Easter events in Llangollen

The Feast of Life, a musical in ten songs about the life of Jesus as told by St Luke, will be staged tomorrow (Good Friday) and again on Saturday at 3pm in St Collen’s Church, Llangollen.

It will also be staged on Sunday (Easter Day) in the Town Hall at 3pm.

Admission is free.



* Llangollen Community Garden has an Easter Egg Hunt planned for Saturday morning.

Details are on the poster below:

Councillors' fears over new health centre access

UPDATE ...

 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has sent the following comment on the story below:

 

"Cllr Davies has continually pushed for Betsi Cadwallader to provide controlled crossings on the approach to the new Health Centre. He attended a site meeting last week with Highway officers and it was agreed that the relevant Highway specialist would meet with local Councillors on site next week to continue the negotiations.

"There have been developments with the bus provision for Pengwern in the short term. Confidential negotiations continue and he will update as soon as he has more news.

"Long term he has tasked DCC officers to explore the joint provision of a dedicated service to service the town and health centre."

Pedestrian access to Llangollen’s new health centre is going to present “absolutely horrendous” safety problems, according to a town councillor.

At Tuesday’s evening’s monthly council meeting a number of members voiced concerns about how people making their way on foot to the new centre will cope with what has been described as a traffic “pinch point” where the main A539 narrows just past the Four Poster B&B.

The issue was raised for debate by the mayor, Cllr Bob Lube, who said: “Access to the centre site can be extremely dangerous and I think we should discuss this.”

Cllr Phil Thane said: “The access could only be improved by compulsory purchase of property there and knocking it down, and I can’t see either the county council or the health board doing that.”

Cllr Sheena Burrell said: “We have been told that access will be made safer by bringing the traffic speed down to 30mph and putting in pelican crossings.

“The possibility of a footbridge over the river has also been mentioned by some people but we have been told this would be too expensive.

“I’m really dreading it. It’s damn dangerous because everything seems to overhang the road at that point and it’s quite dark.

“It’s going to be absolutely horrendous. If you get a wagon or a bus going past there as people are walking by it’s a recipe for disaster.”

She added: “I am recommending that we invite someone here from the county council to tell us exactly what they are going to do about it.”

Her recommendation was unanimously approved by members and the town clerk was authorised to invite a representative from the county’s highways department to address a future meeting of the council on the issue.     

 *A county council official with responsibility for public transport is also to be invited to attend a future council meeting at the request of members.

The invitation stems from concern raised about the possible axing of the Pengwern estate bus service.

Cllr Burrell said: “This is something we need to keep a very close eye on.”

County's survey on rural transport

Denbighshire County Council has launched a consultation to find out the community’s views on the existing transport options in rural Denbighshire - whether it meets local needs and what could be improved.

The findings of the consultation, which runs until May 11, will help to shape and transform public transport and community transport services within Denbighshire and what changes will be made to the network in the future.

People are being asked spare a couple of minutes completing the short survey which is part of the wider consultation.

The survey is available:

• online using the QR code below or go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ResidentsPTsurvey

• or picking up the short questionnaire up at your local library, council offices, leisure centre, or health centre/ doctor surgeries.

Llangollen to Corwen train service could start this summer

* The celebratory group assembled around the buffer stop.

Trains could be running between Llangollen and Corwen this summer for the first time in almost 50 years.

That’s the word from Llangollen Railway as  the first phase of its ambitious project to restore the rail link between the two Dee Valley towns reaches the end of the line.

A volunteer-led task force has now completed the track extension project to reach the station site at Dwyrain Corwen East.

Track panels laid alongside the footings for the temporary platform were connected to a buffer stop at the end of the track on Saturday, April 5.

Following a project co-ordination meeting on Wednesday April 9, at which the conclusion of the track laying exercise was announced, representatives from the local community and Denbighshire County Council celebrated with a visit to the railhead.

Llangollen Railway Trust chairman, Neil Evans, said: “The occasion was the culmination of a lot of hard work and application of resources over the past three years.

“Whilst a significant moment to celebrate, there is still much to do before trains can operate into the station. However it is evident now that we have almost completed phase one of this exciting rail extension project.”

Thanks to a magnificent response by contributors to the Corwen Sleeper Appeal, new supplies of concrete sleepers were sourced and delivered to the site during March.

With the project’s road/rail machine back in action, the volunteer workforce made good progress when track laying resumed and, as of the end of March, the rail head had exited the cutting west of Bridge 28A and was into the curve heading for underpass Bridge 29.

From that point Corwen town centre was plainly in sight and track laying was again visible for users of the nearby A5 road.

With continued effort in early April, the railhead reached the station site and the buffer stop was put in place sooner than initially forecast. 

Next challenge will be the building and installation of the 100-metre platform and associated access ramp leading off the embankment, and specialist help is being sought for this part of the project.

Delivery of over a thousand tons of stone is needed for the top ballasting of the track, with packing and aligning from the aid of a hired in tamper machine.

A railway spokesperson said: “There are various other aspects to be finished off and the length tidied up before the line can be passed for passenger trains. 

“However, it is looking hopeful that train services to and from Corwen will commence in the summer of 2014, provided finance continues to come to hand to provide the necessary resources to complete the job.”

Trains last ran between Llangollen and Corwen in December 1964 when the line was axed as part of the notorious Beeching cuts.

Can you help the Chainbridge Project with your memories?

Samantha Jones, heritage officer for the Chainbridge Project, has asked us to display the poster below for their next memories gathering day, which is being held at the Conquering Hero in Rhewl on April 26.

 

Mike completes gruelling Chirk Triathlon

* Mike Edwards completes the cycling section of the event.

 

An intrepid Llangollen man was amongst the 400 athletes from across the country who took part in Sunday’s Chirk Triathlon.

The gruelling event, now in its 22^nd year, featured a 400-metre pool swim at Chirk Leisure Centre, a 24km cycle ride from the centre out to Glyn Ceiriog and back, then a 5km run on single lane roads towards Halton and back.

Mike Edwards from Llangollen completed the challenge in 1:39:54.

Chris Standidge, from Northwich, was the first male to finish the race, and Beth Hughes, who was running for City of Chester Triathlon Club, was the first female entrant to cross the line.

Wrecsam Triathlon Club, which runs the event, has praised the support from North Wales Police, Wrexham Council highways and the leisure departments for their continuing support.

The club has also thanked the local air cadets and guides who assisted on the run course and pool respectively.

Plas Madoc community trust seeks magic models

Volunteers fighting to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre are calling on members of the public to become models for a day.

The recently-formed Splash Community Trust is appealing for residents of all ages to offer their help by posing as ‘magic models’ and playing a part in the popular facility’s revival.

The centre, which could be renamed sPLASh Madoc or sPLASh Magic, will close at the end of April – but the trust wants to reopen it as a social enterprise as soon as the summer.

Committee member and marketing professional Alison Roberts said: “We will be producing material to promote Plas Madoc and we want to show it through the eyes of the people who use it.

“We want to give a true reflection of the fantastic fun to be had at the centre, whether it’s basketball or badminton sessions, swimming lessons, pool parties or roller discos – there’s something for everyone and we want to highlight that.”

Alison added: “Plas Madoc – and our whole campaign – is about the people, and we want to mirror this in our future marketing initiatives.”

Volunteers are wanted at the half-term roller disco from 1pm-2.30pm on Thursday, April 24, and the pool fun inflatables session at 6.30pm the same day, when there will be consent forms for children.

Trust director Greg Ogden added: “This is another way members of the public can help us, so please come along and show your support for Plas Madoc.

“We will continue to advertise key events and dates through Facebook, Twitter and the local press, so keep your eyes peeled, and remember that anyone with fundraising ideas can email jennymiller08@hotmail.co.uk or call Jenny on 07921 6590990.”

The trust is still urging people to fill in a short online survey which will help keep centre users up to date and could help with grant applications. To complete it visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PMFUTURE