Llangollen Railway Station on the big screen

* A scene from the black and white film shot on Llangollen Station in 1896.

New Dot Community Cinema's next screening, tomorrow (Friday) evening, includes some rarely seen train footage with local connections.

In addition to the main feature, which is Buster Keaton's masterful The General, two well-chosen short films will be on the programme.

The whole evening has been designed to complement Llangollen Railway's Victorian Weekend which is this Saturday and Sunday.

The first short is one of the very first 'moving pictures'. Incredibly it was shot in 1896 and shows Victorian men and women waiting on the platform at Llangollen station in top hats and full-length skirts.
The camera was strapped to the front of a steam train as it follows the line from the direction of Ruabon and long-gone buildings can be made out along the way.

The second vintage short is The Elizabethan Express, a British Transport Film from the 1950s with a rhyming narration.

It features a non-stop service from London to Edinburgh and focuses on the human side, as well as the gleaming brass and oiled steel.

Interestingly, the retro buffet car featured in the film can now be found on Llangollen Railway itself.

Buster Keaton is a well-known star of 1920s silent films. In the main feature, the General is the name of his character's much-loved train during the American Civil War.

This entrancing action-comedy-thriller will quickly make you forget there's no audible dialogue.
Tickets are available at the door or online.

New Dot Cinema has just released its new programme which has a nicely balanced mix of films from challenging to feel-good.

Friday May 12, 7.30pm for 8pm (ends 10pm, includes an intermission.)

Tickets: £8 adult, £6 concession, £5 child, £4 Victorian costume.

They screen once a month upstairs at Llangollen Town Hall on Castle Street and more information can be found at www.newdotcinema.org or on their Facebook page: @NewDotCinema

Labour launches Clwyd South election campaign

* Susan Elan Jones, centre, and supporters launch her campaign for Clwyd South.  

Welsh Labour’s Susan Elan Jones launched her re-election campaign promising to be the “local and loyal” candidate in Clwyd South.

Launching her campaign at Ty Mawr Country Park in Cefn Mawr, Ms Jones said: “I was born and brought up in Clwyd South and as MP I worked tirelessly for the area I love.

“If re-elected, I will continue to champion our local businesses, voluntary organisations and social enterprises such as Brymbo Heritage Group and Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, oppose Tory/UKIP plans to privatise our NHS and campaign for more investment in local health services, including a new facility for Cefn Mawr.

“I will stand up against Tory austerity which hits the most vulnerable, including disabled people, hardest and fight Tory plans for a hard Brexit which fails to put Welsh jobs and the interests of working people first. I will also continue to promote our local cultural economy, including Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and the Welsh language.”

Retired vicar of Pentre Broughton, Rev R Glynne Owen said: “One of Susan's best qualities is how she works with and for everyone. I know many people of different political persuasions who will be supporting Susan because they know she’ll always put our area first.”

Former Mayor of Llangollen, Bob Lube, said: “Susan has worked incredibly hard as our MP, helping protect us from the worst of Tory cuts to public spending in Wales. It would be a crying shame if she was replaced by a career politician who doesn't live here.”

Assembly Member Ken Skates said local council results in Clwyd South last week showed the level of support for Welsh Labour remained high.

“We held five seats in Clwyd South, with all sitting councillors returned, and made superb gains in Chirk and Llangollen, topping the polls in both areas. We also increased our overall number of councillors in the constituency.

“At the General Election, the fight is between Susan – who comes from and cares about our community – and the Tories. A vote any other party will simply help the Tories sneak in.”

Tory chief whip visits Llan as campaigning begins

*From left, Gavin Williamson, Chris Smith and Simon Baynes.

Simon Baynes, the Welsh Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Clwyd South, brought the Government Chief Whip Gavin Williamson MP, to visit shops, restaurants and other businesses in Llangollen yesterday (Tuesday) morning including the new ice cream shop Flavours run by Chris Smith on Abbey Road opposite the Llangollen Steam Railway.

Simon Baynes said: "Llangollen looked its best today in the sunshine and Mr Williamson was very impressed by the range of shops and businesses in the centre of Llangollen and wished everyone a very successful summer season this year.

"Tourism is so important to Llangollen and we must do all within our powers to help and encourage it."

Make a bee-line for Plas Newydd on May 27

* You could become a busy bee at Plas Newydd on May 27. 

People are invited to Plas Newydd on Saturday May 27, between 11am and 4pm, to celebrate all things bee friendly. 

You can help Chester Zoo discover bumblebees, join the Wildlife Trust in their outdoor lab, or follow the busy bee trail. 

There will be honey tasting, face painting, and a prize for the best pollinator fancy dress.

The event is part of a local bid for Llangollen to become a Bee Friendly Town in a new national accreditation scheme launched by Welsh Government and Friends of the Earth Cymru. 

Right now bees are facing decline due to habitat loss, exposure to harmful pesticides, and climate change. 

Bees pollinate fruit and vegetables and without them Friends of the Earth estimates that it would cost farmers at least £1.8 billion a year to hand pollinate crops. 

The scheme aims to raise awareness and improve conditions for pollinators through providing pollinator-friendly food sources, places for insect pollinators to live, decreasing the use of harmful chemicals, and involving the whole community in having fun helping pollinators. 

Launching the new scheme, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths said: “While the focus of the campaign is very much on encouraging people to get involved in an enjoyable way there is a serious message too.  Pollinators are in decline and this risks our capacity to produce food, timber and fibre.”

Local group coordinator Sarah Slater said: “We’re really hoping lots of people will join us at Plas Newydd on the 27^th for an exciting day out. 

"We’ll have lots of activities and stalls for adults and children of all ages, and people can learn about fun ways to protect pollinators in their local areas.  Hopefully with the support of local people Llangollen can become a Bee Friendly Town.”

Incident closes A5 between Fron and Cefn Mawr

UPDATE

* The incident now appears to be over with the road open again ....


Just before 12noon today (Sunday) Traffic Wales was reporting on its website an incident which it says has closed the A5 in both directions from Fron to Cefn Mawr.

The incident is described as "severe".

Veterans and families to get extra support

Veterans and their families across North Wales are set to benefit from additional support from local authorities following the award of over £230,000 by the Ministry of Defence.

The award will fund the employment of two Armed Forces Liaison Officers (AFLO) dedicated to strengthening the delivery of the Armed Forces Community Covenant across the region by ensuring the fair and respectful treatment of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

The officers’ remit will include reviewing existing policies and procedures in areas including human resources, social care, education and housing.

Officers will also ensure the needs of the armed forces community are considered in new strategic plans and service changes linked to, for example, the Well-being of Future Generations Act, and the Social Services and Well-being Act.

The officers will seek to establish the size and complement of the region’s armed forces community, and to establish clear lines of communication so that information can flow to and from community members more effectively.

There will be a focus on training for front line staff, allowing them to better understand and support the needs of the armed forces community.

Dr Mohammed Mehmet, Denbighshire County Council’s Chief Executive, said: “This is excellent news and I pass on my thanks to the officers responsible for securing this award.

"Armed forces personnel, veterans and their families can be assured that in North Wales we are committed to ensuring they will not be disadvantaged by the service they have given to their country."

The award will be administered by Wrexham Council on behalf of the six local authorities in North Wales.

County and town council election results

Llangollen - results

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Graham Timms	Labour	659	29%	Elected
Thomas Melvyn Mile	Independent	658	29%	Elected
Stuart Arthur Davies	Independent	657	29%	Not elected
Robert Spalding	The Green Party	263	12%	Not elected

County council overall

Party name	Seats won	% of votes
Conservative	16	34%
Labour	13	26%
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales	9	10%
Independent	8	25%
Liberal Democrats	1	4%
The Green Party	0	< 1%
Socialist Labour Party	0	< 1%
Turnout:		35%

Town Council results

Election Candidate	Party	Votes	%
Jean Robb McKean Burrell	Independent	683	13%	Elected
Robert Lube	Labour	636	12%	Elected
Thomas Melvyn Mile	Independent	626	12%	Elected
George Hughes	Independent	552	10%	Elected
Isobel Anne Richards	Independent	463	9%	Elected
Austin Francisco Cheminais	Independent	405	8%	Elected
Robyn Claire Lovelock	Independent	396	7%	Elected
Jonathan Peter Haddy	Independent	363	7%	Elected
Karen Anne Edwards	Independent	353	7%	Elected
Anthony William Baker	Independent	327	6%	Elected
Andrew William Beech	Independent	285	5%	Elected
Martina Roberts	Independent	256	5%	Not elected