* Llangollen Ramblers walking down into Aberystwyth last week.
Llangollen Ramblers have been walking the Wales Coast Path for some six years and have now covered all the coast between Chester and Aberystwyth - including a circuit of Anglesey.
They now have only another 450 miles to go to Chepstow.
* Owner of the diesel unit George Fletcher and driver John Joyce are seen cleaning some left over blemishes off the carriage window whilst the train was stopped at Carrog. Pictures by George Jones.
Llangollen Railway believes that the recent spray-painting of its historic diesel railcar was part of a well-planned attack by a group of vandals who came prepared for their handiwork.
And it says police are currently examining CCTV footage in a bid to track down the culprits.
As llanblogger revealed last week, the 1960s-style British Railways diesel carriages had their smart green livery over-sprayed by multi-coloured aerosol paints between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
But thanks to the hard work of a team of volunteers to clean off the paint was able to get back on track carrying passengers this weekend.
A press release from the railway says: "Llangollen Railway is pleased to announce the heritage diesel railcar which was paint-sprayed by vandals last week was back in use in time for the Bank Holiday weekend train services.
"The two-car diesel unit was again working resplendent in its 1960s style British Railways green livery after hard work by volunteers removed the multi-coloured spray paint applied by vandals in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
"It is evident the incident was not a spontaneous action by an individual, but rather a well-co-ordinated attack by a group which had specifically identified a target for their handy work and came to the railway well prepared for their night-time activity.
"The police are reviewing CCTV footage and gathering forensic evidence to identify the perpetrators of this damage.
"If their intention was the railcar would have to run displaying their so-called artistic endeavours then it has been frustrated by some hard work by the volunteers using a lot of elbow grease to remove it."
Reviewing the paintwork whilst the unit was at Carrog station on Saturday, head of the railcars department John Joyce said: "Following the discovery of the mindless vandalism on Wednesday morning, volunteers set about removing the graffiti the same day.
"Experimentation with different methods
revealed that it could be removed with relatively little damage to the
paintwork underneath, although some repairs will be needed once the running
season is finished.
“We have been heartened by all the support shown to both the railcar department, and the railway as a whole, including some very generous offers of assistance and donations.
"Visitors to the railway who rode on the railcar were pleased to learn that the paint had been removed and the affected bodywork was none the worse for the damage.”
Owner of the railcar, George Fletcher, came over from Derby to inspect his vehicles and was relieved to see the unit back in action.
He said, “As a 60-year-old train set it is of
some historic importance and has been in preservation since the early 1990s.
“I like to see it is well looked after by the Llangollen railcars group. It looks the part when seen in operation on the Llangollen line and I am pleased visitors like riding in it as a memory of earlier rail travel.
“After all that the railway has been through over the last 18 months, a few cans of cheap spray paint couldn't be allowed to hold us back."
The railcars affected are once more available for passengers to enjoy the panoramic views of the Dee Valley scenery as summer turns into autumn over the coming weeks.
* A post of the railcars group's Facebook page says: "Many people have asked us how they can help defer the cost of the recent damage to our units caused by vandals.
"Contributions can now be made using one of the railway Trust's donation systems for which the details are:
Reference (important) - Railcar Fund."
* Lord Newborough, owner of the Rhug Estate.
A virtual celebration of the best food and drink produced in North East Wales is going online.
Organised by Llangollen and Dee Valley Food and Drink as well as Clwydian Range Food and Drink, it comprises a series of 29 videos encapsulating the work that goes on behind the scenes to produce the award-winning fare.
The Meet the Producers videos also have support from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and the local authorities of Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire.
Kirsty Wild from Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink said: “The series of videos we have created are an opportunity for consumers outside the area to meet our amazing food and drink producers and have an insight in to how they create their amazing products.
"Local businesses like Rhug Estate have shown how crucial they are to their communities during the past 18 months stepping up to meet online demand and providing the people of North East Wales with incredible customer service and locally-sourced food and drink. We want to pay tribute and provide a platform for them to showcase their products.”
Many of the local products featured in the videos are available to buy from Rhug Estate’s farmshop which is located near Corwen. The shop is one of the biggest in Wales and is a showcase for the very best local, artisan food, drink and gifts.
Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate said: “As a member of Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink for many years we welcome this opportunity to be able to showcase Rhug Estate’s organic meat and skincare range to a wider online audience.
"The last 18 months or so have not been easy for us, or any business in this region which relies on tourists and the hospitality sector. The immediate shift to online shopping last year certainly tested our website and our staff.
"We had to act fast to meet the increased online shopper demands. We are delighted to be able to welcome our customers back to visit Rhug Estate but appreciate that the increased demand for shopping with Rhug ‘virtually’ is here to stay and initiatives like this one that directs new customers our way are always appreciated.”
The Meet the Producers videos will be available to view on Llangollen and Dee Food and Drink website and will be shared on their social media over the coming weeks. Click here to view the video that features Rhug Estate: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=365199641809228
Llangollen Fringe has paid tribute to a reggae music legend who appeared twice at the festival and has died at the age of 85.
Lee "Scratch" Perry, the legendary producer, provocateur and dub pioneer, first headlined at the Fringe in 2017 and came back again the following year.
Yesterday it was announced he had died at home in Jamaica.
Grammy award-winning Perry was highly influential in the development of reggae and dub music world wide.
Working under many names - as well as in many capacities including disc jockey, producer, record businessman, songwriter, singer - he was a guiding force in the development of reggae.Known for his bizarre behaviour and stream-of-consciousness interviews, he often donned costumes and headdresses made of found objects such as feathers, toys, playing cards, and coins.
A spokesperson for the Fringe team said: "What a character he was, still touring and starring in the Fringe well into his 70s.
"His lovely son looked after him throughout making sure his special microphone was alight as he went on stage.
"We at the Fringe feined ignorance as both were so sweet and beautifully eccentric.
"We feel proud that the Fringe could bring such a
renowned international performer to Llangollen."
Views are being sought on potential changes to local taxes which could be used by local authorities to tackle the effects that large numbers of second homes and commercial holiday lets can have in some parts of Wales.
The Welsh Government consultation on council tax and non-domestic rates is part of a summer of action launched by Climate Change Minister Julie James last month to address the impact of second home ownership seen in some of Wales’ communities.
The government says: "While second home owners and people who stay in holiday lets can make an important contribution to our local economies, we want to ensure all homeowners and businesses make a fair contribution to the communities in which they own or let property."
The consultation will seek views on the maximum level at which local authorities can set council tax premiums on second homes and long-term empty properties and the criteria for a property to be defined as non‑domestic, self-catering accommodation.
Wales is still the only UK nation to give local authorities the power to introduce a 100 per cent council tax premium on both second homes and long-term empty homes (empty for more than a year).
This additional income can be used to address issues affecting the supply of affordable housing or for the provision of public services and other facilities such as public transport.
The consultation also seeks views on the circumstances in which properties are classed as self-catering businesses and are listed for non-domestic rates.
Currently all occupied small business properties below a specified rateable value, including self-catering units, are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR), subject to a limit of two properties per business per local authority.
This consultation considers the criteria for defining properties as non-domestic self‑catering accommodation and whether different thresholds are needed.
Finance and Local Government Minister Rebecca Evans said: “We want to hear from people living in communities affected by these issues as well as owners of second homes and holiday lets, trade representatives of the self-catering and tourism industry, and local authorities.
“We anticipate receiving a wide range of responses which will all inform our future policies on potential changes to local taxes so that we have a fairer system for everyone.”
Climate Change Minister Julie James said: “We cherish our reputation in Wales as a welcoming, bilingual society in which tourism and current second home owners have a contribution to make.
“However we also recognise the impact that higher numbers of second homes and self-catered holiday lets can have on local housing and rental markets and on the sustainability of local communities. In some areas they may compromise the sustainability of Welsh as a community language."
Jeremy Miles, Minister for Education and the Welsh Language said: “Ensuring that local people can live in the communities in which they grew up and maintaining the health and vitality of Welsh as a thriving community language, are top priorities for the Welsh Government.”
Pupils and school staff in Denbighshire are being reminded to take Covid-19 tests before returning to school in September.
With the start
of the new term imminent, all secondary age pupils and staff not experiencing Covid-19 symptoms are being encouraged to take Lateral
Flow Device (LFD) tests before returning to school.
Anyone
experiencing any of the main symptoms of Covid-19, a new continuous cough; a
high temperature; loss of or change to sense of smell or taste, should
self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test.
Cllr Huw
Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead member for Education,
Children and Young People, said: “The regular testing of pupils and staff was a
key tool in mitigating against the spread of the virus in schools during the
last school term by identifying infectious individuals.
“We are urging
pupils and staff to take two LFD tests before returning to school, ideally one
over the weekend and a second on the evening before returning to school. This
will help reduce the spread of the virus.
“LFD test kits
can be collected from Denbighshire libraries and One Stop Shops as well as from
pharmacies.
“I want to
thank pupils, staff and parents for their efforts last term and wish all our
students the best for the new school year.”
LFD tests are
available for collection at the following Denbighshire libraries for all
residents not experiencing Covid-19 symptoms:
Denbigh (LL16
3NU); Corwen (LL210DG); Llangollen (LL20 8NU); Prestatyn (LL19 9AA); Rhuddlan
(LL18 2UE); Rhyl (LL18 3AA) ; Ruthin (LL15 1DS); St Asaph (LL17 0LU), please
check opening times.
Those with
symptoms can book a PCR test at www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test
* Control Room manager Paul Shea, right, and Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales Andy Dunbobbin.
An aspiring police officer rang 999 to check on the
progress of his application to join North Wales Police, it’s been revealed.
The region’s police and crime commissioner, Andy
Dunbobbin, heard it was one of a string of “ridiculous” emergency calls dealt with
by the force’s control room.
It was said, Mr Dunbobbin, a “serious and flagrant”
waste of police time that diverted resources away from real emergencies,
potentially putting lives at risk.
On another occasion a women dialled 999 to ask for
police assistance to move her sofa which had become jammed in her hallway after
she tried to shift it from her lounge to another room.
Another example came when a woman stood outside the
police station in Rhyl called the emergency line asking for a lift home after
she had failed to book a taxi.
According to Mr Dunbobbin, staff at the control
room in St Asaph are incredibly busy and don’t have time to deal with ludicrous
calls.
The centre already handles an average of 80,000
emergency 999 calls a year and on average they’re answered in just 3.1 seconds.
On top of that they deal with 250,000 non-emergency
calls, 18,000 webchats and nearly 60,000 emails which all translates into an
average of more than 1,100 contacts every day.
The force is now urging people to report non-urgent
matters to them via the website www.northwales.police.uk so that the 999 line can be
kept free for emergencies.
Control room manager Paul Shea said:
“Unfortunately, we still get too many silly calls like the one from the lady
who got the couch stuck in the hall.
“Another call that sticks in the memory was the one
from the lady with the spider on the bed. She was scared and wanted a police
officer to come to move the spider.
“They’re just not policing matters and it takes
valuable resources from people who are in real trouble.
“The flip side of that is that there are other
people who should have phoned 999 who called the non-emergency line 101 instead
because they didn’t want to bother us.
“I would like to stress that people should always
ring 999 if they are suffering a proper emergency.”
Mr Dunbobbin has just signed a £5.8 million cheque
to buy a new system for the control room that’s an upgrade of the force’s
current command and control technology.
It will be introduced in phases and has been
designed to dovetail with the new Emergency Services Network (ESN) that’s due
to rolled out in the UK.
Mr Dunbobbin said: “Even with the new system, we
will have not have the time to deal with the really silly, time-wasting calls
which divert precious police resources and potentially put lives at risk.
“Making prank calls or phoning 999 inappropriately
is inexcusable and is not fair. It’s as simple as that.
“Clearly though, if somebody is in the middle of a
proper emergency they should always ring 999.”
It was a message echoed by Chief Inspector Mark Williams, the Senior Force
Incident Manager.
He said: “The control room is the front door to
policing for most people. Members of the public who need to contact the police
invariably come through this room in one form or another.
“Nuisance calls are annoying but there are
occasions when people make genuine mistakes.
“What might be an emergency for some people might
not be for somebody else and I would say use us if you need to, but we do get
some really ridiculous calls.
“There was absolutely no excuse for a prospective
police officer to call the emergency number to check on his job application. He
clearly was not cut out for the job.
“But time is of the essence when there is a real
emergency. We aim to answer 999 calls within 10 second so doing it in under
four seconds is pretty impressive.
“Clearly these are life threatening emergencies most of the time so it’s absolutely essential that we get the right person on the end of the phone very quickly so we can start getting officers going to the locations if they’re needed.”
