Countdown begins to prestigious cycling event

* Riders in last year's Etape Cymru head up the Horseshoe Pass.

The countdown has begun to welcome one of the UK's most prestigious cycling sportives to North East Wales.

 

The route of Wiggle Etape Cymru 2013, to be held on Sunday, September 8,  starts and finishes at Bangor on Dee Racecourse and passes through communities in Wrexham County Borough before it enters into Denbighshire through the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Beauty.

The route takes in several well-known climbs including the legendary Horseshoe Pass which incorporates a timed King of the Mountains challenge.

This incredible event was voted Sportive of the Year 2012 by readers of Road Cycling UK and has been widely acclaimed for its success by all of the top cycling media outlets.

The event is being staged by Human Race, who are the UK's largest mass participation events company and fully is supported by Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans, said: "Cycling is becoming an ever more popular sport, especially in the wake of the tremendous cycling success at London 2012 and we are extremely keen to capitalise on this renewed interest in the sport.

"Here in Denbighshire we are working hard to establish the county as a centre for cycling excellence. We have the infrastructure to deliver this, with resources such as the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Cycling Centre at Llandegla right on our very own doorstep.

"This year will be the third year in a row that Denbighshire County Council has been actively involved in assisting event organisers to ensure the safe running of this event and we are confident that it will continue to be a great success."

Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race said: "We welcome the support of Wrexham and Denbighshire Council in making this year's Etape Cymru the best yet. After the fantastic success of last year's event cyclists are anticipating a great event for 2013 and we look forward to welcoming thousands of cyclists to the region."

For further information, please visit the website: www.humanrace.co.uk

Eisteddfod's street dance spectacular

Our guest photographer Barrie Potter has sent us these fabulous pictures of the street dance session staged by performers from the Eisteddfod in the town centre yesterday (Friday). 

 

 

 

 

 

County council proceedings may be webcast

Council meetings in Denbighshire could be broadcast over the web in future, after councillors gave the thumbs up to the idea of using more modern technology to engage people in local democracy.

Discussions have taken place after a former Minister for Communications and Local Government wrote to all authorities earlier this year, indicating that the Welsh Government was making £1.2 million in grants available to councils to assist with implementing the webcasting of council meetings.

Webcasting involves the live streaming of sound and vision of council meetings. The webcast can be made available on the Council's website as archived material.  This means that members of the public who are not able to attend meetings may either view them live online of  at a later date.

Officers from the Council have already held discussions with the Welsh Government and Welsh Local Government Association and a demonstration has been given to councillors.

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Modernisation, said: "This is a good way for the Council to communicate with residents and the public via social media. We want to be a  modern Council in our approach to using technology to do business and this is a great way of allowing people to access council meetings without having to leave their home or office.

"There is also the flexibility of listening and watching coverage of council meetings at times which suit the individual and Members were keen to support such an innovative project."

Action from day three of the Eisteddfod ...

There was plenty of action both on the field and in the performance area on day three of the Eisteddfod.

 

Another llanblogger guest photographer, Barrie Potter, was on hand to capture some of the action for us.

 

 

 

 

Aqueduct gets all lit up for big family event

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will be all lit up this Friday during a programme of family entertainment centre on the World Heritage sire. 

The event, entitled Underneath the Arches - Pont Ffest 2013, will run from 7-11pm.

Gates will be open at 6pm on the Acrefair Football Club Pitch below.

  

Underneath the Arches is a family-friendly, 'picnic in the park' type event which will provide a rare opportunity to view the full majesty of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at close quarters. 

You will need to bring something to sit on and then all you have to do is relax, listen to music from a selection of local bands and enjoy the view. 

You can bring your own picnic with you, or purchase something from the on-site caterers, but barbecues aren't allowed on the site.

During the evening, as darkness approaches, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is bathed in coloured light. 

Later, there will be a fireworks display.

Top of the bill is Wrexham Band 'The Big Beat' - billed as one of the most exciting young cover bands in the UK at this moment. 

They will be on stage from around 9.15pm until 10.45pm. 

Local-born vocalist, Annie Hughes will sing a range of Musical showtunes from 7.45pm - 8.00pm. 

Annie has performed several times on London's West End and was a runner-up in the prestigious 'Search For A Twitter Star' show at London's Lyric Theatre in 2012. 

                            

		* The Big Beat, pictured right, are on the bill for the evening.

Calon FM, will compère the event.

There will also be children's fairground rides and other attractions on the night.

Free parking for the event will be at the Trevor Basin car park at the bottom of Station Road.

The walk from the car park takes 5 - 10 minutes, with a fair slope down to the Bont Bridge over the river and then up to the event field. 

A minibus will operate from outside the Telford Inn at the start of the evening and from the event field at the end of the evening.  There will be a charge of 50p per person each way.

Advance Tickets:  Adults: £4 / 5-16s and 60 +: £2 / Family: (2 + 4) £10.

To book online go to:

http://www.pontcysyllte-aqueduct.co.uk/en-gb/events/2013/july/underneath-the-arches-(pont-ffest)/

Tickets can also be purchased from:

• The Tourist Information Centre, Queens Square, Wrexham. Tel: 01978 292015; The Tourist Information Centre, Mile End, Oswestry. Tel: 01691 662488; Cefn Mawr Post Office, Crane Street, LL14 3LN. Tel: 01978 823090

All advance rickets will be exchanged on the night for wristbands.

Tickets on the night: Adults: £5 / 5 - 16s and 60+: £2.50 / Family (2 + 4): £12

These can be purchased on the event field from 6pm onwards.

More parade pictures for you to enjoy

 

Gareth Ceidiog Hughes, our guest photographer, has provided some more fabulous pictures of yesterday's Eisteddfod parade, which we are delighted to share with you.

 

First Minister challenged over health shake-up

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood AM has accused the Welsh Government of “being in the dark” over failures at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board.

 

The First Minister of Wales indicated that he knew nothing of governance failures at the health board until a recent report was published.

 

Leanne Wood said it was concerning that the First Minister had no awareness of these difficulties yet was pushing ahead with radical re-configuration plans.

 

These include closing four community hospitals, including the one in Llangollen, and moving neonatal intensive care across the border to Arrowe Park.

 

She also warned that in the Francis Report in England, the Department of Health accepted that it bears some responsibility for the failure of the healthcare system to detect and prevent healthcare deficiencies.

 

Ms Wood said:  “In recent weeks, three of  Betsi Cadwaladr’s senior people have left and now we see their failure to deal with deadly superbug infections in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and concerns over mental health policies at Ysbyty Bangor.

 

“Today, consultants told a National Assembly committee that they had no faith in the governance structure and that it is not fit for purpose.

 

“Yet despite these clearly deep-seated problems of governance and policy the First Minister has apparently only just heard of them. Where has he been?

 

“Health is completely devolved and the Welsh Government is responsible for it.

 

“In England, the Francis Report found that the Department of Health accepted some responsibility for the failure of the healthcare system to detect and prevent healthcare deficiencies, such as those at Mid-Staffordshire.

 

“Using those same principles, the Welsh Government must take responsibility for what has happened at Betsi Cadwaladr.

 

“While these failures have been taking place, reconfiguration plans for NHS services in the north have been pushed forward, including attempts to move neonatal intensive care over the border to England.  

 

“There is talk of new plans to change health facilities in the north of Wales, which could include sending more patients across the border to a service that the First Minister himself criticises.

 

“Given the Welsh Government’s lack of awareness of the problems at Betsi Cadwaladr, they should look again at the reconfiguration proposals. Any reorganisation to the NHS in the North has to put these problems right.”