Views sought on Horseshoe Pass speed limit proposal

* Speed limit proposal: the Horseshoe Pass.

A LLANGOLLEN county councillor is sounding out public opinion on a proposal he has learned of to consider imposing a 40mph speed limit on the Horseshoe Pass.

Official figures show that over the past five years the busy main A542 route from Llangollen towards Llandegla and Ruthin, which currently has a 60mph limit, has been the scene of 22 collisions involving slight injuries, 10 rated as serious and two which were fatal.

 

County Cllr Stuart Davies said: “I understand that Denbighshire County Council has had a request to from traffic officers at NWP to impose a 40mph limit on the whole of the Horseshoe Pass, from the Britannia to the cattle grid at Pentre Isaf.

 

“I’m also told that this ties in with the Welsh Government forcing local authorities to do a review of all speed limits.

 

“I’m asking for people’s thoughts on this. Do they think it will hinder people going to work over the pass? Do they think it will slow down traffic?

 

“Do they think it will save lives? Do they think it is a money-making scheme on the part of North Wales Police or the government?

 

“Do they think it is fair that our council tax should pay - this scheme will cost thousands - for something demanded by North Wales Police and the Welsh Government when we haven't got the budget to revamp our brown tourism signs in Llangollen?”

 

Cllr Davies added: “There have been a number of accidents in that area over the last five years with two fatalities.

 

“I am of the view that better enforcement of our existing laws and better education of drivers at the hotspots would slow down traffic and safeguard lives rather than the blunt use of a blanket speed limit over the whole of the pass.”

 

Cllr Davies has asked for people to send their views to him at: stuart.a.davies@denbighshire.gov.uk

Musical tribute to Nelson Mandela premieres at Eisteddfod

* Paul Maelor has collaborated on a special tribute to Nelson Mandela.

Royal composer Paul Mealor has teamed up with a top poet from North Wales for a special tribute to Nelson Mandela.

The European premiere of the new work, Spirit of Hope, will be at the Llangollen International Music Festival at a concert on Friday, July 11.

Professor Mealor, who was brought up in Connah's Quay, collaborated with poet Dr Grahame Davies, who hails from Coedpoeth, near Wrexham.

The piece will be performed by the Wales Millennium Centre’s Only Kids Aloud Chorus alongside the independent professional orchestra, British Sinfonietta.

The special night will also see a performance by top African opera company Cape Town Opera, Cardiff Singer of the World representative Gary Griffiths, Bloemfontein Men’s Choir and the winner of last year’s Llangollen Eisteddfod Voice of the Future competition, Pontypridd’s lyric soprano Menna Cazel Davies.

According to Paul Mealor, who was commissioned by Prince William to compose some of the music performed during his and Catherine Middleton’s wedding ceremony, the Only Kids Aloud Chorus will bring the Llangollen house down.

He said: “Spirit of Hope is a three movement piece for orchestra and choir. The first movement is the setting for a poem by Wales’ Grahame Davies. He is, in my opinion, one of the nation’s best poets. His wonderful poem, Good Hope, draws its inspiration from South African landmarks.

“It so beautifully describes the mountains, plains and rugged shoreline of what is a stunning country.

"I worked with Grahame  when I composed A Welsh Prayer to mark the 65^th birthday of HRH the Prince of Wales which was performed for the first time at St Asaph Cathedral during the North Wales Music Festival.

“Grahame, who is a wonderful poet, writer and novelist, wrote the words for that piece too and they were just as emotive and joyful.”

He added: “The second movement is based around the words of Tagore, an Indian mystic poet, and is about the power of music and how music can take us home.

“The third movement is from the poem Invictus by William Henley and contains the line, I am the master of my fate and the captain of my soul. Nelson Mandela had this on his cell wall at Robben Island during his long years of imprisonment and we know it was a favourite poem of his.

“The whole evening will be dedicated to the memory Nelson Mandela, his legacy and the power of hope.”

“It goes to show that Llangollen truly is an eisteddfod that has peace and unity right at the very top of its agenda.

“The whole evening will be a celebration of South Africa and Wales extending the hand of friendship. And the fact that friendship will endure across the vast expanses of water that separate our two nations.

“Spirit of Hope was commissioned by Only Kids Aloud Chorus as they wanted a brand new piece they could perform on a spring tour of South Africa.

“The chorus are to perform two concerts in Cape Town with Bryn Terfel to mark the 20^th anniversary of the end of apartheid. Then, in July, they will be on stage at Llangollen for what will be a wonderful concert.

“Having listened to Only Kids Aloud rehearsing Spirit of Hope I have to say it is just beautiful and I guarantee it will be one of the absolute highlights of the 2014 Llangollen International Eisteddfod.”

Prof Mealor, who also wrote the music for Wherever You Are, the Military Wives’ 2011 Christmas number one hit, says he wrote Spirit of Hope on a Christmas break on Anglesey. 

He said: “I’ve been a Professor of Music at Aberdeen University since 2003 but have always kept a home on Anglesey. I like to get back to Wales whenever I can as that’s where I think I compose my best work.”

Paul Mealor studied composition before reading music at the University of York and Copenhagen with the Royal Danish Academy of Music.

Now 38 he lectures in music at the University of Aberdeen but remains fiercely loyal to his Welsh roots.

He said: “I head back to North Wales whenever I can. There is nothing better than sitting at my piano at my Anglesey home and composing music.

“The three poems that make up each movement in Spirit of Hope are so special and awe-inspiring. I just sat at the piano and looked for the music within the words of the poems.

“I hope the audience believes my music does justice to the beautiful words of Grahame Davies, Tagore and William Henley and the wonderful voices of the Only Kids Aloud Chorus. It really will be a magical Llangollen evening.”

The curtain raiser for this year's Eisteddfod will mark the return of opera superstar Bryn Terfel to Llangollen.

 

The acclaimed bass baritone will be playing the lead in a special English-language production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  He will be joined by the supremely talented tenor Wynne Evans aka Gio Compario in the Go Compare TV ads.

 

This year's Eisteddfod will also feature concerts by Dutch jazz sensation Caro Emerald and veteran British rockers Status Quo as well as a world premiere of a new work, Adiemus Colores, by top composer Karl Jenkins.

 

He will conduct his Latin American themed work with American tenor Noah Stewart, Venezuelan trumpeter Pacho Flores and Latvian accordion player Ksenija Sidorova to the accompaniment of the Llangollen International Eisteddfod Orchestra.

 

The Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy on the Saturday night is the blue riband event of the week-long festival which will close with a Sunday night concert by Status Quo.

 

To book tickets and for more details about the urban dance competition go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

 

Father's Day fundraiser by Plas Madoc campaigners

A pub will play host to a Father’s Day fundraiser to help the ongoing campaign to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

The music-themed afternoon organised by the Splash Community Trust will be held at The Duke of Wellington in nearby Acrefair on Sunday (June 15), when local band The New Foos will be playing from 3pm.

Trust director Greg Ogden said there will also be an array of ‘fantastic’ prizes on offer during the event, which is the latest money-spinner to be held as volunteer-run group aims to reopen the popular facility later this summer.

Greg, who lives in Trevor, said: “I’d like to thank the pub’s landlady, Shauny, who as well as hosting the event is supplying a bottle of whiskey for the raffle. There are plenty more fantastic prizes to be won, including a meal for two at The Cornmill in Llangollen.

“Our top prize is a night for two at the Wild Pheasant in Llangollen in a suite with its own hot-tub, which also includes a three-course dinner and breakfast the following morning.”

Greg added: “There will also be a bouncy castle and face-painting for the children – and the adults too – as well as a hog roast and barbecue, hot dogs and and a sweets stall. Throw in the music and there will be something for everyone.

“The weather’s looking good too, so it promises to be a great afternoon for a brilliant cause.”
The Splash Community Trust is also holding a race night at the Old Black Horse in Rhostyllen on Friday, June 27, from 8pm. To sponsor a race or buy a horse for the night, contact Jenny Miller on 07921 659099.

The Trust now has a PayPal account through which donations can be made. If you want to contribute, visit https://t.co/VlqCYUVROU or contact Jenny direct.

The group’s website, which will include a ‘donate’ button, is coming soon.

Referral to treatment figures rise in Wales

This month’s referral to treatment times have shown a large increase in the number of patients waiting over 36 weeks to start their treatment.

 

Referral to treatment time is the period of time from referral by a GP or other medical practitioner to hospital for treatment in the NHS in Wales.

 

The figures show that in April 12,795 Welsh patients had been waiting for 36 weeks, up over 2,000 on figures for March (10,586). This is an increase of over 20%.

 

Commenting Kirsty Williams, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said: “These figures are very worrying. The Welsh Government has a target that not a single patient should wait over 36 weeks to start their treatment, yet this huge increase shows things seem to be getting worse not better.

 

“The Welsh Labour Government should think of the patients behind these figures, many of which will be in a lot of pain and discomfort. For those people, 36 weeks must feel like a lifetime."

Campaigners' concern over rural bus services

 

* Mabon ap Gwynfor with Jane Ballinger.

 

A hospital worker says council cuts to bus services have put her job at risk.

 

Now campaigners and Plaid Cymru are calling for Wrexham Council to reinstate the bus services in rural areas.

 

Jane Ballinger, of Glyn Ceiriog, works at the orthopaedic hospital and used to catch the Number 60 bus service.

 

This was cut in April and, as she cannot drive due to being partially sighted, she faced losing her livelihood.

 

Fortunately she has been able to get a lift from friends because the reduced bus service will not get her there and back in time for work.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru spokesperson for Clwyd South, warned that losing the number 60 bus service could threaten the livelihoods of many people in the same situation as Jane.

 

He said: "The number 60 bus was a lifeline to Jane and others like her. For the sake of saving a few thousand pounds peoples lives are being impacted upon, with some having to consider leaving their communities in order to keep their jobs.

 

"Providing public transport that is accessible for all is a key public service which both the Government and Council should ensure is available. By cutting these service not only are they denying people their independence, but it will have a damaging impact on the local economy and will contribute to the slow death of our villages."

Jane Ballinger said:  “I have used the bus number 60 for many years now.  I currently work at the Oswestry Orthopaedic hospital and have done for over five years.  I am partially sighted so will never be able to drive.    

“I used to catch the 60 in Glyn Ceiriog at 07:50 to take me via Chirk, via Gobowen and stopping at the Orthopaedic before going on to Osewstry.  In the evenings I stay a little late in work catching the No 60 home at 17:46 at the hospital, back through Gobowen, Chirk and back to Glyn Ceiriog.

“The Number 60 was discontinued and these are the alternatives.  I currently start work at 8:20/08:25 when I arrive and usually finish at 17:00 but I stay a little later to catch the bus so work til 17:30.

"So basically, I cannot get home. Even if I left my office at 5 o'clock I couldn't get to the bus stop by two minutes passed: without cutting my hours at work I cannot use public transport and contin ue to work as I do. 

"I could potentially lose my job and my home because of this.  Subsidised bus services surely were for exactly this purpose so people in rural areas had as much chance as anyone else of being able to get to work to pay their taxes and contribute to the economy.    

"I am heartbroken by this news.  I am lucky to have friends who will help ferry me back and to, however, it shouldn't be like this, I should have the opportunity to get to work myself.    

"The No 60 only did these two journeys to Oswestry 6 days a week, surely stopping this can't be saving a huge amount.  I am willing to see the posts of Mayor and Mayoress cut....  they don't get me to work and I am sure this would generate a large saving for the council.

"I would be very sorry to leave the orthopaedic, I love my job and have a fantastic set of colleagues.  Similarly, I cannot just leave the job as bills, mortgage etc still have to be paid."

Lovebird takes refuge with town's taxidermist

The Leader is reporting today how a lovebird took refuge with Llangollen's taxidermist.

For the full story see: http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/134585/lovebird-takes-refuge-in-llangollen-taxidermy-shop.aspx

Residents warned over World Cup lottery scam

Trading Standards teams across North Wales are aware that some residents have received a letter claiming they have won a large sum of money e.g. £750,000 from ‘Euro Millions FIFA World Cup Super Lottery.’

They are warning people that if they receive a letter like this, not to respond and instead to report it to Action Fraud immediately.

Kevin Jones, Wrexham's Principal Manager for Trading Standards and Chair of the North Wales Heads of Trading Standards group, said: “This type of scam isn’t new, there have been many similar examples. However, when someone receives a letter through the door which claims to be linked to the World Cup it can be very convincing.

"The letter includes many logos which attempt to give the letter some validity and asks the recipient to make contact with the Foreign Service Manager.  It is likely that people who do ring the number will be asked to provide personal and banking details.  I would advise very strongly that residents do not provide this information because of the danger of their bank accounts being emptied of cash.”

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire’s Public Protection Manager and part of the North Wales' Heads of Public Protection Group, said: “We have a duty to protect our residents from such scams and we will take all necessary action to warn the community and liaise with various other enforcement agencies because this type of scam is often based abroad." P

People should remember these points to protect themselves against lottery fraud:

·        Never respond to any such communication.  If you haven’t entered a lottery then you can’t have won it.

·        Official lotteries in other countries operate in much the same way as the UK’s National Lotto.  No official lotteries that we know of contact people to tell them of their win.

·        We don’t know of any official lottery operators who ask for fees to collect winnings. Any request for a fee payment is a good indication that someone is trying to defraud you.

·        Never, ever disclose your bank details or pay fees in advance.

·        If the contact details include  email addresses such as @hotmail.com or @yahoo.com, or numbers beginning with 07, then be very suspicious because these are free to get hold of.

·        Genuine lotteries thrive on publicity.  If they ask you to keep your win a secret it’s likely to be a fraud.

·        Many fraudulent lotteries have bad spelling and grammar – see this as a warning that fraudsters are at work.

·        Do some research – if you have access to the internet then use search engines to check other people’s experiences.  Check with friends and family.

* Residents wanting advice and guidance on any consumer issue should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 08454 04 05 06 or 08454 04 05 05 for the Welsh language service (www.adviceguide.org.uk ). Potential scams should be reported to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 (www.actionfraud.police.uk)