Entertainer Shea vows to keep on singing Delilah despite rugby ban

* Shea belting out Delilah for a local audience a couple of years ago.

A young entertainer with strong links to Llangollen says he's determined to go on singing the Sir Tom Jones hit Delilah despite its ban by the Welsh Rugby Union.

The sport’s ruling body has ordered the 1968 blockbuster to be removed from its Principality Stadium choirs’ song list on the eve of the 2023 Six Nations.

The song about a jealous lover stabbing his unfaithful paramour has been lustily sung by Welsh fans and become something of an alternative sporting anthem.

But with the WRU facing allegations of a “toxic” culture and misogyny the governing body has responded to claims that it promotes violence against women by banning it.

The song includes the lyric: “She stood there laughing/I felt the knife in my hand and she laughed no more.”

But  20-year-old Shea Ferron, who has been entertaining crowds with his solo performances since he was a tot and raised thousands of pounds for charity, has vowed to keep on belting out Delilah for his own fans.

Shea made history as the youngest councillor in the history of Llangollen Town Council is currently on BA (Hons) Performing Arts course at the ICTheatre College in Manchester.

He  said: “I do think it’s a bit over the top to have banned it.

“At the end of the day, it’s possibly one of Tom Jones’s most iconic songs that on match day is sung all around the stadium.

“It’s a song that I always have in my concert set list, a song that everyone loves and sings.

“Yes there may be a violent twist in the song but I feel it’s an iconic Welsh hit, that creates a huge atmosphere on match day in Cardiff, both in the stadium and in the pubs!

“Next time I’m front of an audience I plan to sing it for them.”   

People encouraged to join the big Llangollen Canal Walk

* Jane Williams is encouraging people to join the canal walk in aid of the children's hospices.

People are being encouraged to pull on their walking boots to support Hope House and Ty Gobaith Children’s Hospices by taking part in its ever-popular Llangollen Canal Walk. 

The 12^th annual walk, sponsored by Principality Building Society, will take place on Sunday, March 12, and will see walkers join a special 10-mile walk taking in the stunning scenery, including the world-famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. 

Encouraging people to sign up for this year’s event is Jane Williams whose son Evan died suddenly in his sleep weeks before his 13^th birthday in 2013.  

Jane and the family, from Wrexham, have been supported by Hope House ever since and she has been walking the Llangollen Canal Walk for many years to support the hospices. 

“Evan had no illness at all. He was fit and healthy and he simply went to bed and died in his sleep,” she said.  

“I found him when I went to wake him in the morning. It was a huge shock for us all. I can honestly say if we hadn’t had Hope House I don’t know what we would have done. 

“By walking the Llangollen Canal Walk and supporting the hospices you’ll be making sure families like mine continue get the support when they need it the most.” 

Starting at the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct walkers will follow a marshalled five miles along the canal to The Poachers at Chirk.  

After a comfort stop and goody bag, everyone will return along the same route to cross the aqueduct for the second time where they will get their hands on a colourful limited edition 2023 medal. 

Fundraiser Cat Dowdeswell said: “This wonderful event is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step this March. Bring along friends, family, colleagues and those four-legged friends and embrace the great outdoors. 

“We have already sold more than half the places for the canal walk, which is absolutely incredible.  

“This event is extremely popular and has always been a sell-out, so make sure you sign up and get your tickets via the Hope House website to avoid disappointment.” 

* Tickets for the walk are £10 for adults and £5 for children and you can sign up today at www.hopehouse.org.uk/canal 

Skates calls for swimming pools to get help with power bills

* The pool at Plas Madoc.

An MS has renewed his calls for increased support for swimming pools. 

Ken Skates wants pools like Plas Madoc to be designated by the UK Government as ‘energy-intensive’ enterprises – meaning they would get more help to subsidise their electricity bills. 

He first raised the issue in October and has now written to the UK Government after the plight of pools was discussed in the Senedd this week. 

Mr Skates, MS for Clwyd South, said: “Swim Wales recently warned that nearly a third of the 500 public swimming pools in Wales could close because of the ever-increasing costs they’re facing. Not only are their energy bills spiralling, but they also face the twin challenges of the rising cost of essential chemicals – and the delays in their delivery – as a consequence of Brexit. 

“Many swimming pools in Wales are owned and maintained by local councils, who have received a very good settlement from the Welsh Government for the next financial year. But some, like Plas Madoc in my constituency, don’t get council funding and have to make ends meet in other ways. 

“Being classified as energy-intensive would give these vital community facilities a real shot in the arm. I have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, to make this case and I know the Welsh Government continues to press him on this as well.” 

Economy Minister Vaughan Gething previously said the Welsh Government would work with the UK Government – which is responsible for regulating the energy industry – to find a resolution. 

This week in the Senedd, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport Dawn Bowden said: “Local authorities have had the best financial settlement in a long time, much higher than they had anticipated, and how they utilise that budget is a matter for them. I hope that the decisions that they come to, following their deliberations and their consultations, will be that they take things like leisure centres and realise that they are part of the wider well-being agenda for their population. 

“But one of the things that I remain concerned about is the UK Government's relief scheme that has still excluded swimming pools from their proposals, and we do continue to press the UK Government to utilise their powers to support swimming pools.”

MP impressed by visit to Tyn Dwr Hall

* Simon Baynes MP with Tracey Owen at Tyn Dwr Hall.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes visited Tyn Dwr Hall in Llangollen to learn more about the business and its contribution to the local economy.

He met with general manager Tracey Owen to learn more about the venue, which hosts weddings, conferences and team events and has on-site accommodation for 66 people. 

Tracey Owen’s family bought Tyn Dwr Hall in 2016 and since then have renovated the house and seven acres of gardens and grounds building a successful weddings business which recently had two open days.

Mr Baynes leerned that with 80% of its clients from England, Tyn Dwr Hall is making a major contribution to the local economy in Clwyd South, helping local businesses and employing a significant number of people locally, particularly young people. 

He was also told that after a difficult two years due to the Covid pandemic, its wedding business bounced back strongly last year and is looking very favourable for 2023.

Mr Baynes said: “It was a pleasure to visit Tyn Dwr Hall and meet with Tracey Owen to find out about this beautiful venue near Llangollen. 

"I was impressed to hear that the venue can offer not only weddings but also conferences and team events and how it is playing a key role in contributing to the local economy and helping local businesses and people in the area. 

"I was particularly impressed to learn about the training they provide for their staff, particularly young staff members. 

“I would like to thank Tracey and the team at Tyn Dwr Hall for a fantastic visit and would like to wish them all the very best for 2023.”

Denbighshire approves 3.8% council tax rise

Denbighshire County Council has approved the draft budget for the 2023/24 financial year.

At a Full Council meeting on January 31, the draft budget which includes raising Council Tax by 3.8%, was put forward for recommendation from members. Full Council approved the final report.

As part of the budget process the Council’s draft settlement announced by Welsh Government indicates Denbighshire’s funding from Welsh Government will increase by 8.2% for the 2032/24 financial year, compared to the Welsh average of 7.9%.

The draft settlement includes a slightly increased indicative average settlement increases of 3.0% for 2024/25. 

The Final Settlement is expected in early March but Welsh Government have indicated that there should be very few changes. 

The funding comes with a number of responsibilities the Council are required to fund, including pay increases and ensuring the Real Living Wage for social care workers. 

Although the funding announcement is welcome the Council is having to fund £25.116m of pressures including the impact of price and energy inflation and cost pressures in key areas such as social care. 

The Council therefore still had a funding gap of £10.885m to fill for the coming financial year.

Proposals to fill this gap include savings in the Capital Financing Budget amounting to £1.067m and an increase in Council Tax of 3.8%. 

The proposed Council Tax increase level is at the lower end of indicative increases across Wales. It is also lower than the average of 4.35% over the last four years.

Councillor Gwyneth Ellis, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, said: “The Council has come to the end of the budget process for the 2023/24 financial year.

“It comes after a difficult year dealing with the cost of living impact and energy price rises, which has put an additional strain on resources. 

“We have taken a balanced approach to this year’s budget which aimed to recognise and remedy service pressures in order to build resilience, to make sure services were challenged to deliver efficient services and to minimise the impact of proposals on services users while keeping the proposed Council Tax increases as low as practicable. 

“The Council in this current climate is extremely committed to supporting our residents by protecting the services they value and expect as much as possible. 

“We have worked hard to be efficient and effective as possible, reducing our budgets and making savings by adapting better ways of working.”

Skates highlights Newbridge Road issue in Senedd

* Ken Skates (centre) with campaigners Frank Hemmings (left) and Derek Wright at the Newbridge site last April.

Transport issues in the area have been highlighted again in the Senedd by local MS Ken Skates.  

The Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South raised the urgent need for improvements to the A483 in November, calling for an update on the Welsh Government’s review of the key local route and saying work to make Junction 1 at Ruabon safer was vital. 

 

Mr Skates, the former Transport Minister, followed up on the ‘crucial’ local issues by writing to Minister Lee Waters, who is now in charge of transport matters in Wales. 

 

He also pointed out the increased traffic on local roads because of A483 congestion and delays to repairing the B5605 at Newbridge, which Wrexham Council is still to announce a start date for almost 10 months after the Welsh Government announced funding had been awarded.

 

The Minister has now responded saying: “I am sorry to hear about the continuing problems your constituents are experiencing at Ruabon. As advised in the Siambr, we believe the closure of Newbridge Road (B5605) is contributing to the increased traffic volumes in this area as motorists look to take alternative routes.  

 

“We awarded funding of £2.805m to Wrexham County Borough Council from the Resilient Roads Fund for the remedial works at Newbridge Road. The council will be best placed to advise on when works will be completed, which should alleviate congestion in and around junction 1 of the A483. 

 

“My officials contacted GoSafe on the back of your concerns regarding the B5907 near St Mary’s Church in Wales School and they have confirmed that they will undertake enforcement.” 

 

In 2018, while Economy and Transport Minister, Mr Skates announced funding for work to improve junctions 3 to 6 on the A483. The Welsh Government, however, later paused all new road projects and said they would be reviewed. 

In his letter to Mr Skates last week, Lee Waters said: “The final report of the independent Roads Review Panel has now been received. On November 30, I published a written statement setting out that our decision-making has been extended by the impact of the UK Government budget situation and we will publish a way forward shortly. 

 

“With respect to Junctions 3 to 6 on the A483, officials have progressed procurement of technical advisors so that the next stage of developing proposals can proceed at pace if a decision is made to continue to support this work.” 

 

This week, Mr Skates said: “These are crucial local issues for our area and they need urgent attention. I’m grateful for the Minister’s commitment to helping resolve them. 

 

“I now eagerly await an announcement from the Welsh Government that the long-awaited improvements to the A483 will go ahead. In the meantime, we urgently need positive news from Wrexham Council about Newbridge and when the work to reopen the road will get under way.” 

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