Queen's Baton Relay coming to county

Denbighshire County Council has expressed its delight at the news that the Queen’s Baton Relay will be visiting the county as part of its UK journey to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Touching down in Wales at Cardiff Airport on Saturday, May 24, the baton will travel across the country, engaging with communities and building support for Welsh athletes set to travel to Glasgow just two months later, reaching its final destination of Llandegla on Friday, May 30.

Denbighshire County Council, working with the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales, will make arrangements for the Relay to visit Rhyl, Moel Famau and Ruthin before making its way to the Oneplanet Adventure site in Llandegla, the last Denbighshire stop.

A host of activities will be arranged in Denbighshire to mark this special event.  Councillor Huw Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Leisure, said: “It is a true honour for Denbighshire to host a leg of the Relay and we hope that the spotlight of the Relay will help us showcase what the county has to offer from a leisure perspective.

“The relay will take in spectacular new bridge in Rhyl, as well as the scenic countryside of the Clwydian Range that is ideal for walking and cycling, before making its way to the Oneplanet Adventure site with its great cycling facilities at Llandegla.

"Having national events like this really increases interest in sport and well-being in general and we need to make the best use of this opportunity."

Jamie Groves, Head of Communication, Marketing and Leisure said: “Whilst the spotlight is firmly on the leisure aspect of the event, there are also wider benefits to Denbighshire.

"It also provides Denbighshire with a firm opportunity to promote its facilities, attractions and outstanding scenery to the thousands of people who will be following coverage through the media. They are the potential tourists of the future and we want them to see that Denbighshire is a special, exciting and vibrant place to visit.

“Denbighshire is also earning a reputation for being a great place for events and we need to capitalise on this opportunity to show event organisers that Denbighshire really means business when it comes to attracting high calibre, nationally significant events to our county.”

For a more detailed guide to the day by day highlights and events taking place for the QBR from Saturday. May 24 – Friday, May 30, visit http://teamwales.co.uk and for more information on the baton’s journey around the Commonwealth visit http://www.glasgow2014.com/queens-baton-relay

MP demands tougher sentencing for serious driving offences

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is to introduce a new Bill in Parliament tomorrow (Wednesday) calling a review of sentencing for serious driving offences.

 

The Bill stems directly from a local campaign after nine-year-old Robert Gaunt of Overton died after being knocked down by a car on the road near his home in 2009.

 

The car was driven by an unlicensed and uninsured driver who was jailed for 22 months and banned from driving for four years after he admitted perverting the course of justice.  He only served 10 months in jail.

Robert’s family and the local community began a Justice for Robert campaign that called for a change to the law. More than 3,300 people have signed a petition and they have been supported by their local MP.

Susan Elan Jones said: "My Bill calls for the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the maximum penalties for driving offences that lead to death and serious injury. The Labour Party frontbench are supporting this Bill and I very much hope the Government will do so too.

 
“For far too long, people who commit serious driving offences have received unduly lenient sentences. That’s why we need this review.

“My constituents embarked on a campaign to secure Justice for Robert. We can never of course secure true justice for a young boy so tragically and needlessly deprived of his life.  But what I hope we can do is to take action that will save more families from similar heartbreak in the future."

Work to start on new printworks this month

* An artist's impression of the new printworks.

J‐Ross Developments Ltd, part of The Pickstock Group of companies, based in Oswestry, is due to start work on a new printworks for Dobson & Crowther Ltd on the Climedw site this month.

This is part of the first phase of development that must be completed before work can start on a new Sainsbury’s foodstore nearby.

The development proposals form part of two planning permissions approved by Denbighshire Council in December 2012, which provided for local employer Dobson & Crowther Ltd to be relocated to a new purpose built facility at Climedw, a designated employment site on the outskirts of Llangollen, and the subsequent construction of a new food store and car park for Sainsbury’s on the existing printworks site.

It is anticipated that the first phase will take around seven months to complete and that the construction on the new food store site will start in the second half of the year, once Dobson & Crowther have decanted into their new premises.

Nick Scott of J‐Ross Developments said: “We are delighted to be starting on site with this exciting project and look forward to working with the Town Council and Denbighshire County Council to minimise any disruption during the course of construction.”

J‐Ross Developments have worked closely with Dobson and Crowther on the design of their new 4,180sq.m. (45,000sq ft) purpose built factory.

A press statement from J-Ross says: “The development represents a significant investment for Dobson and Crowther, who with approximately 100 employees is Llangollen’s largest employer, allowing their current operations to be modernised, achieving improved efficiencies which will ensure that they remain competitive in their market and helping to support the future of their business.”

“Once complete the new 3,205sq.m.(34,500sq.ft.) Sainsbury’s store will occupy Dobson & Crowther’s old site and will create around 130 new jobs, providing a major economic boost for the area, allowing local people to carry out their main food shop locally rather than travel out of town.

“Access will be improved from the A5 to accommodate the traffic movements, and a link with the footpath along the riverside will be developed to provide a safe and convenient pedestrian route to the town centre.”

Paul Holden of Dobson & Crowther said: “The workforce are thrilled by the prospects of moving in to a brand new factory and the benefits this will bring to the business. We are all looking forward to a busy but exciting year.”

Joanne Hawley, Sainsbury’s Development Surveyor, said: “We are delighted to be coming to Llangollen and are looking forward to opening the new Sainsbury’s foodstore. We will continue talking to local people about how Sainsbury’s can work together with all Llangollen Town Centre stakeholders and we will be starting to recruit new colleagues ahead of the store opening in 2015.”

Ken Skates, the Welsh Assembly Member for Clwyd South, said: “I have been a strong supporter of this project from the start and welcome this investment in the region and hope it will be the start of  brighter things to come for Llangollen and the Dee Valley after the toughest recession we have seen for a generation.”

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies said: “I am very pleased to see the plans coming to fruition. I fully supported this development at the planning committee realising that it was going to safeguard existing jobs and create new ones.”

New WI branch set to launch

A new branch of the Women’s Institute has been set up in the heart of the Dee Valley.

Valley Girls WI will meet on the first Tuesday of every month in Llangollen and welcome ladies from in and around the Dee Valley area.

First meeting of the new group will be at the Hand Hotel tomorrow, Tuesday, January 7, starting at 8pm.

For questions and queries, contact Gail Ellson on 07813 971685; Kate Collins on 07720 059682 or Mary Lewis on 07772 032842.  

Writing group opens first chapter

A new writing group is starting in Llangollen.

Write Now is to meet at 7.30pm on the third Wednesday of every month in the back 'nook' of the Wynnstay.

A group spokeswoman said: "All genres welcome. We will read some of our writing out loud to each other, give constructive feedback, and share news of contests and events."

First meeting is planned for Wednesday, January 15.

* For further information contact Rachel at dr.rc.morris@gmail.com.

Railway says fond farewell to famous Black Five loco

* Bowing out - the Black Five locomotive.

Llangollen Railway has arranged a special weekend of train activities to allow steam buffs to say a fond farewell to the Black Five locomotive which is due to leave the Dee Valley line. 

 

After being associated with the Llangollen Railway for 20 years, the engine, No.44806, has been sold to new owners in North Yorkshire and is due to depart later in the month. 

 

George Jones, for Llangollen Railway, said: “No.44806 has been a firm favourite with steam fans throughout its stay with us.

 

"It came to Llangollen in 1993 after a period on static display in a museum, but boiler repair work allowed the engine to return to steam for an active life.

 

"It has been a reliable workhorse and will be much missed when its operation at Llangollen ends with a celebration on Sunday, January 5. 

 

“The class of Black Five locomotives, as developed by the London Midland & Scottish Railway, operated the length and breadth of Britain in British Railways days, although they did not feature on the Ruabon to Barmouth route which was a Great Western line.

 

"It is only in preservation days that the type has been seen at Llangollen and proved equal to the task of hauling trains on the gradient towards Carrog.”  He added: "As part of the farewell weekend the railway is offering an intensive service of trains with two other steam locomotives supporting the Black Five, a diesel locomotive and a rail car offering a variety of travel options, as well as a demonstration freight train.

 

"The Winter Warmer event will appeal to steam buffs and others who may be at a loose end in a period when little else is in operation and looking for a day out as well as a farewell opportunity."

 

* More details at: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

New housing scheme opens for business

Housing Minister, Carl Sargeant has announced that a new scheme designed to help buyers of new homes and provide a major boost to home builders across Wales is now open for business.

 

The Welsh Government’s £170 million Help to Buy – Wales shared equity loan scheme will make home ownership easier for buyers of new homes who have small cash deposits.

Mr Sargeant said: “This is an important day for housing in Wales. From today many more people in Wales will be able to buy a brand new home thanks to Help to Buy – Wales.

“The recession and a tightening of mortgage lending have meant that buyers who lack a large deposit are finding home ownership is not an affordable option.

“Help to Buy - Wales will address this by helping more people get onto, and move up, the housing ladder.

“In addition to providing a much-needed boost for the Welsh housing market, the scheme will counter the fall in house building activity we have seen across the UK since the financial crisis. 

“This Welsh Government initiative will support the purchase of around 5,000 new homes in Wales during the next two and a half years. It will provide the Welsh housing market with essential momentum and will also create valuable jobs in the construction industry.

“More than fifty builders across Wales are already looking to take part in the scheme and I am delighted that nine of these have already completed the registration process and are ready to offer the first loans to buyers from today.     

"The scheme demonstrates the Welsh Government’s commitment to supporting the housing sector.

“Help to Buy – Wales will lead to increased economic activity and many new jobs in the home building industry, giving a vital boost to the Welsh economy.”