Life-saving machine installed at bowling club's HQ

* With the new defibrillator on the bowling club wall are, from left, Plas 

Newydd site manager Paul Evans, bowling club secretary David Ensor, 

Health Centre Friends trustee John Palmer and acting Friends 

chairman Alan Bodicoat.  

A new defibrillator has been placed outside the headquarters of Llangollen Bowling Club at Plas Newydd.

The £1,700 cost of buying and installing the life-saving machine was shared between the club and the Friends of Llangollen Health Centre.

The socially-distanced installation ceremony yesterday morning was attended by officials of both local organisations.

David Ensor, secretary of the bowling club, said: "This was a joint venture by our members and the Friends and is a very valuable addition to both Plas Newydd and the whole town.

"It started off with a £500 legacy left by Phil Williams, of Watkin & Williams, which could only be used for a good purpose such as this. 

"Further fundraising was then done towards the final cost of buying and installing the machine."

He added: "Apart from benefiting around 60 members of the bowling club it will also be added the list of local defibrillators kept by the the ambulance service which will also initially maintain the machine.

"A number of our club members have received training on how to use properly it."      

More local organisations announce plans to re-open

* Llangollen Sightseeing is heading back to town.

More local organisations have announced on Facebook their plans to emerge from lockdown.

Llangollen Sightseeing posted: "We are back!

"We are delighted to announce that from this weekend the Horseshoe Pass Tour will be back and will run 5 days a week.

"However, the bus will run at a reduced capacity to maintain social distancing so pre-booking is recommended.

"Tours run Wednesday to Sunday and depart at 12pm, 1:30pm and 3pm from Parade Street."

* The Bridge End Hotel aims to re-open on Saturday.

The Bridge End Hotel said: "The wait is finally over!

"We are delighted to announce that at long last we will be opening our doors from Saturday 1st August.

"The safety of both our customers and staff is paramount, so we’ve had to make a few changes to the way we do things.

"We will be serving drinks ONLY at this time in our outdoor seating areas. Booking is not essential, but at busy times you may be asked to wait.

"If you would like to book a table, please get in touch with us via our Facebook page or by texting us on 07387715020, and we will send you confirmation of your booking. Please note that we will be accepting cash payments, but card would be preferable.

"We will resume serving food very soon, and our chef John will have some delicious treats to offer you. Please see our Facebook page for updates to service and offers.

"This is all as new to us as it is to you, and we do ask that you are patient with us while we get to grips with the new procedures we have put in place, and that you follow government guidelines. Abusive behaviour towards any member of staff or a disregard for our new regulations will result in you being asked to leave.

"We’re really looking forward to welcoming all our customers old and new back on Saturday."

And the Llangollen Group of Anglican Churches posted: "Following on from last update regarding the careful process of re-opening our churches for public worship, Fr Lee is currently working out the precise details of the adapted liturgy and Risk Assessment for St Collen's church.

"We hope - and this is not definite - that St Collen's can open on Sunday 30th August for public worship at 11am.

"If we get the go-ahead, this will be the only church in the Llangollen Group available for a single service each Sunday.

"As mentioned in the last update, there are many factors and considerations involved in this staged process. There are also reports of an increase in corona virus cases here in north wales. So we need to be cautious.

"Re-entering the church will feel like a joyful homecoming; a return form a long period of exile. There will be mixed feeling of grief and loss; thanksgiving for the courage and generosity of so many; the resurgence of neighbourliness which has transformed communities.

"It is important that the liturgy reflects these mixed emotions.

"So, for the first Sunday back, Fr Lee is looking for people from our regular congregations and also from the town to share their own personal stories of the crisis and lockdown.

"Please let him know if you are willing to share your story for 5 minutes during the service.

"More updates will follow in due course. Please remember to observe physical distancing."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/health/wales-coronavirus-hotspot-chances-local-18675495

Llan Food Festival cancelled by Covid-19 threat

It was announced earlier this evening that another major event in the town's events calendar had been cancelled due to the coronavirus risk.
Organisers of the annual Llangollen Food Festival posted on their Facebook page: "ANNOUNCEMENT: The Llangollen Food Festival at the Pavilion on 17-18 October 2020 has been cancelled and will be replaced by the Virtual ‘Live’ Llangollen Food Festival taking place on Sunday 18th October 2020.
"Support local food and drink producers and stay safe. "
The festival was first held at the Royal International Pavilion in 1997.

Dog-dirt is a sign of the times in this local lane

Clearly fed with encountering piles of dog-dirt along Butlers Hill in Llangollen, someone has come up with their own graphic suggestions to solve the problem.

Nestling in the hedgerows along the secluded lane which runs from Regent Street up to Plas Newydd are two polite signs, one of which is in Welsh.  

The first, larger sign complete with illustrations, reminds passers-by that "Llangollen doesn't have a poo-fairy" and to "PICK it up."

The second, smaller sign on the other side of the path, is in Welsh and says as it points to a neat dollop: "Glanhewch ar ol eich ci", or "clean up after your dog." 

llanblogger admires the initiative.

MP calls at at community cafe

* From left: Beverley Parry-Jones, Mr Baynes's office manager, Simon Baynes MP and Grace Lockhart, manager, at Rhos Community Café.

Member of Parliament for Clwyd South, Simon Baynes, made a socially distanced visit, along with his constituency office staff, to Rhos Community Café.

The aim was to learn more about the work of volunteers in providing vulnerable people locally with food parcels during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The café, which is based at Berlin House, Market Street, provides food boxes to 200 residents in Rhos, Penycae, Johnstown area every week, including people from the Portuguese and Polish communities.

Rhos Community Café are also now exploring opportunities to work with Wrexham Food Bank. Food is currently donated to the Community Café by supermarkets and charities such as Tesco in Cefn Mawr, Asda, Bookers and Rhos and Rhostyllen Co-op.

Simon Baynes MP said: “Rhos Community Café have played an absolutely vital role supporting the local community during the Coronavirus pandemic. And I was incredibly impressed to see first-hand the amazing work they do providing food parcels and emotional and wellbeing support to vulnerable residents.

“My constituency office staff have also volunteered to step in and help support the Community Café by collecting food from supermarkets and delivering parcels to vulnerable residents locally. If anyone is interested in volunteering, I’d encourage them to get in touch with Grace Lockhart at the Community Café on 01978 447477.”

Preparations steam ahead for railway's re-opening

* The big diesel was out in a test run and was seen passing Berwyn.

Preparations are in hand for a resumption of train services on the heritage railway in the Dee Valley as of Saturday, August 1.

During week commencing July 27,the Llangollen Railway staff and volunteers have ramped up their efforts to start running trains again within the Covid 19 restrictions as required by the Welsh Government. 

This has involved the preparation of train sets and the stations at Llangollen and Carrog to handle passenger numbers to allow for social distancing needs.

In addition, all operational staff, drivers, guards, signalmen and station staff, have needed to be familiarised with the arrangements in place to deal with the coronavirus at stations and on trains for the appropriate spacing, the cleansing procedures and facilities.

After the four-month lockdown period, all operational staff have been required to renew their competency with their role by re-examination and assessment of the task they undertake.

This need is specified in the procedures for heritage railways to follow in the document as issued by the Office for Railand Road.

It has required a good deal of planning by the Operations Director and Operational Manager to ensure the implementation of the new procedures.

Test trains have operated this week to allow for the railway’s operational systems to be checked out and staff to be re-introduced to working the trains which will run non-stop between Llangollen and Carrog. 

Initially the heritage diesel railcar units ran down the line, followed by the traditional set of coaches with a Class 31 diesel in charge, seen today passing Berwyn as per the photo.

The reintroduction of a steam locomotive will follow as patronage builds up and the timetable is enhanced.

Both Llangollen and Carrog stations will be closed stations during this implementation period and non-ticket holders will not be allowed access to platforms whilst social distancing is in force. 

Those who wish to see the train must do so from the public road. Passengers must join the train at Llangollen and stay within the station at Carrog where refreshments will be available during the stop-over before making a return.

General Manager, Liz McGuinness said: “Initially, we will be running three trains a day departing Llangollen at 1040, 1300 and 1510 and advance booking is necessary. The spacing requirements for individuals and family groups means that seating will be allocated after an on-line booking is made to make best use of available seats. 

"Family groups may wish to make use of the compartments for exclusive travel during their journey.

“Bookings to date are encouraging from our supporters eager to have a ride again on the Llangollen Railway and a great way to see the Dee Valley in summertime. However, running the trains at a profit in thesecircumstances will be a challenge and we ask foreveryone interested to support the railwayto make all the effort worthwhile.”

* Further details about booking seats and timetableare available on the webpages at: www.llangollen-railway.co.uk

Skates backs campaign for free TV licences for over-75s

Clwyd South MS Ken Skates (pictured) is backing a campaign which calls on the UK Government not to break its promise over TV licences for over-75s.  

The National Pensioners Convention Wales wants Prime Minister Boris Johnson to honour his pledge in November that no elderly person would have to pay for their TV licence and is supporting Age Cymru’s petition to Westminster.  

Mr Skates said: “The UK Government said that it was crucial to retain the free TV licence for all over-75s and that it would sit down with the BBC to find a solution. All we have seen and heard is the BBC and the Conservative Government blaming each other.  

“As the Government said on July 9, it was wrong to implement the BBC’s decision to only give free TV licences to those on Pension Credit. The BBC has delayed the licence fee changes until next month, but all the Government has done is to describe it as ‘the wrong decision’ and refused to intervene.  

“It's not the job of the BBC to administer means-tested benefits on behalf of the Conservative Government. Free TV licences were introduced by the Labour Party in 20 years ago and should be retained for over-75s as a universal entitlement.”  

NPC Wales says the UK Government has ‘abdicated its responsibility and duty of care to the most vulnerable group in society’.  

Mr Skates added: “The UK Government needs to engage with the BBC to work out how to support people whose only companion and lifeline might be their TV. Maintaining free TV licences for over-75s was a 2017 Conservative Party manifesto commitment and as it stands 3.7m older people in the UK are now going to be punished by this broken promise.”