Two roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

Queen Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 10 May — 28 May   Delays likely - Traffic control (two-way signals)   Works location: A5, Nr Star Inn Jnc with Brook Street - Regent Street, Llangollen   Works description: Refurbishment of Traffic Signals Pedestrian Crossing. Works to Include - Renewal of tactile paving, Renewal of underground cables, Renewal of Traffic Signal heads, Renewal of Road markings - Works between 09:00hrs and 16:00hrs   Responsibility for works: Welsh Government   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: PD5012031616152925   Hill Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 10 May — 14 May   Delays possible - Traffic control (two-way signals)   Works location: Hill Street   Works description: 10/05/21-14/05/21/RIchard Shone/Footway Slurry/Traffic Lights...   Responsibility for works: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: QR015S000000001741

Skates holds Clwyd South for Welsh Labour

Ken Skates has held the Clwyd South Senedd seat for Welsh Labour.

The Minister for the Economy and Transport polled 10,448 votes compared to the 7,535 recorded by his Welsh Conservative opponent Barbara Hughes.

His majority is therefore 2,913, compared to 3,016 when he held the seat in 2016.

Full results are:

Change compared with 2016

1. Labour,Ken Skates

   Votes 10,448Share 43.2%Share change +7.7

2. Conservative,Barbara Hughes

   Votes 7,535Share 31.1%Share change +9.2

3. Plaid Cymru,Llyr Gruffydd

   Votes 4,094Share 16.9%Share change -0.5

4. Liberal Democrat,Leena Farhat

   Votes 730Share 3.0%Share change -7.3

5. Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party,Jonathon Harrington

   Votes 599Share 2.5%Share change +2.5

6. UK Independence Party,Jeanette Bassford-Barton

   Votes 522Share 2.2%Share change -10.6

7. Reform UK,Mandy Jones

   Votes 277Share 1.1%Share change +1.1

Change compared with 2016

Turnout

Registered voters:55,237

Turnout:44%

Change:+2.90

Ken Skates's 2016 majority over Simon Baynes - 3,016

2016 Senedd election results

* Lesley Griffiths held the neighbouring Wrexham seat for Welsh Labour.

Health centre's urgent vaccination message

Llangollen Health Centre has put out this urgent vaccination message:

County councillor gives background to heavy diversion traffic

* One of the diversion signs, at the lights on Castle Street.

One of Llangollen’s county councillors has revealed the assurances he sought from highways chiefs to prevent a major diversion through the town causing traffic chaos. 

Two overnight closures of the A483 in both directions between the Chirk and Halton roundabouts from Thursday-Saturday, from 8pm until 6am, to allow essential repairs to the viaduct has led to traffic being diverted though Llangollen. 

On the first night, last night, traffic was extremely heavy on the A5 and along Castle Street leading to complaints from residents. 

Asked by llanblogger for his reaction to this, County Councillor Melvyn Mile revealed the contents of his email exchanges in advance of the works with national and local highways officials.   

Writing first to the North & Mid-Wales Trunk Road Agency (NMWTRA), which is in charge of the operation, he said: “I’d like to point out that the last time the A483 was closed due to high winds, it caused total chaos in Llangollen.

“Presently we have temporary traffic lights on the A5 controlling an excavation just inside the town’s easterly limit, together with temporary lights on the main A5/Castle Street junction.

“You claim that the situation will be monitored, I hope that means men on the ground (Amberon or someone similar) ready to enforce a One-Way system if needs be from the Llangollen Health Centre to the east on the A539 to the old Ty’n y Wern hotel to the east on the A5. A loop of approximately 1 mile.

“The A539 is too narrow to allow two HGV’s to pass each other 100 metres to the east of Dee bridge in Llangollen. It caused much frustration and shows of bad temper at the previous closure.

“Two HGV’s using Castle St together means that the one heading north will have to mount the kerb.

“I appreciate that it’s being done overnight but there is still considerable traffic involved. You may think that I’m scaremongering but I saw the result of the last closure and believe me, I’m not.”

Replying to his concerns, Nia Louise Lennox of the NMWTRA said: “We are very aware of the traffic disruption that was caused when the two viaducts were recently closed due to strong winds.

“The works for each of the two overnight consecutive closures have been planned to ensure that the A483 can be re-opened to traffic before traffic volumes significantly increase in the early morning.

“It is expected that that A483 will be re-opened by 04.00 however a contingency of 2 hours has been allowed for to ensure the road is open by 06.00 as advertised. Over-night traffic volumes are much lower than daytime and morning peak traffic volumes.

“Therefore we do not expect significant disruption along the diversion route. Denbighshire Council Streetworks team have been consulted and are satisfied with the planned arrangements for implementing and the signing of the diversion route.

“The traffic management sub-contractor will be patrolling the diversion route throughout the period of the closure and will be ready to take action to alleviate any disruption that occurs under the direction of NMWTRA personnel who will be in attendance on site.

“The Viaduct is a vital piece of infrastructure. The integrity of the top slab supporting the carriageway has recently been compromised and urgent repairs are needed to prevent the void within the structure being flooded with surface water. The damaging effects of water penetration are accumulative and must be addressed as soon as possible and before the Trunk Road Summer embargo periods, hence the short notice period.”

And from Tony Ward, Denbighshire County Council;s Head of Highways, Facilities and Environmental Services, Cllr Mile received the message: “Having reviewed the narrow section of road east of the Ponsonby Arms on Street view we have decided to erect temporary traffic lights whilst the diversion is in place. 

“We feel it’s a marginal decision given the expected light HGV flow over night but the down side risk created by erecting signals is small and is easily justified. 

“We have also asked the TM contractor/designer to drive the route tomorrow morning to check the latest situation and to advise/discuss with us any other possible current and arising issues that we may be able to provide mitigation for.” 

Cllr Mile told llanblogger: “I did everything I could to ensure traffic congestion caused by the roadworks would be minimised.”

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