Petition calls for linking Llan railway with mainline network

* The online petition started by Daniel Newton.

An online petition has been started calling on Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford to support the re-opening of a railway line from Ruabon to link Llangollen and Corwen, and potentially Bala, all back to the mainline rail network. 

On change.org Daniel Newton of Rhosllanerchrugog says he is seeking political backing for the idea which he claims would benefit the local economy.  

In the preamble to the petition, which has so far drawn over 60 supporting names of its 100-name target, he adds that his plan would also secure the long-term future of the existing Llangollen Railway as well as significantly enhancing public transport into all of the local areas.

He explains: “The wonderfully refurbished and preserved Llangollen steam railway provides spectacular scenic views for all tourists to enjoy; but with Llangollen Railway PLC having gone into receivership in March 2021, and a rescue plan via the Trust and a "Potential Buyer" currently being negotiated, and reported in the local papers and Welsh news (and with all the nationwide debate over HS2 being built in England and nothing being invested to extend the Welsh railway network to embrace the likely very positive effect of HS2's national economic growth potential), the time and public awareness and profile of the existing Llangollen-Corwen railway and the need for railway re-openings nationally is very high; and so therefore this is the very best time ever to start pushing for a wider railway reopening from Ruabon to link Llangollen and Corwen, and potentially Bala, all back to the mainline railway network. 

“For a Ruabon to Llangollen mainline railway reopening, this would be anticipated to have a strong positive business case to benefit the local economy.  

“If the Llangollen Railway could become a Community Railway Partnership with Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham Councils, then it could form a section of a reopened mainline railway route through from Ruabon to Bala via Corwen.

“This would link the corridor of Llangollen, Corwen, and Bala to the mainline railway network; benefiting the communities, businesses, tourism, and existing Heritage Railway attractions along the route (and could potentially link up with the Bala Lake Narrow Gauge Railway and perhaps in much longer term even a connection from the Ffestiniog and Blaenau area, via the Bala to Blaenau Ffestiniog route).  

“Therefore, we believe that obtaining the political backing and funding to secure and protect the whole of the Ruabon to Bala route, reopen the existing Llangollen Railway as a Community Railway Partnership line, and to then restore a railway over the 5 mile disused track bed towards the main line in Ruabon, and longer term restore the remaining 10 mile rail route from Corwen towards Bala, would greatly secure the long-term future of the existing Llangollen Railway as well as significantly enhancing public transport into all of the local areas on the route in the Dee valley and Vale of Edyrnion, re-connecting all the towns and villages giving local people better access to the outside world, jobs, education, and also helping to bring in more tourists than possible by road to further boost the local economy.”

* To see the petition, go to: https://www.change.org/p/mark-drakeford-please-support-and-fund-llangollen-railway-to-extend-it-to-ruabon-and-bala?recruiter=44863579&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=share_petition&recruited_by_id=abcd9530-747f-0130-2370-00221968d0e0&utm_content=fht-28674477-en-gb%3A6&use_react=false

Health centre's vaccination update

In its latest vaccination update Llangollen Health Centre says:

"We understand that there have been some issues this week with appointments for the 40-49 age group at the local vaccination in Plas Madoc and that some patients have had their appointments cancelled. The Plas Madoc team have been working hard to sort this out.  

"Patients who have received a text or letter inviting them to attend an appointment at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre on 14th or 15th May – these appointments still stand. Please make every effort to attend.

"Patients who have had their appointment at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre on 6th, 7th or 8th May cancelled – you will be contacted by phone over the next couple of days to rebook your appointment asap.

"Patients aged 40-49 who have yet to be contacted - you will be contacted by phone over the next couple of days to book your appointment

"New guidance is going to be issued on Friday for those aged 39 and under and we will post an update then."

Health centre's latest statement on vaccinations

Llangollen Health Centre has this morning (Tuesday) put out a statement on its vaccination programme, which says: 

"We have been made aware of an issue with the automatic appointment system used by the Local Vaccination Centre at Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.  

"Patients who received their first dose vaccine at Plas Madoc on Thursday 29th April may have received a letter over the weekend inviting them to another appointment later this week.  Please ignore this letter, it is incorrect.

"Second doses will be administered 10-12 weeks after the first dose and you will be contacted about your second dose appointment in due course.

"You do not need to take any further action.

"Thank you for your cooperation."

Entertainer Shea is to make his TV acting debut

 

* Shea Ferron is making his TV acting debut.

Talented teenage entertainer Shea Ferron, who has rapidly proved himself as an impressive singer, has now turned his hand to TV acting.

Shea has been rapidly building up a useful portfolio of acting and singing appearances in the area for a number of years.

He has joined the cast of numerous shows, with Llangollen Operatic Society, its junior section the Young ‘Uns, and the Collen Players music hall group, winning a number of amateur stage awards into the bargain.

There have also been numerous solo performances in St Collen’s Church and his own church in Ruabon.

But Shea has really came into his own during the pandemic when by singing his way through a series of self-arranged open-air gigs to raise thousands of pounds for good causes.

Now he’s delighted about landing his first paid acting job but because of the nature of the business he’s been sworn to secrecy about the details.

All he could reveal on his social media page was: “Confirmed for a TV series opportunity filming in North Wales.”

He added: “It was my first acting job having joined JZee Leeming Model and Casting Agency back in March 2020.

“It was a supporting actor role in an upcoming TV series that I think is airing later this year.

“I can’t give too much detail away as I would get into trouble.”

Roadworks alert for Queen Street

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Queen Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 06 May — 10 May   Delays possible - Some carriageway incursion   Works location: O/S 2 WALTON HOUSE   Works description: ISOLATE GAS SUPPLY FOR SAFETY 1M PUBLIC   Responsibility for works: Wales & West Utilities Ltd   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: XY254008000163913

Roadworks planned for Market Street

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Market Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 05 May — 11 May   Delays unlikely - No carriageway incursion   Works location: New Column, Junction With Castle Street...   Works description: Installation of new electricity supply to street furniture including the excavation and reinstatement   Responsibility for works: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: QR30100037663

Family of eisteddfod journalist raise £8,000 for NHS

* With Kevin’s wife Sally and eldest son Andy Hughes are ICU senior sisters Jayne Galante, left, and Joanne Richards. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

The family of a former journalist who covered the Llangollen Eisteddfod and died of Covid-19 have presented a cheque for £8,000 to the hospital which cared for him in his final days.

While in intensive care at Wrexham Maelor Hospital Kevin Hughes, 63, from Gwernymynydd, near Mold, who was also a Flintshire councillor, pleaded passionately with people to stick to the rules to stop the spread of the deadly virus.

But the father-of-three, a former police officer and weekly newspaper editor, died on January 8.

Son Andy – often accompanied by brothers Chris and Steve – raised £7,767 for the unit by walking 5k a day until the funeral.

Andy and his mum, Kevin’s wife, Sally, visited the hospital to hand of the cheque to staff.

He said: “We’re hoping that not many more families will have to go through what we have had to.

“I messaged my dad on December 15 to say that as he was on the mend I was going to do a 5k walk every day to raise money for the hospital until he was fit enough to walk with me.

“Sadly, that never happened but I carried on walking with my brothers until after our dad’s funeral on January 22 – it was to reward the fantastic team at the ICU at the Maelor Hospital.

“We simply can’t thank them enough for the support they gave him. They’ve been fantastic and tried every last thing.”

The cheque was presented to ICU Senior Sisters Jayne Galante and Joanne Richards and Jayne said: “Kevin was very passionate about Covid and was interviewed on TV while he was with us.

“He very much wanted to keep people safe and the need for them to obey the Government guidelines and stay at home.

“It’s a very cruel disease. You think people are improving and suddenly they deteriorate very quickly.

“It has now reduced a lot compared to earlier in the year. It’s calmer on the ward now but still very intense.”

Kevin and Sally were married for over 40 years and had seven grandchildren and she said: “This is part of what Kevin would have wanted us to do.

“The staff at the Maelor Hospital did such a wonderful job and every time I spoke to Kevin he would talk about the fantastic job they were doing.”

Andy intends to carry on fund-raising in memory of his dad who had a remarkable career as police officer, including as a police diver, and after leaving Cheshire Constabulary he worked as head diver at the Blue Planet aquarium at Ellesmere Port.

He then tried his hand at journalism and quickly rose to be editor of the Flintshire Chronicle and then worked as a freelance for Public Relations company Ceidiog Communication and stood as a Flintshire councillor and won the Gwernymynydd and Nercwys Ward.

While with Ceidiog Communication he covered Llangollen Eisteddfod for news outlets across the world.

He was a keen football fan, for his native Chester and latterly as a season ticket holder at Premier League Aston Villa.

The family’s fund-raising efforts are due to continue with the three brothers planning a long-distance walk from Mold to Aston Villa’s Villa Park ground in Birmingham and back.

Andy, who is stand for his father’s seat on Flintshire County Council, added: “We have had messages of support from all over the world, including Hawaii, the USA and Holland and a lovely personal letter from Dean Smith, the Aston Villa manager whose own father died from Covid.

“Dad’s season ticket was close to the dugout so Dean Smith must have heard from him quite often over the last couple of seasons.”