Local roadworks alert

 

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Queen Street 09 June — 11 June   Delays likely - Traffic control (Stop/Go boards)   Works location: NR NORTH WALES FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE QUEEN STREET, LL20 8LA   Works description: works in private notice for TM only   Responsibility for works: Openreach   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: BC006MQONSAWNGC1WC7DK70B

Railway says it will 'rise like a phoenix' from cash crisis

* The railway's revised coaching stock.

Llangollen Railway is all set to get back on track later this summer after being hit by a major financial crisis which threatened to kill off the world-famous heritage attraction.

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

A number of the railway’s assets were sold off in an online auction.

But the separate Railway Trust, which remains completely solvent, has been involved in a fundraising campaign to buy as many of the assets as possible and get the railway running again. 

Now, in a message to volunteers, the railway’s operations director Mike Williams says the battle has started to be successful.

He says: “The Railway is now Ours Again!

“Our Stations, Yards, Infrastructure & sufficient Rolling Stock are ready to rise back like the Phoenix.

“But there is still much to do before we can start running much needed, revenue earning train services.

“The (Llangollen Railway Trust) LRT Board & Heads of Departments are currently working on new Safety Management System documentation, for the Office Rail Road's approval.

“Plans are also in place to get the essential maintenance works completed which will then allow for Refresher Training & Competencies Testing. 

“All of which are vital to the railway re-commencing revenue earning services. Currently we are looking at middle/late July to be operational again.

“Meanwhile Llangollen residents may have noticed movement within the coaches parked in the station. This shunting has extracted those coaches sold at auction which have found new owners.

“In summary, one restaurant buffet car went to the Spa Valley Railway at Tunbridge Wells and an open coach went to the Mid Norfolk Railway at Dereham.

“Two further open coaches went to the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam railway in Devon. Three coaches were saved for use on the LR, with an accessible coach acquired by the Trust and a pair by a private group which intends keeping them at Llangollen, one of which is a function coach, The Trust also acquired the Road Rail vehicle as used at Corwen, the 12 ton rail crane and the Lowmac wagon with hydraulic arm.

“These items are of use in essential track maintenance. The diesel shunter went to the Battlefield Line at Shackerstone, Leics.

“The new owners of the large 50 ton Cowans crane intend to keep it at Llangollen.”

It is understood that the railway trust is continuing with its discussions to win further financial backing for the attraction.

To this end, Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates is reported by the Shropshire Star to have called on the Welsh Government’s economy minister to help the railway.

He told the paper: "This week I have written to the Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, to ask how the Welsh Government can support local efforts to get Llangollen Railway back up and running.

"It is one of numerous tourism businesses in Clwyd South to have been awarded Welsh Government funding in the past."

As exclusively reported by llanblogger, during a recent Senedd election visit to Llangollen, First Minister Mark Drakeford said he wanted to work with local people to come up with a plan that would allow the government to be part of the help the railway will need to get back up and running.

MP backs campaign to ensure Stiwt can welcome back visitors

* From left: Simon Baynes MP, (back) Rhys Davies, (front) Brian Jones, Sue Jones (Head of Art and Design Technology at Ysgol y Grango), Theo Prime (Year 7 Pupil – Ysgol y Grango), Maria Handzhieva (Year 7 Pupil – Ysgol y Grango) outside the Stiwt Theatre in Rhos.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes is backing a fundraising campaign by the Stiwt Theatre in Rhos to ensure repairs are made and it is ready to welcome back visitors. 

To raise the funds necessary to repaint the auditorium and repair a leaking roof, the Stiwt has launched an initiative whereby supporters can receive a long-lasting memento – a 13.5 kilo counterweight stamped with ‘Rhos Theatre’ – when they make a minimum donation of £20 to the fundraising campaign. 

The counterweights have been previously been used in a system of ropes and pulleys backstage to hoist components such as curtains, lights, scenery, stage effects. The Stiwt has a surplus of counterweights which it is using in this fundraising campaign. 

During the visit, Mr Baynes met Stiwt Theatre Trustee, Brian Jones and General Manager, Rhys Davies, who updated him on the campaign and the latest developments at the theatre. 

They also showed him the counterweight mechanism in action on the stage at the theatre. Mr Baynes also met with representatives of Ysgol y Grango who were delivering their donation of £450 to the Stiwt’s fundraising campaign following a very successful ‘Own Clothes Day’ at the school. The school was represented by Sue Jones, Head of Art and Design Technology at Ysgol y Grango, and Year 7 pupils, Maria Handzhieva and Theo Prime. 

Brian Jones, Trustee of the Stiwt Theatre, said: “Once again the support of our community is one to be commended which is greatly appreciated by everyone involved with our Theatre. On this occasion we are very pleased to offer everyone a memento of the Theatre which they can treasure going forward and we look forward to welcoming everyone back in due course. We would also like to thank Simon for his kind contribution once again.”

Simon Baynes MP said: “It was a pleasure to visit the Stiwt again to back their novel fundraising campaign and make a personal contribution myself to receive one of their unique counterweights which now sits proudly in my office. I think this is an innovative and exemplary way of raising funds, and a wonderful opportunity for members of the local community with an interest in the theatre and the local area to claim a piece of Rhos history. And I want to wish everyone at the Stiwt the very best of luck.”

Llangollen features in roll-out of full-fibre broadband

* Simon Baynes MP.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has welcomed plans by Openreach to build full-fibre broadband to Wales’ hardest-to-serve communities, including Llangollen.

Openreach has announced that a total of 140 exchanges across Wales will be upgraded, with rural homes set to benefit the most. 

In Clwyd South, the exchanges in Llangollen, Corwen and Ruabon will be upgraded, enabling access to full fibre broadband many more homes and businesses. 

Openreach’s build plan forms part of the UK Government’s target of delivering ‘gigabit capable broadband’ to 85% of the United Kingdom by 2025. 

This is in conjunction with the UK Government’s commitment to reform the Electronic Communications Code, allowing providers access to rural land more easily to enable build to progress at pace.

Welcoming the announcement, Mr Baynes said: “I’m delighted to hear about Openreach’s plans to connect an extra 415,000 more home and businesses across rural Wales.

"It’s excellent to see that the UK Government is committed to boosting access to broadband for people and businesses across Wales, and projects like this are a huge step forward in achieving that goal.

“Fast, reliable broadband is more important than ever due to more people working at home, and this will be a great step forward for the communities of Corwen, Llangollen and Ruabon.

“Obviously there is still much work to carry out in enabling full fibre access for every property, and I continue to push for a faster rollout to the areas that are not yet included in Openreach’s plans, as well as eradicating the remaining not-spots across Clwyd South. 

"But this project will see very welcome investment pumped into North Wales, providing homes and businesses across rural Wales the connectivity they need to flourish.”

Three-week consultation on 2020 plans for town centre

Denbighshire County Council is set to hold a three-week consultation on major proposals for Llangollen town centre.

The Llangollen 2020 Castle Street Improvement scheme has been created with input from the community and looks to improve Castle Street and some adjacent streets in Llangollen town centre.

The proposals are intended to reduce traffic and parking congestion, to improve facilities for pedestrians and to improve the quality of the public realm.

Cllr Brian Jones, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “For the past three years the Council has been working alongside the Llangollen 2020 group to develop these proposals.

“The Llangollen 2020 group is a community-led group and has previously consulted with the local community during the development of the proposals, but the Council would now like to seek the community’s views on the latest version of the proposals.

“Funding is in place to deliver the scheme in the autumn and winter of 2021-22. However, no final decision has yet been taken by Denbighshire County Council on whether to proceed with the scheme as this will be dependent upon the outcome of the consultation.

“We are also aware of concerns raised regarding the acacia tree located near the Town Hall. The current situation is that the condition of the tree is still being assessed by tree experts and no decisions have yet been made about the future of the tree.”

A three-week consultation exercise is due to commence on Tuesday, June 15 and will close on July 6.

During the second week of the consultation, a public exhibition of the proposals will be undertaken in Llangollen Town Centre and the Council also intends to speak to Castle Street businesses to give them the opportunity to discuss the proposals with officers.

Full details of the consultation and public exhibition will be provided soon.

Seat gets serious with the new Cupra Formentor

Cupra Formentor road test by Steve Rogers

This is Seat getting serious. The Spanish car maker has always been the sporty sibling in the Volkswagen family and its new Cupra brand has taken it to another level.

Formentor, named after a bay on the Spanish island of Majorca, is Cupra's first exclusive model and is meant to make a big statement.

If this was a Seat it would be the Ateca SUV, yet it looks nothing like a Seat, and nothing like a bulky SUV, not that the neat Ateca falls into that class. 

The designers have been given the freedom to express and have come up with a futuristic coupe crossover that looks as if it has landed from another planet. All we need if for Martians to jump out to complete the fantasy.

It has that 'ready to pounce' look with a long dipping bonnet, sloping roof and body panels with so many slashes and creases it looks as if it has been in a scrap with a wild animal. Exaggeration aside it looks great and has got everyone talking. I lost count of the number who asked what it was and gave the thumbs up.

So this is a crossover or SUV, whatever's your naming preference, that sits lower than the majority, the only real clue to its status is the wide gap between tyres and wheel arches, you don't even sit particularly high which makes it even more appealing.

Formentor is a good drive too and has the engines to back up its aggressive looks yet I am going to make a bold statement: Look no further than the entry level 1.5 litre petrol!

I've been a fan of this VW family engine since it was launched a few years ago because it is an engine that keeps on giving, punchy, refined and good for 40 miles to the gallon. Two of its four cylinders shut down when coasting to reduce engine emissions and give a boost to economy. That's clever stuff.

Those seeking something more racey can look to the 1.4 litre turbo hybrid or the outrageous 304hp 2-litre turbo that will reach sixty in under five seconds but you will be looking to spend 40 grand plus for the pleasure.

Which bring us to another good reason to stick with the entry 1.5 called V1. This is the best equipped starter model I have come across with keyless entry, navigation, LED headlights, and adaptive cruise control highlights of a generous spec sheet.

As expected inside is digital dreamland with a treat for the driver who can choose from six excellent binnacle displays, easily selected from switches on the steering wheel. The display side bars are information overload but are easy to find and easy to close.

Then we have the 12in 'floating' central touchscreen. I am not so sure it needs to be this big and is a bit like putting a 56in flat screen tele in a box room. What's worse is I found the system over complicated and most of the time used voice control, and a very nice lady she is too ending commands with 'OK' or 'sure'.

She was a bit puzzled when I asked for more fan speed because she calls it the blower but we were all friends again after sorting that out.

There are touch sensitive switches for heating temperature but they have no feel or sound so you are never sure if anything has happened which means more time looking at the switch and not the road.

Not enough though to put me off Formentor which is a great driver's car with pedals perfectly positioned and plenty of adjustment to get the perfect seating position. Handling is solid even at V1 level but there is plenty more to come moving up the grades.

It is not all about performance either, the quality of trim is good with some neat touches while the seats are comfortable and supportive. Rear legroom is also generous although if feels claustrophobic sitting fairly low behind the big front seats.

So a good first effort for the Cupra brand, certainly offering something a bit different from the norm with its coupe looks and good value for money to boot.

Fast facts

Formentor V1 6sp manual

£27,3956

1.5 TSI petrol; 148bhp

0-62mph 8.9secs; 127mph

41.5mpg combined

143g/km. 1st VED £215

Insurance group 19

Boot 450 - 1475 litres

Entertainer Shea tells of his day filming for new Netflix drama

* Shea Ferron on stage.

* Shea's picture of members of the John's Boys Choir on the set of the new Netflix drama.

A young entertainer well known to Llangollen audiences has told of his day filming for a forthcoming Netflix TV show. 

Shea Ferron went over to St Helens on Merseyside with fellow members of the award-winning John’s Boys Male Voice Choir from Rhosllanerchrugog last Tuesday to record scenes for Stay Close, a crime drama based on the 2012 Harlan Coben novel of the same title. 

Shea, 18, who lives in Ruabon, said: “Ourselves, along with some friends from the Royal Northern College of Music, were cast in the roles after entering a national search for established male choirs and singers under the age of 25. 

“Aled Phillips, our musical director, was asked to submit a selection of previous pieces we have sung to show producers and directors in charge of casting the roles. 

“They were so impressed with the music they heard that we were asked to sing live on the day. 

“The music was arranged by Aled, who worked with the lead roles throughout to perfect their performances. 

“After arriving in St Helens, the lads were chauffeur-driven to a top secret location at 6am in the morning for costume fittings and makeup, before tucking into a well deserved breakfast  of sausage and bacon sandwiches. 

“We were very enthusiastic about our tight-fitting costumes, none more so than Aled who proudly grew his beard especially for his role. He was, however, told he had to shave it off! 

“The lads spent the previous few days rehearsing the piece, and recording live on set. 

“Audiences and crew were blown away with the quality of the singing, and we had a very enjoyable experience overall. 

Shea added: “There were 10 singers mixed between John’s Boys and the Royal Northern College of Music. It was a really fun day. 

“We had a very early start and a very long day but we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and were looked after well by the production team. 

“There’s not a huge lot we are allowed to give away but the experience that we all had was amazing. A huge thank you to Aled Phillips for giving us the opportunity. 

“Keep an eye out in the near future for our acting and musical abilities in Netflix’s Stay Close.”

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.