Plas Madoc to host Four Nations wheelchair rugby event

* The Wales wheelchair rugby team who will host the Plas Madoc tournament.

Plas Madoc leisure centre, which is used by many people from Llangollen, has been chosen as the venue for the 2019 Four Nations rugby tournament.

It's only the fourth time this tournament has been held and the Wales team will be official hosts.

Wales took runners-up sport to England in both 2012 in Hull and 2016 in Rochdale and the wooden spoon in 2014 in Medway. 

The other competitors are England, Scotland and Ireland.

The event will be staged at Plas Madoc on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th September.

A spokesperson from Plas Madoc LC said: "We are extremely honoured to be named as the venue for the 2019 Four Nations Wheelchair Rugby Leauge Tournamamnet, it will be a fantastic two days of entertaining sport and a real showcase of what we can offer here at our community leisure centre."

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Since 2016, Wales have faced Scotland and Ireland in the annual Celtic Cup competition and have taken the title for four years in a row whilst remaining unbeaten.

On being selected as the hosts for the tournament Wales Team Manager, Mark A Jones said: "This is the first time the tournament has been held outside England and we're excited that it is coming to Wales.

"We are working hard with our venue host the Splash Community Trust at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre to make this an event to remember.

"Wheelchair Rugby League is an icredibly exciting game played by women and men in the same team and by people with a range of abilities.

"It will be tremendous to see the best Wheelchair Rugby League athletes playing against each other in Plas Madoc. We hope people will come along to watch the games and to cheer on Wales."

Wheelchair Rugby League is fairly unique in that it is completely open, offering all players of both sexes, whether disabled or not, the opportunity to compete both with and against each other on a level playing field.

This is created by the use of wheelchairs and some slight adaptations to the rules of 13-a-side Rugby League.

Some wheelchair rugby facts:

• There are five players on each side
• The object of the game is to score tries
• Conversions are scored by punching the ball over the mini-posts from a tee
• Tackles are made in the same way as Tag Rugby by pulling off the attached tag
• Five tackles are followed by the handing over of possession
• Offside, knock-on and in-touch apply just like in the full version of the game 

Dyffryn Ceiriog choir's annual concert this Saturday

Cor Meibion Dyffryn Ceiriog - Male Voice Choir - has its annual concert at the Oliver Jones Memorial Hall in Dolywern this Saturday, August 24, starting at 7.30pm.

Choir spokesman Mike Gleed said: "We love what we do and love to share it with others. 

"We are always ready to welcome new members and support those who are unsure of their voice and/ or ability. 

"A warm and genuine welcome is guaranteed and we have a brilliant musical director and accompanist. 

"Come along and experience a true Welsh tradition that must be nurtured. 

"We are featuring two young soloists ably accompanied by the very special Owen Roberts."

Message of thanks from family of Margaret Jones

* The scene in Castle Street last Thursday following the tragic incident. 

The family of Margaret Jones, the lady who died as a result of being involved in a collision with a car in Castle Street last week, has put out a message of thanks on Facebook to all those who rallied round to help her following the tragic incident.

In a post this afternoon (Monday) in the name of all the family her son David Jones says:

“We want to offer our very sincere thanks to everyone who helped and provided comfort to Mum, following the tragic events on Castle Street last Thursday.

“We know that passers by, people from nearby shops and others tried to do what they could, and we are eternally grateful to all of you.

“We have tried to personally thank as many people in Llangollen these last few days, but inevitably we will not have seen everyone, hence this FB post.

“We also owe a huge debt of gratitude to all of the emergency services who tried tirelessly, and managed to stabilise Mum before she was airlifted. Very sadly, shortly after reaching hospital, Mum was not able to continue her fight to survive.

“We have also received so many wonderful cards and messages of sympathy and support, which mean such a great deal to us at this very sad time, thank you all so much. And the Sunday morning service and prayers at St Collen’s which was dedicated to Mum was both moving and very emotional.

“Mum was a resident of Llangollen for nearly 70 years and so will be well known to many of you. A mother of four, with six grand-daughters and 3 great grandsons, Mum was dearly loved and a shining light to us all. We will all miss her so much ...

“We all sincerely hope that something positive will come from this tragic event, to make Castle Street a much safer place for pedestrians.”

Councillors "angry" at youth centre development suggestion

* County Cllr Graham Timms outside Llangollen Youth Centre.

* ... and with the council documents including it in the list of candidate sites.

Llangollen’s two county councillors are “surprised and angry” that the town’s youth centre and football field have been included in a list of possible development sites by council officers.

And he claims that most of the sites are likely to be rejected anyway as Llangollen “could not stand” the amount of development proposed.

llanblogger recently revealed the 11 sites which have been put forward as candidates for inclusion in Denbighshire’s next Local Development Plan (LDP) for possible housing development.

Among them are the land occupied by the youth centre and nearby football field.

But Cllr Graham Timms said: “Cllr Melvyn Mile and myself were surprised and angry that the youth club and football field has been put forward by Denbighshire for consideration as a housing development.

“The county department responsible had not even told us as councillors what they were up to.

“We have written to the Chief Executive to ask for the removal of this land, but at the moment it is still on the list.

“I urge residents who agree with us about saving the youth club site and football pitch for public use to send in a response to the consultation.”

Cllr Timms added: “There was a ‘call for sites’ for development earlier this year and 11 sites were proposed in Llangollen.

“All but one of the proposals were for housing - the most lucrative way to increase land value.

“Many of the sites are likely to be rejected for a range of reasons, not least because Llangollen could not stand anywhere near that amount of development.

“There's been a lot of discussion about the sites proposed by landowners but only those who make a formal submission will be considered by Denbighshire.

“Making comments on Facebook or any social media will not count. I am urging residents to respond either by email or by using the forms available at Llangollen Library or on Denbighshire's website.

“The easiest way is to write an email to planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk. It must contain your name, the sites you want to make a comment about and your contact details. Your name and comments will be made public but your contact details will not. 

“I encourage residents to send in their comments over the next two weeks as the consultation ends on Friday August 30.

“The Llangollen Library staff are very helpful and will guide you to the information you require. People would be surprised at how few responses are often received in consultations, but their effect is certainly worth the time taken in submitting a response.”

 * The 11 candidate sites for development in Llangollen.

Cllr Timms has outlined some more detailed information on how to respond.

If people only want to make comments on the candidate sites only, the easiest way is to email the county at planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk.

They only need to include the following:

- Their name, which will be published in the public domain.

- The site to which they are referring - use the reference number or make it clear (eg. the Llangollen Youth Club site), and their comment about the site. This will also be published.

- Their contact details, either an email address, their home address or a contact phone number. Contact details will not be published. 

If they wish to be updated about the next stages of the LDP and if they wish to be contacted in Welsh or English this should also be included in the email. 

Anyone wishing to make a more detailed response would probably find it easier to respond using the online form or the printed form in the library.

All the documents for the consultation are online https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/447 or at the Llangollen Library. 

The 11 sites in Llangollen are here: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/local-development-plan/replacement-ldp/candidate-site-maps/Llangollen.pdf

The response form, if people want to use it, is here: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/local-development-plan/replacement-ldp/documents/consultation-form-draft-preferred-strategy-v2.docx The library has copies too.

The online response form (https://countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/kms/elab.aspx?CampaignId=614&noip=1&SessionId=MD4E547RWG) has all aspects covered. Only q15 and 16 refer to the candidate sites. Q19 and 20 need to be partially filled in too. 

Cllr Timms said: “You can see why people don't respond to these consultations. It seems so complex that they give up before they have even started. The email response or a visit to the library seem the easiest way for most people.”

MP calls for Parliament to be recalled in "national emergency"

Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones (pictured) has signed a letter calling on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to recall Parliament.

“We face a national emergency,” she said. 

“We now know the Government in its own documentation is admitting a no-deal Brexit would cause food, fuel and medicine shortages but Boris Johnson is doing everything he can to avoid being questioned by MPs. 

"Parliament should always be recalled at times of national significance, indeed in the past it’s even been recalled to pay tributes to a deceased Prime Minister. If Boris Johnson is a democrat, he has nothing to fear in coming to Parliament. He should not hide away.”

More than 100 MPs, representing all parties except the Democratic Unionist Party, have signed the letter to the Prime Minister. 

The letter also calls for Parliament to be in session until October 31 - the day earmarked for Brexit - with no autumn recess.

* For the full text of the letter, see: https://twitter.com/susanelanjones/status/1162851383491682304?s=21

Skills blossom at gardening club's open show

Llangollen and District Gardening Club held its annual open summer show at the RAFA Club yesterday (Saturday) afternoon.

The show was officially opened by town councillor Sheena Grindley and prizes were presented by the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Issy Richards.

Below are pictures taken at the event for llanblogger ...

* Prizes on offer at the show.

* Here and on pictures below, the colourful range of exhibits ...

* Cllr Grindley opens the show.

* Cllr Richards presents a prize to club chair Jude Williams.

* Section winner Jane Jones receives her prize from Cllr Richards.

* The list of classes available at the show and details of the club.

Plas Newydd features on Japanese TV travel show

* The cafe at Plas Newydd.

A chef has been busy introducing Japan to the delights of Welsh cuisine in Llangollen.

Steve Thomas, who runs the tea rooms at Plas Newydd is being featured in a Japanese TV travel programme about Wales.

“It’s a long running show which over the years has filmed across the world,” explained Steve. 

“With the Rugby World Cup being hosted by Japan this September they have been filming attractions in Wales and one of the things they wanted to include was our traditional food.”

The TV crew was interviewing people at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod when they were told a visit to see Steve at work in the Plas Newydd kitchens would be highly recommended.

“They phoned up to ask if they could come over here. We made them welcome and I presented two dishes. One was lamb cawl and the other was chicken with leeks in a tarragon sauce,” said Steve.

“The crew tried them both and were most enthusiastic, the meals went down well. So much so that afterwards they even bought scones and Welsh cakes to tuck into for the journey back.” 

July has proved to be packed full of activities for Plas Newydd. One of the major events was acting as the host venue for the launch of a mobile phone app promoting the Welsh language and heritage to hikers and walkers. It works by highlighting the original place names and area’s history to the devices’ owners.

Plas Newydd was delighted to be one of the sites used by this year's Llangollen Fringe Festival to perform a laughter-filled production. 

The museum’s picturesque grounds were also the backdrop for a special artistic day entitled The Big Draw – where budding artists could come together as a group and commit the beautiful landscape to paper.

With the summer holidays in mind a number of local venues, including Plas Newydd, have joined together to offer 10 Things To Do In The Dee Valley. 

The project celebrates the 10th anniversary of the inscription of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal as a World Heritage Site and is designed to give families plenty to do as they enjoy getting out and about.

Participants are able to take part in a fresh challenge at each host destination. At Plas Newydd they can tackle a meticulously-laid trail, using just a special map for clues as they track down a series of objects placed throughout the grounds.

And there’s been a great response to an environmentally friendly initiative at Plas Newydd. The site has started to grow its own plants in a specially built poly-tunnel using organic peat-free compost.

Some of the plants are to be used in the grounds to increase the flowering period with others being made available for sale to the public.

“There are been a great deal of interest in this, which is very pleasing,” said Plas Newydd gardener Neil Rowlands.