Welsh Secretary visits businesses in Chirk

* From left, the owner of the Hand Hotel Paul Rodgers, candidate Barbara Hughes, Simon Hart MP and Simon Baynes MP at the Hand Hotel beer garden in Chirk.

While Labour's two leaders, Sir Kier Starmer and Mark Drakeford, were on the campaign trail in Llangollen this morning, Conservatives were out and about in neighbouring Chirk earlier this week.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes welcomed the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart MP, to the area following the launch of the Welsh Conservative manifesto for the 2021 Senedd elections in May.

Along with the Welsh Conservative candidate for Clwyd South, Barbara Hughes, they visited a number of different businesses, including Castle Bistro where they met the owner Reza Noori, the Hand Hotel with owner Paul Rodgers, Jamie Ward’s Traditional Family Butchers, M.G. Hughes Fruit & Veg and Manford’s Little Lambs with its owner Vicki Mitchell.

Simon Hart said: “I much enjoyed meeting businesses in Chirk and hearing about how they have served the community throughout the Covid crisis. 

"I congratulate them on their hard work and wish them all the very best as we gradually come out of the pandemic.”

Simon Baynes said: “It was a great pleasure to be joined by the Secretary of State for Wales and to have the opportunity to show him some of excellent Clwyd South local businesses, many of whom have gone above and beyond during the Covid crisis to meet the needs of customers and give back to the community." 

First Minister pledges to help keep railway running

llanblogger exclusive

* Mark Drakeford on the bridge looking over at the crisis-hit railway.

* The Labour team on walk-about in Castle Street.

* Mark Drakeford and Ken Skates chat to a constituent outside the bank.

* Sir Keir Starmer, left, Ken Skates and Mark Drakeford, far right, speak to practice manager Tessa Orton-Jones outside the health centre.

If it wins next month’s Senedd election a new Labour-controlled Welsh Government would work with local people to help get crisis-hit Llangollen Railway back up and running.

That was the pledge from Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Mark Drakeford when he and UK Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer had an election walk-about in the town this morning (Thursday) to support the campaign of the party's candidate Ken Skates to be returned as Senedd Member for the local Clwyd South constituency on May 6.

Arriving in the Market Street car park the two leaders, accompanied by Mr Skates, strolled down Castle Street where they met and chatted to a small number of shoppers and at least one business owner.

Later they drove across town to Llangollen Health Centre where they spoke at some length to the clinical team who have been carrying out the busy Covid-19 vaccination programme.

Sir Keir told them he found their hard work “uplifting”. There was also praise for their efforts from Mr Drakeford, who is a former Welsh Health Minister.

llanblogger asked the First Minister whether Llangollen’s world-famous heritage railway, which recently went into receivership with debts of £350,000 and now faces the auctioning off online of its assets, could look forward to any assistance from a returning Labour government.

He said: “We obviously realise the importance of Llangollen Railway and the way it has helped to bring people to this part of Wales and we think there is a successful future for it.

“But that will depend upon there being a credible plan for the future of the railway with people who are confident in the running of it.

“In the end Ken Skates and I deal with public money, so when we are making investments in things like the railway we have got to know that the money is going to achieve all that we want it to achieve.”

He added: “I’m not wanting to suggest for a moment that there is going to be some sort of blank cheque from the next Labour government.

“What there will be is a very positive determination to work with local people to come up with a plan that would allow us to be part of the help that they will need to get the railway back up and running.”

Before leaving Sir Keir said he thought Ken Skates had “a good chance” of holding Clwyd South for Labour.

And Mr Skates himself said he was confident of victory after some “very positive” canvassing over the past few weeks.    

Health centre's latest vaccinations update

Llangollen Health Centre has sent out an update on Covid-19 vaccinations, which says:

"Pfizer Vaccine - second doses.

"All patients who had a first dose Pfizer vaccine at the Health Centre during 5-7 February should have received a reminder that their second dose is due this weekend.

"The date and time of your second dose appointment is shown on the vaccine record card that you received when you attended your appointment in February.

"It is really important that you attend this appointment as we will not be getting any more Pfizer vaccine at the Health Centre.

"Please remember:

• to bring your vaccine record with you so that it can be updated

• to park in the same car park as you were asked last time

• that you will need to sit in the waiting room for 15 minutes after your vaccination

We will have an update on first doses for the 40-49 age group early next week."

Covid-19 testing centre back on Market Street car park

The mobile Covid-19 testing unit (MTU) is now back on the Market Street car park in Llangollen.

According to the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board website, the walk-in and drive-in centre is open from 9.30am-3.30pm seven days a week with no appointment needed. 

Valley Girls WI goes into suspension

 

* WI members are briefed on the Coppafeel breast cancer campaign in 2019.

* Above and below: Outdoor activities Valley Girls members have enjoyed.

After seven years in operation the Valley Girls WI has announced that it has gone into suspension.

Since its formation its members have taken part in a wide range of activities, from fundraising for good causes to archery and canoeing. 

The statement it has issued says: "This is official notice of us suspending ourselves as a WI. 

"This decision was made at an online meeting held on Thursday 26th March.

"We have tried to contact all current members as well as past members, attendees and supporters of Valley Girls WI with this news. 

"But for any we have missed off the email list we would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your involvement, attendance and support you have given the WI at various times in our seven year history.

"The term suspend is used because we now have a three year window in which we could either reform ourselves or a new group or individuals could come forward to restart/reform this WI.

"If anybody is interested in taking the WI forward either to reform Valley Girls WI or make a new one for this area then please contact us here and we can put you in touch with a WI Advisor for this area.

"We would also be happy to share any information and offer support to any individuals or a new team who want to take this on."

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the latest column for Denbighshire Citizens Advice:   

Q: My energy bill really shot up last month. I don’t feel like I’ve been using any more heating or electricity than usual, so I’m worried I’m being overcharged. I’ve tried to contact my energy supplier for support, but no one ever seems to answer the phone or respond to my emails. I’ve waited on hold for nearly an hour several times before giving up. What should I do? 

A: It’s normal for your energy bills to change depending on the time of year and how much gas and electricity you’re using. But if your bills seem strangely high, then it’s important to investigate why. 

Firstly, check your meter is working properly and your usage has definitely not gone up, even accidently. Also check what heaters you have and whether you’re using them correctly. Night storage radiators and immersion heaters in particular can cause very high bills if used incorrectly. 

There are a few things worth looking into. It could be that your bill is an estimate, in which case you need to give your supplier a new meter reading. If it’s not an estimate, check your last meter reading to see if it matches the one on your bill. If you still don’t have an answer, your supplier might have raised their prices. In any case, you’re doing the right thing to contact them. 

Customer service varies between suppliers and unfortunately we hear of many bad experiences similar to yours. We also know the problem has worsened during the pandemic. If you’re struggling to get through to them, you could make a formal complaint. We offer advice on how to do this and things to consider first. 

We publish a comparison table every three months which rates suppliers’ customer service, based on things like telephone wait time, email response time and the accuracy of their bills. Have a look for yours to see how they fare against others. If they’re low on the list, consider switching to a different one.

* If you’d like to talk it through with someone, get in touch with your nearest Citizens Advice for support or contact the consumer helpline. 

Enterprising pair aim to give more power to old bikes

* Beth Ward and Robin Hughes are opening a community bike workshop in Llangollen.

A pair of cycling enthusiasts are aiming to put new power into old bikes with their latest enterprise in Llangollen. 

Beth Ward and Robin Hughes were on a four-month cycling holiday through Turkey when they came up with the idea of making bikes a more vital part of daily lives in the UK.

 

And they realised that this means equipping more machines with electric power.

 

Back home they gave up their day-jobs to concentrate on launching their new social enterprise company, called Drosi Bikes, in Ruthin specialising in fitting unwanted older bikes with electric power.

Robin used to work in the fishing industry as a marine surveyor while Beth had trained as a product designer but for the last few years had been working in the social enterprise/charity sector as a project manager.

They started out in the garage at their home but are now about to open a new, fully equipped community bike workshop in the former Fringe theatre building in Parade Street.

Their aim is to encourage new riders to get fitter for a fraction of the cost of buying a new e-bike. 

Recalling how their new venture was inspired by their foreign holiday, Beth said: "Cycling through Europe, we soon became aware of how bikes are used so much more in daily life to do things like taking the kids to school or to go shopping. 

"We realised that the UK really lags behind in this respect and still sees cycling as a hobby rather than a mode of transport. 

"As our holiday progressed, we became more and more convinced that we could do something to make a change." 

Robin said: “After a year of planning, Drosi was launched just as the Covid pandemic hit its first peak and Wales was in its first full lockdown. 

"We could see people were cycling more. They had the time, the roads were quieter and people were beginning to dust off their old bikes, which they probably hadn't used for years. 

"People are beginning to learn that the great thing about e-bikes is that you can cycle further for longer. You can choose to pedal or use the motor. 

"Either way, you are being more active yourself and you will be using the car less."

Drosi is a play on the Welsh word trosi, for convert, and the pair say they will carry out the e-bike conversions at an affordable price compared with off the shelf e-bikes and that all people have to do is supply the bike.

The cost of an e-bike conversion is £860. This includes the motor, battery, fitting and a basic service.

During the Welsh Government’s Wales Climate Week last year a number of individuals and organisations across the country were recognised as 'low carbon heroes' via a panel of government representatives. This acknowledged their work to tackle Climate Change and amongst them was Drosi Bikes.

The pair are hoping their new Llangollen workshop will be opening in mid May.

Alongside converting and repairing bikes they will be taking bike donations for recycling, running volunteer activities and offering a number of donation-based activities to support people in the local community to cycle including a DIY workshop where people can come and use the tools and e-bike rental (full price for people living outside the LL20 postcode).

* For more information, go to: Drosi Bikes | United Kingdom