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Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Town mayor issues statement on Ukraine

Llangollen's mayor, Cllr Austin Cheminais, has issued the following statement about the current situation in Ukraine.

"On behalf of all Town Councillors and Council Staff, I would like to express that our thoughts and prayers are with Ukraine and its people and also with their families and friends. We condemn this unprovoked aggression and call upon President Putin to call off this assault.

"Although there is little that Town Council of our size can do about international events, we know our communities will do all they can to support those in peril and displaced by the conflict and know that fellow residents of Denbighshire, and across Wales, will stands with us.

"Llangollen has a long and proud tradition of promoting peace and international harmony and we stand ready to support those organisations arranging support and will do whatever we can.

"To show support for Ukraine and the victims of this aggression and inhumanity, I have asked the Town Clerk to organise that the Ukrainian flag is flown on Centenary Square as a matter of urgency, an initiative advocated by one of our Youth Representees on the Council, Shea Ferron.

"The Town Council supports the County Councils statement that residents wanting to donate items to those in Ukraine forced to leave their homes can do so via the Wrexham branch of the Polish Integration Support Centre. Visit www.facebook.com/PISCWrexham/ or contact 0752367826 for more information.

"There are also collection points locally. Check social media for any local collections.

"Residents can also visit www.redcross.org.uk for details of its Ukraine Crisis Appeal."



Rhug Estate sets up drop-off point for Ukraine donations


* The Rhug Estate conference room is a donation point for Ukraine. 

Rhug Estate has set up its conference room as a donation site for the people of war-torn Ukraine.

Blankets, coats for women and children, warm clothes including hats, gloves, scarfs and socks can be dropped off at the conference centre behind the farm shop between 9am and 5pm on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, March 4 - 7 March.

Lord Newborough, owner of Rhug Estate said: “I have friends who are still in Ukraine. There are Rhug Estate staff who have family still in Ukraine. 

"These are normal families who are now concerned for their lives. They have sent me terrifying footage of the war that is going on on their doorstep. 

"We have to do all we can to help. We searched for a local donation site but couldn’t find one in this area of Denbighshire so the team here at Rhug have rallied round and we will become that local drop off site for everyone to come to and donate items.”

He added: "The situation looks set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century. The people of Ukraine are relying on international aid and the generosity of strangers around the world. We must do all we can.”

MP welcomes cash bid for Newbridge Road repairs


* Damage to the road through Newbridge is still awaiting repairs.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes says he welcomes Wrexham Council’s submission of a business case to the Welsh Government to fund urgent repairs to the Newbridge Road where vital infrastructure was damaged in February 2021 as a result of a landslide. 

Wrexham Council said it was delighted to confirm the bid has been made. 

It follows complex geo-technical surveys and careful analysis of the costs going forward to ensure this critical road link is brought back into use.

Mr Baynes said: "I very much welcome the submission of a business case by Wrexham Council to the Welsh Government. 

"I have raised the urgent need for funding to repair the Newbridge Road on a number of occasions with Ministers in the House of Commons as I strongly believe emergency funding should have been given to Wrexham Council much sooner after the initial damage was caused. 

"I have been liaising closely with the Lead Member for Environment & Transport at Wrexham Council, Cllr David Bithell, on this issue and have taken every opportunity to raise the urgent need to secure Welsh Government funding for the road repairs. 

"This has left communities and local businesses seriously impacted with 13-mile diversionary routes necessary when the A483 is closed.

“I would like to take the opportunity to thank Cllr David Bithell and the officers at Wrexham Council for pursuing this issue over many months. It is now the responsibility of the Welsh Labour Government in Cardiff Bay to fund the repair work.”

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

County council working to help those hit by war in Ukraine

Denbighshire County Council says it is working with partner organisations to support those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine.

The council has been meeting with the Welsh Local Government Association as part of a collective response in Wales to ensure a joined-up approach to the crisis.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “The thoughts of the whole council are with all those in Ukraine who have been impacted by the ongoing conflict.

“The situation is developing very quickly and the humanitarian crisis is growing with large numbers of people needing urgent help.

“We will play a part in the response and will continue to work with the Welsh Government, the UK Government and other partners as a matter of urgency as plans develop.”

Councillor Bobby Feeley, the council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “The current situation in Ukraine is heart-breaking with thousands of people already forced to leave their homes fearing for the safety of their families.

“In Wales we have a strong track record of working to resettle families from Syria and Afghanistan, and we have supported those efforts here in Denbighshire working under the UK Resettlement Project.

“As a council we will do all within our power to help during this ongoing crisis.”

Denbighshire residents wanting to donate items to those in Ukraine forced to leave their homes can do so via the Wrexham branch of the Polish Integration Support Centre.

* Visit www.facebook.com/PISCWrexham/ or contact 0752367826 for more information or check social media for any local collections.

Residents can also visit www.redcross.org.uk for details of its Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

Warning about 'rolling road blocks' on A483 today


Traffic Wales tweeted the following road alert at 1pm today (Tuesday):

It said: "Traffic Wales North & Mid #KeepWalesSafe@TrafficWalesN⚠️There will be a series of rolling road blocks on #A483 Northbound and Southbound at various locations between J7 - English border starting at 13:15 - 13:30 for emergency carriageway repairs. Thank you for your patience.⚠️"

Happy St David's Day from llanblogger

 


Eisteddfod reaches out to Ukrainian performers


* 2014 and Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod President Terry Waite with Ludmila Stebenkova, left, chief conductor of the Krasnoyarsk City Children’s Choir, from Russia, and Oksana Cherkas, leader of the
Barvinochok Ukrainian Dancers. 

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod will be reaching out to Ukrainians who have performed at the world-famous festival in previous years.

Following Russia's widely condemned invasion of the country last week, the eisteddfod's executive producer Camilla King told llanblogger: "So far we’ve not had any applications from Ukraine for this year's festival.

"It’s absolutely devastating, what’s happening, and I’ll be keeping an eye on our entries as we reach the application deadline, and as things develop in eastern Europe."

She added: "It’s so hard to know where things will stand by July, but if there are ways we as an organisation can suitably address or help people to express and explore the impact of these events, then we absolutely will. 

"Likewise, whether or not we have Ukrainian competitors, we will reach out to previous attendees to offer our support and the opportunity to be involved in some form.

"I just can’t quite believe that it’ll be 75 years since the eisteddfod was founded, and there’s war in Europe once again. 

"We’ve definitely had a number of Ukrainian competitors – I’ve been told that they were one of the countries most proud of their traditional culture, and I’ll make sure that we’re in contact with them."

At the 2014 eisteddfod there was a symbolic link-up between a group of Ukrainian dancers and a Russian choir.

Earlier that year there had been international tensions after Russia moved into the Crimea. 

Despite this there was a meeting between the Barvinochok folk dance group from Kiev in the Ukraine and the Children’s Choir from the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk who were both competing that year.

The eisteddfod's then-President Terry Waite CBE, who greeted both groups of young people in their colourful national costumes, told them: “We know you have your problems at home but today you have come together in the spirit of music and dance. The future is in your hands.”

Oksana Cherkas, leader of Barvinochok Ukrainian dancers, said: “We are very happy to meet with the group from Russia today.
 
“Despite what is happening back home it is good that we can get together like this, enjoy each other’s performance and put politics on one side.”
 
Ludmila Stebenkova, chief conductor of the Krasnoyarsk City Children’s Choir, said: “It is good that we have been able to meet together in this way and come together as friends.

“This shows that music and dance comes before politics.”
 
Speaking through interpreters, Terry Waite told the two groups: “Today we have seen two peoples united through music.
 
“Over the years we have had many groups at Llangollen who have had their political differences but they have come together in performance, which is what the eisteddfod has always been about since it was first held in the aftermath of the Second World War.
 
“The future is in your hands and we hope that one day there will be more occasions such as the one we have seen today when you perform together in harmony and peace.”
 
Barvinochok from the Ukraine was founded in 1976 and had over 500 children and young people aged from three to 23 in its ranks eight years ago.
 
Dance styles the group specialised in included classical, traditional Ukrainian, modern and global culture.
 
Over the years, Barvinochok has won awards at a host of international festivals and competitions in countries such as Russia, Hungary, Germany, Greece, France, Spain, Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Italy and Cuba.
 
Barvinochok’s first appearance at Llangollen came in 2009 when they won a certificate of merit for taking second place to a group from Slovakia in the choreographed folk dance competition.