Countdown to re-opening of Plas Madoc tomorrow

An online advent calendar will conclude its countdown to the re-opening of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre tomorrow.

The doors of the much-loved centre, rebranded Splash Magic, will be flung open once more at 11am on Saturday, less than eight months after it closed.

Digital expert Jason Davies, who runs Wrexham-based Hashtag Marketing, came up with the idea of an online advent calendar on the Splash Magic website, which he designed and developed from scratch.

Members of the Splash Community Trust, which is running the facility after Wrexham Council relinquished it, are urging people to show their support by turning out for the official reopening when the calendar’s countdown concludes.

Jason said: “The calendar was just a fun idea I came up with to add to the festive spirit at Splash in the build-up to the big reopening. We can’t wait for 11am on Saturday and we’re all really hoping to see a massive crowd so everyone’s efforts were worthwhile.”

Jason got involved with the Trust early on and has ‘loved every minute’.

He said: “It’s been incredible to be part of this team and to work with people with so much energy, passion and drive to achieve a shared vision. There has been a lot of hard work, but I’ve loved every minute. I really hope now that the public will do their bit and help make a success of it.”

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates, a founder member of the Trust, said: “We would again like to say a huge thank you to AVOW, the Wales Co-Operative Centre and Vi-Ability. Without them all we would never have reached this point. Their advice and support has been crucial.”

Derek Walker is Chief Executive of the Wales Co-operative Centre, which supported the development of Splash Magic through its European Regional Development Fund and Welsh Government-funded Social Enterprise Support Project.

He said: “We would like to congratulate the community for working together so effectively to reopen this essential community resource.  The Splash Magic team have worked tirelessly to make this a reality.

“We were very happy to support the team to set up the Trust and help develop its governance and business planning, and are glad to be able to play our part in the relaunch. We wish Splash Magic every success in the future.”

For membership forms and centre prices, or for more information, visit splashmagic.co.uk

New exhibition opens at the museum

The following exhibition is currently running at Llangollen Museum: 

County to charge for garden waste collections

Denbighshire County Council is informing residents of changes to its garden waste collections.

Garden waste will not be collected over the winter months, with the service ending on Friday, 16 January, 2015.  

When the service resumes on 30^th March,  2015, the council will be introducing a charge for using the service. Garden waste will be collected fortnightly.

People can sign up for the service now and there is a discount for people signing up before the end of January. People can sign up by visiting the council’s website (www.denbighshire.gov.uk), by visiting any of the county’s One Stop Shops or by calling 01824 706101.

The council will arrange to collect your garden waste for 12 months from the date of your first collection.  They will arrange to collect your garden waste over 12 months from the date you sign up.

The council says it will send residents signing up a unique identification label for their green bin(s) or a tag for green dumpy sacks, a calendar showing  collection days and any additional containers (if necessary) before collections begin. Residents moving addresses within Denbighshire after signing up for garden waste collections can transfer the arrangement for the collection service to their new property.

The cost of the new service will be £24 a year for one green wheelie bin or three dumpy sacks or £36 a year for two green wheelie bins of six dumpy sacks. A discount of £2 will be offered to those signing up before the end of January.

More than 500 residents have already taken the opportunity to register for the garden waste service, taking advantage of the early-bird discount.  The following garden waste goes in your green wheelie bin or green dumpy sack: grass cuttings, garden prunings, branches and twigs, leaves, bark, flowers and plants.

The council says it will not empty green dumpy bags or green bins which contain soil, general household rubbish or food products. Garden waste can also be disposed of through recycling parks, free of charge.

Some garden wastes can be shredded and returned to the soil as a mulch or composted at home either on a traditional compost heap or a home composter. More details about the home composter are available from the council.  C

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “We are going through a period of significant change as a council and we need to make some difficult choices, as part of our efforts to save £17 million over the next two years.

“The proposal to charge for green waste collections has been agreed. We appreciate this is a very different way of working and we are offering people plenty of time to set themselves up for the new service which begins at the end of March."

St Collen's Christmas Fayre this Saturday

St. Collen's Christmas Fayre will be held at Llangollen Town Hall tomorrow, Saturday, December 6, with the 'doors open' at 10.30am.

Warning over "suspect" mattress sales

Trading Standards officers in Denbighshire are warning residents to be on their guard against suspect mattress sales.

The warning comes after reports were received that there is a white van travelling throughout the area offering “discounted” mattresses for sale.

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager, said: “We are unable to confirm whether the mattresses bear the correct labels and whether they comply with the applicable safety legislation, such as flammability requirements.

“Additionally, we are unable to confirm that this is a legitimate business. Without the ability to trace the business consumers would not be able implement their cancellation rights – a 14 day cooling off period for goods bought on the doorstep where they can change their mind and cancel the contract – or, should a problem develop after purchase, it may be difficult to try and claim a refund for the price paid.”

They have urged anyone approached to purchase a mattress on their doorstep or whilst in the street to just to say no.

Anyone approached by these sellers can report the matter to police by calling 101 or Trading Standards via the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language).  This helpline offers free, independent and impartial advice on all consumer issues.

People are advised to try and report the vehicle registration as well as any trading name the sellers are using.

Railway favourite goes in for major "surgery"

* The engine in action at Llangollen on a previous wintry occasion.

Llangollen Railway’s flagship engine, No.7822, Foxcote Manor, built in 1950, won’t be hauling this season’s Santa Special trains.

It is in the Locomotive Works having what is akin to major heart surgery to repair its boiler.

Although the engine received a ten year major overhaul in 2011, costing in excess of £100k, the owners, Foxcote Manor Society, have been hit with a need to spend a similar, unplanned, amount two years later in 2013/14.

This followed the discovery of a crack in the throat plate ahead of the firebox which required the damaged area to be cut out.
 

* Llangollen Railway engineering
apprentice
Luke Denoven with the new throat plate,
the area of the firebox where
the plate is to be fitted.

The work, as well as being complex and expensive, has meant a new challenge for the Llangollen Railway's workshop’s engineers in fabricating a new plate as a one off item.

It has been successfully completed and is currently waiting to be fitted.

In addition, the boiler must now have all 127 small tubes renewed, and the twelve large tubes, before steam testing will follow to allow the locomotive to operate again in early 2015. The new tubes are costing over £14,000 and the Foxcote Manor Society is appealing for donations to help with this unexpected repair to a popular engine.

Neil Evans, chairman of the Foxcote Manor Society, said, “This is a classic example of the challenge steam locomotive owners face in keeping their historic machines in operational order.

 

"The cost of this repair is a big expense for the members of Foxcote Manor Society. Small tubes cost £50 apiece and those wishing to see this popular engine back in action at Llangollen may help by making a donation.”

For details visit: WWW.FOXCOTEMANORSOCIETY.CO.UK

Support Small Business Saturday says Cittaslow

llanblogger has received the following statement from Mike Edwards on behalf of Cittaslow Llangollen about a special event this weekend:

"Through your blog on behalf of Cittaslow I would like to call on all Llangollen and Dee Valley residents to fully support Small Business and Buy Local Saturday on the 6th December, 2014(poster below in Sal's email).

"Research has shown that for every pound spent in a local area with independent businesses seventy pence (70p) recirculates in the Local Economy, so everyone benefits from using local shops and traders. We are fortunate to have a vibrant and viable town centre which is a successful community social facility, so you can pop down into town and browse and buy in our numerous locally owned shops, but also visit the Library, Town Hall, Museum and finish off with a meal or a drink in the numerous restaurants, cafes and pubs. So coming into town is always a pleasant experience where you can chat to friends you meet whilst getting those everyday essentials like your meat, produce, grocery etc. 

"We are fortune at the moment to have two butchers, two Greengrocers, two delicatessens, two newsagents plus cafes, a florists, opticians who we are in danger of losing in future, so I would urge everyone to use them or lose them.

 

"Small Business Saturday is a National Event aiming to inspire and support local independent shops and suppliers and this initiative is an excellent fit with the aims and objectives of Cittaslow Llangollen. Cittaslow promotes towns like Llangollen with its strong community spirit and encourages amongst other things the principle of Field to Fork by using local food producers, farm shops, artisan crafts and independent local shops, catering and hospitality facilities.

"So I urge all residents to get behind our unique local businesses this Saturday and for the future to keep Llangollen vibrant and retain its unique characteristics and prevent it from becoming just another "clone town."