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Saturday, February 29, 2020

Health centre's advice on Coronavirus


Message from Llangollen Health Centre regarding Covid-19

"We would like to advise patients that the latest guidance on the coronavirus outbreak, including what to do if you are a recent traveller to an affected area, can be found on the Public Health Wales website:


If you think you may have been infected with the virus, please do not
come to the Health Centre.  Please ring NHS Direct
on 0845 46 47 who will be able to advise you."



Friday, February 28, 2020

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 3rd 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 40th 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