Assurances called for on Llan bank's future

* Cllr Bob Lube, Cllr Graham Timms and Ken Skates AM

 outside the branch.

Community leaders have called for assurances over the long-term future of the only remaining bank in their town.

County Councillor Graham Timms has contacted Barclays after it emerged the company wants to reduce opening hours in Llangollen to three days a week from July 24.

“We simply cannot lose this bank. I will be writing to Jonathan Brenchley, Barclays’ head of corporate relations in Wales, to try and get some answers,” said Cllr Timms.

Assembly Member Ken Skates has also contacted the company.

He said: “Not only is Barclays the only bank in Llangollen, it’s the last remaining branch anywhere in Clwyd South following closures in Brymbo, Cefn Mawr, Chirk, Corwen, Rhos and Ruabon – as well as HSBC and NatWest in Llangollen – in the past few years.”

Last year Mr Skates asked for – and received – reassurances from Barclays that the Llangollen branch was safe ‘for the immediate future’. He also encouraged constituents to use the branch as often as they can to keep footfall up.

“In many people’s eyes, reducing opening hours is only a few steps away from closure, so I have asked Barclays for a further commitment to Llangollen,” said Cllr Timms.

“Only once in the past seven years or so has Barclays closed the last remaining bank in any town in Wales, so I hope they will continue to operate with a greater degree of social responsibility than other banks have shown to people in our area.”

Town councillor and former mayor Bob Lube added: “It would be a sad day for Llangollen if this branch closed, particularly after so many people switched when HSBC and NatWest shut.”

The changes will see the branch open on Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 10am-4pm.

Politicians voice concern over bus service changes

* Ken Skates AM, left, with Susan Elan Jones MP and Welsh First Minister

Carwyn Jones in Coedpoeth recently.

Changes to bus services could cut ‘lifelines’ for residents in Wrexham’s outlying villages, say an MP and AM.

Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates have written to Arriva, Wrexham Council and the Traffic Commissioner about the company’s plans to restrict some of its routes from June 25, which have been heavily criticised by disgruntled service users.

Ms Jones, who was recently re-elected as Clwyd South MP, said: “I’ve spoken to a lot of people who are extremely upset about these changes, particularly older people who see these services as a lifeline connecting them to their communities and essential amenities such as their doctor, pharmacy or post office. A lot of people will be affected.”

Mr Skates said he’d made representations on behalf of residents in areas including Coedpoeth, Penycae, Rhostyllen and the Maelor villages.

“In Penycae, these changes will see key areas such as the Afoneitha estate hugely affected, and people fear they will be completely cut off,” he said.

“Arriva has stated that long-running parking issues hindering access to the estate have contributed to its decision, so I would implore Wrexham Council to act as a matter of urgency.

“Residents in the Maelor villages successfully campaigned for their 146 service to be reinstated, now it’s up in the air again. Their last bus would leave Wrexham at 4.45pm, so how are those who commute there every day for work supposed to get home?”

Mr Skates added: “Susan and I have made urgent representations to Arriva, the council and the Traffic Commissioner and hope to hear back in the very near future.”

Disgust over mess left at Riverside Park

A Llangollen resident has spoken of his disgust at the pile of rubbish which he says was left by visitors around a picnic bench at Riverside Park over the weekend.

Mike Edwards said: "A friend of mine posted this photo on Facebook of the mess left by visitors down by the river.

"It's absolutely disgusting and irresponsible and shows the disrespect visitors show to our beautiful town, which is close to a World Heritage Site and part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty."

Piano prodigy to play at major music festival

*Julian Gonzalez, 17, a pupil of Ysgol Dinas Bran, at the piano.

A "breath-takingly talented" young pianist will have a starring role at the launch concert of an international music festival - just after sitting an A level exam.

Julian Gonzalez, 17, a pupil of Ysgol Dinas Bran, in Llangollen, will be enchanting the audience at St Asaph Cathedral at 7.30pm on Wednesday, June 28.

The concert will be the curtain-raiser for the acclaimed North Wales International Music Festival that will be staged at the same venue from Saturday, September 16 to Saturday, September 30.

Hours after finishing his maths exam Julian will be performing two solo pieces of work at the festival.

He began playing the piano under the watchful eye of Ann Atkinson, who also happens to be the artistic director of the festival which has a track record for nurturing young musical talent.

The event's resident orchestra is NEW Sinfonia which was founded by conductor Robert Guy and his brother, Jonathan, a clarinettist, who were regulars at the festival's music masterclasses when they were younger.

Another stellar name who came through the ranks was royal composer Paul Mealor who was mentored by the festival's founder, the late Professor William Mathias.

Again this year, the festival is being supported by the Arts Council of Wales and Ty Cerdd and the sponsors include the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park and the Colwinston Charitable Trust.

Although music is Julian's passion, he has chosen to study mathematics at university.

He said: “I’ve always enjoyed playing the piano and as soon as I started playing there was a real connection between the instrument and me. I always enjoyed and looked forward to my piano practice and worked with Ann Atkinson every week from the age of seven and later with the renowned pianist, Iwan Llewelyn Jones.

“However, as much as I love music I see playing as a hobby really. I really want to pursue mathematics as a career so that’s what I’m focusing on. But things might change!”

“Last year I attended a master class at the festival, given by Montreal-born pianist Janina Fialkowska. I learnt so much and she showed me a whole new way of interpreting music and understanding just what the composer is trying to say.

"I really enjoy any classical music but in particular the romantic period. I suppose if I had to choose a favourite composer it would be Rachmaninov although Chopin and Liszt are also right up there too.

“I’m going to be playing two solo pieces at the North Wales International Music Festival, Prelude in C Minor by Rachmaninov and Nocturne in D flat major by Chopin. They are both major pieces and, in a way, reflect my own musical journey.

“The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Journeys’ and I have chosen to play what are two major pieces by two of the very best composers.”

Julian, who also plays the French horn, practices for two hours a day, every day, on his own Seiler baby grand piano at his home in Carrog, near Corwen.

He added: “It’s something I never tire of really; I just enjoy playing and practicing. However, each piano has its own tone and feel and I will practice on the piano I will be using in the concert in St Asaph Cathedral beforehand.

“My parents, my mum, Morag and dad Gregorio, who is of Bolivian descent, will be at the concert and maybe my sister, Alice too. Alice is 21 and did play the piano but no longer does so.

“I have been to Bolivia once, when I was about 10, and met my Bolivian grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins and I’m looking to going again in the next few years. I’m really interested in learning more about my Bolivian heritage.

Every Saturday Julian also attends the Northern Royal College of Music’s Junior Section where he is tutored by Jonathon Middleton.

Ann Atkinson is delighted Julian has agreed to play at the festival’s launch concert, which will also feature a quartet from NEW Sinfonia, Welsh National Opera tenor Huw Llywelyn accompanied by Annette Bryn Parri and both Trelawnyd and Bro Glyndwr male voice choirs.

She said: “Our ethos is to promote young musicians and provide them with the opportunity to showcase their music and ability. Julian Gonzalez is a breath-takingly talented young pianist who is able to interpret the works of the greatest composers, really bringing it to life.

“I would encourage anyone who loves classical music to get a ticket before they sell out and come along for an unforgettable evening of music.

“Among the stars of the festival itself in September will be singers from Welsh National Opera, vocal group VOCES8, NEW Sinfonia, baroque instrumentalists Red Priest, tenor Rhys Meirion, Ensemble Cymru, the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet, violinist Ye-Eun Choi and Italian pianist Federico Colli.”

* Tickets for the launch concert are £10 and are available from caroline@nwimf.com or Cathedral Frames, 28 High Street, St Asaph - 01745 582929. To find out more about the North Wales International Music Festival please visit www.nwimf.com.

Bakery firm celebrates rising success

* Ken Skates AM with, from left, Wholebake Chief Operations Officer Eric Maudsley, Operations Director Richard Shaw and Lesley Griffiths AM, the Welsh G
overnment’s Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs.

Assembly Member Ken Skates has praised a fast-growing food firm which is set to more than double its workforce.

Wholebake recently won planning permission to build a £14m state-of-the-art premises near its current base at Ty’n-y-Llidiart Industrial Estate in Corwen, which would see its number of employees rise from 122 to 255.

Clwyd South AM Mr Skates, who visited the site this week, said: “Wholebake has gone from strength to strength in recent years from its bases in Corwen and Wrexham thanks to the success of its very popular snack bars.

“Demand is at an all-time high and I’m delighted this thriving company has chosen to stay in the area. It’s a real local success story. I hope to see as many of the new roles as possible being taken up by people who live in Clwyd South and North East Wales.”

Mr Skates, the Welsh Government’s Economy Secretary, visited the company along with Wrexham AM Lesley Griffiths, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs.

He added: “Wholebake choosing to stay in and expand in Corwen is huge fillip for the area and this £14m investment is fantastic news for the local economy.”

Production will continue at the current 2,400 sq m Corwen factory, with the new 13,240 sq m facility occupied in two phases to allow operations to continue seamlessly.

West Country folk star heads for Llangollen

Llangollen Fringe organisers say they are delighted to welcome Seth Lakeman as part of the festival’s 20th anniversary celebrations.

West country folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lakeman (pictured) will be making his debut appearance at Llangollen on Thursday July 20.

He is only playing a few select solo shows in 2017, showcasing songs from his new album Ballads of the Broken Few and other live favourites from his back catalogue.

Lakeman's eighth studio album Ballads of the Broken Few is a stunning combination of his dynamic song writing and playing, produced by Ethan Johns (Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon, Laura Marling) and the sublime harmony vocals of emerging young female trio Wildwood Kin. 

Continuing Lakeman's unique vision for recording in inspiring locations – previous albums have been recorded in a church and a copper mine – the 11 tracks for Ballads of the Broken Few were cut in the Great Hall of a Jacobean manor house and they shine with the atmosphere of that setting.

There is Lakeman's trademark stomp, his swooping, sighing and aching fiddle and viola, and strident electric tenor guitar.

Since the Mercury Prize nominated Kitty Jay - recorded in his kitchen for £300 - the follow-up gold selling Freedom Fields and his last, highly acclaimed offering, Word of Mouth, a deft collection of mini musical biographies of colourful West Country characters, Lakeman has relentlessly pushed his musical boundaries and those of folk and roots music.

With Ballads of the Broken Few he demonstrates yet again that he is constantly exploring new and bold musical paths. His new album is out now on Cooking Vinyl.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW AT www.llangollenfringe.co.uk or by calling 0800 1455 779.

The Llangollen Fringe 20th Anniversary Festival takes place from Thursday 13th to Sunday 23rd of July.

AM calls for stepping up of fight against hepatitis C

Speaking in yesterday's Assembly debate North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood said elimination of hepatitis C as a serious public health concern in Wales is a "wholly achievable goal" and called on the Welsh Government to confirm its commitment to wiping it out.  

Hepatitis C is one of the three main causes of liver disease and the only one of the five ‘big killers’ in Wales and England where deaths are rising, and therefore represents a significant public health challenge.

In Wales An estimated 12,000 – 14,000 people are currently living with hepatitis C, around half undiagnosed.

In the debate, the Welsh Government was asked to confirm its commitment to the World Health Organisation Eradication Date of 2030 – and to consider new operational guidelines to support NHS Wales to work towards this.

Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood (pictured) said: “As I said in January’s debate on the contamination of blood, in the 1970s and 1980s, a large proportion of blood products supplied to patients by the NHS was contaminated with HIV or hepatitis C. Around 4,670 patients with haemophilia were infected; over 2,000 have since died in the UK, with 70 in Wales, from the effects of these viruses.

“However, evidentially Hepatitis C primarily affects people from particular groups, such as injecting drug users, homeless people, gay and bisexual men, and migrant populations from high prevalence regions.

“A recent Hepatitis C Trust report concludes with a number of key recommendations for action, including the inclusion of a commitment to eliminate hepatitis C as a serious public health concern within the Welsh Government’s forthcoming Public Health Bill.

“Approval of new drug treatments by NICE and the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group means the elimination of hepatitis C as a serious public health concern in Wales is now a wholly achievable goal.

"To seize this new opportunity, we must find the 50% of people currently undiagnosed, by widening access to testing and further investigating which groups can be cost-effectively screened. By increasing diagnoses, we will be able to treat and cure more people.

“With effective and accessible new treatments now available to all who need them, it is easier than ever to treat and cure patients, presenting a great opportunity to achieve the elimination of hepatitis C in Wales.”