Sun shines on Plas Newydd fete

Rain clouds blew away and the sun came out just in time to make the annual summer fete staged by Llangollen Rotary and Inner Wheel Clubs in the grounds of Plas Newydd a big success yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

It was an event for all the family and attractions included a Punch and Judy and Magic Show and a children’s roundabout.

There were plenty of stalls offering plants, cakes, toys and bric-a-brac and prizes could be won on the sideshows and in the grand raffle draw.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was a special ceremony when  King Ben from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Queen Angharad from Ysgol Y Gwernant were crowned by the Mayoress, Mrs Lube.

Following the crowning all children in fancy dress were invited to form a parade led by Chem, Llangollen’s town crier.

All proceeds of the fete are to be shared between Macmillan Cancer Care, Wales Air Ambulance and local charities.

* Llangollen Silver Band sets the musical tempo.

* Youngsters have fun on the roundabout.

* One of the many side-shows at the fete.

* The plant stall stays busy.

Weather moves Pentecost Service to St Collen's

Vicar, Andrew Sully, has asked llanblogger to let people know that tomorrow's (Sunday) Pentecost Service at Valle Crucis Abbey at 11am has now been moved into St Collen's Church due to the weather.

He said: "Sadly, I've had to re-locate the open air service at Valle Crucis to the parish church tomorrow due to unpredicatble weather conditions."

 

Don't be in two minds about Jekyll & Hyde

* John Whitfield in the title role of Jekyll & Hyde at Llangollen Town Hall. 

Anyone in two minds about whether to go and see Limelight’s current production of  Jekyll & Hyde at Llangollen Town Hall should have no doubts about whether it’s worth it or not – because it’s brilliant.

The musical thriller is based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr Jeyyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stephenson.

Originally conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, it features a cracking score by Wildhorn, a book by Leslie Bricusse and lyrics by Wildhorn, Bricusse and Cuden.  

Henry Jekyll, a respectable Harley Street doctor in Victorian London, is carrying out experiments on the good and evil in every person when his research is brought to a halt by the scientific establishment’s refusal to allow him to test his theories on a human subject.

Undaunted, he uses himself for as a guinea pig and swallows down an ampule of the stuff which transforms him from a man of goodness to a beast of pure evil – Edward Hyde.

Naturally, things go steadily downhill from there and he reaches the point where the  psychopathic alter-ego finally takes him over.

Along the way Hyde commits a spate of ghastly murders, which means there’s no way back for Jekyll, who is superbly played by John Whitfield and has a voice to match his powerful acting ability.

Whereas film versions of the story have seen Jekyll undergoing the transformation to Hyde with the aid of all kinds of gruesome make-up, director Lyn Aston, who also choreographed the production, steers away from all this over-the-top stuff by achieving the change through clever coloured lighting effects and a reliance on John’s sheer acting talent.

It works extremely well and he scares the pants off the audience as he heads off into the London night on his killing sprees.

There’s some sensational singing from both Jekyll’s love interests, Liz Jones as his society fiancé Emma Carew and Debbie Louise Peate as Lucy Harris the tart with a heart who falls for him on one of his ventures into the darker side of London.  

First-class support comes from John Clifford as Sir Danvers Carew, Jekyll’s would-be father-in-law, and John Durham as his friend John Utterson.

While the solos are impressive enough, it’s raise the roof time when it comes to the rousing chorus numbers from an ensemble including Steve Hughes, Pete Darby, Emma Williams, Caroline Anthonisz, Derrick Fear, Ken Anthonisz, Tom Stewart, Lucas Howson, Fiona Bassett and Helen Davies.   

Deft musical direction is provided by David Campbell.

If you fancy seeing it, Jekyll & Hyde is on tonight (Saturday June 7) at the Town Hall for the last performance of its three-night run, starting at 7.30pm.

Crumpton calls for block on hospital demolition plan

* Demolition plan: The former Llangollen Cottage Hospital.

The leader of a Llangollen community group has called for an immediate stop to be put on a planning application to demolish the town’s former cottage hospital to make way for social housing.

And he wants local people to tell him if they have evidence of any covenant on the hospital building in Abbey Road.

The planning application calls for redevelopment of the site by way of the demolition of existing buildings and the erection of six social housing units with associated access and parking provision.

But Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special (KLS), recently wrote to Denbighshire planning chiefs voicing his organisation’s concern that should the cottage hospital be redeveloped while the proposed health centre fails to materialise, Llangollen would be “permanently and irrevocably be left with nothing, just the GP surgery which for years has been chronically short of space for its 9,000 registered patients.”

Mr Crumpton was told by the planners that the future of the cottage hospital and the possibility of the health centre failing to go ahead were matters for the health board and not the county council.  

He then put in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which owns the old hospital, asking if the “original covenenant” on the hospital was still legal and, if not, when and how was it had been annulled or otherwise avoided or bypassed.

Yesterday (Friday) Mr Crumpton received a reply to his request, which said: “Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is not aware of any covenants affecting the Llangollen Cottage Hospital."

Mr Crumpton said: “That the cottage hospital was covenanted to the townsfolk of Llangollen is common knowledge. This response from Betsi Cadwaladr shows that they are attempting to sell property which they cannot prove ownership of.”

He added: “I have called for Planning Application 03/2014/0472 to be stopped immediately,
pending proper investigation.

"I have consulted Denbighshire local planning authority about this and on Friday afternoon they replied that they would take advice on the matter but suspected issues of land ownership and covenants were not ones on which we could justify stopping the processing of the planning application.

“I am now posting this on social media to call for testimonies from residents of Llangollen."

* Meanwhile, local county councillor Stuart Davies has issued a statement to llanblogger about concerns over access to the town's new health centre.

It says: "Cllr Davies is concerned that several rumours are floating around town about the pedestrian access to the new health centre.

"He would like to assure everyone that several site meetings have taken place with local members and highway officers to discuss various solutions.

"They are being worked on and when a definitive plan has been drafted Cllr Davies will make sure that it is publicised and any consultations necessary will take place."

Skates goes in stocks to help Plas Madoc campaign

A politician was due to be put in the stocks before a mini music festival to raise money for the Plas Madoc campaign in Wrexham today (Saturday).

Local bands Tiny Wooden Angels and The Uninvited will be performing in Queens Square from 4pm on Saturday (June 7) as part of the event organised by the Splash Community Trust and AVOW (the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham).

But before the music starts there will be stalls, children’s activities and a range of other money-spinners from 2pm – including one of the trust’s co-founders, Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates, getting a barrage of soaked sponges.

Mr Skates will also be donning fancy dress as part of a competition open to all children, with a prize for the best outfit.

He said: “People often say the stocks are the best place for politicians, so I've listened! However, for the chance to give me a good soaking, there will be a small charge to help reopen Plas Madoc.

“It's going to be a long and wet afternoon, so I would be delighted if any other politicians would like to relieve me of the duty at any point!”

Trust co-founder and director Greg Ogden, from Trevor, added: “It should be a really fun family day out for a fantastic cause. We’re hoping for good weather, but Ken’s going to getting soaked whatever happens!”

There will also be a raffle with prizes including a Mini Cooper remote control car donated by Wrexham Colour Supplies and cuddly toys, as well as tombola, sweet and cake stalls.

In the case of bad weather the event will be moved inside to the nearby Saith Seren pub.

If you would like to contribute call Jenny Miller on 07921 659099.

The Splash Community Trust now has a PayPal account through which donations can be made. If you want to contribute, type the web address https://t.co/VlqCYUVROU into your internet browser.

Alternatively, you can contact Jenny direct. The trust is also working on a new website, which is coming soon and will include a ‘donate’ button. 

More firefighters' strikes planned

The Chief Fire Officer of North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is renewing a plea for the public across the region to ‘take extra care’ at home and on the roads following the Fire Brigades Union’s announcement that firefighters in England and Wales will take further industrial action next week Thursday 12th June from 9am for 24 hours and again later this month on Saturday 21st June from 10am until 5pm.

Chief Fire Officer, Simon Smith, stressed: “This time we will see the first 24 hour strike by the Fire Brigades Union which will increase the level of risk to the public and therefore I am asking people to extra vigilant about their safety.

“I would like to thank the public for their cooperation in heeding our messages during previous strikes which clearly made a difference to the demand on our services and I would ask for the same level of cooperation once again.

“The first strike also coincides with the start of the UEFA World Cup so it will be at a time when the risk to people’s safety will also be more significant as they are likely to be out socialising or at home entertaining family and friends – which means attention to fire safety in and around the home, as well as road safety, is of even more importance.

“The call for people to be extra vigilant and to think more carefully about the situations they may be putting themselves into is therefore a very serious one. Regrettably it is likely that during the strike period we won’t be able to respond as we normally would – prevention is best, so we are asking everyone to take these simple steps to ensure their safety and those of loved ones;

• Ensure you have a smoke alarm and test that it is in working order – fit one in your caravan before caravanning.
• Do not mix drinking and cooking – it can be a recipe for disaster. Lots of us enjoy a drink when watching our favourite sporting match but be responsible and do not leave cooking unattended. If you are hungry after a night out, get a takeaway or make a sandwich - do not get the chip pan out or leave cooking unattended.
• Don’t drink and drive – walk, get a lift, taxi or if in a group organise a driver and take turns to drive. Avoid any unnecessary journeys and pay particular attention to road safety  – if you are unfortunate enough to be in a collision we may not be able to get there to help you as quickly as we normally would
• Don’t drink and BBQ – the chef should always wait until the cooking has finished before enjoying a drink, and never use any flammable liquids to start or revive a barbecue that is going out. Do not leave a barbeque unattended and always allow embers to cool before disposal.
• Switch off any unused electrical appliances before you go to bed, including your TV, and close all doors – make sure you have an escape plan in the event of fire
• Ensure you extinguish smoking materials and take extra care with naked flames.
• Grass fires can spread quickly during dry weather, putting lives and property at serious risk so avoid using naked flames when out and about and dispose of smoking materials with care.
• Remember setting fires deliberately is a crime for which you can be prosecuted – if you have any information about a deliberate fire please call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
• If a fire does start - get out, stay out and call 999. Don’t be tempted to tackle a fire yourself.”

Safety advice on all the above and additional guidance for the public and businesses is available on the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service website www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk and social network sites on Facebook www.facebook.com/Northwalesfireservice  and Twitter @NorthWalesFire  (#takeextracare), as well as through the local news.

The number of firefighters from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service expected to make a protest by striking is high and will result in a reduction in the resources available. As a consequence, the fire and rescue service will not be able to provide the same high level of response as it normally would – it will continue to respond to emergency calls by prioritising the deployment of the available resources at its disposal and focussing on the protection of life

Chief Fire Officer Simon Smith reassured the public “North Wales Fire and Rescue Service has arrangements in place to continue to provide a service during strike action” but warned that, “because of the circumstances, services may be limited.”

“The Service’s business continuity arrangements will ensure a speedy and safe return to normal services on conclusion of any period of industrial action.”

Councillor Meirick Lloyd Davies, Chairman of North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “Whilst we understand the concerns of staff which have led to their decision to make a protest in this way, we have a duty and an obligation to ensure that the provision of services remains as unaffected as reasonably practicable. This is a dispute between the Fire Brigade’s Union and the Government in England and Wales over proposed changes to pension arrangements. However our number one priority is to ensure public safety.”

Members of the public who may need to call the fire and rescue service regarding a non-urgent matter during a period of industrial action are requested to consider waiting until strike action ends to make that call.

Latest roadworks bulletin

Latest roadworks in the area notified by Denbighshire County Council are;

A5 from area boundary to Queen Street, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights from June 23-27 to allow gully repairs.

Outside Dobson & Crowther, Berwyn Road, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights from June 23-26 to allow gas works.

A5 Regent Street, Llangollen, temporary traffic lights from June 9-13 to allow retaining wall works.

A5 from area boundary to Queen Street, Llangollen, until June 26 stop/go to allow cyclic maintenance work

A5, Canoe Centre, Berwyn Road, Llangollen, from June 26-July 7 temporary traffic lights to allow water works.