Foodshare now reaches out to even more people

* Llangollen Foodservice team at their new premises on the Market Street car park. From left, Stephanie Mitchell, Kirsty Wild, Lesley Greasley and Jess Horner, South Denbighshire Community Partnership Co-Ordinator. Picture by Mandy Jones Photography.

A Llangollen community group has graduated from holding coffee mornings to playing a vital role in the fight against pandemic hardship by feeding up to 40 households a week.

Llangollen Foodshare, which began 18 months ago in the Pengwern Community Centre as a project to prevent food waste going into landfill, has moved into new premises in the heart of the town and is reaching out to even more people.

Supported by South Denbighshire Community Partnership (SDCP), an additional £20,000 in funding has been secured from Community Foundation Wales and the National Lottery Community Fund.

This has allowed the fitting out of new kitchen and storage rooms at the venue on Castle Street.  

It has also enabled the appointment of a part-time project officer to support the operational needs of the project.

The volunteer team behind the project are members of the community who started holding coffee mornings with the Friends of Pengwern and passed on food donated by local food suppliers to families facing challenging circumstances.

Project volunteer and committee member Kirsty Wild said: “It began when Emma Davies, former Chair of Friends of Pengwern Residents’ Association, started collecting surpluses which enabled the coffee morning to run.

“It started with surplus food from the Co-op and Aldi which we shared, but then with Covid it became clear that more and more people were struggling for food.

“Emma, myself and another former colleague Jane Townend developed the project by collecting more surplus food and sharing it more widely, following further voluntary involvement from Steph Mitchell, Lesley Greasley, Heulwen Wright and Jen Davis.”

The pandemic saw the demand for the service increase significantly and they have regularly been providing food parcels for over 130 people.

Kirsty added: “People’s situations were changing very quickly as many families were having to come to terms with self-isolation, unemployment, furlough and increased demand placed on family units from home schooling etc

“There is a perception of Llangollen as a well-to-do little town but you only have to look at the number of children on free school meals and the self-employed people whose work has dried up in the pandemic.

“This said, Llangollen is such a fantastic community with many generous people, groups and retailers who donated many food items and money contributions.”

Llangollen Foodshare has benefited from support from SDCP, which has recently captured further funding from the Big Lottery Fund to expand their community activities and services into the Llangollen area, as part of their Your Place or Ours Project.

Kirsty said: “SDCP have made a huge difference to us. It was crucial for us to find other more suitable premises than those at the Friends of Pengwern.

“It meant we could be supported to rent and fit out the premises and importantly appoint a paid member of staff, who can help the group develop a sustainable future in our own right. Without SDCP we wouldn’t have been able to get us to this point.”

Jess Horner, the recently appointed Llangollen Food Share Coordinator for SDCP, said: “The site is in a prime position backing onto the main car park in the town and is in walking distance for most of our clients.

“It’s perfect for us and we are just looking to get more volunteers with a variety of skills so that we can deliver even more services such as cooking hot meals here on the premises.

“It has been very positive, the way the local community has backed us and we are so grateful for all the donations.

“One of our aims is to reduce food waste so we are happy to receive anything that is within its sell-by and use by date, is non-perishable and un-opened, so that we can distribute to those in real need.  Unfortunately, we are unable to accept home cooked meals.”

In the last three years SDCP have built up a wide portfolio of services for the Edeyrnion area around Corwen including meals-on-wheels, a lunch club, community transport including electric vehicles, green energy generation and grocery and prescription delivery services.

It is hoped that the new premises in Castle Street, accessed via the Market Street Car Park, will also provide a home for Citizens Advice Denbighshire and for SDCP to support other local groups.

SDCP’s Strategic Implementation Officer, Tom Taylor said: “Llangollen already had a number of fantastic groups like Food Share and we are now aiming to work alongside many of them.

“The Food Share Project volunteers are a very committed and enthusiastic group who have worked tirelessly to ensure families facing difficulties receive a worthwhile service.

“Throughout the pandemic they have remained determined to respond to increased demands and coordinated much-needed resources. It’s a commendable project with genuinely lovely people.

“We will now continue to work closely with the Food Share Committee so they can ensure a sustainable future for project, so as to meet the needs of Llangollen residents and the surrounding area.”

* For more information on Llangollen Food Share or you wish to get more involved as a project or Committee volunteer please go to https://www.neighbourly.com/project/5e1dc2f0c7ac8e29d4d3c69b https://www.facebook.com/llangollenfoodshare

* For more information about SDCP visit https://www.facebook.com/sdcpartnership or contact SDCP on 01490 266004.

Police launch probe after protected bird is poisoned

The North Wales Police Rural Crime Team has launched an investigation into the poisoning of a red kite, found dead in the Ceiriog Valley.

The bird of prey, protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, was found on February 27 this year and attended to by RSPB Investigations Team.

Toxicology tests carried out by the Welsh Government have now revealed the bird tested positive for Bendiocarb – a highly toxic insecticide.

Officers believe the incident was potentially a deliberate act and are asking anyone with information to get in touch.

It comes following several similar incidents reported in the area over the past three years, with a number of ravens and crows also found to have been poisoned using another substance.

PC Dewi Evans, North Wales Police Rural Crime Team manager, said: “We suspect the red kite died as a result of the unlawful use of poison and as a result, we have launched an investigation into the incident.

“The deliberate poisoning of a bird brings a serious risk to humans and other animals and is hugely irresponsible.

“We are currently looking into a potential motive for this incident and ask members of the public who have information to get in touch.”

Anybody with information is asked to contact officers at the North Wales Police Rural Crime Team via the website or by calling 101, quoting reference number 21000458355. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Inner Wheel enjoys first live meeting in over a year

Llangollen Inner Wheel met in the garden of one of its members for afternoon tea. 

This was the first live meeting they had been able to have since March last year. 

Members took the opportunity to present a certificate of congratulations to Cat Meade in recognition of the outstanding service she has given to the people of Llangollen during the pandemic.

Several members have been with the club for more than 30 years and they were presented with certificates by Eulanwy Davies, past District 18 Chairman.

Enid Law, President of Inner Wheel Great Britain and Ireland, and a member of the Llangollen club, was presented with a bowl to commemorate her time in office.

Eileen Dart, the club's outgoing President, welcomed Val Cartwright as President for 2021-22.

MP slams Welsh Government's tourism tax plan

* Simon Baynes MP in the Chamber of the House of Commons. 

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes criticised the Welsh Labour Government’s proposed tourism tax during Questions to the Wales Office in the Chamber of the House of Commons.

Mr Baynes highlighted the Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site, Llangollen Canal and Steam Railway as examples of vital tourist destinations and said that the tourism and hospitality businesses in his constituency would be hard-hit by Welsh Labour’s proposal. 

He asked whether the Minister responding would agree with him that the Welsh Labour Government’s plans would be disastrous for the hospitality industry in Wales, particularly as it just comes out of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In response, Wales Office Minister, David TC Davies MP said: “I absolutely agree with my Hon. Friend and I look forward – I hope – to an invitation to visit his constituency at some point in the future to see some of these superb tourist attractions that are there. 

"And I do agree with him. The UK Government has shown its commitment to the tourism industry by cutting VAT down to 5%. 

"The Welsh Labour Government want to implement a tax on the tourism industry at a time when it is at its most fragile. The UK Government will always want to level-up the economy. Welsh Labour will always want to levy taxes. 

Commenting later, Mr Baynes said: “This tourism tax could devastate hospitality businesses in Clwyd South and the rest of North Wales, which relies heavily on the tourism industry. 

"It will discouraging people from visiting Wales and making the average family holiday much more expensive – at a time when we should be encouraging visitors to come and spend money in our local economies. 

“It’s the job of Welsh Government to want to attract people to come and spend money in Wales – not try and discourage them. I was very happy with the Minister’s response, which highlights the contrast between the UK Conservative Government’s support for Wales and Labour’s ill-conceived policies.”

Comedy series starring Llan actor is up for honours

* Llangollen-based actor Dyfed Thomas plays Eurwyn in Rybish.

* The cast of Rybish, from left Mair Tomos Ifans (Val), Betsan Ceiriog (Bobbi), Dyfed Thomas (Eurwyn), Rhodri Trefor (Nigel), and Sion Pritchard (Clive).

A comedy series starring an actor from Llangollen has helped put a TV company taken over by the staff in the running for a record haul of prestigious awards.

Cwmni Da has been shortlisted for an “incredible” total of seven awards at the Celtic Film and Television Festival – more than any other television company in the history of the event founded more than 40 years ago.

It’s also half the number of nominations for all the other television production companies who make programmes for S4C.

The winners will be announced in September.

Dyfed Thomas, a native of Rhos who now lives just outside Llangollen, and the rest of the cast of Rybish (Rubbish) completed filming the  comedy drama series during the Covid-19 lockdown – by creating a bubble for the cast and crew.

Production of the sitcom,  set in a recycling centre, was brought to a halt in March last year by the coronavirus crisis but undeterred Cwmni Da came up with a plan to carrying on filming.

Members of the crew self-isolated for a fortnight before resuming and they were tested regularly throughout the shoot.

When they were not working, the team were holed up in an empty pub, The Beuno, in Clynnog Fawr on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula.

The company built their own recycling centre on an old landfill site at Carmel, near Caernarfon.

They used fixed cameras which were remotely controlled to film the remaining episodes in the six-part series.

A delighted Dyfed said: “Being on set by day and living in the Beuno at night was certainly a very exciting, constructive and creative experience.

“There were six to eight of us together all the time. Instead of going home, we would carry on discussing and pay attention to the job full time.

"That just doesn't happen usually, and there certainly isn’t an opportunity to get so close to the author and producers.”

It’s believed Cwmni Da was the first broadcast company in the UK to become an Employee-Owned Trust just over two years ago.

The move saw former managing director Dylan Huws, who remains on the board, sell his shares to the trust.

The company employs 53 staff and a host of freelancers and is based at a state-of-the-art production centre in the Goleuad building on Victoria Dock.

Their output includes some of S4C’s biggest hits like Fferm Ffactor, Noson Lawen, Deian a Loli, and Ffit Cymru, as well as award-winning international co-productions like Llanw (Tide).

But the news about being shortlisted for seven awards heralds a new high water mark for the respected company that turns over around £5 million a year, making a significant contribution to the local economy.

Among the programmes in line to be honoured is a touching documentary, Eirlys, Dementia a Tim (Eirlys, Dementia and Tim), that’s been shortlisted in two categories – for a single documentary and the blue riband Spirit of the Festival Award.

The programme tells the story of former care worker Eirlys Smith, 61, from Menai Bridge, Anglesey, who tracks down an old school friend, Tim Lyn, who’s now a famous TV director.

A documentary series, 47 Copa (47 Summits), that’s been selected in the sports category, features the successful attempt by endurance athlete Huw Jack Brassington, who hails from Caernarfon and now lives in Cockermouth, Cumbria, to conquer one of the world’s toughest mountain challenges.

Camera crews followed the former GB triathlete in treacherous conditions as he completed the gruelling Paddy Buckley Round, which sees runners covering a distance of some 100km and climbing 8,000 metres which it the equivalent of scaling Everest, taking in no fewer than 47 summits – all in 24 hours.

At the other end of the spectrum is the hit comedy series, Rybish (Rubbish), which was shot during the Covid-19 lockdown last year and set in a recycling centre.

A very different  lockdown show, Côr Digidol (Digital Choir) presented by talented tenor, Rhys Meirion, who hails from Porthmadog and now living in Pwllglas near Ruthin, is among the top tips in the entertainment category and showcases a rousing online performance of the famous Welsh hymn Calon Lȃn which went viral on social media with more than 190,000 views.

The uncertain future of a more traditional choir, Côr Meibion Trelawnyd, one of North Wales’s largest male voice choirs which has an average age of 74, provided the poignant backdrop for Y Côr (The Choir), that’s been shortlisted in the arts category.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the age range the 2020 Christmas special of the hugely popular kids’ series, Deian a Loli (Deian and Loli), is also up for a gong in the children’s category.

Having so many of the company’s programmes shortlisted for awards at the Celtic Film and Television Festival was the source of “quiet” pride for Llion Iwan, who has taken over from Dylan Huws as managing director after originally joining Cwmni Da as director of content in 2019.

Llion said: “What stands out for me is that our programmes have been shortlisted in so many diverse categories which shows how multi-talented our team is.

“As a company, Cwmni Da has always punched well above its weight and this has gone to a whole new level after the company became an Employee-Owned Trust. Everybody is even more committed than before.

“We’re very lucky in that we have a core of highly creative and experienced directors and producers as well as younger people who are being mentored.

“By re-organising our schedules and changing how we work, we have been able to continue producing programmes through the pandemic and we’ve done as much as we can to support experienced freelancers in our area who have been faithful to the company. 

“We’ve also continued to contribute to the local economy and our turnover last year remained stable at around £5 million.

“I’ve been going to film festivals and similar competitions such as this one for many years and I know that they are worthwhile especially if you gain recognition in several categories.

“It’s an excellent shop window for us and it’s going to be good for business because it showcases what we can do.”

Peace is theme of Oak Street Gallery's new exhibition

* A poster for the Oak Street Gallery exhibition.

* John Evans's picture of Terry Waite in a previous Eisteddfod parade.

Llangollen's Oak Street Gallery has announced its latest exhibition entitled ‘Making Peace’ which runs from today (Wednesday) until July 18, 10am-4pm Friday to Sunday. 

The exhibition is about the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

And the gallery's Karl Young said: "It is to remind us of what we do, as an organisation and as a town, to keep our spirit alive while we are limited by Covid restrictions.

"Peace can be defined in many ways, but the one thing it is always is temporary. Peace demands a constant engagement, it is never won, and can only be experienced by doing. 

"Here in Llangollen once a year we gather to engage in peace-making. 

"It is not about treaties and handshakes. Peacemaking for us is dancing and singing together with a joy that comes from acceptance. 

"With a joy that comes from having the old lie of divisions between us broken. In Llangollen when we lift up our voices to Dinas Bran we are saying, ‘what is human in me is human in us’. And on that basis do we foster hope and peace."

He added: "This exhibition is made possible by the help and contribution of a number of people. I would like to thank Terry Waite for allowing me to use his poem ‘Peace’ and for his writing an article of prose on what the Eisteddfod means to him and the world.

"I am also grateful to the poet Aled Lewis Evans for allowing me to exhibit his poems. This exhibition is primary a photographic exhibition with artistic and lively photographs that capture the events energy and spirit. 

"I am very grateful to the photographers Kim Price Evans, Allan Potts, John Evans and Lowri Page for allowing me to show their beautiful photographs. 

"The exhibition has many wonderful Eisteddfod memorabilia. I am also grateful to the Archives Committee for allowing me to use their collection, and to the Chairman of the Eisteddfod Rhys Davies for all his help. 

"Finally, I would like to thank Ann Ankers of the Eisteddfod’s Competitors Club for lending me their Visitors Book. The book will be on display, but its real pleasure comes from reading the hundreds of enthusiastic comments like the two I have copied below.

“'If the whole world could become harmonious and peace-loving like the Eisteddfod.' – Professor Rajpal Singh, Secretary General, Punjab Arts Council, India, Leader of the Heritage Folk Group.

“'Your Welsh welcome is more than we ever imagine. We want to thank everybody for their sportsmanship and their smile. The city Llangollen is wonderful, the festival has such an atmosphere that isn’t really competitive, that makes us even happier. The weather is pretty weird but the Welsh welcome arranges everything! Thank you for a wonderful time!! we hope to come back in the years to come. Merci énormément' - Ariane Charlebois, Montreal, Canada."

Government moves to tackle second homes problem

In the Senedd later today, Minister for Climate Change Julie James will set out a three-pronged approach to address the impact of second homes ownership on Wales' communities.

The new plan aims to ensure that everyone in Wales can have access to good quality, affordable housing.

The three-pronged approach will focus on:

• Support - addressing affordability and availability of housing,
• Regulatory framework and system - covering planning law and the introduction of a statutory registration scheme for holiday accommodation; and
• A fairer contribution - using national and local taxation systems to ensure second home owners make a fair and effective contribution to the communities in which they buy.

There will also be a pilot area in Wales, to be decided over the summer, where these new measures will be trialled and evaluated before being considered for wider rollout.

Other supporting actions, including the work on a registration scheme for all holiday accommodation and a consultation on changes to local taxes to manage the impact of second homes and self-catered accommodation, will also begin over the summer.

A Welsh Language Community Housing Plan, to protect the particular interests of Welsh language communities, will be published for consultation in the autumn.

Last year, Wales became the only country in the UK to give local authorities the power to charge 100% council tax increase on second homes.

Visiting a housing development in picture-postcard St Davids, West Wales, the Minister met with members of the local community, Pembrokeshire Council and the Community Land Trust to hear how they have been working together to use money raised from the council tax levy to build 18 new affordable homes for local people. 

Speaking from St David’s, Minister for Climate Change, who is responsible for housing, Julie James said: "Meeting with Rachel, Josh from the Community Land Trust, Pembrokeshire Council, and the developers ateb today, has demonstrated how community action and good government policy can work together to bring fairness back into our housing market.

"The continuing rise of house prices mean people, especially younger generations, can no longer afford to live in the communities they have grown up in. A high concentration of second homes or holiday lets can have a very detrimental impact on small communities, and in some areas could compromise the Welsh language being spoken at a community level.

"We have already taken strides on some of these issues - last year we became the only nation in the UK to give local authorities the power to introduce a 100% council tax levy on second homes. But the urgency and gravity of this situation calls for further intervention, which means real and ambitious actions are delivered at pace, to inject fairness back into the housing system.

"Taking recommendations from Dr Brooks’ report, our new three-pronged approach will kick-start a summer of action which will determine how we tackle this issue now and into the future. I am calling on all political parties across the Senedd to get involved in this, as we look to empower our communities to exercise their right to live in good quality homes, wherever they are in Wales."

Over the summer the Welsh Government says it will:

• Work with stakeholders to agree the basis and location or locations for an evaluated pilot;
• Develop a coherent and effective support package to trial within the pilot;
• Frame a statutory registration scheme for all tourist accommodation and continue to engage with stakeholders on the shape of the model we will implement, including both the registration and inspection arrangements;
• Consult on possible changes to local taxes to support local authorities manage the impact of second homes and self-catered accommodation; and
• Establish a draft Welsh Language Communities Housing Plan for consultation in the autumn.