Extended railway steams into 2015 season

* The completed station at Dwyrain Corwen East.

Llangollen Railway resumes services through the Dee Valley from Saturday, February 14, when trains begin operating the town and the new terminus at Corwen.

This follows a mid-winter shutdown whilst essential maintenance work on the railway were undertaken and facilities at the new station completed.

The 2015 timetable for the heritage railway provides for all public service trains to operate through to the temporary station at Dwyrain Corwen East as the new line extension is brought into regular use.

The exceptions are trains during the popular Days Out With Thomas events, which will terminate at Carrog where activities are arranged for visitors.

Three steam trains a day will operate this Saturday and Sunday arriving at Corwen at 11.20, 13.37 and 15.47.

There is, however, only a short stop-over period here as the mode of operation for the return journey requires for the train to be propelled back to Carrog under the control of a driver in the specially modified rear coach.

The steam engine will then ‘run round’ at Carrog, where a longer stop-over takes place, allowing passengers to use the facilities there. This changes the arrangements which have become familiar to regular visitors.

During half term week, February 16-20, an off-peak diesel railcar service will be running, arriving at Corwen 11.35, 13.35 and 1535, departing five minutes later.

The diesel railcars with their exciting view of the line ahead, as seen from behind the driver, provide an excellent way for passengers to appreciate all the work that has gone into rebuilding the line from Carrog through to Corwen over the past three years.

Kevin Gooding, General Manger of Llangollen Railway, said: “The commencement of train services over the extended railway provides for a scenic journey through part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

"The trains offer easy access to our three wayside stations at Carrog, Glyndyfrwy and Berwyn, which allow for the Welsh countryside to be enjoyed by walkers and others seeking a day out in the Dee Valley. 

"The two-hourly weekday train service operates from March 23 and allows for visitors to spend time in Corwen or to join the train at Corwen to travel to Llangollen.

"We trust that the extended line will attract more visitors who will contribute to the regeneration of the area and improve the viability of the heritage train services.”

2015 is an important year for Llangollen Railway which celebrates the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Llangollen Station in 1865.

It is also the 40th anniversary of the start of the challenge to rebuild the railway after the derelict station at Llangollen was taken over by volunteers in 1975. 

The 2015 season has a full range of special events planned, starting with a Day Out With Thomas weekend on February 21 and 22.

Kevin Gooding added: “Thereafter we will celebrate the official opening to Corwen with a special train for VIPs on St David’s Day, March 1, when the completion of phase 1 of the extension will be suitably commemorated at Dwyrain Corwen East.

"This is immediately followed by two three-day events on March 6-8 and March 13-15, when the Betton Grange Society’s Steel, Steam & Stars IV mega-gala will bring a number of exciting steam locomotives to Llangollen to provide a steam extravaganza.”

Full details are available on the railway’s website site at: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Skates starts surgeries at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre

An Assembly Member who was involved in the campaign to save Plas Madoc Leisure Centre from the bulldozers now has regular surgeries at the popular facility starting from tomorrow (Friday).

Ken Skates, the Labour AM for Clwyd South, was a co-founder of the Splash Community Trust, formed in the wake of Wrexham Council’s decision to close the centre down.

He now wants to add to his monthly surgeries across the constituency by holding drop-in sessions at Plas Madoc, which is now known as Splash Magic, starting this Friday.

Mr Skates said: “I love Plas Madoc – it’s wear I learnt to swim. I’ve always come here. I was a member before it closed and am now a fully paid-up member once again. It’s a great venue and one that’s popular with my constituents, so it makes sense to hold surgeries here.

“I will be available to either chat to members of the public in the reception area or in a private room if there’s something you’d like to discuss in confidence or need help with, and there will be hot drinks and biscuits.

“No appointments are necessary as it will be first-come, first-served. If there’s anything I can assist with, or that you’d like to talk about, please feel free to pop in.”

Mr Skates will be at the centre from 4pm-5pm on Friday, February 13. For more information, or to contact Mr Skates, email ken.skates@assembly.wales or call his constituency office 01978 869058.

Follow-up planned to off-roading public meeting

A campaign group is planning a follow-up public meeting to the one it held last autumn on the issue of off-road use and abuse in the countryside around Llangollen.

The initial meeting, held at the Town Hall on October 2 last year, attracted a large gathering of concerned residents along with council officials and representatives of off-road groups.

Now rganisers SOPS – Save Our Paths – has arranged a second meeting, also at the Town Hall, on Thursday February 19, starting at 7pm.  

SOPS spokesman Philip Jones said: “The meeting is open to everyone, and we hope that all the various interest groups will attend, as before.

“The meeting will be chaired by Aled Roberts AM and our local councillors, MP and AMs have been invited, together with representatives from the police and other public bodies.

“The meeting will provide our public representatives with an opportunity to report on the current position regarding the on-going drive to provide a more effective management of our green lanes to ensure sustainable use for all.

“The community will then have an opportunity to ask questions and comment on issues of concern.”

Operatic members get into a good habit with nun run

* Sister Act producer Tracey Rawlinson and fellow

cast member Louisa Jones limber up for the Nun Run next month. 

MEMBERS and friends of Llangollen Operatic Society are getting into a good habit at the moment as they prepare for their forthcoming Nun Run fundraising event on Sunday March 22. 

The 10km (six mile) fun walk/run will follow a picturesque route around the hills of Llangollen and it is hoped that around 40 participants will don their walking shoes or trainers to raise funds, which will be split between the society and a local charity.

To get in the spirit and ensure it really is an event like “nun” other those taking part are actively encouraged to wear ecclesiastical dress.

Passersby can therefore expect to see sisters, priests, altar boys and maybe even a bishop or two along the route, which will start at Llangollen Sports Club and progress up the Panorama before dropping down Sunbank and following the canal back into town. 

Money raised through sponsorship will make a valuable contribution towards the staging of the society’s forthcoming production of the hit musical Sister Act, which will see its North Wales premier between April 21 and 25th at Llangollen Town Hall.

A donation will also be made to Leonard Cheshire Disability in Dolywern, which is a charity close to the members’ hearts 

Sister Act producer Tracey Rawlinson said: “We have close links with Leonard Cheshire Disability and look forward to visiting the residents and staff each year in the spring to entertain them with songs from our recent production.

“The charity does fantastic work and we hope very much that the Nun Run will enable us to make a small contribution towards their running costs. 

“It will also help us to meet the costs of putting on our show. The costuming in particular will be quite expensive this year with around 30 habits to be made from scratch.”

* To support the society’s efforts by sponsoring a sister, send your donation, made payable to Llangollen & District Amateur Operatic & Dramatic Society, to Marcus Ansloos, 5 Emral Brook Close, Ruabon, LL14 6BY, or e-mail mansloos@yahoo.co.uk for further details.

Tickets for Sister Act are also now on sale online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety.

Petition calls for more community beds

Health and social care should be integrated to ease the pressure on the NHS.

 

That's the view of Mabon ap Gwynfor, long time health campaigner and Parliamentary Candidate for Plaid Cymru in Clwyd South.

 

Mr ap Gwynfor said that there were beds available in care homes which could be commissioned by the Health Board for step-down care.

 

He sited Cysgod-y-Gaer in Corwen as an example which had five beds which could be used as community beds for patients from the Dee Valley following the closure of Llangollen Hospital and the loss of 18 beds there.

 

Mr ap Gwynfor made the call as he launched a petition calling on the Health Board and Welsh Government to open more community beds in North Wales.

 

He said: “This is a very difficult winter for the Health Board, with huge ambulance queues; A&E full to bursting with patients waiting many long hours; and a shortage of GPs.

 

"Clinicians are telling us that these difficulties are in no small part down to the closure of community hospitals and the loss of hospital beds.

 

"We know that North Wales has lost some 400 hospital beds in the last five years, with 53 of those following the closure of Llangollen, Flint, Prestatyn, and Ffestiniog hospitals.

 

“The health Board and Labour Government are intent on centralising services, with Lesley Griffiths memorably comparing Wales with Birmingham.

 

"But North Wales is rural, sparse, and has different needs. We need community beds across the region.

 

"Chirk Hospital is providing a brilliant service but its full; and staff at the Maelor are doing great work in very difficult circumstances. That’s why I’ve launched this petition calling for more community hospital beds, and four hundred people have already signed it.

 

“Cysgod y Gaer Care Home in Corwen has beds which the Health Board could commission. This would help ease the pressure on District General Hospitals, and would also help Denbighshire as they are looking for a long term solution to their Care Homes.

 

"It would also start the process of what Plaid Cymru would like to see which is an integrated Health and Social Care provision.”

 

* The petition can be found at http://mabonapgwynfor.com/beds/

Man hurt in crash near Corwen

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting today that a man was injured in a serious road accident near Corwen.

For full details, see: http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/144076/man-seriously-injured-in-crash-near-corwen.aspx

Cyclist Mike pedals to epic Italian job

* Mike Edwards in action on his bike.

A KEEN Llangollen cyclist has powered his way to a riding holiday through the spectacular Italian countryside after winning an online competition.  

Mike Edwards will now be teaming up on the Italian job with his equally bike crazy son to pedal the 450 miles from Milan to Rome this September.

* Christian Edwards on the Prudential Ride
London in 2013 in which his time was 6.47.17)

Mike, 70, a retired chartered surveyor, entered the competition on the Ride25 cycling website and heard recently that he had been chosen as the winner.

 

His prize is an epic ride which takes in rolling hills, sunflowers, hilltop villages and historic delights.
 

The tour, which takes four and a half days, also offers the opportunity to see the historic cities of Piacenza, Bologna, Orvieto and Rome.  

Mike will be setting off on the adventure with his eldest son, Christian, 42, who lives in Wrexham and works as a service engineer. Like his dad, he is also an avid cyclist.

Mike said: “I am absolutely thrilled and excited to have won the competition and my son and I are looking forward to riding in Italy in September.

“I have been on holiday to Tuscany several times and those rolling hills and spectacular scenery will be great to view from my Italian bike, an Bianchi Infinito.”
 

He added: “Christian has been cycling for several years. He has completed Ride London, a 100 cycling sportive, and has also done several triathlons including a Olympic Distance 2k swim, 80k bike and 13.1m run.

“I had a big birthday last September with the numbers zero and seven but not necessarily in that order.
 

“I spent most of my working life with the old Wrexham Maelor Council and used to run with Wrexham AAC. I have completed 11 marathons including four London and two Snowdonia. 

“In recent years Chris and I have mainly concentrated on cycling, both mountain bikes - mainly at One Planet Adventure in Llandegla - and road bikes.
 

“Christian and I are cycling buddies as well as father and son. We are both doing Chirk Sprint Triathlon in April and Ashbourne in May when we will be joined by my eldest daughter Claire who is 29 who is making her triathlon debut.

“After Ashbourne Chris and I will concentrate on building up our mileage to be able to ride 450 miles in four days in Italy.

“This will probably take in the Mark Cavendish Sportive which is being held in August and includes the iconic climb of the Horseshoe Pass.”