£2 million boost for Chirk station

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates has welcomed the news that Chirk Railway Station will get a £2m Welsh Government cash boost.

Transport Minister Edwina Hart confirmed yesterday (Thursday) that Chirk is one of five stations across Wales which will share £12m to improve access – and Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates said the announcement was ‘fantastic news’ for the town.

The £2m will deliver a ramped footbridge – providing an accessible route to platform one (for south-bound trains) for the first time. 

The project will also provide an accessible drop-off point, disabled car park spaces and improved station signage.

Mr Skates said: “I understand work will start in May and is expected to be completed by end of 2014 – this is fantastic news for Chirk and will make a real difference to the lives of the many passengers who use this award-winning station.

“Hard-working campaigners have for years called for improved access at the station, and – like them – I am glad that these long-awaited plans are now able to get off the ground thanks to major investment from the Welsh Labour Government.”

The £12m programme is funded by £7m from the Welsh Government and £5m from the Department for Transport. Network Rail will be carrying out the work.

Mr Skates said he hoped the improvements at Chirk could also have a positive effect on tourism in the area with the expected increase in footfall.

He added: “I would like to congratulate those who have lobbied for this, particularly the Friends of Chirk Station, and I am delighted their hard work and dedication to improving the town is to be rewarded."

Intrepid Mike and Co. to splash out for Sports Relief

*Mike Edwards at the Cheshire Sprint Tri last June
when he swam 400m, cycled 20k and ran 5k.

An intrepid Llangollen man is taking on a daunting physical challenge this weekend to raise cash for Sports Relief.

Mike Edwards, former chair of community group Keep Llangollen Special, likes to keep himself fit with regular swimming and cycling sessions.

And he’ll be needing all his stamina to stay ahead of the game tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon when he makes a big splash in the swimathon being staged in aid Sports Relief in the pool at Wrexham’s Waterworld.

Joined by his eldest son Christian, Mike aims to stroke his way through 1,500 metres or 60 lengths of the pool.

Christian’s target is a more ambitious 5,000 but, as Mike says: “I’m giving him too many years.”

Swimming alongside the dynamic Edwards duo will be their friends Rachael and Andy Bennion and their son Joss, plus Richard and Nerys Bennion.

Mike added: “We are all also going along to Ty Mawr Country Park on Sunday where my grandchildren, James, Katie and Lucy, Christian's wife Alison and my wife Lis are running the mile event together.

“If anyone wishes to sponsor my swimathon efforts they can at: https://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/michaeledwards

 

UPDATE ...

 

Sport Relief: Will Swimming the Pontcsyllte Aqueduct be Mike’s next greatest challenge?

 

Mike’s boundless energy and indomitable spirit are well-known to fellow members of Keep Llangollen Special Community Group. I’m going to convert my envy into £10 cash to be put in his hand in return for a handshake the very next time we meet, and I challenge Wrexham County councillors to do the same as some sort of gesture of  apology for their counter-productive and myopic decisions to close leisure centres like Waterworld and Plas Madoc. The irony of them praising their constituents’ magnificent efforts to support Sport Relief while voting to close publicly-owned leisure centres will not be lost on the rest of us. Neither will it be forgotten nor forgiven, so please at least match my pledge at https://my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/michaeledwards.

 

Swim like The Man from Atlantis, Mike – we’re immensely proud of you!

 

Martin Crumpton

Chair ΞKeep Llangollen SpecialΞ

 

Second public meeting planned to save Plas Madoc

Residents are being urged to again turn out in force to a second public meeting over the future of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, as work to save the facility continues.

A meeting of the newly formed Plas Madoc Community Group on Sunday (March 16) was this week hailed a success by chairman Darrell Wright, from Trevor.

Darrell 67, said: “Several new sub-committees were formed to look at different aspects, both of acquiring the centre and of running it.

“With the offers of help we had after the public meeting we’ve now got about 20 people in the group and we seem to have everything covered. There are some really positive vibes.”

The first public meeting at Air Products Social Club in Acrefair on March 13 was attended by 150-200 people and it was decided that the working group including Clwyd South AM Ken Skates and John Gallanders, an expert in community-run enterprises, should merge with the residents’ action group Save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre. 

Darrell and the rest of the team are holding another committee meeting next Thursday (March 27) and are finalising plans for a second public meeting, which they hoping will attract another big crowd.

Darrell said: “We’re all feeling really positive and we’ve got some good momentum going, so we need people to show their enthusiasm again and show that they want this. 

“Word-of-mouth is as good an advert as anything, so we’re hoping people who went away from the first meeting feeling positive will tell their friends and neighbours and we’ll have even more people next time. As we said at the meeting at Air Products, the people are the key to the success of this plan.”

AM welcomes clamp down on PPI market

Welsh Liberal Democrat spokesperson on Social Justice Peter Black has welcomed moves by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to clamp down on poor practice in the selling of all kinds of protection insurance.

 

His comments come after the FCA announced plans earlier this month to improve competition and consumer protection in this sector after an eight-month investigation found poor competition, low levels of claims, and people potentially being overcharged by up to £200 million a year for products that they neither need nor use.

 

Mr Black said: “You would have thought that after the miss-selling of PPI for which financial institutions are still being forced to pay out compensation to customer, the industry would have learned its lesson. You would clearly be wrong.

 

“Far too many people still complain to me about things like pre-ticked boxes on websites, overpriced travel insurance from travel agents and tour companies, add-on personal accident insurance, and expensive stand-alone insurance for items like mobile phones and tablets.

 

“That is why I support the FCA in seeking to ban pre-ticked boxes, to insist on the industry providing cooling-off periods so that people can change their minds, and to force companies to come clean about the number of successful claims up front so that customers can judge if an insurance really is value for money or just another rip-off.

 

“As fat-cat financial institutions won’t reform on their own, they must be forced to do so.”

AM ready for Sport Relief challenge

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates will take on a six-mile run in Cefn Mawr this weekend to raise money for Sport Relief 2014.

Labour Assembly Member Mr Skates will tackle the challenge at Ty Mawr Country Park on Sunday (March 23) as part of the biennial charity event run in association with the BBC.

Sport Relief brings together the worlds of sport and entertainment to raise money to help vulnerable people both in the UK and the world's poorest countries, and last time out the total donated on the night of the live TV broadcast topped £50m.

Mr Skates (pictured left) said: “I am really looking forward to the event, and the fact I can take part in my own constituency makes it even better. I know a few other people who are taking part, and it promises to be a great day which will raise thousands of pounds for a wonderful cause.”

Mr Skates has his own sponsorship page and says anyone who wants to donate to Sport Relief still has time to do so.

He added: “My initial fundraising target was £100, but thanks to people’s amazing generosity I’ve managed to get past the £200 mark and I’m now hoping I can push it up even more in the next few days.

“Fifteen pounds could buy vaccines that help protect three children against deadly diseases, every £25 could provide a therapy session for a young person living with HIV and £50 could help a mother living in poverty in Bangladesh set up her own small business and provide for her family.

“I would be extremely grateful for any donations – whatever people can afford will make a difference to someone’s life.”

To sponsor Mr Skates visit my.sportrelief.com/sponsor/kenskates

KLS chair comments on Sainsbury's sales dip

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, comments on the recent announcement of a 3.1% dip in like-for-like sales for Sainsbury's, which is due to open a new supermarket in the town.

"Sainsbury’s shareholders may finally steer the company away from Big Box, local economy devouring formats, given the disappointing results announced yesterday – over 3% down.

It’s also been bad news for Tesco, Morrisons, and tipped the balance to the German discounters such as Aldi and Lidl. As the BBC’s Robert Peston points out, none of them can blame the economy: Shoppers are changing how they shop.

There’s no conceit or smugness in stating that Keep Llangollen Special has played a part in re-introducing shoppers to value of the little bit of extra time involved in buying local for better quality, better service, better value for money and a slower, more enjoyable and healthier experience. The major supermarkets are starting to pay for perpetuating the myth they created of being
cheaper.

KLS was one of the first pioneers of Buy Local, now in its third year since we started it here, thriving and still growing. Saturdays in Llangollen used to be tranquil, shopper-free days. Visit our butchers on a Saturday and they’re humming with customers, and Saturdays aren’t Buy Local days! Twitter and Facebook are buzzing with converts, and both me and Mike Edwards’ messages are reaching millions, alongside so many others promoting this change of lifestyle.

So much so that April 14th has been dedicated nationally to Buy Local. That means a one-off change of day for us – we usually organise these events for the second Friday of each month – and it’s so rewarding to see how many have tried Buy Local and then kept it up.

See you in Town on Saturday!"

Llan's Royal British Legion branch saved from closure

* Llangollen RBL branch plays a key role in the annual Remembrance Day parade. 

LLANGOLLEN’S Royal British Legion branch has been saved from closure after one of its members agreed to take on three key positions.

But John Lawton, who will now become chairman and secretary on top of his current role as treasurer, says he can’t continue to do all the jobs indefinitely and has put out the call to members for more support to keep the branch going.

The branch, which was founded in 1923 as a gathering point for men who had served in World War One, thrived for years but has recently suffered from falling attendances at meetings.

Crisis point came when the man who had served as both chairman and secretary, Bob Davidson, had to stand down because of ill-health.

Seeing that there was a real possibility that the branch might fold, treasurer Mr Lawson decided it was time to step into the breach.

He said: “The good news now is that our branch can keep open.

“Since after Christmas, I have been holding meetings with both RBL area officials and headquarters regarding the viability of the branch.

 

“In order for it to remain active, I have had to agree to take on the jobs which Bob Davidson used to do, chairman and secretary, as well as my own job as treasurer. 

“I did this reluctantly and only agreed that I would do it firstly to keep the branch open and secondly only until such time as Bob recovers his health and returns to lead us again.

 

“However, the committee of five members cannot continue to do this alone. We need the support of the 47 members of the branch.”

 

Mr Lawton added: “If attendance at the meetings does not improve, then reluctantly I will not continue and will allow the branch to close.

 

“It is up to the members to pull together now and support the branch.

 

“This year is the anniversary of the First World War, which was the catalyst for the formation of the Royal British Legion, and it would be a shame to allow the branch to close in this important year.

 

“At the moment we are meeting in The Hand Hotel in Llangollen at 12.15pm on the first Tuesday of the month.

 

“Once more members attend, we may be able to return to meeting in the evening of the first Tuesday of the month at The Hand 7.30 for 8pm, so it is now up to the members to show their willingness to keep the branch active.”

 

Llangollen RBL was formed 91 years ago in time to consecrate the town’s cenotaph in November, 1923.

 

Mr Lawton has previously been secretary of the Historic Warships in Birkenhead, a Petty Officer in the Sea Cadet Corps and treasurer of Llangollen Royal Naval Association.