Check out food ratings before that Valentine's meal

After flowers or chocolates, the next big question that’s usually on the agenda for Valentine’s Day is whether to go out to that romantic restaurant or enjoy a quiet meal in.

Whatever your recipe for eating out or in this Valentine’s Day, make sure you choose one of the 735 eateries in Denbighshire with a rating of three or more, advises Denbighshire County Council.

The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme rates food businesses on their hygiene standards, based on inspections carried out by the council.

Businesses in the area are rated on a scale ranging from 0 which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’ to a top rating of 5 which is ‘very good’.        

So, whether you’re reserving a table at that romantic hotspot, the cosy little café, or planning on ordering a takeaway on your way home for a romantic meal, make sure to check the hygiene rating first.  Look out for the green and black food hygiene rating stickers displayed on windows and doors.

If you can’t see a sticker, then ask staff in or check online at www.food.gov.uk/ratings

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member with responsiblility for Food Safety, said: “Valentine’s Day is a busy time for our local restaurants, cafes and pubs and with the majority of food businesses in the Denbighshire area rated 3 or above. The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme makes it easier for everyone to choose to eat their romantic meals in places where food hygiene is taken seriously."

Geoff Ogle, Director of the Food Standards Agency in Wales, said:  “The Food Hygiene Rating Scheme is a great tool when choosing where to eat out, particularly when celebrating a special meal, because it tells you what’s going in the kitchen and behind the scenes. For local eateries, a good rating will be good for business during this busy time.”

This Valentine’s Day, make sure you order the flowers, buy the chocolates and check out the food hygiene rating of your favourite places to eat or order from, at www.food.gov.uk/ratings

Season gets under way at Llan Railway

* The steam train arrives at Berwyn on its return from Carrog.

 

The season at Llangollen began on Saturday with a heritage railcar service with steam train on Sunday.

 

The weekend option continues for weekend through to half term week then through March beginning daily services from Monday 24 March.

For the off-peak steam service on Sunday the tank engine Jessie (also known as Thomas when dressed up) was operating to provide the most economical motive power.

 

The Llangollen Railway timetable for this year is altered to reflect the eventual operation of trains through to Corwen when the track extension is opened - date to be announced.

This means that departure times from Llangollen are no longer on the hour.

For Timetable A, the off peak service, trains now depart Llangollen at:

 

10.50 - returns for 12.30

13.00 - returns for 14.40

15.10 returns for 16.50.

 

Visitors should be sure to check the timetable to allow for the revised times which also apply for the Timetable B & C peak days options.

 

Another full season of events is planned and in summary are:

Days Out With Thomas 22/23 February, 31 May/1  June, 2/3 plus 7-10 August and 25/26 October

10/11 May there is a Teddy Bears' Picnic weekend

4-6 April is the Spring Steam gala with two visiting engines and an intensive tim etable of trains marking a Croes Newydd (Wrexham) Special event

21/22 June will be the weekend for the Heritage Railcar gala and 5/6 October will see a celebration of Railcar 60 to mark the anniversary of the introduction of the diesel railcars by British Railways.

22 March and 27 September are both diesel days when the home fleet operates train services

5/6 July is the Classic Transport we ekend with visiting omnibuses and a classic vehicle display at Glyndyfrdwy

29-31 August is the late Summer gala when an intensive train service will operate.

24 May & 13 September a Steam & Jazz train will operate in the evening with visiting bands  

20 July The Llangollen Fringe Festival presents a Blues Steam train in the evening

12 July and 18 October, plus a festive 13 December, Real Ale trains will operate in the evenings

7 June , 16 August and 1 November will have Murder Mystery trains in the evenings

31 October Fright Night on the Ghost train to mark Halloween 

2 November Ride the Rocket Firework train to Glyndyfrdwy brings the season to a close pending the festive season of Sa nta Specials and Mince Pie trains in December.

Full details on the Llangollen Railway website at: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Town set to say farewell to HSBC branch

* Chamber chairman David Davies, with placard, leads the "save our bank" demo

outside HSBC last year. 

Llangollen Chamber of Trade and Tourism will send a simple note of thanks to staff at the HSBC bank in Llangollen before it closes this Friday.

The chamber discussed the controversial closure at its meeting in the Hand Hotel on Monday evening and Simon Collinge suggested it would be nice to send flowers and a card to staff as a mark of thanks for the service they had provided to customers over a number of years.

However, members eventually decided just to send the thank you note.

Chamber chairman David Davies said the bank building in Bridge Street was now up for sale at £275,000 and Simon Collinge pointed out that it would finally close for business at 3pm this Friday.

Recalling that the chamber had led efforts to save the doomed branch, including holding a high-profile demonstration outside, Mr Davies said: “We’ve done what we can and I think we just have to draw a line under that one now.

“It was right to try and fight but now we have to send all our business to Barclays to make sure they are retained in the town.

“Luckily, their branch has 10 years on the lease so that might be in our favour.”

Loud protest over Plas Madoc closure plan

* A mass of demonstrators outside the Guildhall. Picture by courtesy of Marc Jones.

Around 160 protesters - many with whistles and using other noise-making devices - turned up outside the Guildhall in Wrexham this afternoon (Tuesday) to demonstrate against the proposed closure of Plas Madoc leisure centre.

Inside, councillors were taking part in a workshop session connected with the closure proposal ahead of a final decision being taken on the move by the council's executive board next Tuesday.

For the full story see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/protest-save-plas-madoc-leisure-6672319

Denbighshire declares war on fuel poverty

Denbighshire and partner organisations have pledged to tackle the growing issue of fuel poverty in the county.

Across Wales, fuel poverty affects around 26% of households who spend more than 10% of their income on fuel. It is estimated this affects around 10,600 in Denbighshire.
   

The council says that, with partners in Denbighshire Advice Network, it will be working together to do as much as is possible to reduce, halt or soften the impact of fuel poverty.

 

Denbighshire's fuel poverty action plan will deliver 18 actions involving a range or organisations and schemes such as the North Wales Energy Advice Centre, the Financial Inclusion Together Project, the Energy Saving Trust and NEST (the Welsh Government's Fuel Poverty Scheme).

 

Work will now begin on identifying areas where homes are likely to benefit from ECO energy efficiency measures, delivering energy advice, exploring the possibility of renewable heat incentives and subsidies from utility companies, working with Cadwyn Clwyd to address rural fuel poverty and consideration of establishing bulk purchasing projects for groups for all types of fuel.

 

Other actions will maximising people's income, resolve personal debts and securing the best fuel prices.

   

This fuel poverty action plan will link in to Denbighshire's Big Plan's outcomes to reduce poverty among disadvantaged families, young and older people, promote healthy lifestyles, create a sustainable economy and recognising the needs of rural communities.

   

Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Customers and Communities, Councillor Hugh Irving, said: "The success of this action plan will depend on all of our organisations working together effectively and innovatively at a time when resources and funding are becoming increasingly scarce.

"We will be evaluating our work and, most importantly, what difference it is making to the quality of life for our residents and will be reporting back to the Denbighshire Advice Network on a six monthly basis."

Plans for biomass plant in Chirk get the go-ahead

Plans for a biomass energy-producing plant at Kronospan's chipboard factory in Chirk have been given the go ahead by Wrexham councillors.

For the full story see the BBC website at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-26014409

Last ditch call to save Plas Madoc leisure centre

Campaigners fighting plans to close Plas Madoc Leisure Centre have issued a last-ditch challenge to councillors, urging them to be "bravehearts not faint hearts".

Rachel Lewis, for the Save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre campaign, said: "Councillors will meet today (Tuesday, Feb 4th) to discuss the future of our leisure services. They know that more than 2200 people have responded to the consultation - an unprecedented figure in such a short period of time. They will also be aware of the mass protests and the thousands of people who have signed petitions calling for the centre to be saved.

"Our challenge to councillors is simple - question the basis for the officers' proposal to close Plas Madoc and Waterworld and replace it with one new smaller centre in Wrexham. Question the consultants about the accuracy of their report and whether the repair and maintenance costs are overstated. Question the council leaders about why their maintenance department has been carrying out a survey of Plas Madoc leisure centre in the past week. Question what plans the council has got for the sites at Waterworld and Plas Madoc - if there is a masterplan, why aren't people being told? Or will we end up with more derelict sites such as the Groves school and Grosvenor Road?

"We have challenged the consultants' report for its accuracy on user levels, maintenance costs and services such as disabled lifts. It seems the council is belatedly waking up to the fact that its consultants might not have got it right, despite receiving £51,000 for the job.

"Councillors will be making decisions in the coming week that will impact on this area for a generation. This is a time for bravehearts not faint hearts. We want councillors to speak out for their communities and to represent the people, not toe the party line. We will be outside to remind all our representatives that they have a responsibility towards us and our children. It will be the next generation that has to do without a leisure centre within a convenient distance."