MP praises facelift work at Town Hall

* From left, Charlie Jones, Facilities Officer, Katherine Susanthan, professional upholsterer, and Simon Baynes MP in the balcony at Llangollen Town Hall.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially distanced visit to see some of the recent improvements to Llangollen Town Hall. 

He met with Charlie Jones, Facilities Officer, and Katherine Susanthan, who are currently reupholstering the seats in the balcony.

Since Charlie became the Facilities Officer of the Town Hall in 2018, she and volunteers, supported by the Friends of Llangollen Town Hall, have been undertaking restoration work in the building, including replacing the stage curtains, cleaning the lead pane windows, repainting the lobby and cleaning its chandelier. 

The current project of reupholstering the balcony seats will take two months and the skills of local professional upholsterer Katherine Susanthan, assisted by Charlie, are making a welcome transformation of the look and comfort of the balcony seats.

Charlie said: “Ysgol Dinas Bran gave us their old curtains and thanks to them we were able to re-make and up-cycle them for the stage. 

"We had donations of pretty vintage china that we use instead of plastic or paper which reduces waste and looks nice. 

"Our old Town Hall chairs were dated and uncomfortable and a school in Ruthin were throwing them away, so a volunteer brought them from Ruthin in a trailer and a group of volunteers from the groups who use the Town Hall cleaned and painted them.

"The old Town Hall chairs have been up-cycled with chalk paint to show what can be done with them and they would be great as spare chairs.

“We’re always looking for volunteers and welcome any contribution they can make, however small because it all makes a difference to the community we live in. 

"Each of us has something to give, and the work our volunteers have done is a gift to the community that makes a real difference. I can’t thank them enough.”

Simon Baynes said: “It was a pleasure to meet Charlie and Katherine and see the great improvements they are making to the balcony seating. 

"This project along with the other improvements that Charlie has overseen are hugely important to securing the future of Llangollen’s much-loved Town Hall and its central role in the heritage and culture of the town. 

"I look forward to visiting again soon and supporting them in their work in the future.”

National Park plan for this area branded as "bonkers"

The Daily Post is reporting that moves to create a new national park in north east Wales, which would include Llangollen, have been labelled “bonkers”.

Local councillors say the plans for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley are likely to meet stiff opposition from farmers and rural businesses worried about extra rules and costs.

* For the full story, see: https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/this-not-play-area-backlash-20478439.amp?IYA-reg=0d2d6eb8-e36a-4762-9154-3d29efdd3c91

Board reports some positive news for railway's future

The Trust board of Llangollen Railway has this morning (Wednesday) issued a statement which is hopeful for the future of the heritage attraction.

In March 1 the railway's Public Limited Company went into receivership with debts of around £350,000.

Since then the assets of the railway have been put up for online auction, which culminates on May 12.

In the meantime, the separate Trust Board, which remains completely solvent, has been battling to raise enough money to buy as many of the assets as possible and get the railway back on track. 

Today's statement from the board says: "The Trust is delighted to announce it has completed a deal with the administrators of Llangollen Railway plc, Cowgill Holloway Business Recovery LLP, for an undisclosed sum, to purchase certain assets belonging to the railway along with the right to use the railway line. 

"This was the first key step towards recovery and thoughts now turn fully to the task of preparing for reopening as we continue on our journey to protect and preserve this beautiful part of our heritage.

"Talks have been initiated meanwhile with the Welsh Government, Business Wales, Denbighshire County Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, all of which have been positive. 

"The Safety Management System will have to be rewritten to some degree and fresh approval sought from the Office of Rail & Road.  

"Liz Parkes of North York Moors Railway has been helping us in this regard and we are very appreciative of her support. 

"We have been very encouraged and gratified by all the support received in our fundraising efforts and thank everyone who has contributed.  

"Including promises, funds raised to date are approximately £85,000. This should enable us to submit a competitive bid in the auction on 12 May for key items, such as at least one carriagewith accessible adaptation, function coach, road railer, telehandler and 12t crane.

"Looking ahead to the preparation for re-opening phase, £100,000 approximately is needed to cover necessary overheads, for which we hope to attract at least some grant funding.  

"It remains too soon to speculate when re-opening might be but we are targeting the end of July or early August currently.

"We would also like to acknowledge the continuing support of the media, without which our need for funds would not have reached so wide an audience.

"Please donate if you can: Online at https://llangollenrailway.enthuse.com and click the Donate button, or via our Facebook page. For taxpayers, the Railway can apply for 25% Gift Aid.Alternatively, supporters are invited to send cheques payable to Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd to The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SN."    

Widow of Dai Davies backs hospice's balloon appeal

* Lois Wynne of Ifor Williams Trailers, Sarah Povey, community and event fundraiser at Nightingale House and Judy Davies.            

* Dai and Judy Davies on their wedding day.

The widow of legendary Welsh goalkeeper Dai Davies has made a moving appeal for people to support the hospice that cared for him in his final months.

Former Wales international Dai died in February at the age of 72 from pancreatic cancer at his home in Llangollen, having received palliative care and rehabilitation at Nightingale House in Wrexham.

His wife Judy has voiced her gratitude for the help the hospice gave to Dai and is backing its fundraising Build a Balloon campaign, praising supporters and corporate sponsors including Ifor Williams Trailers.

Fundraising activities for Nightingale House that provides specialist palliative care services for people with life-limiting illnesses have been badly hit by the pandemic.

The annual running costs of the hospice are £3.4 million and 80 per cent of it has come from fundraising.

Judy said: “I so appreciate the support Ifor Williams Trailers and all the other wonderful sponsors give the hospice.

“The hospice is largely reliant on fundraising and donations to carry out its work and I have seen first-hand whilst Dai was supported at Nightingale House exactly how important this work is.

“It would be wonderful if people could put their support behind the Build A Balloon appeal as this week is the final week of the campaign before the balloon goes into production in Spain.”

Judy saw at first hand the quality of the care at Nightingale House when they cared for former Everton and Wrexham goalkeeper Dai before he was transferred from the Royal Liverpool Hospital last year after spending several weeks in hospital and without any visitors due to the pandemic.

Dai’s transfer to the hospice enabled him to be reunited with his family and receive the physiotherapy that saw him learn to walk again.

Judy said: “Dai’s days at Nightingale House and the wonderful care and support we both received when he was a Day Patient too, totally enhanced his quality of life during his final months.

“I also feel that it actually helped to prolong the precious time we had left together and I will be forever grateful to everyone at Nightingale House for the care he received.

"Nothing was too much trouble for example, when he arrived somebody had kindly put a small vase of fresh sweet peas from the hospice garden on his bedside table.

"Dai had been in hospital for several weeks, so coming to Nightingale House felt like a five-star hotel for him.

“It was wonderful to have him home eventually and that experience was made possible by the care and attention given to us all as a family by the team at Nightingale House."

During his distinguished career, Dai was capped 52 times by Wales and kept goal for clubs including Swansea City, Tranmere Rovers and Bangor City. 

After playing top-fight football with Everton, he joined Wrexham in 1977 and helped them win the Third Division title in 1977-78.

He went on to work as a football pundit and was also a popular figure away from the sport, with the proud Welsh speaker running a natural health clinic in Llangollen and being admitted to the prestigious Gorsedd of the Bards at the National Eisteddfod in 1978.

Judy and Dai were together for over 25 years. She hopes her experience will make people appreciate exactly what Nightingale House Hospice has to offer.

"Dai so appreciated the support he received and he would want anybody in a similar situation to reach out to the Nightingale House team.

"People often seem to think that a hospice is just where someone goes at the very end of their life, but it is so much more than that.

"The hospice did so much to help Dai and nothing was too much trouble."

Dai had three children and three step-children and 12 grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

His death was met with an outpouring of grief across Wales and from fans of the clubs he played for.

"Dai had worked extensively on television promoting football through the medium of Welsh,” said Judy.

"He was a loving family man and we all miss him greatly. However, it is comforting to know how much he meant to people and that was clear from the wonderful tributes paid to him."

Nightingale House is marking its 25^th birthday by running its Build a Balloon fundraising campaign, which will see a hot air balloon take to the skies complete with sponsored panels.

Ifor Williams Trailers has regularly supported the hospice and is throwing its weight behind the Build a Balloon campaign by serving as a corporate sponsor.

As she returned to Nightingale House to show her support for the campaign, Judy met with Lois Wynne from Ifor Williams Trailers.

Lois conveyed the strong relationship that has been developed between the two organisations.

She said: "Nightingale House is such a lovely and important cause that we have been supporting for several years.

"The balloon campaign is again something we are very happy to support and we would encourage anybody who is able to get involved to do so.

"It has been a pleasure to meet with Judy and it is nice to hear how much she appreciates what the hospice did for her husband, Dai.

"The hospice does a lot of very important work and we at Ifor Williams Trailers are keen to do whatever we can to support it." 

Sarah Povey, community and event fundraiser at Nightingale House, expressed her thanks for the company's sponsorship.

She said: "We are very grateful for the support we receive from our corporate sponsors, including Ifor Williams Trailers.

"We have enjoyed a good relationship with Ifor Williams Trailers for many years and the support they provide makes a massive difference to us.

"The last year has been very challenging as we have not been able to hold some fundraising events, meaning we have lost out on a substantial amount of income.

"The Build a Balloon campaign is therefore very important and we appreciate the support we have received. Every donation to the hospice is gratefully accepted.

"We are also grateful for the kind words Judy has said about the hospice. At Nightingale House we seek to go to great lengths to help our patients as much as we possibly can."

* For more information about Nightingale House and how to donate visit www.nightingalehouse.co.uk 

Arteon R-Line does its duty well for Volkswagen

Volkswagen Arteon Shooting Brake road test by Steve Rogers

It is amazing how a sloping roof and lashings of chrome can change the character of a car and even give it the wow factor.

The Arteon is a case in point. When the saloon, or fastback to give it its proper title, was launched in 2017 it was nothing more than a posh Passat, but with the recent addition of an estate, or shooting brake to give it its proper title, the range has taken on a whole new persona and much the better for it.

The shooting brake is a bit of a looker, breaking away from VW's traditional conservative styling with a long coupe roofline and a lot less glass than the boxy Passat. 

The front looks good too with a restyled wider grille laden with chrome while the shiny bits outline the side windows. Somehow I don't see Arteons lining up with Passat estates plying their trade at the taxi ranks.

So Arteon is no longer just an alternative Passat but having an identity of its own with a classier body, restyled interior and swankier trim, in fact it edges closer to its posh cousins at Audi when it comes to quality.

My R-Line came with smart aluminium inserts along the dash and door cards enhanced with backlit trim inlays giving the car a nice cosy feel at night. There is a 30-strong palette to choose your favourite colour.

The interior in general has a good feel about it, the seats are more comfortable than most and legroom, particularly in the back, is outstanding. And there is ample space for luggage, not as much as a Passat, but more than enough to cater for a family of five taking off on their hols.

A shame though that the boot lip has a 20cm drop which makes heaving out heavy items a strain. It would not take much to put in a false floor and while sorting that out a couple of levers in the side walls to drop the seat backs wouldn't go amiss either.

R-Line suggests sporty and you can select a setting that stiffens the suspension and engages sports drive, I tried it but switched back to comfort which does what it says on the tin and still maintains sharp enough handling. Compared to a similar Audi the Arteon is a more comfortable car.

No surprises for the driver with the now familiar interchangeable digital binnacle display and a central touchscreen for the majority of everyday functions although the voice control is efficient for changing the heating temperature, navigation commands and phone. The heating controls are separate although the touch and slide switches are over sensitive and take a bit of getting used to, but look classy.

The same can be said for the steering wheel controls which are a bit of a nightmare and will take longer to master. They control all manner of things and are even more sensitive, jumping from one function to another until you get the hang of it, but like everything else they can be tamed in time!

The other week I suggested the Mazda6 estate would get an ASBO for its high engine emissions, well this Arteon joins it on the naughty step too. With all but 190bhp it is no slouch, in fact it is a bit of a flyer but maintains a stately refinement when the accelerator is floored.

Powerful it may be yet economy is borderline impressive and with a gentle right foot mid forties can be easily achieved. R-line has the automatic seven speed DSG gearbox with steering wheel paddle shifters for good measure.

Nothing to really dislike about Arteon apart from rear vision which is hopeless because of the small amount of glass, so make sure you spec a rear camera if you are not very good with door mirrors when reversing.

R-Line is well off for the luxury items we crave and packed with safety technology. The active cruise control with lane assist is impressive and even reacts speed limits.

If you can stretch to a few extras the 360 degree camera with trailer view (£800) head up display at £520 and heated windscreen £355 are worth a punt.

Fast facts

Arteon Shooting Brake R-Line

£38,420 (range starts £33,000)

2-litre petrol; 186bhp

0-62mph 7.8secs; 145mph

35.6mpg combined

179g/km. 1st year VED £870

Insurance group 27

Boot 565 litres

MP backs company's campaign for new life-saving machine

* Tom Robinson and Simon Baynes MP with lifesaving training equipment at TNR Outdoors in Llangollen.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes made a socially distanced visit to TNR Outdoors in Llangollen to lend his backing to their campaign to purchase and install a public access defibrillator outside the entrance to their business in case of emergency. 

He also saw the recent improvements made to their premises including a new training classroom and changing room as well as a new café and kitchen space.

Mr Baynes met Tom Robinson, a director of TNR Outdoors, at Mile End Mill to learn more about their fundraising campaign.

The popularity of their site for recreational paddling, professional courses and rescue training, plus its location mid-way along the popular whitewater section of the River Dee, as well as being on the outskirts of Llangollen on the main A5 route into the town centre, make it a highly appropriate location for a public access defibrillator.

This would be of huge benefit to paddlers and other river users, local residents and road users should an emergency situation ever call for one.

Tom Robinson said: “Our fundraising campaign is aiming to raise a total of £1,700 in order to pay for a brand-new Zoll defibrillator (£1,000), a lockable, heated cabinet which maintains battery charge (£500) and a qualified electrician and materials to install the equipment (£200). 

"The defibrillator itself is being purchased from the Welsh Ambulance Trust. We will also be offering free training for the use of the defibrillator.

"Thanks to the generosity of people and businesses locally, we only have £278 left to raise so please help us reach our target by donating via our fundraising page - Fundraiser for Tom Robinson by Tom Robinson : Public access AED at Mile End Mill (gofundme.com)”

Simon Baynes said: “I very much enjoyed meeting Tom again at Mile End Mill and seeing TNR Outdoor’s improvements to their facilities and hearing about their fantastic work in raising money to purchase a public access defibrillator. 

"By making defibrillators more accessible to communities, especially rural communities, we can save lives. This excellent initiative could mean the difference between life and death one day, and I’m very grateful to TNR Outdoors for organising this fundraiser.”

Councillor calls for progress on deal to use Plas Madoc tip

* The household waste recycling facility at Plas Madoc.

A Llangollen town councillor has called on his county council counterparts to “get a move on” with securing a deal with Wrexham for local people to use the Plas Madoc household waste recycling centre.

With no permanent recycling local facility available for Dee Valley residents, Phil Jones has been running a campaign, backed by an 800-signature petition, for them to be able to use Plas Madoc which at the moment is exclusively for residents of neighbouring Wrexham.

The issue stems from dissatisfaction with the pop-up waste disposal service which had been run on Saturday mornings in the Pavilion car park. When this was suspended as the pandemic began Llangollen people faced a drive over to Ruthin to use the facility there.

The progress in negotiating a possible deal with Wrexham for use of Plas Madoc is due to be discussed by Llangollen’s two Denbighshire county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, along with county officers, at a meeting on May 17.

Meanwhile, town councillor Stuart Davies, who has spoken in favour of a deal on a number of occasions, has issued a fresh statement on it.

He says: “I note with concern the long drawn out process of attempting to regularise the use of Plas Madoc recycling centre by Llangollen residents. 

“I am calling upon the county councillors to get a move on and get this process finished. At the moment all we are getting are words from them. 

“My FoI [Freedom of Information] request has revealed that the pop-up facility is costing us £50k-plus a year plus the cost of getting rid of the waste collected. 

“The option of paying WBC (Wrexham Borough Council) £100k a year - a figure that re-appears now and again - is almost cost neutral and compares better than the figures for the rest of the county as revealed in the FoI. 

“It is about time our elected representatives did their job and pressured the officers in to doing the right thing. We have the figures now we know how much it costs. 

“It’s time to do the right thing and provide us with equal services in the south of the county as the north.” 

In response, County Councillor Graham Timms commented:  "This important issue will be discussed with all four Dee Valley councillors and Denbighshire County Council officers on May 17."