One.network has issued a roadworks alert for Regent Street, Llangollen:
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Tuesday, September 6, 2022
Roadworks alert for Regent Street
Follow-up meeting arranged over St John's woodland plan
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Residents will have the chance to find out more about plans to transform an area of under-used woodland near St John’s Church in Llangollen into a 'tranquil' outdoor area at a meeting next week.
On August 26 a number of people living in nearby Green Lane were invited to an open day on the site to hear details of the Green Space project.
This is a joint initiative between the Church in Wales, which owns the land, and members of the Tidy Town Team whose hard work over a number of years has gradually been transforming the wooded site of around 1.5 acres to the point where it can be sympathetically redeveloped.
The plan is being overseen by the Valle Crucis Mission Area, the body which co-ordinates the work of 15 parish churches in the Dee Valley area, with cash from the Green Communities Project match-funded by St Collen’s Church.
According to the Mission Area, the scheme aims to benefit graveyard visitors and neighbouring residents.
If all goes according to plan the new area should be in use by next February, they say.
At the open day the Mission Area’s John Gambles listened as residents, mainly from nearby Green Lane, voiced their concerns about the affect the scheme would have on their homes, a number of which have already been aired on social media.
Mr Gambles has now arranged a follow-up meeting for Monday September 12 at St John's Church, starting at 6.30pm.
This, he says, is for those unable to attend the open day to "find out more about the project and, hopefully, have their questions answered".
The blueprint basically means turning a triangular-shaped piece of land between the river, the railway and the cemetery into what Mr Gambles described as a “tranquil area where people can find peace with themselves ... where they can sit, relax and contemplate.”
Also included in the scheme is extending the existed limited car parking area for graveyard visitors by the removal of a privet hedge and the planting of a line of ornamental trees to screen it from the consecrated land set aside for the extension of the burial area, the creation of a small wildflower meadow plus the fixing of posts and chestnut palings along the rider side of the site.
Mr Gambles said that a range of specialist advice had been taken on which trees within the main woodland area should be removed or saved.
There had also been expert consultation of the form the revamped woodland area would take which has meant provision for a small access point from the existing parking area leading onto a walkway – wide enough to take wheelchairs - winding of about 110 metres through the trees to a quiet area with simple oak benches.
The plan had been mooted for some time and over the past seven years the Tidy Town Team had done a large of amount of clearing and tidying of the site.
Residents who attended the open day raised a number of points of concern, including possible anti-social behaviour caused by the opening up of the area – with some pointing out that this was already a problem with alcohol bottles and other rubbish being left strewn about.
There were also fears expressed about extra traffic using nearby Green Lane during the construction period by contractors and how the area would be managed in the long term.
Mr Gambles said that although the budget for the scheme didn’t include provision for its future management, the use of CCTV could be discussed, adding: “We will try to encourage responsible behaviour and we are already working with the police and the schools. A lot of it is up to us a community.”
Addressing residents’ traffic concerns, he stressed that an agreement had been reached with the adjacent railway to use the pathway between its yard and St John’s Church for contractors’ vehicles.
There were questions for Mr Gambles about the level of consultation there had been on the project.
He said that people most affected by it in the area had been consulted as had the Town Council which had agreed with the proposals.
However, he did not rule out further consultation measures including, possibly, the setting up of a Friends of St John’s group to liaise with and update residents as the project progressed.
He stressed that the newly-created area was not intended to be part of the town’s general tourist offering but by people visiting relatives’ graves in the cemetery and by residents themselves.
Monday, September 5, 2022
Roadworks planned for Berwyn Street
Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:
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06 September - 07 September Roadworks, Delays likely Traffic management:
Traffic control (multi-way signals) Description:
ALTER AN EXISITNG SERVICE 3M PUBLIC... Works location:
O/S 8 BERWYN STREET Public facing description:
Wales & West Utilities Ltd has not assigned a specific description to
this Works. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Wales &
West Utilities Ltd. Responsibility for works:
Wales & West Utilities Ltd Current status:
Planned work about to start Works reference: XY254005000326317 |
Sunday, September 4, 2022
Scammers capitalising on cost of living crisis, police warn
Scammers and cyber criminals are attempting to capitalise on the cost of living crisis, according to North Wales Police.
Through the online Alert Network, say one of the latest scam e-mails pretends to be from British Gas and offers a non-existent refund of £315.
Officers advise: "Don’t click on the link in the email as it will lead to a malicious website
that is designed to steal your financial and/or personal information.
"If you think that an email you received from British Gas could be genuine,
you should contact British Gas using their official contact number from their
website to verify the authenticity of the email."
Friday, September 2, 2022
Railway goes back to diesels golden era this weekend
* The 1566 near Caernarfon in the 1970s.
* The 1566 today.
* The 31271.
It will be back to the 1960s- 1990s era of British Rail when Llangollen Railway stages its Diesel Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.
All available diesel locomotives are expected to be in use including 1958-built Class 26 No 5310, 1961-built Class 31 No 31271 and 1964-built Class 47 1566.
The event will see a frequent timetable with some interesting workings and stock in use, including a freight train that incorporates a passenger carrying vehicle allowing visitors to experience something a bit different.
LR Press Officer and Diesel Group volunteer Terry Pickthall said: “We are delighted to be running a diesel weekend again for the first time in 3 years following the pandemic and the railway’s financial challenges last year.
"It will also be the first time we’ve run a three-train service under the new management of the Llangollen Railway Trust.
"Our diesel locomotives have already covered more miles this year than they have in previous years as the railway has worked to conserve coal stocks and reduce costs in the wake of spiralling fuel costs.
"This is no mean feat when you consider we are a small group, with less than 10 regular volunteers and our locomotives are all pushing 60 years old - with some of us not that far behind them in age either.
"It will be great to see them all running this weekend. As someone who was born in the late 70s, the diesel era of British Rail, with its strong nationalised, corporate image is how I remember the railways growing up.
"Although our locos are authentic to the era
we are pleased to say that our catering offering remains very much in the
modern day and visitors need not be worried about encountering the infamous
dried-out BR pork pie or egg sandwich in our station cafes this weekend.”
The locomotives in use this weekend represent those that would have been seen in use across the Country from the 1960’s right through to the 1990’s.
Class 47 1566 spent a lot of its life working trains on the North Wales Coast whereas Class 26 5310 spent its working life in Scotland, including working to the very far north of the UK rail network at Thurso.
Class 31 31271 spent much of its life on British Rail’s Eastern and Midland regions and carries the name “Stratford 1840-2001” to commemorate the London depot where many of the class spent their working lives.
All have diesel engines that drive a generator that powers electric traction motors geared directly to the wheels.
Terry Pickthall added :“Many think the hybrid powertrain we see used in modern cars is a new idea – it’s not really. The diesel-electric drive used in locomotives like ours can be traced way back to US in the 1920s.
"Our locos all have a bit more power than the average hybrid car though. Our Class 47 has a 12 cylinder, 83-litre engine producing 2,580hp. This may seem extreme but you also need to remember it could pull a train of 12 coaches at 90mph.
"This works out at about 3hp per passenger, so the amount of CO2 generated per person is a lot less than you’d think – and that’s for a 60 year old design. Modern trains are even more efficient, showing how rail travel can be part of the solution to tackle climate change. This is an important story to tell to our visitors alongside enjoying a nostalgic day out in the stunning Dee Valley AONB.”
* Tickets for the Diesel Weekend can be bought on the day of travel and advanced booking is also available online at https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/.
Thursday, September 1, 2022
Pengwern Community Hub September calendar
Here is the September Calendar for the Pengwern Community Hub:
Operatic's Calendar Girls shows some sheer naked talent
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* The Operatic's Calendar Girls, all in the best possible taste. Picture by Gem Photography.
Llanblogger first night review
There certainly is some naked talent on display in Llangollen Operatic's production of Calendar Girls which opened at the town hall last night.
And it was on show from top to bottom of this musical version of the story in which members of a Yorkshire Women's Institute shamelessly shed the movement's traditional jam and Jerusalem image - along with their clothes.
Their aim is to create a nude calendar to raise funds for a new couch for the relatives’ room attached to the hospital where the husband of one of their members undergoes treatment for his blood cancer.
Unfortunately, John Clarke, played thoughtfully by Simon Orton-Jones, loses his battle with the disease but his death only spurs on the money-spinning efforts of wife Annie - a marvelous portrayal by Simon's real-life missus Tessa Orton-Jones - and her WI mates.
Of the many Llan Operatic productions I have seen this was the one which most engaged the audience right from the start and throughout.
In fact, such was their cheering enthusiasm for the action on stage that I expected a standing ovation to break out well before the one the cast actually and most deservedly received at the end.
The show, by Tim Firth and THE Gary Barlow, takes you from comedic highs to tragic lows, all is coveyed in wonderful style by a cast of around 20, including a few who have previously shone in productions by the society’s junior section, the Young ‘Uns.
It takes some doing not only to learn all your lines and songs without the need to remove all your clothes for the big photography scene at the end but the six ladies who are called upon to take that daunting extra step do it in fine style – and all in the very best of taste thanks to the skilful deployment of props like the famous Chelsea buns, screens and some extremely artful posing.
Most of them achieved it only after lots of searching rehearsals but one of them enjoyed no such benefit. The fabulous Louise Lyne – a newcomer to the Operatic – stepped in with just a couple of days notice to take over the pivotal role of Chris, the woman who actually comes up with the idea for the saucy calendar, when the lady who was due to play it, Russ Latham, fell ill.
Such is the importance of this part that in the famous 2003 film version it's played by Dame Helen Mirren.
The action and songs, some of them with true emotion-wringing power, are arranged to give each of the key players a crack at telling their stories. And a couple of them do this so well, such as Sue O’Neill as the daunting ex-teacher Jessie, that I thought that early standing ovation was on its way.
The sheer power of the performances across the entire cast, and from the small group of musicians which backs them every step of the way, is simply incredible and a tribute to the deft guidance of artistic director Nia Pickering, musical director Elen Mair Roberts and producer/stage manager Tracey Kempster Jones.
Forget the fluffed lines and wobbly scenery sometimes associated with am-dram. This is professional grade theatre, ready and stripped for action.
At each performance of Calendar Girls The Musical this week, there will be an opportunity to donate to The Shooting Star Cancer Support charity.
This amazing charity raises money to support the clinicians and the patients being treated in the Shooting Star Unit in Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
*Calendar Girls is running at the Town Hall this Saturday. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety
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