LimeLight to stage Dylan Thomas show

For its latest production in Llangollen the LimeLight theatre group presents Dylan's Final Journey, a one-man show written and performed by Peter Read.

Telling the story of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas's last few days, the play starts in his “lovely, ugly” home town of Swansea and follows him through some of the journeys he made, culminating in his final one to New York  in 1953, where he died.

We see him leave Aberystwyth in the pouring rain to start his project of walking through Wales.

The mission is aborted after a couple of pints and the sighting of a queen rat.

We then travel with him to the “insane city” of London, which he claimed “smelled of goat.”

In the capital he meets Caitlin and several members of the drinking literati. 

In New York he is chased by a secret  detective and finally collapses after proudly announcing he has drunk eighteen whiskies, which he believes is a record.

Peter Read is an actor and prize winning author, both as a playwright and poet.

He has performed as Dylan Thomas throughout Britain and America, performances which have won him five star reviews at the Edinburgh Festival in two consecutive years.

Dylan’s Final Journey is for one night only at Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday, January 25 at 7.30pm

Tickets are £8 and £6.50 concessions. Box office tel: 01978 351315.

Tickets for LimeLight’s  next production, Billy Liar, directed by Peter Read, from March 20 to 22 , can also be purchased from the box office.

Flood warning for Lower Dee Valley

A flood warning has been issued for the Lower Dee Valley.

For more details see the Daily Post story at:

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/dee-valley-flood-warning-more-6479402 

AM welcomes extension of public consultation over Plas Madoc

CLWYD South Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed the decision by Wrexham County Borough Council to extend the public consultation period over the proposed closure of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

Labour AM Mr Skates said the authority had listened to the public and taken notice after it announced it was giving residents more time to have their say.

Mr Skates said: “Plas Madoc is my local leisure centre and I regularly attend fitness classes there and use the gym. I always find the staff incredibly friendly and it is to Wrexham Council’s credit that so many people want it retained.

“I welcome this news and congratulate the council on listening to the public and taking notice of their views on this important issue. I would also like to thank the service users for speaking up and making their feelings known, and I would encourage people who want the centre retained to use it or lose it.”

Mr Skates added: “Unfortunately, like every other Welsh local authority, the Wrexham Council leaders are having to make some very tough decisions because of the rough hand dealt to us by the UK Government.

“I know many of my constituents would be sad to see the facility at Plas Madoc go, so I am looking forward to talking to the council to explore every possible option.”

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones said: “I don't envy the council for some of the horribly painful choices they are facing, having been forced to make £45m in cuts locally because of the so-called austerity programme of David Cameron’s Government. 

“However, I remain of the view that the council must explore all options to try and keep Plas Madoc Leisure Centre open."

Members of the public now have until January 31 to have their say on the proposals by visiting the council’s website www.wrexham.gov.uk.

Robbie Savage joins campaign to save Plas Madoc

Robbie Savage has joined the campaign to save Plas Madoc leisure centre.

The former Wales international and football pundit said: "I loved going there as a kid. It was a treat, especially for the wave machine.

"I'll never forget the football five-a-side competitions with Llay United. I have great memories of Plas Madoc and sincerely hope it bstays open."

His support was welcomed by Rachel Lewis, of the Save Plas Madocb Leisure Centre campaign, who said: “This shows just how important Plas Madoc and other leisure facilities can be for local youngsters.

"It can be the stepping stone to an international career and it’s wonderful that Robbie hasn’t forgotten his roots here in Wrexham.

“Robbie’s comments also emphasise that Plas Madoc is about much more than just a swimming pool – it’s got a great gym and other sporting facilities that are valued by young and old alike.

 “Robbie and everyone else will be more than welcome to attend the mass protest we’re holding outside Plas Madoc at mid-day this Saturday (Jan 11) as well as one outside Waterworld at mid-day on Sunday (Jan 12).

"There is also a mass lobby of the council's executive board outside the Guildhall on Tuesday, January 14 at 1.15pm. Please bring your placards and banners and tell the councillors why you want to keep Plas Madoc open.”

The campaign has also set up a website atwww.savepmlc.wordpress.com, which has a range of resources for the

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.”