, but we need to see a big focus in improving ferry port capacity in areas like Holyhead. We need to see a coherent strategy to invest in turnaround facilities and moorings at our ports and develop a stronger partnership when visitors come via the port in Liverpool.

“New partnerships with Stena and Irish Ferries need to be constructed with highly targeted marketing initiatives about what our region has to offer visitors from Ireland, one of North Wales’ most important international markets.

“We also need to exploit longer haul cruise markets. A recent Assembly report we did highlighted that cruise tourism is the highest growth sector in the developed world, growing at an average rate of 8% over the last 40 years.

“Airport access to North East Wales is another crucial issue. Daily flights from Ireland to Manchester and Birmingham mean North Wales is already within easy reach by plane but this needs to be co-ordinated with marketing and promotions to attract short-stay visitors and longer-stay holidaymakers.”

In 2011, a total of 148,000 visits to Wales from Ireland were recorded, with a total expenditure value of £33 million. According to the International Passenger Survey, the average length of trip lasted 4.1 days, with Ireland accounting for around 17% of all international visits to Wales.

Mr Skates added: “Many visitors from Ireland will come to South Wales for the rugby this week, but we need to show them there is another side to our great country.

“From Snowdonia National Park to the stunning Clwydian Range to the magnificent views on the coastal path, North Wales is a region waiting to be discovered by Irish visitors.

“What we need now is a planned programme of infrastructure investment and targeted marketing to help sell the region to Irish and international visitors on a global stage.”

Llan antiques fair dates announced

* Llangollen Pavilion - venue for a series of antiques and collectors fairs during 2013. 

 

The first in a year-long series of antiques and collectors fairs takes place at Llangollen Pavilion next Sunday, February 3.

It offers interested browsers and avid collectors alike a huge range of fascinating items from a dedicated group of reputable dealers.

You can lose yourself for hours amidst the variety of stands.

Organiser Peter Stubbs said: "Whatever your interest, you can find china and glass, furniture large and small, postcards, ephemera and cigarette cards,  medals and militaria, curios and objets d'art, jewellery, pictures and prints, autographs and first day covers, coins and stamps, linen and textiles, vintage clothing and kitchenalia, together with handmade crafts and modern collectables. 

"After finding the perfect addition to your collection, why not round off your stay with a slice of our our delicious home-made cake,or traditional Welsh cakes? 

"If you're looking for something more substantial, we offer a full range of hot and cold dishes, including hearty real homemade soup."

Peter added: "We are not just here to sell, but also to buy. If you have anything to sell then please bring it along.

"Most of the stallholders are looking for fresh stock and will offer you a price for whatever you have; it does not have to be gold or silver, just anything old or interesting -you could go away with cash in your pocket!

 

"All this for just a £1 and free car parking for a day out."

Dates for the fairs at the Pavilion this year are:

·        Sunday 3rd February  

·        Sunday 3rd March

·        Sunday 7th April  

·        Sunday 5th May  

·        Sunday 16th June  

·        No fair in July due to International Eisteddfod

·        The Big One – Two-day fair, Saturday and Sunday, 3 and 4 August  

·        Sunday 1st September  

·        Sunday 6th October  

·        Sunday 3rd November  

·        Sunday 1st December  

All fairs feature refreshments and free parking.

·        For all enquiries and bookings, call Dave Moss on 01490 450338 or Peter Stubbs on 01978 869037.

Find out how to read old documents

Following the success of last year’s introductory sessions on how to read old documents and how to interpret old title deeds, Denbighshire Archives is holding two further sessions on the mornings of 4 and 18 February, from 10am until 12pm.

Archivist, Jane Brunning, explained: “Old documents can be a valuable source of information for people who may be researching their family history or the history of their house or street but they can be tricky to the uninitiated.

“We hope these sessions will give people an insight into how to read old documents, which can shed a unique light on times past if you know what you’re looking for.”

The session on 4 February will be devoted to practical demonstrations of how to read a selection of documents from the 16th and 17th centuries, and the session on 18 February will delve into the mysteries of legal documents from the 16th to the 20th century.

Both events are free, but as places are limited, booking is essential.

If you have an old document at home that you cannot read, or you are just be interested in learning a new skill, book yourself a place and come along to the Gaol. Email: archives@denbighshire.gov.uk or telephone 01824 708250

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.”