Railway's urgent bridge appeal half way to £15,000 target

* The bridge over the River Dee which needs urgent repairs to its timbers. 

The appeal launched by Llangollen Railway to repair a Victorian bridge vital to its running of trains is already half way to its target.

As llanblogger revealed, the railway put out the urgent call to its supporters during the last week of October for £15,000 to revive Dee Bridge, built in 1865 and now in desperate need of new timbers if it is to continue services next year.

In a Facebook post fundraiser officer Paul Bailey said: "If we are to run trains over the Dee Bridge next year we first have to renew the timbers on the bridge.

"This work, including purchasing the timbers, is costing £15,000 - monies the railway currently has not got.

"We have therefore launched an appeal to raise these monies without which we will not be able to carry out the necessary repairs to run train services in 2021."

Mr Bailey now reports "a fantastic response from our supporters."

And he said: "We have already reached half this amount in just one week but still require another £7.5k before we can order the timbers for this work to be done.

"Thank you to everyone that has donated to this appeal."

A railway spokesperson explained: "The bridge dates from 1865 when the line opened but is a remarkable survivor as the scrapman didn't demolish it in 1968 when the line was closed by Beeching.

"Without it remaining in situ the infant Llangollen Railway would never have got beyond Pentrefelin.

"The LR society, as it was, renovated it in 1984 with some grant aid as part of the extension to Berwyn.

"The need for renewal now is for the timbers which support the rails across the steel structure - a regular maintenance job.

"It is made more complex this time by the lack of income when no trains are running, with the appeal to members and supporters for cash to allow the expensive new timbers to be purchased ahead of replacement work in 2021.

"If anyone wishes to contribute to this appeal please contact me on 01490 450271, or email paulbaileywincham@yahoo.co.uk for payment methods."

Roadworks alert for Church Street

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:  

Church Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire

11 November — 12 November

 

Delays possible - Traffic control (multi-way signals)

 

Works location: Church St, Llangollen...

 

Works description: Highway improvement works as part of Welsh Government COVID 

scheme....

 

Responsibility for works: Sir Ddinbych - Denbighshire

 

Current status: Advanced planning

 

Works reference: QR007S000000000400

Veterans take part in live-streamed Remembrance service

 

* Veterans take part in the remembrance service in Centenary Square.

* Father Lee Taylor leads the service.

This morning a film crew from Llangollen company Orb Sound & Lighting filmed and live-streamed on Facebook a small group of local forces veterans taking part in the traditional service of Remembrance in Centenary Square.

The service, which included the traditional wreath-laying on the war memorial, was led by Llangollen Vicar, Father Lee Taylor.

This followed Llangollen Town Council’s decision, announced recently, that due to coronanvirus restrictions it would not be staging the usual public ceremony.

In advance of the screening Orb specifically asked members of the public not to gather at the square to watch the event.

These pictures of the service were taken remotely by llanblogger.

The service was watched live by around 40 people.

* The area's two county councillors, Melvyn Mile (left) and Graham Timms laid their own wreath on the war memorial.

Hospice team gets Dai walking again

* Dai Davies being put through his paces during a 

physio session at Nightingale House with Leah Evans. 

Former Wales, Everton and Wrexham goalkeeper Dai Davies, of Llangollen, has spoken about how physios at Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham got him walking again after 10 weeks of hospitalisation.

Dai, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, had been a patient at the Royal Liverpool Hospital for almost two months during the summer, where he was unable to see family loved-ones due to the Covid-19 restrictions. In August he was transferred to Nightingale House.

The move meant Dai could be reunited with his wife Judy, and his three children Gareth, Rhian and Bethan, whilst receiving palliative care and rehabilitation, following his decision not to opt for chemotherapy treatment.

Dai said: “Coincidentally, my consultant Dr Grace Ting at the Royal Liverpool, knew about Nightingale House as she’d done a placement here during the early part of her career. She decided it would be the best move for me and my family and she was right. It was close to home and their visiting policy meant such a difference as I was able to see my wife and family.”

The hospice team facilitated Dai’s transportation from Liverpool to Wrexham and so began his palliative care journey to Nightingale House. 

This wasn’t his first experience of hospice care as Dai had been a Bowen Technique* mentor for lymphoedema nurse specialist Eilish Lund back in the early noughties, so he was familiar with the surroundings, although he admits it has transformed quite a bit since then.

He said: “I hadn’t been on my feet for ten weeks as I’d been lying down in hospital looking out of the window at a concrete wall. When I came to Nightingale House the brilliant physio team had me up and about very quickly. I’m no stranger to gyms but their powers of observation are excellent, as they will tell me when I’ve done enough for one session.

“There is such an air of peace and calm around the hospice and you can leave your worries behind you when you step inside. It was wonderful that I was able to have the option to come here as the choice gave me back control of my treatment.”

Dai and Judy, who have been together for nearly 30 years, have been extremely impressed by the new modernisation facilities at Nightingale House, that were completed during the summer lockdown. Dai visits the hospice for weekly physio sessions and said he has been inspired by the team caring for him.

Judy said: “Sometimes people hear the word ‘hospice’ and only assume that it is just a supportive place for someone to leave this life however a hospice is so much more than that. We are both extremely grateful that the care and rehabilitation that Dai has received in Nightingale House has also enabled him to come back home so much sooner after such a long stay in hospital.

“All the staff are angels and their care and kindness has been endless. On Dai’s arrival someone had even put a small vase of fresh sweet peas from the beautiful hospice garden on his bedside table and it is thoughtful little touches such as this that can make such a difference to one’s overall wellbeing.”

Dai said the entire experience had been wonderful and added: “There is such team work here - it is as if everybody working here is born to do the job; like their calling. Nightingale House is above and beyond what we expected, with exceptional food, facilities and gardens.

“I would say to anyone who is reading of my experience in the hospice that if you find solace in this then please do reach out to the team in Nightingale House. There is pure unconditional love here that will take away any fear that you may have.”

People will flock to Wales to escape lockdown, says police boss

 

A police boss fears there will be an influx people flocking across the border into North Wales on shopping trips and days out in an attempt to escape the national lockdown in England.

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones (pictured) blames Boris Johnson for ignoring the clear advice of scientific advisors to impose an earlier circuit-breaker lockdown which would have coincided with 17-day firebreak in Wales.

Mr Jones, a former police inspector, is concerned that the UK Prime Minister’s decision to snub expert scientific advice will encourage people from the North West to head to places like Broughton Shopping Park which is just 400 metres inside the Welsh border.

Relaxing the restrictions in Wales meant shops selling non-essential goods and pubs and restaurants would once again be able to trade while they were closed in England.

The upshot of Mr Johnson’s “cavalier and irresponsible” approach was that it was going to make life unnecessarily more difficult for North Wales Police after the end of the firebreak in Wales.

The commissioner said: “It’s going to have implications for policing in North Wales because I think people will be tempted to cross the border to  pop into Wrexham for a drink or go to retail centres like Broughton Shopping Park.

“As always, North Wales Police will be stepping up to the plate with high visibility policing similar to when the first national lockdown was imposed in March.

“We’ll be carrying on doing the four Es – encourage educate, engage and finally enforce if people continue to flout the rule.

“This is all about stopping the spread of this deadly virus and we expect everybody to take personal responsibility and comply with the rules like most people in Wales have been doing for the last seventeen days.

“We policed the first lockdown quite successfully and we’ll continue to do so but its’ an additional burden that we could do without but we are where we are.

“My message to anybody tempted to cross the border into Wales without a legitimate reason is to stay home so we can keep people safe and save lives.

“This situation where we have two sets of different rules either side of the border could and should have been avoided because it’s making life more complicated for everybody.

“If Boris Johnson had followed SAGE’s advice on September 21 like Mark Drakeford did, we would have had a lockdown at the same time. 

“The Welsh Government in fairness seem to have been doing the right thing and Boris seems to have been ignoring the scientific advice which is irresponsible.

“With some notable exceptions, the Welsh Government played a blinder although the shambles around essential or non-essential shopping was not their finest moment.

“Boris and the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak have put the economy first while here in Wales we’ve put health first and that absolutely the right order of priority in my book.

“Many people have made huge sacrifices to live within the rules, both before and during the firebreak.

“We now need to make sure that the effort we have made together is not wasted, and we do not have to undergo a further firebreak later in the year.”

Cash available to improve open space areas

Funding totalling £161,000 is available to improve open spaces and play areas in Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council’s Open Spaces Commuted Sums is now open to communities across the county.

The fund is open to town or community councils, community or voluntary groups.

The closing date for funding applications is Friday, January 29, 2021.

For more information visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/commuted-sums

If you would like support to develop a community project or idea please get in touch with our Community Development Team via email: communitydevelopment@denbighshire.gov.uk

The county council services due to re-open on Monday

* Llangollen Library is amongst the services to re-open on Monday.

Denbighshire County Council is informing residents about services which will restart at the end of the firebreak lockdown.

The lockdown in Wales comes to an end on Monday, November 9 and a number of services which have been closed in recent weeks, will re-open.

They include waste and recycling centres and libraries while years 9 and above will return to school. 

• Waste and Recycling – household waste recycling centres will re-open on Monday, November 9 and bookings are now open for the three fixed sites at Rhyl, Denbigh and Ruthin. Bookings for the Llangollen pop-up site will reopen from 8.30am on November 9 for the service on the morning of Saturday, November 14. You will be able to book a slot for the Corwen pop-up recycling event on the morning of Saturday, November 21, from 8.30am on Monday, November 16. Residents are reminded that on Welsh Government guidance, visits to household waste recycling centres should only be made if the journey is essential. You can make bookings for the household waste recycling centres and pop-up sites by visiting www.denbighshire.gov.uk/recycling 

• Libraries – Denbighshire’s eight libraries will re-open on Monday, November 9. Customers can access their local library for browsing and collecting books as well as using the available computer and One Stop Shop services by appointment by phoning their local library. The home library service will also re-start while a wide range of digital books, magazines and newspapers remain available through Denbighshire’s online library service. For more information visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/libraries 

• Schools - From Monday, November 9, schools will be open to all pupils. Any pupils who have been contacted by the school or the Test, Trace and Protect team, and told to self-isolate must continue to do so. Those advised to self-isolate should book a coronavirus test if they develop any of these symptoms, even if they are mild. A test can be booked by phoning 119 or online: www.gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus

Parents/guardians have been advised to remain alert for the main symptoms of coronavirus are :

A new or continuous cough

A high temperature

A loss of or change to sense of smell or taste

Advice requires those self-isolating to stay at home, not to go outdoors to exercise, to visit shops, family or friends, or to other public spaces. Please do not invite people to your house. Further formation on Test, Trace, and Protect can be found here https://gov.wales/test-trace-protect-coronavirus 

• North East Wales Archives - The Ruthin branch of the North East Wales Archives will reopen on Thursday, 12 November. The branch will be open Thursdays and Fridays by appointment only. For more information or to book, visit www.newa.wales/visit-us/planning-your-visit-2/what-to-expect-at-ruthin-branch/