MP welcomes decision to pause digital phones switchover

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has welcomed the decision by communications providers to pause the Digital Voice switchover for customers who do not want to move to broadband landlines straight away.

Digital Voice is a nationwide programme which will see all landlines moved over from analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) lines to broadband Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) lines. 

The programme has been led by the telecoms industry to replace the antiquated and increasingly unreliable PSTN network. 

However, constituents across Clwyd South have contacted Mr Baynes to raise several concerns about the switchover, which included:

1. Unlike PSTN lines, the fibre cables used by VoIP phone lines do not conduct electricity to continue to work in the event of a power-cut. This, coupled with poor mobile coverage in some areas, would leave some residents without any access to the emergency services during power outages.
2. Some telecoms providers would provide battery-packs for such events, but these have a limited capacity of not much longer than an hour. Some providers were also charging customers for their purchase.
3. Residents in certain areas had concerns about their landline service in the event of broadband network outages.
4. Residents who do not have a broadband connection within their home were confused as to how their landline service would be provided in the event of the switchover. 

Mr Baynes has been liaising with telecoms providers and the UK Government to report such concerns from constituents, and to seek assurances that their landline service would be protected against such factors. 

Telecoms providers have now announced that in response to these concerns, all further Digital Voice switchovers are being paused for customers who do not want to move to the new technology straight away. 

This is to allow the providers time to get key products in place to provide customers with more resilient connectivity, which will include;

1. longer-lasting battery packs
2. home mobile landlines for those without broadband
3. hybrid home phones for customers not comfortable using a mobile, but which can connect via the mobile network if the fixed connection is unavailable. 

Mr Baynes said: “I am very pleased that telecoms providers have reacted to the concerns raised by many of my constituents within Clwyd South, in pausing all further Digital Voice switchovers until the technology is sufficiently robust. 

“Recent storms have highlighted the need to have resilient connectivity in the event of extreme weather, and rural localities such as Clwyd South are unfortunately much more exposed to challenges such as prolonged power cuts and unreliable broadband and mobile service than urban areas.  

“Of course, the PSTN network is becoming increasingly antiquated and difficult to maintain, so the need to switch over to digital services is very real. I am therefore glad that the UK Government and the industry have enacted this pause, to enable improved technology to be available for those who require it when they do eventually make the switch to digital.” 

* BT customers who are concerned about the decision to move to Digital Voice can contact the company on 0800 800 150.

Senedd Member warns of potential chaos over overnight A5 closures

* The A5 leading into the retaining wall roadworks.

Overnight closures of the A5 into Llangollen could mean chaos if a diversion route is unexpectedly shut too.

That's the warning from North Wales Senedd Member Llyr Gruffydd.

As revealed by llanblogger, it has been announced by Traffic Wales that ongoing work to strengthen retaining walls on the A5 to the east of the town will lead to a section of the trunk route being closed in both directions between tomorrow (Monday, April 4) and Saturday, April 9, between 7pm and 6am each night.

This will allow contractors to resurface the carriageway before the work is completed on April 14.

Diversions will be in place via the A483 and A539, according to Traffic Wales.

But Llyr Gruffydd says: "There have been plenty of warnings about the lack of alternatives to the A483 since the Newbridge road was closed due to a landslip 15 months ago. 

"This night-time road closure in and out of Llangollen on the A5 could mean chaos if the A483 is closed due to an unexpected incident or bad weather."

He added: "Both Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government have been saying that work is ongoing on finding funding for the B5605 through Newbridge.

"I would suggest that there needs to be a greater degree of urgency about their work as local communities are suffering the consequences. 

"We recently saw gridlock in Llangollen due to a bridge strike and the nature of the Vale of Llangollen means there are very few crossing points for the Dee. 

"I would urge the Welsh Government to urgently respond to the business case submitted by Wrexham Council with a view to commencing work on re-opening the B5605. That would avoid gridlock problems along the Dee valley and provide a much-needed relief road for the A483."

Traffic Wales says it would not have been possible to carry the work on the A5 under the usual lane closures due to the narrowness of the road at this point.

It adds that overnight working could result in higher levels of noise for which it apologises in advance.

Organisers inundated with entries for Llangollen Round Challenge

Entries for the 4^th Llangollen Round Challenge are going really well, according to organisers.

They say they have already had more that last time with two months still in hand before the sponsored 35-mile hike is due to take place over two days on May 28 and 29.  

A spokesperson said: "What should we do? We can’t cater for too many. Stretching a point, we’ve decided to accept 100 more entries, and when those places are gone, the line must be drawn. You can keep updated on Facebook.

"We’re really excited about the way things are going, and we’re grateful to have had so much help from companies like Hafren Dyfrdwy, Arla Cheese, 9 Bran Food, Tesco and local supermarkets.  

"We’ll be needing a lot of food to cater for so many walkers at the stations around the course, so nearer the time, we’ll be asking if folk could actually bake a cake for us. One of our walkers last time said the Challenge was fuelled by home-made cake!.

"We would be very grateful for that, as we would for any other donations of biscuits, fruit, sweets etc.  Whatever is given means we don’t have to buy that from Cancer Research UK funds, which is brilliant. 

"Thank you, everyone, for your support of the Challenge. We couldn’t appreciate it more. Hopefully we can beat the sum raised for Cancer Research UK in 2018, which was £66,000."

Work planned on 2020 project from Monday

Work on the Llangollen 2020 project for the week ahead is:

• Finish the Yorkstone paving up the east side of the bridge and onto Mill Street
• Install drainage on Mill street / Abbey Road (north side)
• Install kerbs on Abbey Road / Mill Street (north side)

New-style park and ride service for Llangollen

* How the new Llangollen park and ride service could look.

Organisers say plans are progressing to open a park and ride service with a difference for Llangollen.

They say the completion of the car parking facility at the new Nature Park at Wenffrwd just outside town on the A539 offers the perfect opportunity to begin operating a service that's completely unique in Wales.

Group spokesperson David Davies said: “For too long the town has sought a park and ride facility and now we have the ideal opportunity to provide one. 

"The plan is to operate during the summer at weekends and every day during the July and August peak tourist period.

"We will use part of the direct route along the old railway track to a visitor welcome area in Mill Street car park, behind the Ponsonby pub.

"We plan to operate a half-hourly service - recognising animal welfare considerations if we experience a very hot summer - and financial modelling of such a service so far looks viable."

Mr Davies added: "This service will be a significant tourist attraction and once again a first in Wales.  

"Our resources manager now has as his top priority the recruitment of the 23 donkeys the service will require to haul the park and ride vehicle on a shift basis.  

"Also being worked out are the specifications of the animal welfare units, complete with fodder facilities, needed at each end of the route and details of the training of the staff who will operate the service.”

* Please check the date after reading this exclusive llanblogger story. 

Chance for dream drive of historic engine at Llangollen Railway

Llangollen Railway is set to make many young boys' dream of being an engine driver come true over the next couple of months.

Its Driver-for-a-Fiver experience will allow budding Casey Joneses to take the controls of a vintage diesel engine for a short chug on the famous Dee Valley line.

The mighty machine they'll be driving is a 66 year-old shunting locomotive that can usually be found doing unglamorous jobs like moving locomotives and carriages around in sidings.

The Class 08 diesel-electric engine number 13625 affectionately nicknamed 'Gronk' due to the distinctive noise made by its 350hp English Electric diesel engine, was built in 1956 at Derby Locomotive Works. 

The 08 will also be working a new and shorter shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn Stations, which will run in-between the three daily steam and diesel trains that run between Llangollen and Carrog.

The novel new services are the brainchild of Mike Williams, a longstanding volunteer guard and Board Member for Operations at the railway.

He said: “I’ve spent a lot of time working on the 08 over the last year. The old girl really has been invaluable to us, shunting our yards and also hauling the works trains to get our railway back in business. 

"It’s a popular loco that doesn’t get much use on public trains and we’re often asked when there might be a chance to sample a ride behind it. Well, now people can – and they can even have a go at driving it too!”

Driver-for-a-Fiver will run in Llangollen station and allow those over 12 - under 16s must be accompanied by an adult - the chance to drive the locomotive for a short distance along the platform and back. 

The experience is available between 11:20-12:05, 13:15-14:15 and 15:35- 16:15. Tickets can be purchased on the day. 

With a return journey time of 50 minutes, the Berwyn Shuttle allows those looking for a shorter trip the chance to travel to the beautiful Berwyn station in the scenic Dee Gorge. 

There is a station tearoom and it is also possible to take a walk to the Chain Bridge or nearby Horseshoe Falls and return back to Llangollen on a later train if desired. 

Departures from Llangollen are 10:20, 12:15, 14:30 & 16:30, with returns from Berwyn at 10:50, 12:16, 12:45, 14:26, 15:00, 16:31 & 17:00. 

Tickets cost £8.50 for adults, £5 for a child and £7.50 for seniors, purchasable from Llangollen station on the day. 

Mike added: “The rolling stock the shuttle will use is also interesting and quirky, adding a bit of character to the experience. 

"There is a converted open freight wagon, which has seating and a canopy. Travelling in this is a real outdoor experience and you’ll be able to hear the river as well as see it. 

"There is covered accommodation for the less adventurous – a converted LNER pigeon van, which is fully enclosed but with nice, large windows. This vehicle is nearly 100 years old and was built to carry racing pigeons around the country. 

"Don’t worry though, it’s had a lot of work done on it since then to make it suitable to carry people, including those who have mobility issues."

The events will run in April on Sat 9th & Sun 10th , Sat 16th , Sun 17th & Mon 18th , Sat 23rd & Sun 24th and Sat 30th. In May they will run on Sun 1st & Mon 2nd.

Bryn Collen children take part in Big Walk and Wheel

* All this week children from Ysgol Bryn Collen have been joining in with the 2022 Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel event.

This year over 2,400 schools from across the UK are taking part, including Bryn Collen which invited all its children to either walk to school, from the green by Pengwern park, or head in by cycle or scooter from St Collen’s church car park each day from Monday to Friday. 

Almost 800,000 youngsters have been involved in what is the largest inter-school walking, wheeling, scooting and cycling challenge which aims to inspire pupils to get active of their school run.

A spokesperson for Bryn Collen said: "The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel to School week has been successful so far with over 150 pupils taking part.

"They either walked from the green in Pengwern or cycled/scooted from St Collen’s Church."