MP urges people to speak out on driving offences

Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones is urging local residents to take part in a UK-wide Government consultation on driving offences related to causing death or serious injury.

Ms Jones, who introduced a bill to Parliament calling for tougher sentencing for driving offences, is a past recipient of the Parliamentarian of the Year award from road safety charity Brake.

She is currently campaigning for greater road safety on the A5 and A483 on both sides of the Welsh border between Oswestry and Wrexham. 

Ms Jones (pictured) has repeatedly questioned Government Ministers on road safety.

She recently led a debate in Parliament on sentencing policy, calling for the Government to review sentencing relating to road safety offences - something Ministers finally agreed to do at the end of last year.

Now she is calling on local residents to respond to the Government consultation in large numbers.

She said: "The law on driving offences in this country is totally inadequate. A previous generation changed our laws and culture to tackle the scandal of drink driving.

"We need to do the same in tackling sentences for those who kill or seriously injure people on our roads today."

* The Government's consultation can be found at  https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/driving-offences-causing-death-or-serious-injury/

Members of the public have until 1st February 2017 to respond.

Community aims to run village businesses

Members of the community in a village not far from Llangollen have embarked on an ambitious project to buy the village shop and Post Office.

The Cynwyd shop has been on the market for several years and the current owners will close the business if they don't get a buyer.

* Chair: Mabon ap Gwynfor.

Several members of the community agreed that losing the shop and Post Office would be detrimental to the village and organised a public meeting to see if the community could take the place over.

Over 65 people are now involved, and have formed the Siop Ni Cynwyd community enterprise.

Delyth Thomas of Siop Ni Cynwyd said: "The shop is right at the heart of the community. Not only does it provide an all-important service, ensuring that we all have access to some of our daily essentials, but it also acts as a community hub, with friends and neighbours having time to catch up on local issues and bind the community together.

"It would be dreadful if we were to lose the place, so we are exploring all possible avenues to see what can be done to keep it in the community."

The new group have so far received advice from the Wales Co-op Centre, Grwp Cynefin and Cadwyn Clwyd, and are in the process of applying for funding to complete a feasibility study to explore the best options available.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Chair of Siop Ni Cynwyd, said: "A lot of people have come forward willing to assist in this venture. This is a true community enterprise with everybody offering their services and chipping in.

"There is certainly a lot of good will. Grwp Cynefin, Cadwyn Clwyd and the Wales Co-op Centre have been brilliant, and we look forward to working with them to see this project to full fruition."

Cynwyd resident Alwenna Joyce said: "Keeping the shop and the Post Office in Cynwyd is vitally important, especially as we've lost the banks from every town in this region.

"We've got nowhere to pay in or take money out without having to travel some distance, and we don't have many buses here in Cynwyd. The shop sells everything and is indispensable to local residents."

Happy New Year from llanblogger

Wild Pheasant's new lease of life

The Leader is reporting that Llangollen's Wild Pheasant hotel has re-opened after a major facelift.

For the full story, see:

http://leaderlive.co.uk/news/170806/wild-pheasant-hotel-in-llangollen-is-back-in-business.aspx

Railway gala steams in next March

Llangollen Railway’s Along Birkenhead Lines Gala will take place over three days from Friday-Sunday, March 3-5.

Featuring an intensive timetable of both passenger and mixed traffic trains, a great collection of historic steam locomotives and special attractions taking place along the line, the event has something for all railway enthusiasts and families alike, according the organisers.

The weekend marks the 50th anniversary of two significant events - the last steam-hauled Cambrian Coast Express and 50 years since the last through working from London Paddington to Birkenhead (Woodside).

Work is in hand to make this gala one of the most historically accurate and authentic steam events yet achieved.

Expect to see cameos, displays, recreations and all the appropriate paper ephemera.

In addition to the railway’s home fleet, the gala will feature a number of special visiting steam locomotives – details of which will be announced very soon! 

* Download our FREE Advanced Information booklet (first edition attached) for all the latest news on the gala from:

http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/spring-steam-gala-3rd-march/ 

Merry Christmas from llanblogger!

llanblogger is now taking a short break and will be back just after Christmas.

Meanwhile, we wish all our readers the best of the festive season!

Silver Band's successful Christmas Gala

* The Youth Band on stage.

Llangollen Silver Band held their annual Christmas Gala at the Town Hall recently.

The festive event, now in it's 8th year, featured performances from the Training, Youth and Senior Bands, carols and smaller musical ensembles.

Conductor Trevor Williams also announced the winner of the band's 'Young Player of the Year' award, which this year went to 14-year-old euphonium player, Elizabeth Mwale (pictured right.

Trevor said: "Elizabeth is a talented young musician who has achieved great success this year. She is also one of the first to offer to lend a helping hand with other jobs, such as helping younger players and decorating the band room."

The grand finale of the gala saw the packed audience singing and swaying along to the senior band's renditions of Christmas classics such as 'Merry Christmas Everyone' and 'Jingle Bell Rock'.

Band Spokesman, Robert Stock, said 'Our thanks go out to all players, parents and supporters of the band for attending this event. On behalf of the band I hope you all have a merry Christmas and to see you at one one of our events in the new year.'