The Daily Post has a story today (Thursday) about a Llangollen outdoor instructor who once trained a special agent named Storm.
For the story see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/llangollen-outdoors-instructor-no-idea-8772604
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Locos from around Britain at railway's steam gala
* The Grange Class locomotive under construction at Llangollen.
Steel, Steam and Stars IV is being staged by the 6880 Betton Grange Society at the town’s heritage railway this Friday-Sunday and the following Friday-Sunday, March 13-15.
The society, which is a charitable organisation, is currently building a famous Great Western Railway “Grange Class” locomotive at the Llangollen workshops.
The new engine will be the 81st of its type but the only one still running as all its 80 1936-designed predecessors are now extinct.
Bretton Grange chairman Quentin McGuinness said: “The locomotive is advancing rapidly and will be on display in the workshops throughout the event.”
He added: “The mega gala event with simultaneous beer festival is due to commence this Friday. We expect at minimum 1,000 people a day to visit.
“A whopping total of six visiting mainline locomotives, which is unheard of at most other heritage railways, from as far away as Devon, Leicestershire, Yorkshire and Lancashire, are currently arriving at Llangollen railway to take part in this extravaganza.
“The event will utilize the newly extended railway into Corwen. A trade fair will be open at Corwen Station to support the event.”
Further information is available on the Bretton Grange website: www.6880.co.uk
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Most food businesses have good hygiene ratings
More than half of food businesses in Wales have been awarded the highest
ratings for their food hygiene standards, a year after the UK’s first statutory
scheme came into force in Wales, Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething
announced today (Wednesday).
Figures in the report show that 56% of food businesses achieved a five – a very good rating – in the year to November 2014.
There has been a 11% increase of five-rated premises in Wales since mandatory display of food hygiene ratings was first introduced in November 2013 (up from 45%).
The percentage of food businesses receiving ratings which mean improvement is required fell by 7% between November 2013 and November 2014, from around 14% to 7%. The number of businesses with the lowest rating – a zero – has fallen from 0.6% to 0.3%.
A new Food Standards Agency (FSA) report about
the scheme’s first year of operation after legislation was passed in Wales to
make it compulsory for businesses to display their ratings, shows the statutory
scheme has played a major role in improving food hygiene standards and
increasing consumer awareness across Wales.
Figures in the report show that 56% of food businesses achieved a five – a very good rating – in the year to November 2014.
There has been a 11% increase of five-rated premises in Wales since mandatory display of food hygiene ratings was first introduced in November 2013 (up from 45%).
The percentage of food businesses receiving ratings which mean improvement is required fell by 7% between November 2013 and November 2014, from around 14% to 7%. The number of businesses with the lowest rating – a zero – has fallen from 0.6% to 0.3%.
Ratings of about 100 establishments serving food
in the Llangollen area are listed on the FSA website, the vast majority of them
achieving a five.
* To check out the list, go to: http://ratings.food.gov.uk/enhanced-search/en-GB/%5E/llangollen/Relevance/0/%5E/%5E/1/1/10Band trio play their way to glory in music festival
* From left: Elizabeth Mwale, Gabriel Tranmer and Taya Castley relax in
Llangollen Silver Band’s newly refurbished annex during a break in Monday night’s band practice.
Three talented young members of Llangollen Silver Band played their
way to glory in last weekend’s
Oswestry Music Festival.
Gabriel Tranmer, 14, a pupil of St Brigit’s School in Denbigh
who plays tuba with Llangollen Youth and Senior bands, entered the competition
in four youth categories and took first place in brass solo (under 16) playing
the highly challenging and technically difficult The Trouble with the Tuba is …..
He also took first place in drum kit solo, first place in
vocal solo (musical theatre) and third place in vocal solo (own choice).
Gabriel then went on to take part in the winner’s concert
held at Christchurch Oswestry and had to
stand for adjudication against himself as winner of both the brass
section and the drum kit solo.
He became overall junior winner of the festival for his tuba
playing, earning himself a £100 bursary.
Elizabeth Mwale, 12, came second to Gabriel in the under 16 brass solo section with a
fine performance of the beautiful Baritone
Aria by Rodney Newton.
Punching well above her weight by entering this higher age
group, Elizabeth demonstrated her fast developing musical ability and her
achievement of gaining that second place and a highly commended award was a
just reward.
Taya Castley, who has been playing cornet for just over 18 months,
took first place in the 12 years and
under category for brass.
Playing the cornet solo Demelza
by Hugh Nash, she gained some complimentary remarks from the adjudicator for
her presentation.
All three players were accompanied on piano by Eirwen Jones
of Llangollen, who is Gabriel Tranmer’s grandmother.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
A483/A55 roadworks will take six weeks longer than planned
The Daily Post is reporting this afternoon that major roadworks at the Posthouse roundabout at the junction of the A483 and A55 will take six weeks longer than anticipated, bringing misery to motorists until early May.
See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a483-roadworks-posthouse-roundabout-set-8760003
See the full story at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/a483-roadworks-posthouse-roundabout-set-8760003
Police warning over jewellery thefts
Residents throughout North Wales are being urged to keep their jewellery secure as thieves target homes for high value gold and silver items.
In recent months burglars have targeted homes in search of valuables, sometimes targeting the same addresses more than once.
The thieves have posed as tradesman or scrap metal merchants and have knocked on doors to see if anyone is at home.
They then return later in the day, usually when the homes are empty, break in and steal valuable jewellery.
Suspects have also been known to park near the home of a potential victim waiting for the residents to leave.
Their tactics often include forcing entry though windows and patio doors, making extremely untidy searches of all rooms and attic spaces, adding to the distress of victims.
Detectives are actively targeting those responsible and enquiries are on-going, but North Wales Police are urging all residents to be aware of the tactics used by criminals and to take steps to keep their valuables as safe as possible.
As part of the awareness campaign the force has produced an advice leaflet in English, Welsh, Bengali and Urdu.
Detective Chief Inspector Alun Oldfield said: “This has been identified as an issue in North Wales, particularly in the Wrexham, Flinthshire and Denbighshire areas and officers have been out and about giving advice to residents on how to best protect their property.
“The thieves responsible are well organised and some are travelling into the area from further afield to target residents. It is vital, therefore, that we all work together to make life as difficult as possible for these criminals.
“There are a number of simple steps you can take to help protect your valuable jewellery:
In recent months burglars have targeted homes in search of valuables, sometimes targeting the same addresses more than once.
The thieves have posed as tradesman or scrap metal merchants and have knocked on doors to see if anyone is at home.
They then return later in the day, usually when the homes are empty, break in and steal valuable jewellery.
Suspects have also been known to park near the home of a potential victim waiting for the residents to leave.
Their tactics often include forcing entry though windows and patio doors, making extremely untidy searches of all rooms and attic spaces, adding to the distress of victims.
Detectives are actively targeting those responsible and enquiries are on-going, but North Wales Police are urging all residents to be aware of the tactics used by criminals and to take steps to keep their valuables as safe as possible.
As part of the awareness campaign the force has produced an advice leaflet in English, Welsh, Bengali and Urdu.
Detective Chief Inspector Alun Oldfield said: “This has been identified as an issue in North Wales, particularly in the Wrexham, Flinthshire and Denbighshire areas and officers have been out and about giving advice to residents on how to best protect their property.
“The thieves responsible are well organised and some are travelling into the area from further afield to target residents. It is vital, therefore, that we all work together to make life as difficult as possible for these criminals.
“There are a number of simple steps you can take to help protect your valuable jewellery:
- Ensure that your jewellery is insured.
- Keep good records – make a list and include photographs.
- Keep jewellery in a safe and secure place when it is not being worn – thieves have been known to look everywhere in the home for valuable items.
- Consider installing a safe if your jewellery is particularly valuable – ensure it is securely fitted to a permanent structure such as a solid wall or floor.
- Consider removing your valuables from the home and keeping them in a safety deposit box.
- Make sure all windows and doors and kept locked – especially when you are out.
- Ensure your home looks ‘lived in’ – even if you are out. Consider using timer switches for lights to give the impression that someone is at home.
- Try not to advertise when you will not be at home and always use lights on timers to give the impression you are home at night, even if you are not
- Other security measures such as a home security alarm or security marking system can deter thieves from targeting a property.
- Be wary when answering the door to unexpected or uninvited visitors and always ask to see identification. If you are unsure of the validity of the caller then contact the organisation they are claiming to be from. Genuine callers will not mind you doing this. If you have concerns about any cold callers, contact the police
- Report suspicious behavior.”
Traffic study appeal hits target ... just in time
* Castle Street.
The deadline to raise £1,000 through a public appeal to pay for a survey into traffic conditions in the centre of Llangollen has been hit with just hours to spare.
The local Cittaslow group is backing a plan to take
on traffic management specialists Hamilton Baillie Associates to carry out a
study into how best to the handle conflicting traffic needs in the town –
parkers, shopkeepers and pedestrians.
While a full blown survey by the firm which created
a ground-breaking scheme for Poynton in Cheshire would be £10,000, Cittaslow
has opted for a brief one-day appraisal costing just £1,000.
Town councillor Phil Thane fronted a public appeal
to raise the cash and he revealed today (Tuesday) that the cash target had been
hit just in time.
He said: “Today is deadline day for Cittaslow
Llangollen's Crowdfunder appeal to raise £1,000 to pay for a review of all the
issues affecting Castle Street. “It's been a struggle at times explaining the issues and dispelling the idea that this was just another parking survey, but we got the message out and the town responded. The appeal reached the target with several hours to spare.
“Cittaslow Llangollen are meeting this evening, and one item for discussion is finding a date to get Ben Hamilton-Baillie to town to see what the issue are, and to present us with some possible solutions to consider.
“No-one pretends £1,000 is going to solve the problem, but getting an independent expert in might just kick-start some new thinking about an old problem.”
He added: “Everyone grumbles about Castle
Street.
“Drivers in a hurry to get through would like
all parking banned, pedestrians would like safe crossings, shopkeepers need to
load and unload and want more parking for their customers, tourists want a
pleasant place to stroll.
“At the moment we have the worst of all possible
solutions, some legal parking, some illegal parking, double yellows down one
side giving motorists the illusion of a clear road - until they meet a large
vehicle coming the other way, and pedestrians running the gauntlet.
“The only good thing is that it's so chaotic the
traffic is usually slow and there haven't been any serious accidents.
“We think it could be better, but it needs a new
vision not just the county council putting down some more paint and harrassing
shopkeepers.
“Poynton's problems were much worse than ours in
Llangollen, and they've been fixed."
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