Covid help group suspends its Facebook page as pandemic eases

Llangollen Coronavirus Help Group, which has helped mobilise the town’s community spirit since the earliest days of the pandemic, has suspended its popular Facebook page.

But the two town councillors who have been helping to run the group since last October, say the good work will continue in the background.

The page has just over 1,000 members and attracted hundreds of hits a day as it posted up-to-date information on the Covid-19 situation and co-ordinated the efforts of an army of volunteers to help with such things as the delivery of food, prescriptions and newspapers to those self isolating.

Now the woman who started the page and the group whose name it bears has taken to social media to explain why she is placing the page in suspension.

Cat Meade, who juggled her full-time job at Wingetts estate agents while running the group with dedicated volunteers, says: “As we are slowly progressing forward we have agreed to suspend this page, I am hoping this will be my last post to you all, it will stay just in case, however be inactive. 

“The past 14 or so months have tried and tested us all, as individuals, families, businesses and the loss some have suffered. The overwhelming support Llangollen has benefited from its residents is outstanding, and I hope not to be forgotten.  

“An army of volunteers, businesses accommodating to home deliveries, services as and when needed, and the great team of admins on here to keep you all posted on developments. Far too many to mention as the post would need 6 pages to list all. 

“I personally would like to thank EVERY ONE of you for volunteering, supporting, to all those local businesses that have gone above and beyond in their commitment to our community. 

“I (and am sure the rest of you will agree) had no idea what length of support would be needed from March last year! We got through it together, as a community, looking out for one another. 

“There are still areas in need, Foodshare and the community I and others are still assisting with food and hot cooked meals, a big thank you to the Llangollen Inner Wheel ladies who are supporting weekly and if you can please assist with items to Llangollen Food Share which will be an ongoing service. 

“Again, thank you to you all, you are all amazing.”

Town mayor Councillor Austin Cheminais and his colleague Cllr John Palmer took over the main running of the coronavirus help group last autumn.

Cllr Cheminais said: “Our main contact is usually by phone. The majority of residents we’ve helped in the past now seem to have the support of neighbours, friends, relatives.

“John Palmer and I continue to maintain a data base of volunteers prepared to help others.

“We’ve largely wound down but have kept our list of volunteers and are still getting very occasional requests for help, usually shopping. The Rotary through Sheena Burrell are still collecting and delivering prescriptions.

“We will continue to be here if anyone who asks but as people are returning to work etc our group of volunteers is likely to shrink.

“In an  emergency we can help people with shopping and can arrange for regular contact for those who live alone or just need someone to talk to.”

* Contact details for the two councillors are:

Cllr Cheminais - chemshouts@gmail.com (07813 761766)

Cllr Palmer - palmerjc28@gmail.com

Denbighshire has joint-lowest Covid case rate in UK

Denbighshire has the joint-lowest Covid case rate in the UK, according to a story on the BBC news website

The county had no confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the week to 1 May, meaning it has the lowest Covid-19 infection rate on the UK mainland.

* For the full story, see: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57013609

First piece of rolling stock leaves Llangollen Railway for new home

UPDATE ...

Another heritage coach was trailered away from Llangollen Railway just before noon today (Thursday). 

It was a privately-owned GWR auto coach being moved to a new base by it owner.

It is understood that a locomotive and a kitchen coach belonging to the same owner will also be leaving the site soon.  

* The buffet coach on a low loader at the M25 service station.

The first significant piece of rolling stock from crisis-hit Llangollen Railway has left the site.

One of the heritage attraction’s most iconic items, its 1960s-built buffet coach, was sold ahead of the current online auction of assets by special arrangement with the liquidators.

It was snapped up for £33,000 by the Spa Valley Railway in Kent and taken away from the Llangollen shunting yard by low loader earlier this week.

It was photographed by a railway enthusiast in the Clacketts service area on the M25 with its long journey to a new home almost complete.

The RMC 1864 coach was built by British Rail in 1962 as a restaurant miniature buffet and ran on the mainline network before being acquired by Llangollen Railway.

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 offered on an 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. 

In a recent statement the board said it had completed a deal with the administrators to purchase certain assets belonging to the railway along with the right to use the railway line for an undisclosed sum. 

It added that talks have been started with the Welsh Government, Business Wales, Denbighshire County Council and the National Heritage Lottery Fund, all of which had been positive. 

It says it is targeting the end of July or early August for re-opening the railway to passengers.

And as fundraising continues the board says £100,000 approximately is needed to cover necessary overheads for the re-opening phase, for which it hopes to attract grant funding.  

* To donate to the railway appeal online go to: 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.

EE mobile phone network down again in part of town

4pm Update ....

Network update: The maintenance in LL20 8HN is now complete, we recommend you restart your device. If you have already done this and are still having problems, please call us on 150.

For the second day in a row the EE mobile phone network in Llangollen town centre is down again today (Thursday).

Checking on the problem this time llanblogger was told at 10am: "Network update: Our engineers have found a problem in LL20 8HN and are fixing it, your service should be back to normal within 8 hours.

  

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."

Major amendments to marriage law now in place

Amendments to the Marriage Act 1949 came in to force yesterday (May 4) which means for the first time since records began in 1837, the marriage register will no longer be the legal record for civil marriage in England and Wales.  

The marriage register has been replaced and couples will now sign a marriage schedule.

Gareth Owens, Chief Officer Governance for neighbouring Flintshire County Council, said; “This is the most significant change in civil registration since 1837 and the Registration Service is delighted to be part of this exciting change. 

 “The Registrar will be responsible for a new marriage schedule and after a marriage ceremony will record the details on an electronic system, creating the legal record and allowing for marriage certificates to be printed.  The electronic register will be secure, more efficient for keeping marriage records and it will also allow mothers details to be included on the marriage entry rather than just father."

Couples who have given their Notice of Marriage for marriage ceremonies after 4 May, 2021 will have the option to include all four parents’ details at the time of their ceremony.  The Registration Service will assist couples prior to their ceremony.