Railway's Corwen extension update

The following is an update from Llangollen railway on the extension of the line to Corwen ...

During August deliveries of recycled ballast brought in 200 tonnes of stone via the access at Bonwm.

This has allowed the base ballasting of the trackbed to be brought forward towards the access gate and track laying by full time permanent way staff saw the rail head extended by six panels, with a further six to be installed shortly.

The stack of concrete sleepers at Bonwm has now been cleared thanks to a further period of hire for a JCB Load-all machine and sleepers have been dispersed along the track bed towards Corwen. A calculation of the short fall in sleepers can now be made for a further quantity to be ordered.

Further deliveries of 1,000 tonnes of ballast will provide for the base towards over bridge 28a, with pegging out of this section to be undertaken during September. It is now envisaged that track laying during the autumn will begin at bridge 28a working backwards towards Bonwm, a stretch of approximately 900 metres.

Tenders for the repair of the under arch and abutments to bridge 28a are awaited from contractors who have expressed interest in this work, but, in the meantime, a volunteer team has started repairs to bridge 28, a fisherman’s access underpass.

The repairs to the road/railer machine have been completed and, following certification, the machine is now on site at Bonwm as the essential tool for further track laying. Two members of the full-time staff are passed competent to operate this machine and two volunteers will be similarly instructed. A volunteer work force is being assembled to undertake the track laying through to bridge 28a and beyond to the Corwen platform site.

Dwyrain Corwen East Station site

The complications with the under bridges within the area of the platform appear close to being resolved. We are advised that Denbighshire County Council has let a contract for the installation of the flood relief scheme outfall to the river which will involved the removal of bridge 30. Subject to confirmation, we can expect the contractor to be on site from September with construction work taking place during the next few months.

We are further advised by Denbighshire Countryside Services that the flood relief scheme also has implications for the route of the link foot path to bridge 29. This will provide access to the nature reserve and some grant aid may be in prospect for work on refurbishing this bridge, if it can be completed during September.

Elsewhere, within the wider context of Corwen, discussions are underway with the artists for the design of the access pathway from the Corwen car park to the station site. Wide ranging discussions are also taking place with regard to the opportunities to promote the new station at Corwen as a destination in 2014 and initial plans for the train timetable have started.

Whilst it is intended that a first train will arrive at Dwyrain Corwen East on St David’s day, 1^st March 2014, it is now likely that an official opening occasion will be held some weeks later to obtain maximum publicity, subject to all the work being completed, including the acquisition of the outstanding funding.

A promotional display for the Corwen Extension was provided during the period of the National Eisteddfod held at Denbigh during August with thanks to Denbighshire County Council for providing facilities.

Busy time for Tidy Town Team

Llangollen's Tidy Town Team has been out in force today (Friday).

A large number of the group, which keeps the town looking clean and tidy on a voluntary basis, were seen clearing ivy and other unwanted foliage and generally tidying the grounds of the museum in Parade Street, working on the railings on Riverside Walk and renewing flowers in the planters in front of the Town Hall in Castle Street.

* Top, members of the team at work around the museum in Parade Street and (below) on the railings in Riverside Walk.

Outbreak of sickness bug at Maelor

The BBC is reporting today that an outbreak of the norovirus sickness bug at Wrexham Maelor Hospital has affected two wards.

According to the story, hospital managers say it also led to some delays in admissions amid reports of hold-ups in the accident and emergency department.

Admissions to the two wards have been suspended until patients' symptoms have gone.

About nine patients are suffering from the bug whose symptoms include diarrhoea or vomiting.

The Betsi Cadwaladr health board which manages the hospital advised anyone with the symptoms not to visit for 48 hours to avoid passing on the bug more commonly seen during the winter.

Llyr Gruffydd, AM for North Wales, said: “These are problems entirely of Betsi Cadwaladr’s own making because it recently closed four community hospitals and lost 50 beds. The chickens are coming home to roost.  

 

"Back in March, when Llangollen and Flint hospitals were closed, we warned that a lack of spare capacity and losing community facilities without adequately replacing them would create bed-blocking problems in district general hospitals such as Wrexham Maelor.

 

 “The Health Minister has sent in a new team to sort out senior management in North Wales but there’s little sign that the sort of changes needed to improve our health service are taking place. Reducing bed blocking so that ambulances aren’t being used to treat A & E patients should be an immediate priority. ”

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, of the North Wales Health Alliance, said : “If hospital occupancy rates go above 82% it’s recognised that hospital-acquired infections including norovirus are far more likely to occur.

 

"Health experts understand this so it’s surprising that Betsi Cadwaladr has not considered this in their recent review, which centralised services and has seen occupancy rates in our general hospitals of 87%.

 

“Rushing the closure of community hospitals without planning for their replacements is putting more pressure on clinical staff. Managers have got it wrong and need to rethink their plans.”

Cytun holds AGM

Llangollen Cytun (Churches Together) will hold its annual general meeting in the Upper Room at St Collen's on Tuesday, September 10.

The AGM at 7pm will be followed at 7.30pm by a speaker on the theme Action for Children  in Llangollen.

When Thomas Bowman Stephenson arrived in London in 1869, he couldn’t believe how many homeless children there were. Determined to help, he set up The Children’s Home, (later the National Children’s Home, and then simply NCH) – a place where children would be safe from poverty and crime. 

In 2008 the organization became Action for Children to better describe what they do today.

There are now over 650 children’s projects in many different communities – including Young Carers and the Bridge Project here in Llangollen.

A representative from Action for Children will come along to give an informative talk and answer any questions.

All are welcome.

North Wales gears up for top cycling event

North Wales is gearing itself to welcome one of the most prestigious and high profile events in the cycling calendar to the region for the very first time.
   
Stage Four of the Tour of Britain| will begin in Stoke on Trent on Wednesday, 18th September before heading through Wrexham, Flintshire, Denbighshire and Conwy before reaching the finishing line of the stage in Llanberis, Gwynedd.
   
Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Chair of the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, said:  "We are delighted to be welcoming the Tour of Britain for the very first time to our region.  This is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase North Wales as a destination, not only for cyclists but also visitors and indeed our own residents.
   
"The stage will take in some of the most breath-taking scenery in the UK, providing cyclists with plenty of challenges, but also providing visitors will views of stunning countryside, mountains and our historic towns and villages that all add up to a unique North Wales experience.
   
"North Wales is fast earning a name for itself as a destination to host major events.  There are plenty of opportunities for cycling, as we are blessed as a region with having plenty of forestry, countryside and cycle routes to attract all kinds of cyclists of all levels.  We really hope this event will put the spotlight firmly on North Wales and that the success will attract other great events to our region in future.
   
"A lot of planning is underway involving all six North Wales councils and we will be providing information over the coming few weeks on how the public can show their support on the day. It is vital that we make a fantastic impression on the event organisers and hope the residents of North Wales will come out in their droves to support this prestigious event."

Plans for major outdoor sports festival unveiled

PLANS to stage the UK’s first outdoor multi-sport festival in Llangollen have been unveiled by organisers.

Chester-based registered charity River Legacy, which provides funding, facilities and support for paddle sports in England and Wales, will host the event called FLO – Festival Llangollen Outdoor Sports – in the town from November 15-17 this year.

Centred on Llangollen International Pavilion, the event aims to bring together what River Legacy describes as “the highest concentration of talented, outdoor specialists from across North Wales, providing a range of activities in order to provide a fun and exciting weekend festival”.

The charity says it will feature activities from running to climbing, swimming to boating, zip-wiring to cooking and have “something for everyone”.

Plans for FLO were outlined by River Legacy representative Steve Wales to members of Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism at their meeting in the Hand Hotel on Monday evening.

He said: “This will be a festival for all outdoor sports. There is a  phenomenal amount of talent in this town and the region in sports such as biking and climbing and we want to bring all that together.

“The idea is also to bring business into the town. We will have a campsite but we are also doing what we can to bring people into the town – we really want the whole town to benefit.”

Mr Wales stressed the event was still in the planning stage and said more information was available on a special website set up for the event at www.flo-llangollen.com

This describes how the International Pavilion will be the hub of the event and will host a range of ‘come and try’ activities, including kayaking, climbing and a zip-wire.

There will be the opportunity to try mountain-biking on an artificial track, and Canoe Wales will be providing equipment for people to try out a triathlon.

According to the website, food and drink and live bands will be providing entertainment all day along with films and lectures.

From the pavilion Canadian open boat tours will be run down the canal and there will also be walking and biking tours.

At other locations there will be activities including tubing and rafting, caving, climbing and orienteering.

Mr Wales told the chamber there would be many family-friendly activities, including den building, nature trails, learning how to cook, shelter building and fire making.

He said tickets for the festival will range from £5 for a day zone pass to £55 entitling a family of four to take part in all the activities.

He added: “Our target is to bring 1,000 people into the town over that weekend. We also want it to become an annual event.”

Denbighshire "best performing in Wales" for third year

Denbighshire County Council is the highest performing council in Wales for the third year running, according to information released by the Local Government Data Unit.

All councils reported against 30 national indicators and  Denbighshire performed in the top half of councils for more indicators  than any other authority (22 out of the 30).  

Denbighshire performed in the top quarter of councils for more indicators than any other council (17 out of 30).

Itl also performed in the bottom quarter of councils for fewer  indicators  than anyone else (4 out of the 30)

Denbighshire was the best performing council in Wales  on issues such as preventing homelessness and recycling.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire, said: "The findings clearly show that Denbighshire continues to perform extremely well, despite the challenges it faces in the current economic climate. We want to make sure that vital services are protected and are delivered to the best of our ability and today's news shows clearly we are on the right path.

"We have clear priorities here in Denbighshire and putting the customer at the heart of what we do is key.  Our aim is to work to provide even better services in future and work by working with community groups and partnership organisations to enhance the quality of life for residents".

Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Chief Executive of Denbighshire, said: "I would like to commend staff and councillors for working together to provide the best service for the people of Denbighshire. We are part of a forward thinking organisation that aims to provide the best service it can possibly offer.

"Indicators like these form only a small part of the picture. What's really important is the quality of service that residents receive from the Council."