Vicar's charity cycle marathon

LEJOG –

Land’s End to John O’Groats 2015

Charity Cycle Ride:

25 July - 4 August 2015

 

* The Rev Andrew Sully is getting on his bike.

For ACTION DUCHENNE,

Looking for a cure to

Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy: 

 

www.justgiving.com/andrew-sully1

Llan MP will give her pay rise to charity

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones says she will be donating her latest pay rise to charity.

Her pledge not to pocket the extra 10 per cent comes after the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has announced that MPs' salaries will rise from £67,060 to £74,000.

The pay increase has been approved despite Downing Street and a succession of MPs saying it was "not appropriate".

IPSA chairman Sir Ian Kennedy said that MPs' pay had been a "toxic" issue "which had been ducked for decades".

He said the pay rise would not cost any money because it was being combined with cuts to expenses, pension and severance payments for MPs.

But Ms Jones (pictured left) said: "I have never supported the idea of a substantial pay rise for MPs and during the public consultation, I urged my constituents to write in against.

"Although I welcome the fact that it is now an outside body and not MPs that decides on MPs' pay, I remain unchanged in my views.  I also continue to hold the belief that MPs should not have second jobs.

"I know some people will say that there are many jobs - including senior public sector jobs in our area - where the pay is far greater than for MPs. Other people will point out that some of the MPs pay-rise is in fact the result of changes in pension and other arrangements.

"That's all true, but when so many people in the public and private sectors have only low or sometimes no annual rises and our local Councils in Wrexham and Denbighshire don't even pay everyone the Living Wage, I think there are real issues about the proposed rise.

"For that reason, I will be donating any rise in the remuneration I get to local charities."

Poisonous weeds growing near Llan, claims councillor

See responses at foot of story

* Cllr Davies' picture of what he says is Giant Hogweed growing in
the hedgerows on the Round the Valley road in Llangollen.

A COUNTY councillor has blamed “silly” biodiversity for what he believes is a poisonous plant being able to grow in the countryside around Llangollen and which he claims is putting at risk cyclists in a major downhill race.

Stuart Davies, who represents the area on Denbighshire County Council, says he has grave concerns about the lack of verge cutting in and around Llangollen.

He said: “I have been receiving complaints about overgrown verges on side roads and I’ve found that biodiversity is the reason.

“Unelected bodies are interfering in our lives and officers are not being allowed to cut the verges until late July because of advice from these bodies.

“However, the effect of this is that side-roads such as the Round the Valley road in Llangollen have been reduced to a single lane.”

“I drove along there recently on a fact-finding mission and the overgrowth was so bad that I had to reverse for half a mile to allow a van to come through due to the passing places being overgrown

“Not only that but the overgrowth was infested with nettles and Giant Hogweed.

“The Giant Hogweed is the plant that was in the national news last week as the cause of that poor little girl’s burned hands.”

He added: “A major international downhill cycle race is taking place there at the end of the month, and competitors and spectators will have difficulty accessing the site because of the overgrowth.

“On top of this there is the danger that cyclists will brush against the poisonous weeds and suffer severe burns.

“I have spoken with county highway officers and have told them that the overgrown verges must be cut immediately.

"In the long term I am going to take this matter to scrutiny committee and make sure that these silly biodiversity issues do not impact and do not harm the majority of people who live here in Llangollen.”

A county council spokesperson said: “This is something of a perennial problem that is hotly debated in the council and communities on a fairly frequent basis.

“It is a situation where both sides of the argument are equally valid, backed up by equally balanced legislation between the need for highway safety and the need to encourage biodiversity in our rural areas.

“It is a matter councillors have discussed and debated at length through full council, at cabinet and scrutiny in order to arrive at a suitable compromise and we are aiming to cut the verges in accordance with what councillors have agreed.

“I can confirm that the verges will be cut in time for the downhill bike race.”

* Response from a llanblogger reader to this story ...

I am writing about the above article that appeared on the Llanblogger on 16/07/15 quoting Councillor Stuart Davies for blaming '''silly” biodiversity for what he believes is a poisonous plant being able to grow in the countryside around Llangollen and which he claims is putting at risk cyclists in a major downhill race.'  I would like to respond to this article:

I have lived on the edge of the ‘Round the Valley road’ or Pengwern Vale for 7 ½ years and regularly pass along the road either on foot or by car.  I know the location of the photo taken by Mr Davies and have visited the site this evening.  I can categorically state that the plant he is referring to is the native/ ‘common’ Hogweed Heracleum sphondylium found throughout the British Isles.  Rather than being the related non-native poisonous plant Giant Hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum, the common Hogweed is indeed edible: in Richard Mabey’s book ‘Food for Free’ it is described: ‘Cooked like asparagus, the young shoots are marvellously fleshy’.  I am an ecologist (with a Masters degree in Vegetation Survey and Assessment) with over 15 years of experience: I can state that I do not know anywhere along Pengwern Vale, or indeed in Llangollen, where Giant Hogweed grows (I am of course happy to be corrected on this if any readers of Llanblogger know otherwise!).  I would suggest to Mr Davies that he checks his facts thoroughly before writing such a provocative article. 

I would like to point out another inaccuracy in the article.  He refers to the ‘Round the Valley Road’ being ‘reduced to a single lane’ by uncut road verges: I would suggest that this has nothing to do with the state of the verges, but rather that the carriageway provides a single lane, full stop; there are passing areas stationed every so often as is the case on other such minor roads across the country. 

I would also like to address what I consider to be the broader, and more worrying, tone of his comments: that biodiversity is ‘silly’ and that he will take this matter to the scrutiny committee ‘and make sure that these silly biodiversity issues do not impact and do not harm the majority of people who live here in Llangollen’.  Llangollen is a rural town situated in one of the most picturesque locations in the country of which the majority of residents are rightly proud.  It is also in an AONB, the website of which states that it embraces ‘some of the UKs most wonderful landscapes’.  In my view, biodiversity, far from being ‘silly’, is a key component of the landscape and it is something I am sure that the vast majority of people in Llangollen value and cherish.  Furthermore it is critical for the health and sustainability of future generations, something I am sure Mr Davies has a keen interest in, that biodiversity is considered to be important and of value to society.  As a councillor Mr Davies could play a key role in educating the Council and the wider public with this message to ensure that this resource is retained for future generations. 

I would implore Mr Davies, and his fellow councillors, to look at the website and campaign of ‘Plantlife’ (the national wild plant charity) on rural road verges: http://www.plantlife.org.uk/roadvergecampaign.  This states the following: ‘Rural road verges are a vital refuge for wild flowers driven out of our farmland.  In turn, wild flowers support our birds, bees and other wildlife.  We want to see road verges managed better whilst remaining safe for motorists.  Not only can it be done – it could save money as well...’  In these days of austerity is cutting road verges, particularly on rural roads like Pengwern Vale, such a high priority, particularly where poisonous plants don’t exist?!?  Mr Davies might also wish to ask himself whether he likes honey??....if we continue to lose our ‘wild habitats’ at the same pace as today and/ or continue to mismanage them, many of life’s pleasure that they sustain (such as honey), or directly provide, may in the future be only learnt about in history lessons. 

Max Ellson

Further response from Gill Thomas ...

Although common hogweed has traditionally been used as food and is not as dangerous as giant hogweed, it still contains a furano-coumarin which can cause blisters and skin pigmentation when the sap comes in contact with the skin, which is then exposed to sunlight. To avoid this problem, the advice is to wash the skin immediately with soap and water and avoid exposure to sunlight for several days. To get this into perspective, common hogweed abounds in the Llangollen area, including my own garden and I have never experienced a problem with it, but anyone attempting to remove the plants should wear gloves and eye protection. This advice goes for many plants we might come in contact with. People may be interested in an article on the subject in next month’s Llangollen News.

Further response from Max Ellson ... 

Firstly I sincerely hope that this useful discussion does not distract from the central premise of my response to Mr Davies’s article: I passionately believe that wild plants and biodiversity in general need to be stood up for more often as they provide vital services for the well being of our planet, as well as enriching people’s lives.  Referring to biodiversity as ‘silly’ is inappropriate, disrespectful and should not be considered acceptable language in 2015. 

Further to Gill Thomas's informative response however I accept that common Hogweed does contain a furano-coumarin in its sap.  It is widely accepted however that this plant cannot be considered to be dangerous to any of the same degree as the related Giant Hogweed.  The following link provides a very useful and informed summary on the issue: http://monicawilde.com/is-common-hogweed-poisonous/, which I would urge people to read.  It starts off by stating that 'Common Hogweed is not poisonous'.  There are also many websites (e.g. http://www.thebotanist.com/articles/common-hogweed) extolling its culinary uses. 

I think it is fair to suggest that some people can be allergic to common Hogweed in certain situations/ if handled incorrectly, just as they can with even Celery or Parsnips which are in the same plant family.  The first cited web-article concludes by stating that 'Common hogweed is variable in sap phototoxicity with the most cases of phytophototoxicity reports coming from people who have attacked it with a strimmer’ and further that ‘Even strimming nettles can result in minor burn spots with semi-permanent staining’.  As with Gill, I have never experienced any problems with common Hogweed; nor do I know anyone who has.  I look forward to Gill’s forthcoming article on this subject with interest.   

Finally, as Giant Hogweed is not present along Pengwern Vale, road users (including walkers and cyclists) should have very little to be concerned about if the road verges were managed for the benefit of biodiversity, as would be the case for the vast majority of roads in the British Isles. 

New Dot Cinema launches in fine style

* A packed Town Hall at the launch of New Dot Cinema.

BIG screen spectaculars are back in Llangollen after an absence of half a century.

The old Dorothy picture house in Castle Street showed its last film to a paying audience 50 years ago.

* Audience members get into
costume for the occasion.

But the movies are back following the launch of the New Dot community cinema at the Town Hall last night (Wednesday).

A group of dedicated volunteers has spent months working on the project to recreate the magic of regular picture shows.

And their efforts were rewarded when a capacity crowd lapped up every minute of the first show in a Town Hall which had been given the look of a bijou cinema of the 1930s complete with couches and shaded lamps.

The film chosen for the premiere was, appropriately, the Oscar-winning silent picture, The Artist, and there was a full supporting bill including classic shorts starring the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Betty Boop.

There was also a montage of stills pictures from Llangollen’s past supplied by the town’s museum.

The audience, who had been asked to get into the spirit of things by turning up in costume from the golden age of Hollywood, were able to enjoy a full bar plus stands offering homemade cakes, tea and coffee.

The evening was introduced by the mayor, Cllr Mike Adams, who gave a warm welcome to the project.

New Dot aims to show one speciality film a month at the Town Hall and those planned for the rest of the year include Mon Oncle by Jacques Tati, a creepy from 1962 called Carnival of Souls and a film from last year called Northern Soul.

 

 

* Charlie Chaplin on screen.

* ... and on stage.

 

 

 

 

 

Sainsbury's says interest shown in Llan site

Sainsbury’s has told Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates that a “number of people” are interested in taking over the site on the A5 in Llangollen where it is now intending to build a new supermarket.

The revelation has come in an email to Mr Skates from a senior official of the company.

David Mills tells the AM: “We are in advanced discussions with a number of people interested in the site.

“I am hopeful we can give you some more concrete news in August.”

Mr Skates said:  “It’s very encouraging to hear that there is serious interest in the Sainsbury’s development and that the company is in advanced talks with a number of potential tenants.

“I am hoping to have a meeting with Sainsbury’s next month, so I look forward to being able to give my constituents some more good news following the announcement regarding the Dobson & Crowther buy-out earlier this week.

“Whatever happens, we won’t be left with an empty shell.

“The Sainsbury’s building will be finished and it will be occupied, which will mean jobs created for the people of Llangollen and money being invested in the town.” 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies, a strong supporter of the supermarket plan, said: “I am more than happy that there looks as if there will be a good outcome to this saga.

“The printworks and supermarket development was always about jobs and that was what I was elected on.

“Hopefully, the new owners of the printworks will be able to take on the old, massively experienced workforce as well as the proposed new tenants of the supermarket site being able to take on a similar amount of people as Sainsbury’s would have.

“I see that the prime objectors to the original applications have now done a massive U-turn, via a news website, on the printworks http://llanblogger.blogspot.co.uk

“How hypocritical. Are they going to do the same thing to these potential new tenants of the other site who will be offering jobs to Llangollen people?”

Response from Keep Llangollen Special ...

The latest batch of disingenuous, triumphalist and snide remarks about U-turns has appeared, attempting to mask the succession of bad decisions which led to the supermarket failure and the printworks failure. KLS has always sought to protect jobs and business in Llangollen and never once placed any at risk by making unrealistic promises

 

We said the proposed Sainsbury’s wasn’t viable. Events proved that to be true.

 

We said that Dobson & Crowther wasn’t viable in the current economic climate. Events proved that to be true as well.

 

All the rest has been character assassination, which we wholly reject.

 

What emerges clearly is the residents of Llangollen are always excluded from negotiations by old-school paternal politics. Even now, details are being kept secret from us, stifling any discussion or debate on our own future.

 

From anyone’s point of view, the first priority should be to protect – even strengthen – the heart of Llangollen, and we support any new, complementary business which provides skilled work. This has been our position from the outset and no amount of self-aggrandising spin can alter that. Uppermost in our minds should always be forward-thinking for the futures of our youngsters, a priority KLS has never lost sight of for short-term gain.

 

Chair ΞKeep Llangollen SpecialΞ

Top stunt team to perform at Llangollen bike show

The On The Edge Trials Stunt Display Team will be performing amazing feats of skill and daring on both days of the Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest 15 – on August 1 and 2.

Billed as the world’s best stunt riders, the team is led by Jack Challoner and Martin Crosswaite, who between them have won multiple British, European and world trials championships.

Their show includes 15ft jumps up vertical walls, amazing ‘drop offs’ and a range of freestyle tricks, some of which can only be attempted by a handful of riders throughout the world.

Show organiser Harry Edwards, who is out of hospital and recovering well after a bike accident, said: “These guys are a must-see, but LlanBikeFest 15 will be a real family event with something for everyone, not just bike fans.”

Attractions will include live bands, a vintage funfair, face-painting for kids of all ages by Glitterbugz and the opportunity to meet and handle some beautiful birds of prey with Rockcliffe Raptors.

The show will be opened on Saturday, August 1 by seven-times TT winner Mick Grant and Carl ‘Foggy’ Fogarty MBE, (pictured above) the most successful World Superbike (WSB) racer of all time.

On Sunday, August 2, more than 100 classic trials machines will compete in a stage of the Northern British Bike Pre-65 Trials Championship (NBBC).

All of the bikes are at least 50 years old and will be ridden on the Llangollen Pavilion show site from 11 am to 2pm, as part of a championship round hosted by Llangollen and District Motorcycle Club.

The Llangollen site has previously hosted successful bike shows – the last in 2011 – but LlanBikeFest 15 is being organised by a new team of local motorcycle enthusiasts, led by Harry Edwards.

Follow the event on Twitter at @llanbikefest and Facebook at Llangollen International Motorcycle Festival. 

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies is supporting this event.

He said: "As a life-long biker I welcome this event to the Pavilion and hope it goes well and that we can add it to the list of annual events that are taking place at this superb venue."

* Book tickets and stands online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk or contact the festival office at 07960 693398 or office@llanbikefest.co.uk.

First woman bishop preaches at St Collen's

* The eisteddfod service at St Collen's last Sunday. 

In her sermon at St Collen’s annual eisteddfod service last Sunday, the Church of England’s first woman bishop drew a comparison between Christian worship and singing in a choir.

Llangollen’s parish church was almost full to hear the Rt Rev Libby Lane, Bishop of Stockport, (pictured below) as guest preacher.  

She explained that it was a long time since she had sung regularly in a choir but, growing up, she sang with her mother in the local choral society and at school in a chamber choir, and later on in the chapel choirs at university and theological college.

“And while my singing may not be notable, I learnt extraordinarily important values from being part of a choir,” she said.

“I learnt about mutuality. Choirs get better when they learn to be mutually dependent.

“Those with the strongest voices are not always the best choir member.

“By definition it is not possible to be a choir on your own. The capacity to listen, and take account of one another, is key to effective choral singing, I remember.

“There is something extraordinarily valuable is learning both to take responsibility for your own contribution, while simultaneously accepting responsibility for the actions of others.

“It is a lesson in Christlikeness, in living out the gospel.”

The Bishop added: “In love and obedience to God in Christ we each have responsibility for our own engagement and participation, and we all have responsibility for the engagement and participation of one another.

“Like the voices that make up a choir, what we bring will be particular to us but essential to the whole.”

The general theme of the service was “For those in peril on the sea” and all donations from the congregation went to the Mission for Seafarers.