Railway's vital bridge facelift goes on despite financial crisis

* Volunteers work on the Dee Bridge. Picture: Paul Reynolds.

Despite the financial crisis currently facing its public limited company, volunteers from Llangollen Railway last week got to grips with rerailing the Dee Bridge after the 18 new timbers were put in place.

To run trains over the Victorian bridge the railway has had to replace its worn-out timbers. 

New woodwork cost £15,000 and an appeal was launched last November by Llangollen Railway Trust to raise the required funds.

The appeal has proven a major success with members of the public and the trust together raising the entire amount.

All the rail has now been replaced on the timbers. 

Rails at the west and east ends have been fixed in place with the chairs drilled and screwed down with rail keys added. 

The rest of the fixing is subject to adjustment - level and gauging and completing the tie rods. A couple of joints will receive rail welds to help smooth the trip over the bridge.

As revealed by llanblogger, the board of Llangollen Railway PLC recently asked its bank to call in receivers after it plunged into insolvency to the tune of about £350,000 and could not legally continue trading.

With all operations on the railways now suspended, further work to complete the bridge in readiness for resumption of trains must await the administrator's permission.

Position of one-way street sign is criticised

* Above and below: the new one-way sign.

The positioning of a new one-way sign in Llangollen town centre has come under attack.

The criticism comes from Stuart Davies, a town councillor, after the sign was erected at the corner of Castle Street and Market Street.

He said: “I make no apologies for this rant. What on earth is going on?

“The dropped kerbs at the point where the sign has been erected are for wheelchair users to cross the road.

“How an earth is a wheelchair user going to access that drop kerb from the Castle Street side?”

He added: “We also need to ask the question, if the temporary order of which this is allegedly part is to partly promote ‘social distancing’ how does this work?

“I have asked what the county council’s head of service for public protection thinks of this. I have emailed him and the head of service for highways.”

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “The posts carry signage required to give legal effect to the temporary one way restriction on Market Street.

“The position is due to the presence of underground services and the post was positioned to allow as much clear footway width as possible and

complies with guidance provided in the Traffic Signs Manual.

“Every possible consideration was given to an alternative location before settling on the current location.”

Call for Welsh Government support for crisis-hit railway

Following news that Llangollen Railway PLC is to go into receivership, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised its plight in the Welsh Parliament and called for a government statement on support for the attraction.

Mr Isherwood, who has long championed the work of Llangollen Railway and worked with them over many years, said: “The directors of this wonderful Welsh standard-gauge heritage railway announced last week that they have taken the reluctant step of inviting their bank to appoint a receiver.

“The Trust Board stated it will need to take steps to negotiate with the receiver to try to secure the line and preserve rolling stock and infrastructure to the greatest extent possible. 

"It is intended to recommence operations in due course, but this is dependent upon legal and regulatory approvals, including licensing, all of which will clearly take time, it added.

“The impact this will have on their staff, volunteers, customers, suppliers, locomotive owners and their organisations, and anyone else with connections to the railway, is potentially serious, as is the wider impact on the visitor economy in Llangollen and throughout the Dee Valley.

“I have therefore been asked to raise this in the Welsh Parliament and alert the First Minister, and request a Welsh Government statement accordingly.”

In her response the Tefnydd, Rebecca Evans MS, told Mr Isherwood to write to the Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, which he said he will now be doing. 

Vicar reveals provisional church re-opening date

Llangollen's vicar has given an update on the re-opening of St Collen's Church after the latest lockdown.

Father Lee Taylor says: "We are provisionally looking to reopen the St Collen's for public worship on Sunday 21st March. This date is provisional upon the further guidelines from the Welsh Government and of the Church in Wales.

"This gives us time to carry out a thorough and up-to-date risk assessment as well as air and sanitise the building.

"Legally, churches have been allowed to be open for communal worship, but the advice from the local health authorities and from the Diocese was to find alternatives to public gatherings, which is what we have done.

"When we reopen, we will be returning to the pattern of worship and practices that we developed since we emerged from Lockdown 1 last year: Only one service (11am) at St Collen's on Sunday morning until further notice.

"The details relating to these decisions for our group of churches has been given in the statement which is now available on our website.

"Our safe capacity in St Collen's stands at 60 people maximum. It is doubtful that we will exceed this number on a regular Sunday morning (apart from Easter Sunday – more details will follow). However, attendance will be on a first come, first served basis.

"Please note the following very carefully:

"Some people have been vaccinated and some haven’t. Remember, no one is safe until we are ALL safe.

"Only members of the same household or bubble will be able to sit together.

"No socialising is allowed in church, and only one person from two households can meet outside.

"Please wave your greeting rather than stopping for a chat, and please leave the church in a timely fashion.

"Masks are to be worn at all times.

"Hands should be sanitised before entering the church.

"Social distancing of 2 metres should be maintained (including moving all the way into the pew you have chosen).

"Do not attend church if you are feeling ill.

"Temperature checks will be taken at the door (this means that the person taking the temperature will be at the same arm’s length distance as the priest giving communion).

"As ever with this pandemic, the church will be open for Sunday worship for those who feel comfortable enough to attend, and live-streaming will continue for those who don't.

"All this means that we will be able to keep some of Lent, Holy Week and Easter in Church.

"After Easter we will look to re-open for private prayer. If you can spare an hour or so a week, do get in contact with Tony.

"So, this is phase 1 of re-opening our churches. I hope that somewhere between Easter and the summer we can proceed with the next phase and consider safely (and legally) reopening St Tysilio's and Trevor church.

"When we do so, there will be a revised pattern of Sunday worship for our group of churches. More details will follow in due course."

Progress made towards step-free access at Ruabon station

* Simon Baynes MP at Ruabon station.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed "major progress" by the UK Government on step-free disability access at Ruabon Railway Station. 

Secretary of State for Transport, Grant Shapps has said that Ruabon Station will be progressing to the next stage of the Access for All programme.

This next stage of design will allow the Department for Transport to establish any risks and the anticipated final costs associated with the project. 

Since becoming the local MP Mr Baynes has make the case for step-free access to the UK Government, which is responsible for the infrastructure of the railways in Wales, during Questions in the Chamber of the House of Commons and in meetings with Ministers in the Department for Transport, the Treasury and the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales. 

He has also worked closely with the stakeholders involved in Ruabon Station including Wrexham Council, Network Rail, the Welsh government, Ruabon Community Council, Friends of Ruabon and the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership. 

Ruabon is a busy station with two flights of stairs that passengers need to use in order to access the Chester platform and it is the only station on the Chester to Shrewsbury route that fails to meet passengers’ step-free access needs. 

From 2002 to 2017, footfall increased by 220% among those entering and exiting the station and the addition of a new development 360 houses and a hotel in Ruabon is also expected to bring additional footfall and demand for the station. 

Ruabon Station is also the rail and bus gateway access for Llangollen and the World Heritage site at Pontcysyllte.

Grant Shapps said: “Simon Baynes has been championing the cause of constituents who need step-free access at Ruabon station, and I'm delighted we can now progress work to the next stage. This shows the value of having strong Conservative voices in North Wales. 

“Our railway should be easily available to all, not just the able-bodied, and we must press ahead with projects to make stations accessible.”

Mr Baynes said: “It is very good news for residents in Ruabon and the wider community in Clwyd South and Wrexham that the UK Government has said today that Ruabon Station will be progressing to the next stage of the Access for All programme. 

"This is something I’ve been campaigning for both locally in Clwyd South and in Parliament since day one of becoming an MP, and before that as a candidate, and it shows the commitment of the UK government to Clwyd South and North Wales. 

“Many representatives, organisations and residents in Ruabon have been campaigning for step-free access at Ruabon Station for several years and I am very pleased to see this important progress to the next stage of design. 

"This would not have been possible without the help and support of County Cllr David Bithell (Environment and Transport Lead at Wrexham Council), Darren Williams (Chief Environment and Technical Officer at Wrexham Council), County Cllr Joan Lowe (the local County Councillor for Penycae and Ruabon South), Sheila Dee (Community Rail Officer of the Chester Shrewsbury Rail Partnership), the team at Network Rail, the Welsh government, Ruabon Community Council and the Friends of Ruabon who have all worked so hard to get to this crucial stage. 

“This project is needed to make sure all passengers can access the jobs and leisure opportunities that will make our community an even greater place to live and work.”

Government pledges £72m to support learners

Education Minister Kirsty Williams (pictured) has announced a further £72 million to support learners as part of the response towards recovery and progression since the pandemic.

The funding will include the continuation of the Recruit, Recover and Raise Standards programme into the next academic year, extra learning resources and support for foundation phase learners in schools and childcare settings that provide early education.

Support will also be targeted at learners in years 11, 12 and 13, to provide additional help with their transition into the next stage.

Since last July, the equivalent of 1,800 extra full-time school staff have been recruited in schools across Wales to provide extra support during the pandemic, double the original target of 900.

Funding will also be used to support 1,400 trainee teachers currently in Initial Teacher Education, enabling them to complete their practical experience in the autumn, complete their qualifications and move into full-time teaching.

In a comparison of UK nations in February, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found that Wales’ “catch up programmes are far better targeted at their most disadvantaged pupils”. The announcement today is expected to increase the spend-per-pupil equivalent to £239 – the highest in the UK.

Kirsty Williams, the Education Minister, said: “We all know it’s been a difficult period for learners and staff. Schools and colleges have done terrific work in ensuring learning has continued, while putting preparations in place so the return of learners is as smooth as possible.

“I know that extra help is needed, especially for learners at key stages in their academic careers and in their lives. As learners continue to go back to face-to-face learning, we are providing this additional funding to ensure support is in place when our young people return to the classroom.”

In a big week for education reform in Wales, the Minister also looked ahead to Tuesday’s final Senedd stage of the Curriculum and Assessment Bill and the introduction of the first ever ‘made in Wales’ national curriculum:

“It is a significant milestone in our national mission as the Curriculum and Assessment Bill reaches its final stage before being passed into law.

“I call it a ‘national mission’ as it has involved everyone working together – teachers, parents, academics, businesses, national organisations, and my department of course - to raise standards, tackle the attainment gap and have an education system that is a source of pride to us all.

“Diolch yn fawr to everyone who has played their part in this historic journey for education in Wales.”

Welsh Conservatives select police commissioner candidate

* Pat Astbury.

Pat Astbury, the current chair of North Wales Police and Crime Panel, has been selected as the Welsh Conservative candidate in the upcoming Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Pat Astbury, who was born and raised in North Wales, is also the panel member champion for Modern Day Slavery and Child Exploitation. 

She said: “I have a first-hand understanding of the diverse areas and needs that are prevalent across the region – from the industrial areas of North East Wales to rural Gwynedd. 

"If elected, I would make sure the public has the chance to raise their concerns through well publicised meetings and surgeries. I will listen to what people have to say and take action.”

Rural crime, county lines drug gangs, modern slavery and child sexual exploitation are areas of concern for Ms Astbury, who is a Welsh speaker.

She said: “County lines is a particular problem along the A55 – with huge implications for education (excluded pupils), social services, health, the police – not to mention damage to families and the community.

"There would be no laissez-faire attitude to issues such as drugs."

Although there has been an increase in numbers deployed to the rural crime team in North Wales, Ms Astbury says she believes it is important that PCSOs are regularly seen in these areas.

She said: “I would continue to press for more visible policing whilst fully understanding the need for the less visible – for example, there is a need for an increase in staff who can combat fraud and other online criminality.

“Nothing gives more reassurance than the sight of a uniformed member of the police.”

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes said: “I’m delighted that Pat Astbury has been selected as our Police and Commissioner candidate. 

"I’m certain that she will be a great advocate for residents and our hardworking police officers in North Wales. And that she will look to capitalise on the extra 20,000 officers being recruited by the UK Government across England and Wales. 

"Pat will be totally focused on the job in hand and strongly committed to tackling the impact of drugs on young people and communities in North Wales.”