Trust board gives update on railway's financial crisis

Llangollen Railway Trust Board has issued a statement on the financial crisis affecting the world-famous heritage attraction.

It highlights the fact that employees of the railway's public limited company - from which the board is quite separate - were recently issued with redundancy notices and also outlines the possibility that liquidator may have the option of auctioning off the railway's assets.  

As llanblogger has been reporting, on March 1 the board of Llangollen Railway PLC asked its bank to call in receivers after it became insolvent to the tune of about £350,000 and could not legally continue trading.

A firm of liquidators was called in which began the process of selling off the assets of the world-famous heritage attraction.

The Trust board, which remains completely solvent, has declared its intentions of buying as many of the railway's assets as possible and has already raised over £50,000 from a public appeal. https://llangollenrailway.enthuse.com/profile

The board also says in the statement it has meetings arranged with potential funding bodies. 

The board statement, posted as a PDF document on the board's own Facebook page, says: "The PLC has been formally under the control of the Administrators since Monday 22nd March and PLC employees were issued with redundancy notices over the weekend of the 27th. 

"As far as the Trust board is aware no bid has been accepted for the entire PLC. 

"We are not party to the intentions of the Administrators but one option they have is to auction the assets and this has been mentioned in responses to bids from individuals. 

"We expect further details from the Administrators and their agents over the next few days. 

"The Trust board is considering our options with regard to obtaining the intangible assets of the PLC (for example website, key contracts, information contained within IT systems) so as to ease the transition from PLC to Trust.

"Trust Board members have been preparing business plans and cash flow forecasts for a Trust-run railway, these will be used in support of meetings with potential funding bodies over the next few days. 

"Assuming positive outcomes from all the above, detailed commercial, operational and engineering plans for reopening the railway need to be compiled, and the board will be asking volunteers to become involved in this process over the coming weeks. Much of this work has already been done but needs to be revisited in the light of the demise of the PLC."

Sun Trevor quiz raises £1,600 for hospice

* Simon Baynes (right) hands over the £1,600 cheque. He is with Sue Williams of Nightingale House, quizmaster Maggie Smith, Paul and Katy Jones, their daughters Seren and Darcey and Poppy the dog.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially distanced visit to the Sun Trevor in Llangollen to meet the team involved in running a highly successful online weekly quiz which has been raising money for charity since the start of lockdown last year.  

Mr Baynes joined owners Paul and Katy Jones, quizmaster Maggie Smith and Nightingale House Community Engagement Officer Sue Williams for the handing over of a cheque worth £1,600 to the hospice following the culmination of fundraising efforts over the last 10 months. 

The Sun Trevor quiz has been running since 2008 and has raised over £16,000 for charity since it started.

Katy Jones said: “Thank you to Simon Baynes for being able to come over and help present this fantastic amount of money to Nightingale Hospice. 

"We want to say a massive thank you to Maggie Smith who has kept the quizzes going not just for the last year online but the last 10 years!

"And thank you to everyone has taken part. It’s been great seeing Zoom quiz meetings being organised and catching up with family and friends over lockdowns.”

Sue Williams from Nightingale House said: “Thank you to Paul, Katy, Maggie and all of those who loyally support The Sun Trevor’s quiz each week. 

"It is fantastic how they have adapted the hugely successful weekly pub quiz taking it online and continued to raise much needed funds despite the challenging times we have all experienced.

"Nightingale House Hospice relies on the support of local businesses and individuals to continue to provide patient care and family support services to our community.  We are very grateful to you for your continued generosity, thank you.”

Simon Baynes said: “It’s so wonderful to see the team at the Sun Trevor and all their customers using their weekly pub quizzes to raise such large amounts of money for charity. 

"They’re a shining example of a Clwyd South business and their efforts are a great reflection of their community spirit and passion for giving something back.

“Everyone locally knows about the brilliant work of Nightingale House Hospice and this money will allow them to continue their vital work. 

"I want to congratulate Paul and Katy as the owners of the Sun Trevor and I want to pay special tribute to Maggie Smith who does a truly wonderful job as the quizmaster.

"I’d highly recommend fans of a pub quiz take a look and consider get involved with their next virtual session.”

* The quiz, which takes place via Facebook, can be found on the Sun Trevor’s page: www.facebook.com/TheSunTrevorLlangollen

Some local heritage attractions re-open for Easter break

 * Valle Crucis Abbey is among the Cadw sites re-opened for the Easter holidays.

Wales’s heritage attractions, parks and gardens have been closed since November 2020, but Cadw, National Trust Cymru and Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales re-opened some of their outdoor sites and open-air spaces ahead of the Easter holidays.

Among the local attractions now welcoming back visitors are Cadw’s Valle Crucis Abbey in Llangollen and the National Trust Cymru’s properties at Erddig and Chirk Castle.

While no advance booking is required at the abbey it is needed for Erddig and Chirk.

The re-opening of the sites follows the First Minister’s recent announcement that the outdoor areas of some historic sites, parks and gardens are now able to welcome back visitors following an easement of the Welsh Government’s coronavirus regulations.

In line with the messaging of Visit Wales’s new Addo campaign — the three heritage bodies have urged the people of Wales to make a promise to care for each other and the wider communities of Wales as they begin to return to their favourite outdoor heritage attractions and historic gardens.

It’s hoped that this approach will encourage visitors to behave safely and responsibly on visits to sites across the country.

Cadw says visitors to its sites must adhere to Welsh Government social distancing guidelines and coronavirus restrictions at all times.

From yesterday (Thursday), the historic environment service has re-opened outdoor areas at a selection of its most iconic staffed monuments.

To gain entry to re-opening staffed monuments, general visitors and Cadw members alike will need to reserve time-allotted tickets at least 24 hours in advance of their visit on cadwmembership.service.gov.wales/events. This will allow for a safe and socially distanced on-site experience for all ticket holders.

Sites partially re-opening from April 1 include three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Beaumaris and Conwy Castles and the world renowned industrial hub, Blaenavon Ironworks. Other re-opening sites include Criccieth, Kidwelly and Laugharne castles.

Tintern Abbey, Harlech, Chepstow and Raglan castles will re-open outdoor areas to Wales residents from Tuesday April 6.

Meanwhile, Denbigh and Rhuddlan Castle in Denbighshire will re-open on Thursday April 8. In line with Welsh Government guidance, all indoor areas at re-opening Cadw sites will remain closed until further notice.

Due to essential conservation works or coronavirus safety precautions, other heritage attractions under Cadw’s care, including Caerphilly Castle and Castell Coch in south Wales and Plas Mawr and Caernarfon Castle in north Wales, will remain closed at this time.

Site entry tickets were released on Monday March 29 for visits up to and including Sunday  April 11.

Cadw recommends that visitors check its website to find out whether or not a particular site is open before travelling. The website will also provide further detail on ticket bookings and the re-opening plans for Cadw’s collection of heritage sites.

National Trust Cymru began re-opening open-air spaces to people living in Wales only, from March 29. From Penrhyn Castle in Gwynedd to Tredegar House in Newport, visitors can return to their favourite parks and gardens across Wales under Welsh Government guidelines to enjoy nature, fresh air and open spaces.

Other outdoor spaces set to re-open under the care of National Trust Cymru include: Plas Newydd, Bodnant Garden, Powis Castle & Garden, Dyffryn Gardens, and Dinefwr Park.

National Trust Cymru says it is looking forward to welcoming visitors back, and visits will need to be pre-booked on the National Trust website.

Opening dates and times will vary across National Trust Cymru attractions, and visitors are asked to check property websites for details. Indoor spaces at castles and mansion houses remain closed in line with Welsh Government restrictions.

More information on purchasing tickets and the re-opening of National Trust Cymru sites can be found on individual property webpages at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/days-out/wales.

Other Amgueddfa Cymru — National Museum Wales visitor attractions will remain closed under Welsh Government regulations until further notice.

Indoor spaces across the three Wales heritage bodies will remain closed until further advice is issued from the Welsh Government.

For the time being, outdoor attractions in Wales can open only to visitors who reside in Wales, with residents able to travel without restrictions in-Wales.

Different restrictions currently apply in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with visitors from these locations unable to travel into Wales or visit Wales’s outdoor attractions at this time.

* The visitor notice on the website of Valle Crucis Abbey says: “From Friday April 2 this monument is open and free to visit for residents within Wales with no pre-booking required.

“Check our opening times and facilities below; please act responsibly and be respectful of the local area during your visit.

“Please adhere to Welsh Government social distancing guidelines and coronavirus restrictions at all times and do not attempt to access enclosed spaces.

“Access is to outer grounds only and all visitor centres will be closed; there will be no access to refreshments, toilets or other facilities during this time.” 

For more information, go to: https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/valle-crucis-abbey

Vaccination update from health centre

Here's the latest vaccination update from Llangollen Health Centre;

"We have now given over 4500 Covid vaccines to our patients since January. Many thanks to our fantastic staff, helpers and volunteers for their hard work.

"We will be holding one mop up clinic on 15th April for anyone in groups 1-9 who hasn’t yet had their first vaccination - if this applies to you please contact us on 01978 860625.

"After that we will progress our plans for the rest of our adult patient population. 

"Second doses will continue on a weekly basis. If you are concerned that we have missed you please contact us on the number above."

First Minister outlines further Covid-19 rules relaxation

First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) is today setting out a series of measures that will take Wales fully into Alert Level 3 by May 17 subject to public health conditions remaining favourable. 

He will again set out the priority placed on ensuring all children and students in Wales will return to face-to-face education on Monday 12 April.

All remaining non-essential retail and close contact services will be allowed to reopen from Monday 12 April, while the rules will also be changed to allow travel into and out of Wales from the rest of the United Kingdom and Common Travel Area. 

The Welsh Government is also signalling further changes it aims to confirm at the 22 April review, subject to public health conditions and final confirmation by Ministers, which would see outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality reopen, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants on Monday 26 April.

By early May, plans include allowing organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people to take place, and for gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities to reopen for individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes.

The changes continue the Welsh Government’s planned, step-by-step approach to relaxing the coronavirus restrictions, taking account of the highly-infectious Kent variant, which is now the dominant form of the virus in Wales.

The public health situation in Wales continues to improve. The number of cases of coronavirus in our communities is generally falling and pressure on the NHS is easing.

Mark Drakeford said: "Thanks to a real team effort across Wales, coronavirus cases remain stable, and the vaccination programme continues apace. As a result, the Welsh Government has the headroom to continue its careful, step-by-step approach to relaxing restrictions.

"The review we have concluded this week, means we can continue with our programme of further re-opening of the economy and loosening the restrictions in place."

Should public health conditions remain favourable, from Monday 12th April, the following relaxations can go ahead:

• The full return of children to schools for face-to-face education, all post-16 learners will return to further education and training centres, and university campus’ will be able to open for blended face-to-face/online learning for all students;
• All remaining shops can reopen, completing the phased reopening of non-essential retail;
• All remaining close contact services can open, including mobile services;
• Travel restrictions on traveling into and out of Wales will be lifted. However, restrictions on travel to countries outside the Common Travel Area without a reasonable excuse, remain in place. The Common Travel Area means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland;
• Viewings at wedding venues can resume by appointment;
• Outdoor canvassing for elections can begin.

As is also set out in our revised Coronavirus Control Plan, a small number of outdoor pilot events of between 200 and 1,000 people are being planned. 

These will build on the test events held last September. 

They will include cultural and sports events across Wales, including a potential stadia event. 

The Welsh Government is working with the Muslim Council to consider how they can also incorporate events to help people celebrate Eid at the end of Ramadan. All events would be subject to Local Authority and public health agreement.

The further relaxations follow the successful return of primary pupils and many older secondary school and college students to face-to-face learning and the start of the phased re-opening of non-essential retail, including the opening of hairdressers and barbers.

Ministers are now signalling further easements to restrictions in the coming weeks subject to the public health situation remaining favourable. These are consistent with the cautious and phased approach set out in the updated Coronavirus Control Plan: Revised Alert Levels in Wales.

On Monday 26 April:                                                                     

• Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks, would be allowed to reopen;
• Outdoor hospitality can resume, including at cafes, pubs and restaurants. Indoor hospitality will remain restricted.

On Monday 3 May:

• Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can again take place;
• Weddings receptions can take place outdoors, but will also be limited to 30 people.

On Monday 10 May:

• Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. This will include individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes;
• Extended household will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors.

Preparations will be made to allow the following relaxations to be considered at the review on 13 May by the next Welsh Government, subject to public health conditions remaining favourable.

The reopening/resumption of the following, from the first week of the new cycle, i.e. Monday 17 May:

• Children’s indoor activities.
• Community centres;
• Organised indoor activities for adults, limited to a maximum of 15 people. This includes exercise classes.

After 17 May, to consider enabling indoor hospitality and remaining visitor accommodation to reopen in advance of the Spring Bank Holiday at the end of May.

These are indicative dates to give the sectors time to plan and prepare –decisions on these will be made nearer the time, once the impact of other relaxations have been assessed and subject to the health situation allowing the relaxations to go ahead.

The First Minister added: "The sacrifices we have all made are having a positive effect in the battle against Coronavirus. This last year has been incredibly difficult for all of us and again I want to thank everyone for their efforts.

"These efforts have allowed us to gradually ease the restrictions, to gradually introduce more elements of normal life.

"With the weather improving, with more opportunities to see family and friends, there are reasons for optimism. However, we can’t let our guard down yet. We all still need to be vigilant, we still need to do our part to keep this deadly disease at bay."

Smashing new glass bridge for Llangollen

* Tourists could come flocking to Llangollen's new glass-bottomed Dee bridge. 

A new bridge spanning the River Dee is just one of a number of visionary future projects for consideration on the agenda of the recently formed LlangollenFuture Vision group.

The new pedestrian access-only, single-arch suspension bridge, constructed in stainless steel, would feature a glass floored. 

Underfloor lighting, as used in aircraft floor exit lighting, would be incorporated for night-time pedestrian safety.

The bridge would cross the river from adjacent to the car park currently used by Aldi and Home Bargains customers to a point on the opposite bank on land near to the far end of the railway station platform.   

This would give enhanced access for visitors to the railway and to events at the Pavilion, including the International Musical Eisteddfod.

With unparalleled views of the river in both directions, a couple of open picture frames would be built into the sides of the construction specially designed for the benefit of photographers.

Spokesperson for the group, David Davies, said: "The latest technology construction would compliment the uniqueness of the  excellently recently restored Chain Bridge, whilst both being guarded, up-stream by the historic Llantysilio  Kings Bridge and down stream, by one of the seven wonders of Wales, the Llangollen Town Bridge.

"Such a visionary construction would compliment and enhance the greatness of bridge engineering in this area and ensure that Llangollen maintained its position in the tourist top rankings of a must-visit place in Wales.”

David Davies made the announcement of the new bridge earlier today, April 1. 

Anti-bollards campaigner hits back with his own statement

* The controversial bollards along one side of Castle Street.

Town councillor Stuart Davies, who organised the 500-signature calling for the controversial Castle Street bollards to be removed, has replied to yesterday's statement from County Councillors Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile explaining that they were to be taken away in the next few weeks and replaced with specially-designed planters.

Cllr Davies says: "I am pleased to see that the two county cllrs finally accept the fact that the bollard scheme that has been causing concern, with reports of trips and falls coming in since its inception, is harming people and needs to removed.      

"The statement that the council is 'making the area as safe as possible' is an indication that the scheme is recognised as unsafe. 

"My report to Denbighshire County Council of my own personal experience of a near-miss on the bollards over a month ago was not replied to by the Head of Service for Public Protection who is in charge of this scheme. 

"The question has to be asked: Why it has taken so long for the reality to be addressed whilst in that time a person has been badly injured?   

"The proposed new measures of leaving the bollards in place for four weeks and painting white lines as a means of control are still putting people in harm's way and the councillors seem desperate to keep this scheme in place at any cost. 

"Cllr Timms advised Llanblogger in November 2020: 'Unfortunately there are strict rules about this - it’s about safety for pedestrians. Planters would be dangerous if a vehicle collides with them as they would slide, possibly causing injury,' and yet today he is saying: 'The first one is to use specially designed planters instead of the current lane defenders along Castle Street.'

"Research shows that the bollards are cycle lane defenders not pedestrian barriers and it is believed that this is why people have been tripping over the bases of them.

"We are fast approaching one of the busiest weekends of the year. There will be thousands of visitors arriving, the trip hazard will still be there.

"The public have been asking, and quite rightly too, how much has this cost and how much more is it going to cost us and how much is it going to cost in the next four weeks in the price of human misery when, not if, someone else trips over these bollards?"