Shadow Welsh Secretary visits Plas Madoc and Stiwt

* Ken Skates and Jo Stevens try out Plas Madoc's sports facilities.

Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, a member of UK Labour leader Keir Starmer’s frontbench team, was invited to Clwyd South by local Member of the Senedd Ken Skates last Friday.

Jo Stevens, MP for Cardiff Central, was able to see first-hand how Welsh Government investment has given Plas Madoc Leisure Centre a new lease of life – including work on new changing rooms following a £250,000 grant last year. 

She was welcomed to the centre by Stella Matthews, chair of the volunteer-run Splash Community Trust which runs Plas Madoc. 

The Shadow Welsh Secretary said: “Visiting Plas Madoc was a trip down memory lane for me. I first visited the centre back in the 1970s as a child.

“Ken told me about how the wonderful team at Plas Madoc took it from almost being demolished to being named the best social enterprise in Wales. They have done an amazing job, and it’s become a real community hub thanks to their hard work.

“The centre is a brilliant example of how the Welsh Labour Government has invested in local communities and worked alongside them. Stella told me that she didn’t think it would be going without the crucial support they’ve had.” 

The Shadow Welsh Secretary later visited The Stiwt in Rhos, where she was given a tour and told about the board’s plans for the future. 

She said: “I’ve never been to The Stiwt before, but I know how iconic it is not just locally but throughout Wales. Susan Elan Jones, the former MP for Clwyd South, told me many times about The Stiwt and her home village of Rhos, so it’s been lovely to visit and catch up with Susan, who remains a passionate member of the board. 

“It’s a stunning building, and just like at Plas Madoc it was clear to see how dedicated the team is. It’s a real labour of love for the trustees.” 

Mr Skates said: “It was brilliant to welcome Jo back to Clwyd South and show her some of our most valued and iconic community facilities. I was extremely proud to be able to highlight the fantastic work being done as both venues look to the future with confidence.” 

Llan dog to star in Manchester production of Tosca

* Ebby gets ready for her starring role in Tosca at Manchester Opera House.

A talented Llangollen resident is taking a starring role in a professional stage show in Manchester this evening (Thursday).

For one night night only Manchester's famous Opera House theatre is playing host to Opera International's award-winning Ellen Kent Production of Puccini's Tosca, featuring the Ukrainian National Municipal Opera Kyiv, with international soloists, highly-praised chorus and full orchestra.

Also on stage will be Ebby, an eight-year-old greyhound who lives with Llangollen town mayor Cllr Austin Cheminais and his wife Jane.

Explaining Ebby's rise to stardom, Chem said: "The opera features two royal greyhounds and wherever the company is stopping on its current tour it asks the local branch of the Greyhound Trust to suggest two dogs to take part.

"One of the greyhounds chosen by the Mersey & Cheshire branch is our dog Ebby, so she'll be on stage tonight.  

"She's an ex-racing greyhound from Ireland. She was adopted, through the Trust, by my wife Jane and I in October 2021.

"Ebby is very calm and well behaved, she’s very affectionate and loves people, so will perform well.

"We are very proud that she’s been chosen to take part in Tosca."

Looking after Ebby on the night is Chem and Jane's son Jim who is a volunteer at the Trust.

Chem added: "Adopting Ebby has changed our lives, She’s very laid back, a bit of a couch potato but loves her walks and is proving to be a loving and loyal companion and friend."

* The Greyhound Trust was founded in 1975, since then they are proud to have found over 100,000 loving homes for greyhounds. Each year, they home approximately 3,500 retired racing greyhounds and help hundreds more, but there are many more that still need their help.

If your interested in finding out more about adopting a greyhound or supporting the Greyhound Trust, go to: www.greyhoundtrust.org.uk

For local information from the Merseyside and Cheshire Greyhound Trust, phone 07510172178, or email joannejohnson2@hotmail.co.uk

Six candidates announced for town council election

Only six candidates have been announced for the 11 vacant seats in the Llangollen Town Council election on May 5.

The remaining five seats will therefore have to be filled by co-option following the election.

Candidates are:

* Felton Scott Lee

* Gittins Craig, 7 Oak Street, Llangollen, LL20 8NR, Independent

* Haddy Jon Henllys, Berwyn, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8AL Independent

* Keddie Paul, Ty Cae`r Onnen, 48 Regent Street, Llangollen, LL20 8HS, Independent

* Morris Aled Huw, Independent

* Rush Jen 43 Tyn Y Celyn Drive, Llangollen, LL20 7PN

* llanblogger intends to publish the descriptions/manifestos/head-and- shoulders pictures (maximum 200 words) of each of the candidates for the town council seats during the election campaign. Deadline for submission to: llanblogger@gmail.com is Friday April 15.  

Police seize vehicle in clampdown on illegal off-roaders

* A police picture taken during the special operation showing the police and AONB teams who took part.

Police recently mounted a special operation targeting off-road bikes and vehicles in the countryside close to Llangollen. 

And they say that one vehicle was seized as a result of the action.

In a message sent to local residents through the North Wales force's Community Alert system, Sergeant Richard Evans of the Conwy and Denbigh Neighbourhood Policing Team, says: "Together with Natural Resources Wales and officers from the Clwydian and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty we recently conducted an operation targeting the illegal use of off-road bikes and vehicles in the area.

"A number of persons were engaged with during the operation which saw one vehicle seized.

"We want people to enjoy our beautiful countryside lawfully and responsibly and will continue to take action against those responsible."

Denbighshire businesses offered rate relief for coming year

Traders in Denbighshire are being informed of business rate relief being offered for the coming financial year.

In December 2021, the Welsh Government announced an extension to the business rate relief scheme to support businesses across Wales for 2022/23.

Denbighshire County Council will be administering the support in the county on behalf of the Welsh Government.

All occupied properties wholly or mainly being used as retail, hospitality and leisure businesses are eligible to receive 50 per cent business rate relief.

This is a reduction from the last two years of the Welsh Government scheme where businesses were able to receive 100 per cent rate relief and means in many cases traders will have to pay a portion of business rates for the 2022/23 financial year.

You can apply for the scheme online via the council’s website.

Steve Gadd, the council’s Head of Finance and Property, said: “The Welsh Government has announced the scheme will be application based and therefore businesses will need to apply for this rate relief. 

“We have worked to ensure the process is as simple as possible and we are encouraging businesses to come forward, check if they are eligible and apply for this funding.

“The last two years have been difficult for businesses and this support will provide assistance to traders who have been working hard serving our communities, creating jobs and supporting the local economy.”

The Welsh Government has said businesses will receive their annual bill without the relief being awarded and that a revised bill will be issued later in the year.

* For more information or to apply please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/business/business-rates/relief-and-reductions.aspx

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.