Dinas Bran gets full marks for Les Miserables

Ysgol Dinas Bran brought a touch of West End magic to Llangollen with its breathtaking production of Les Miserables over four evenings this week.

Lining up behind the barricades for the school edition of the world’s longest running musical was a bevy of revolutionary young talent whose stage mastery brought a packed closing night audience to its feet in salute (Friday).

The lead performers and enormous chorus line wrung every ounce of emotion from this stage classic which tells the heart-rending tale of former convict Jean Valjean’s gritty progress through a deeply troubled post-Waterloo France.

Along the way he meets and changes the lives of a host of people from the adorable to the wicked.

Joe Bell played the hero with sympathy and great feeling, bringing into play a commanding stage presence augmented by a wonderful singing voice.

His arch-rival the former prison guard turned policeman Javert was portrayed with great style by Barra Liddy. You could feel the malevolence whenever he strode into view – and where did he get the Terfel-like bass baritone at such a tender age?

Fantine, the young factory worker Valjean takes under his wing but who eventually meets a tragic end, is such a meaty role that it was shared to perfection by Millie and Celyn Orton Jones.

Also role-sharing beautifully when it came to portraying Fantine’s secret daughter Cosette were Lauren Macfarlane and Maia Molloy.

Lewis Gibbins made a fantastic Marius, the student who gets caught up in the political upheaval of the 1832 Paris Rebellion, falls in love with Cosette and whose life is saved by Valjean. He looked and sounded every inch the hero.

There aren’t too many lighter moments in this Victor Hugo novel-based weepy but those that are come courtesy of the aptly-named Michael Talent as shifty innkeeper Thernardier and Mae Morgan as his gruesome missus. Both brought a large measure of comedy feeling to their roles.

Beth Rowley was nothing short of brilliant as their daughter Eponine whose painful but unreturned love for Marius is brought to an abrupt end by a bullet at the barricades.

Costumes and stage settings that are as powerfully interpretive and colourful as the large cast were created by a small behind-the-scenes army and the 17-strong orchestra provided the driving force and momentum for the production.

That Friday standing ovation by an awe-struck audience said it all about Dinas Bran’s Les Mis. 

Bikers urged to sign up for riding course

Bikers across North Wales are being asked to consider improving their skills to ensure they are safe on the region’s roads by signing up for a *free workshop.

BikeSafe – a police-led motorcycle project; offers practical advice about road safety and educates riders by passing on knowledge and skills to try and encourages motorcyclists to take post-test Advanced Training which can realise their best potential and become safer riders. The BikeSafe day includes an ‘assessment ride’ where participants get vital feedback.

Supported by the six local authorities, the workshops are held at various locations in Deeside, Rhyl, St Asaph, Colwyn Bay, Llanrwst, Porthmadog and Llangefni.

This year for the first time ever, workshops will be delivered to the general public on the Isle of Anglesey thanks to assistance from the North Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The first of the 2018 workshops will be held at Llangefni Fire Station on March 10^th and bookings are now being taken. Others will be held there in July and September.

North Wales Police BikeSafe Co-ordinator Paul Cheshire said: “Centrally placed on the island this new location will open up the possibility for new routes to carry out the assessments.

“Anglesey is not necessarily known for many motorcycle collisions but they do happen and the island has a very up to date track circuit at Ty Croes that provides many biker events throughout the year.

“The workshops are not exclusive to residents and this new location will also allow employees who don’t necessarily reside for long in the area, such as RAF Valley, to take advantage.

He added: “During 2017 a total of 224 people attended a BikeSafe workshop across the region. The feedback we get is extremely positive – they like the informal element of the classroom-based workshop and enjoy meeting a mixture of people. Some of our previous students have even returned to become BikeSafe volunteers.”

With the main aim of reducing the number of bikers being hurt on the roads, the workshops explore the main riding hazards that motorcyclists face. By delivering theory presentations and observed rides a BikeSafe workshop helps bikers discover their strengths and weaknesses.

Paul Cheshire added: “Motorcycles are a vulnerable class of vehicle. They don’t offer the same protection that a car can offer, but that doesn’t mean to say you can’t stay safe. As spring is just around the corner why not enrol on one of our workshops so you have the skills for the rest of the biking season and beyond.”

Spaces on the BikeSafe workshops are limited so riders are urged to book quickly to avoid missing out. A full list of the dates and locations can be found via the BikeSafe website.
*free workshops are subject to a booking fee.

MP attacks Prime Minister over farmers' Brexit concerns

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has accused Prime Minister Theresa May of not addressing the concerns of farmers in the run up to leaving the EU.

Ms Jones (pictured) quoted the words of National Farmers Union Deputy President Minette Batters who said that losing full access to the European Single Market could be “absolutely disastrous” for British agriculture.

Theresa May responded by saying: "We are going to negotiate a new economic partnership with the European Union and I can assure the Honourable Lady that the interests of agriculture will be one of the considerations we take into account when we make sure we have a good trade arrangement with the EU as well as improved trade arrangements with the rest of the world."

Speaking after the fiery House of Commons exchange, Ms Jones said: “Spinning vague phrases like ‘economic partnership’ may help the Prime Minister within the Tory Party, but it means absolutely nothing for farmers and rural communities across the UK.

"Her Government still won’t agree to respect Wales properly by giving the powers due to the Welsh Government nor will they make commitments that would protect trading markets.

"Theresa May’s words will ring very hollow indeed in Corwen, the Ceiriog Valley, Horsemans Green and all of the other farming communities in the Clwyd South constituency.”

* To see House of Commons exchange at Prime Minister's Questions between Susan Elan Jones MP and the Prime Minister go to:

http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/b547b658-73f8-4b60-95f1-acb03ac7a7dd?in=12:44:53

County backs care and support package

Councillors in Denbighshire have given their backing to a five year regional plan responding to care and support needs across North Wales.

Local councils and the regional health board are expected to produce a long-term Population Assessment Regional Plan, in response to a population assessment that has been carried out.

The plan clearly sets out  the range and levels of information, advice and support services to be provided by partners; how regional partnership boards will work together; how funding will be used and how services will be delivered through the medium of Welsh.

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “The aim of this plan is to show how we will meet people’s care and support needs and the support needs of carers across North Wales.

“The information collected through this whole process will allow all partners to plan and commission services more effectively, to meet the needs of specific groups.  There are also close links with reducing poverty through improving the way social care and health needs are met, as well as links to health and well-being through working to reduce crime.

“If the Plan is successful, then we expect to see people’s health and well-being improve, it will help reduce inequalities and will help develop communities that work more closely together”

Councillor Huw Hilditch- Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and the Welsh Language, said: “The regional plan supports the corporate priorities already agreed in Denbighshire, in particular around housing, building resilient communities and providing the best possible support for our young people.

“By working together as one region, we can pool resources, experiences and expertise that can then be shared, for the benefit of every community across North Wales.”

Subject to approval from all of the partners, it is expected that the Plan will be published on April 1, 2018.

Police thanked for targeting illegal off-roaders

North Wales Police have been thanked for taking steps to tackle illegal and irresponsible off-road drivers by a county councillor who has been urging action for many years.

Cllr Mabon ap Gwynfor (pictured), who represents the Llandrillo/Cynwyd ward, also thanked the police for heeding his advice to use drones to tackle the problem.

He said: "Illegal and irresponsible off roaders have been a scourge in this area for many years. 

"We regularly hear complaints of how grazing land and wildlife are damaged on the Berwyn Mountains by irresponsible off-roaders. In turn these give the majority of those who enjoy the past time responsibly a bad name.

"What these irresponsible drivers don't understand, or don't care for, is that their actions damage the countryside and people's livelihoods.

"These mountains and hills are difficult enough to scrape out a living, let alone having to spend more on fixing fences, posts, gates, walls and other things because of the actions of a few selfish people. They're also home to rare flaura, fauna and ground nesting birds. It's a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which should be respected."

Last year Cllr ap Gwynfor called on the police to use drones to help tackle the problem.

He said: "It's very difficult to police the activity given its nature. The irresponsible drivers can speed off in almost any direction especially in such a remote area like the Berwyns.

"This is why I called for the police to consider using drones. I'm glad to see that they are using this technology to assist them and that they had a successful operation over the weekend. 

"The police are called on to do a lot of work, and are under serious financial pressures, so they must be thanked for listening to our concerns and working with our communities to help tackle them.

"I'm also grateful to Arfon Jones, the Police and Crime Commissioner, for listening to us when he put the police budget together."

The Dee Valley Policing team updated their Facebook page saying:

@Northwalespolice conducted a joint operation on Saturday 17/02/18 targetting the ongoing off road related problems in Llangollen, Corwen, Llandrillo, Nantyr and also across to Llanarmon DC, Glyn Ceiriog and Chirk areas.

We had a number of resources dedicated to the operation including 14 officers, 2 4x4 patrol vehicles, 2 4x4 Roads Policing vehicles, 2 unmarked scrambler bikes, and 2 marked police vehicles. For this operation we also had use of the NWP Drone.

The operation was a massive success with 58 vehicles stopped, 16 Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme Tickets, 2 Traffic Offence Report Tickets and 1 vehicle seized for no insurance.

Dee Valley SNT (Safer Neighbourhood Team) would like to thank all of the officers and units involved in Saturdays operation!!! 

#deevalleysnt #llangollen #glyndyfrdwy #cynwyd #llandrillo #yousaidwedid#NWPRPU

MP looks into "disturbing" online abuse of disabled

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones joined three other members of the House of Commons Petitions Committee to meet with disabled people to discuss their experience of online abuse.

The hearing is based on a well-supported public petition and will form part of an inquiry by the committee into the online abuse that disabled people have been subjected to.

People with a range of disabilities and experiences of abuse were invited to Parliament to talk about what it’s like to be disabled online, the challenges that disabled people face when reporting abuse, and what social media companies and the Government should be doing to tackle abuse. 

Ms Jones (pictured) said: "Some of the accounts given by disabled people were very disturbing.

"We really do need social media companies and the Government to do more to protect disabled people online. 

"I welcome the fact that the House of Commons Petitions Committee, disability charities and advocacy groups, and individual disabled people are bringing this very concerning form of online abuse to light."

Petitions Committee chair Helen Jones MP said: “We heard from disabled people themselves about the shocking abuse that they face when they go online.

"We know that it’s not always easy to talk about such difficult experiences, and we’re very grateful indeed to everyone who came to Parliament today to help us with our work.

"The petitions system was set up to help people to have their voices heard in Parliament, so it’s very important to us that the views of disabled people are at the heart of our inquiry."

Railway's half term train rides continue

* Boarding the train for Corwen.

In the second week of half term, 19-23 February, Llangollen Railway is operating the off-peak service with the diesel railcard.

Trains depart Llangollen at 1040,1300 & 1510 for the full ten mile run to Corwen.

The heritage Wickham railcar offers best all round views of the journey through the Dee Valley.

For those sitting at the front, the view from behind the driver shows how the line climbs and twists and turns all the way. If sitting at the back you get the "where we have been" view of the track.

The ideal way to see the countryside in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Special offer fares for child travelling with an adult. See details at: www.llangollen-waay.co.uk

* The view from the cab ...