Viewing platform plan for former rail track

* The site near the bridge 2020 has in mind for the viewing platform and public area.

llanblogger exclusive

The group aiming to streamline traffic flow in the town centre has come up with an ambitious plan to build a viewing platform and public space alongside Llangollen’s historic bridge.

Llangollen 2020 was set up to look at ways of easing traffic and parking problems for the benefit of residents, businesses and tourists.

It has now produced a scheme called The Four Great Highways Consultation which intends to bring what it calls “a new awareness” of the historical importance of the northern end of Castle Street.

The group says this could be achieved by using mainly Heritage Lottery cash to build a viewing platform and new public space alongside and downstream of the bridge, over the former track-bed of the Ruabon to Llangollen Railway.

This, it claims, would improve access to Lower Dee Mill, produce a more cohesive link between the heritage railway, the canal wharf and the medieval bridge and “recognise, explain and celebrate” the importance of the junction in the history of transport in Wales.

The junction at the centre of the proposal is that of Llangollen Canal, Llangollen Railway, Llangollen Bridge and Telford's A5.

2020 will stage a consultation exercise seeking the views of local people and businesses on the plan.

It is therefore inviting them to:

1.     See and discuss the proposals at Llangollen Library from 2.30- 5pm Wednesday March 4

2.     Attend a public meeting to hear about the proposals and ask questions at the Memorial Hall on Market Street from 5.30-6.15 pm Wednesday March 4

3.     Watch live or catch-up on Facebook.com/Llangollen 2020 and complete the on-line questionnaire

4.     E-mail comments to graham.timms@denbighshire.gov.uk

5.     Ideas will also be displayed in the library from March 5 onwards with a comment box for feedback until March 12.

2020 chair, Llangollen county councillor Graham Timms, said: “The Four Great Highways project is being developed by the Llangollen 2020 group as an attempt to improve the public realm on the north side of the town.

“This is the place where four great historical transport links meet and so we thought about ways to mark the significance of the area where space is very limited.

"In searching for a way to bring together the significance of Llangollen's railway, ancient bridge, World Heritage Site canal and Telford's A5 we decided to explore the possibility of building a platform and viewing area.

“The site over the former railway track-bed opposite the Bridge End Hotel seemed like an ideal location, particularly as it would open up new views of the river and the bridge.

"Having a grand scheme needs money so we are hoping to apply to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to become a major funder of the project.

“A feasibility study is currently being carried out and we hope that local residents and businesses will help us by responding to the consultation.

"This project would sit alongside the improvements already being planned by the Llangollen 2020 team."

Businesses invited to careers event in Llan

Businesses are being invited to a careers event for students in Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council’s Working Denbighshire project is hosting the Ready for Work careers event in the Pavilion, Llangollen, on Tuesday, March 3, between 9.15am and 4pm.

Employers are being invited to take part in the event which will allow students to meet a range of businesses and organisations from different sectors and to help inform, inspire and motivate them about their career opportunities.

The Ready for Work programme works with local businesses to provide additional support, mentoring and careers advice to students in Denbighshire as part of the Council’s work to support young people.

Businesses will have the opportunity to build links with students and schools in Denbighshire, promote opportunities and inspire the next generation.

To book your place contact lauren.roberts@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 712 854.

Horseshoe still passable with caution

... and the view towards the castle at 10.07am. 

As light snow falls on the town this morning (Friday) the Ponderosa Cafe has posted pictures of the situation on the Horseshoe Pass.

The post, at around 9.30am, says: "We have had some light snowfall this morning, the main road is passable a present however it is still snowing so please remain cautious.

"We shall keep you updated regarding opening hours this morning."

Morecambe play brings us sunshine

Morecambe

Grove Park Theatre until March 7

Review by llanblogger

PLAYING a comedy icon and sustaining that performance throughout a pretty testing one-man show can be no easy matter.

But Dan Pedley’s uncannily accurate and masterful portrayal of Eric Morecambe, as the great man himself often said, is achieved without the audience being able to see the join.

He takes on the enormous challenge as Wrexham’s Grove Park Theatre stages Morecambe, a brilliant two-act presentation of the life and times of the comic who became a national treasure, until March 7.

And it’s all there, from the voice, complete with authentic Lancashire accent, to the mannerisms – the peering through the backcloth to deliver a stupidly simple one-liner, the wobbling glasses which indicate that something slighty risqué has been suggested, the catching of the imaginary sweet thrown into the air in a paper bag and the mock lip curling at a Des O’Connor LP.

Pedley also looks eerily like the gangly, bespectacled hero who, along with his partner Ernie Wise, joked their way onto the TV screens and into the hearts of millions during their golden heyday in the seventies and early eighties.

The action takes us right back to the earliest days when, still going by his real surname of Bartholomew, he was pushed by his mum into entertaining at any local venue she could arrange for just a few bob a time.

We follow the lad through his fateful meeting with little Ern – then already an established child star – during the Second World War, the formation of the legendary double act, their domination of the variety circuit and on to TV and film stardom.

Partner Ernie, by the way, is played by a cleverly-styled ventriloquist’s dummy voiced from the wings by another accomplished performer, Huw Sayer, who does all the men who pop up during the course of Eric’s story, deploying an impressive array of accents from London Jewish to Scouse.

The women in the tale, including his formidable mum Sadie, are all voiced from off-stage with equal skill by Sue Williams.

The massive success Eric and Ernie eventually enjoyed wasn’t always an easy journey. And the lows are honestly portrayed.

The duo’s first TV venture, for instance, ended in embarrassing critical failure and we see the long-term impression this made on the deeply sensitive Eric.

We also see the heart trouble which constantly dogged this workaholic and led to his premature death at the age of just 58 in 1984.

This is a brilliant interpretation of Tim Whitnall’s play, deftly directed by Ray Ledsham which certainly brought us sunshine on a cold winter’s night.

·       * More details from groveparktheatre.co.uk Box office: 01978 351091.

Jades' double whammy at Welsh Wedding Awards

* Sisters Sue Davies, left, and Louise Wilson celebrate their success at the Welsh Wedding Awards.

A Llangollen hair and beauty salon has fashioned a double victory at national wedding awards.

During a glittering ceremony at the 3^rd Welsh Wedding Awards in Cardiff’s Exchange Hotel the team from Jades in Oak Street first landed the regional award then went on to become national winners.

The salon is owned and run by sisters and business partners Sue Davies and Louise Wilson and is this year celebrating its 40^th anniversary.

Sue said: “We’ve been regional winners for two years in a row but to top off the evening by also becoming national winners was fantastic.

“It’s a great accolade that our business is recognised in the wedding industry for another year for its professionalism  and dedication.”

Louise said: “It’s always great to be recognised for hard work and success.

“Our team are so passionate about what we do and we are so proud of our ever-growing list of awards.

“We’ve been overwhelmed with all the well wishes and kind words from our clients past and present since we won.”

Public urged to vote for their ambulance heroes

The Welsh Ambulance Service is inviting members of the public to nominate its staff for a coveted award.

The Trust is inviting nominations for its People’s Choice Award, designed for people in the community to extend a special thank you to a team or individual for providing excellent care.

The award will be presented at its annual Staff Awards ceremony in October, which this year will be held in Llandudno.

Members of the public whose entries have made the shortlist will also be invited to attend the glittering event at Venue Cymru.

Chief Executive Jason Killens said: “Our staff work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, often in difficult circumstances, and our Staff Awards are a celebration of their work.

“The People’s Choice Award is a unique opportunity for the public to pay tribute to a team or individual who has provided excellent care.

“It could be a paramedic, technician, urgent care assistant or community first responder who came to your aid when you were injured or unwell, or a volunteer car driver or member of the non-emergency transport service who makes your journeys to hospital that extra special.

“It could be a call handler or clinician in the control room, or one of our nurses at NHS Direct Wales or 111 who went beyond the call of duty to help and reassure you.

“Let us know who they are, how they helped and why they’re deserving of this award, and be part of this special celebration of our staff.”

Every year the Trust holds a ceremony to present long service and good conduct awards and an array of category awards, of which there are more than a dozen.

This year, the Trust is also inviting nominations for its Public Recognition Award, designed to recognise ordinary citizens who have gone to great lengths to help a patient or patients.

Jason added: “Our Staff Awards are a celebration of the fantastic work our people do every day to care for those at their most vulnerable, but it’s important also that we also pay tribute to people in the community who have helped their fellow citizens.

“Often in times of emergency, we rely on ordinary members of the public to administer first aid and care for patients until the arrival of an ambulance.

“There are also people out there who do sterling work to support us, like raise funds for life-saving defibrillators.

“Let us know about them too, so that we can reciprocate and say a special thank you.”

Click here to nominate a team or individual at the Welsh Ambulance Service for the People’s Choice Award.

Click here to nominate a member of the public for the Public Recognition Award.

The closing date for nominations is 1 May 2020.

Once entries have closed, staff and the public will be able to influence the winners by casting a vote online.

Keep abreast of all things Staff Awards by following us on Facebook (Welsh Ambulance Service) and liking us on Twitter (@WelshAmbulance) using the hashtag #WASTAwards20

Strong turnout at county's climate emergency meeting

* The start of the webcast of the meeting with Cllr Brian Jones, left, and Cllr Graham Timms. 

Over 60 people attended a public meeting held at County Hall, Ruthin on Tuesday evening and 104 people watched online as Denbighshire County Council talked through its plans to become a net carbon zero and ecologically positive Council by 2030.

In July 2019, the council declared a climate and ecological emergency and has called on the Welsh and UK governments to provide assistance and resources to enable the Council to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The public meeting was the latest step in the process of engaging and consulting with residents and those interested in environmental issues.  

The meeting was also broadcast live on the council’s website.

The meeting discussed two key themes, the first being carbon reduction, the second being around biodiversity and carbon capture. 

Issues raised at the meeting varied from trees being built on school grounds to the Local Development Plan, council houses, grass verges, reducing carbon emissions through greater use of public transport,  tackling river pollution, as well as the need for regular engagement with the public on how the council is progressing with its proposals.

The council outlined what it was already doing to respond to climate change, including the introduction of electric vehicles, reduction of carbon in our own buildings, encouraging more staff to work from home, planting trees and encouraging biodiversity through the creation of wildflower meadows.

The environment is a priority in the council’s Corporate Plan which was launched in 2017 and so far more than 9,000 additional trees have been planted while the council has undertaken work to reduce its carbon emissions.

The council now only uses renewable electricity for its own buildings after switching to a renewable only energy provider for its schools, leisure centres, libraries, council offices and depots.

The council has also secured Bee Friendly status from the Welsh Government for its work to protect pollinators and to increase biodiversity in the county while the 35-acre Morfa wetland in Prestatyn has been saved for community use for generations to come after the council secured Welsh Government funding to purchase the site to protect its status as a natural wetland resource.

The council has also agreed proposals to reduce the use of plastics within its offices, following a Notice of Motion last year.

Councillor Brian Jones, the council’s lead member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We wanted to hear what people thought about our plans as a council to reduce carbon, increase carbon capture and improve biodiversity.

“We reiterated the fact that the environment is one of the key priorities of our Corporate Plan and that the council has achieved a lot over recent years in making our county cleaner, greener and more environmentally friendly.    

"It was great to hear some feedback from the audience, but also ideas and initiatives that the Council could possibly take forward over the coming years."

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “We were very pleased with the level of engagement.   

"Fifty-seven questions were sent in to the council in advance, with plenty of issues and questions being raised by the audience on the evening, as well as some submitted via Twitter and Facebook. It was very clear from the meeting that people are very concerned about the state of environment."

Llangollen councillor Graham Timms, chair of the Climate and Ecological Emergency Working Group, said: “This was a good opportunity for people to have their say and there was plenty of debate and suggestions put forward.  

"There were representatives from all corners of Denbighshire and it was clear that there’s plenty of passion around the need to play our part in trying to halt the climate emergency.  

"Some of the ideas put forward were already consideration by the council, others were more challenging and would need more detail and serious thinking."

A summary of all the questions raised and the response from the Council is being compiled and will be made available on the Council’s website at a later date.

* See the webcast of the meeting at: https://denbighshire.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/476908