AM welcomes pledge on older people's tax break

 

*Ken Skates AM with Llangollen resident Viv Burke.

 

A promise to give older people in North East Wales ‘a £26,000 tax break’ has been welcomed by the area's Assembly Member.

The Welsh Labour has announced six key campaign pledges for May’s Assembly elections.

 

These include doubling the capital limit people can keep from the sale of their homes if they need to go into residential care.

Ken Skates, Labour AM for Clwyd South, said: “We believe that people in old age who need extra help – those who have played fair and paid in – deserve a fairer deal.

 

“We will double the capital limit they will be allowed to keep on the sale of their home should they need to go into care – effectively a £26,000 tax break for thousands of older people in Wales.”

 

Mr Skates’ constituent Viv Burke, who suffers from a degenerative condition, said the pledge would be ‘a huge help to older people and their families’.

Viv, from Llangollen, added: “My mother is in care. This would be massive for countless people like me and families like mine, and a reward for those of us who have paid their way all their lives.”

Other Welsh Labour pledges include tax cuts for all small businesses and free childcare for working parents.

Warning over council tax refund calls

Trading Standards officers in Denbighshire are warning residents to be on their guard against potential scam phone calls advising of a council tax refund.

 

The warning comes after reports were received that residents are being telephoned and the caller has some personal information such as their name, address and council tax banding.

 

Emlyn Jones, Public Protection Manager said: “This appears to be a national scam or at least a variation on similar events reported nationally.  Our advice is to put the phone down on these scammers and then report the call.  Anyone concerned about their Council Tax account is able to get more help from calling 01824 706468.

 

"If people think they've been scammed, or know someone who has fallen victim to a scam, they can get advice and report it to trading standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06, for the Welsh language service call 03454 04 05 05, or alternatively report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, to help stop it happening to others."

 

Steam Gala comes powering into Llan

*Headliner: Dinmore Manor. 

Llangollen Railway's Spring Steam Gala will take place over three days from Friday 8th April to Sunday 10th April.

Headlining the event are two very special guests: 4-6-0 No. 7820 "Dinmore Manor" and Small Prairie class 2-6-2T No. 4566.

The gala should also feature the return of the railway's resident 4-6-0 No.7822 "Foxcote Manor" following a major overhaul, supplementing locos from the LR's home fleet: 5199, 6430 & 80072. Expect to see double headers, express workings and an intensive timetable recalling the sights and sounds of the Cambrian routes in the 1950s and 60s. A gala programme including timetables will be available free from stations when purchasing tickets - while stocks last.

HIGHLIGHTS

* It's the first time two BR unlined black Manors have run together in preservation.
* Recreated named trains and railtours of the 1950s & 60s, including the 'Cambrian Coast Express'.
* First visit of No. 4566 to Llangollen in 25 years!
* Community railway film screening by New Dot Cinema (Friday evening only) in Llangollen town hall
* Illustrated Talk "A History of Railway Preservation" courtesy of the NRM (Saturday evening only).

AT THE STATIONS

Llangollen
* The Station Café Bar - serving fresh coffee, teas, soft drinks & alcoholic beverages as well as freshly prepared sandwiches and cooked meals.
* Yard and shed open for a browse - check out the progress on our new build and under overhaul locos.
* Well stocked retail shop
* Photographic display in the Henry Robertson suite on platform 1

Berwyn
* Station tea room - serving delicious home made sandwiches and cakes.
* Oldest chain link bridge in the world spans the River below the station
* Great photo opportunities from the lineside viewing area at Berwyn Tunnel (1/2 mile walk from the station)

Glyndyfrdwy
* Station tea room - serving delicious home made sandwiches and cakes.
* The Cambrian Bar - featuring a selection of real ales
* Barmouth South Signal Box open as a photographic vantage point overlooking the station
* Station shop on the platform, selling second hand books, railwayana, pictures, prints & DVDs.

Carrog
* Station refreshment room offering Tea, Coffee, freshly made sandwiches, pasties and homemade cakes
* Carriage shops selling second-hand books, railwayana, pictures & DVDs.

Corwen East
* Large car park available adjacent to the station
* Corwen Museum featuring railway displays open to the public (5 - 10 min walk). Free entry.
* Guided site tours around the under construction Corwen Central station.
* Refreshments (subject to availability)

FARES

One Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £23, Senior – £20, Child – £12, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £50
One Day Rover – On the day: Adults – £25, Senior – £22, Child – £16, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £60

Two Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £42, Senior – £36, Child – £22, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £90
Two Day Rover – On the Day: Adults – £45, Senior – £40, Child – £29, Family (2 adults & 2 children)– £108

Three Day Rover – Advance: Adults – £55, Senior – £48, Child – £29, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £120
Three Day Rover – On the Day: Adults – £60, Senior – £53, Child – £38, Family (2 adults & 2 children) – £144

Standard Return (not available to pre book)  – Adult – £18, Senior – £16, Child – £10, Family – £48.

Full details including the latest programme can be found at: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-8th-april/

           

County completes traveller site study

Denbighshire County Council has completed an assessment of gypsy and traveller accommodation and will be presenting its findings to the Welsh Government later this month.

 

All local authorities are required to undertake an up to date assessment by February 26 and every five years after that.

 

The 2015-16 assessment has been carried out jointly with Conwy County Borough Council.

 

This was as a result of the 2013 assessment which called for a shared transit site for the two authorities as a high proportion of unauthorised encampments occur in the north of the county in the border area.

 

The county does not currently have any authorised sites for gypsies and travellers.

 

Councillor Hugh Irving, Cabinet Lead Member for Communities, said: “The latest assessment has revealed a clear need for a transit site(s) or stopping place given the incidence of unauthorised encampments and under the Housing (Wales) Act, the Council will be required to address this need.

 

“The need for any future provision of sites is a regional issue, given the movement of gypsies and travellers in North Wales and the limited Welsh Government funding available for sites."

 

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, said: “New guidance from the Welsh Government specifies that authorities should consider a regional approach in relation to the development of new gypsy and traveller transit sites and Cabinet has approved this approach."

Museum hosts history talk tonight

Eisteddfod prize of trip Down Under

* Competition at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod.

A fabulous 10,000-mile trip Down Under to one of the world’s biggest cultural festivals is the prize for one lucky winner at this summer’s 70^th Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The title of International Voice of Musical Theatre in July will come with a paid-for trip to Australia’s Gold Coast Eisteddfod in October to sing in their Musicale event.

The invitation follows a visit to last year’s Eisteddfod by representatives of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod, held in Queensland’s stunning tropical beachside city for the past 33 years.

The Musicale follows seven weeks of competition featuring over 70,000 singers and dancers, most of them under 20, and including 350 bands and orchestras, 175 choirs, almost 1500 dance groups and over 3,000 solo dancers.

Judith Ferber, the Gold Coast Eisteddfod’s General Manager, said: “We visited Llangollen in July and we loved it. It’s quite different from ours though it has the same ideals.

“We were very keen to forge international links. That has been our aim and we’ve done it very successfully.

“Llangollen has the concerts at night and we really enjoyed the friendship, the company and the location and we’re firmly of the belief that it is a wonderful event and hopefully with this prize we have enhanced it even more.

“We were very impressed with what we saw and we came back with some ideas and have spoken with the people at Llangollen and we have offered this prize for the winner of the International Voice of Musical Theatre.”

This year’s winner of the event, open to singers under the age of 28 on the day of competition, and which also carries with it a prize of an International Medal and £1500, will also receive a fabulous bonus.

They will be flown out to Queensland for the October Musicale, to sing in a concert featuring 20 of the winners from the Gold Coast Eisteddfod and Judith Ferber added: “We thought it was a fabulous idea.

“We wanted an international connection and because the winner of the prize will be a young person, probably in their 20s, it will be a wonderful opportunity.

“We will pay for the flights and we will put them up and a companion if they want to bring one, and we’ll show them some great hospitality and we can help if they would like to spend longer in Australia and see more of the country.

“October is our spring so it’s a lovely time of year and we’ll make sure they have a really good time.”

Eilir Owen Griffitths, Musical Director at Llangollen, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the winner of this competition in July and can really open some doors for them.

“Llangollen has always been about forging international links and friendships and we’re hugely grateful to the people at the Gold Coast Eisteddfod for this wonderful offer and we are sure this is a relationship which will flourish over the years.

“It should certainly ensure that what has become a very popular and competitive event since it was introduced two years ago will attract singers from even further afield.

“We have always been known especially for the quality of our choral competitions and with the introduction of this category alongside the International Voice of the Future and International Young Musician we have a very strong hand of prestigious solo competitions.”

This year’s Eisteddfod begins on Tuesday, July 5, when the preliminaries for the Voice of Musical Theatre competition will be held with the final held the following day on the stage in the Royal International Pavilion.

The closing date for entries to all the solo competitions at Llangollen 2016 is Friday, March 4, and successful applicants will be notified before March 25.

On Tuesday evening superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme of concerts off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen while Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition.

Thursday will be Voices of the World and the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World while Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be dedicated mainly to the dance groups with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax in the evening.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite switched from its usual Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the Choirs of the World and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Silver Band youngsters in the honours

* Taya Castley and Elizabeth Mwale with their silverware.

Two young members of Llangollen Silver Band have scooped first prize in a prestigious brass contest.

At the North Wales Brass Band Association's contest held at the Galeri in Caernarfon, Taya Castley and Elizabeth Mwale, both aged 13, won first prize in the under 14's section of the J.B. Williams Challenge Shield for Duets.

Taya (on cornet) and Elizabeth (baritone), put in a highly polished performance of  Pleasant Moments by Geo Hawkins and beat off strong competition to claim first place.

Band spokesman, Robert Stock, said: "The band are extremely proud of the girls' achievement and it's great to see the talents of our young players being recognised on a national level."