Temporary closure of Green Lane to allow gas works

 

* The alternative route along Abbey Road.

Eisteddfod gears up to be more user-friendly for disabled

From left: Rachel Jones, Davina Carey-Evans, Melanie Cash and Tansy Rogers on. 

Llangollen International Eisteddfod has pledged to provide more opportunities for people with disabilities to enjoy the event.

Officials from the festival are taking advantage of a special project designed to gear-up events and businesses to be user-friendly for people with additional needs.

They took part in an Introduction to Accessibility Awareness workshop and are participating in a pioneering four-day course created by community interest company PIWS to establish Accessibility Champions within the organisations.

Other events that have signed up include the National Eisteddfod that’s being held in Wrexham in 2025, the Urdd National Eisteddfod and the Royal Welsh Show, along with Disability Sport Wales and Wales Young Farmers’ Clubs.

Every year Llangollen Eisteddfod, established in 1947 to promote peace and harmony in the aftermath of the Second World War, transforms the picturesque Dee Valley town into a colourful multi-cultural melting pot.

Billed as the event where Wales welcomes the world, organisers say this year’s festival, that’s being held from Tuesday, July 8, to Sunday, July 13, will be even more welcoming for people with disabilities.

Chair John Gambles said: "Accessibility for all is a huge priority for the Llangollen Eisteddfod. We always act on feedback from our customers to ensure our festival is as accessible as it possibly can be.

"As an organisation, we welcome the opportunity that any further training to improve will bring.

“We pride ourselves on welcoming the world to Wales and that means being as inclusive as we possibly can and sharing best practice with other festivals across Wales."

If funding allows, Eisteddfod officials say they will look to provide an equipment package to fill one festival tent with  specialist sensory equipment suitable for both children and adults of all ages and abilities.

"These including bubble tube, infinity mirror, LED interactive tube, colour changing mood seat, light board and glass pebbles/cubes, fibre optic tails, foam flooring, UV floor tiles, projectors, beanbag seating, music and lots more.

"Four small pop tents within the sensory den space would provide safe spaces suitable for two people in each.

"Two experienced Sensory Support staff would be on-site all day, ensuring the  operation and cleanliness of the equipment and offering physical and emotional support to visitors where appropriate.

"As I have said, though any best practice that come to our attention as part of the course will be looked at," he added.

Set-up in 2018, PIWS is a community-driven organisation dedicated to enhancing accessibility for individuals with disabilities, including autism, learning difficulties, sensory impairments, mobility challenges, and brain illnesses.

Founder Davina Carey-Evans, who has two sons with complex disabilities and whose husband was severely disabled in a fall, is spearheading the project.

As well as being the right thing to do, she said, it can also help the events tap into a lucrative market.

"We hear a lot about the power of the LGBTQ+ community’s pink pound but the purple pound is also very valuable and in accessible tourism across the UK,”  said Davina.

"There are 16.1 million disabled people in the UK, this represents 24% of the population and it has been estimated there is an untapped potential value of £15.8 billion a year in Accessible Tourism alone.

“Gearing up businesses to be user-friendly for the disabled isn’t just the right thing to do, it makes commercial sense as well," she said.

Davina has enlisted the help of three motivated women to run the project. All three have years of experience in the hospitality business and are dedicated to training.

Rachel Jones, who hails from Cardiff but who now lives at Trawsfynydd near Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd, said: "I've been training in hospitality for 30 years but it wasn't until I had my own family that I realised how difficult it was for people to access venues if they had additional needs. There were many times when my own family just didn't go out because it was more trouble than it was worth.

"My passion has always been to help hospitality businesses to be the best they can be. I work mainly with very small businesses and it's lovely to go back and see the effect training has made so this course has really opened my eyes to the difference we can make for families, for people with additional needs just by adjusting and making a few simple things."

She added she started working in hospitality behind the bar at her local rugby club when she was 16 and has worked in several five-star hotels during her career.

"I got interested in training and when I began looking for another job I looked at hotel and training opportunities. I've done training work all over the north of England and Wales."

Rachel added as a family once they found an accessible place to visit they would return again and again.

"It's not about the place as much as the welcome, that is really very important," she said.

Melanie Cash, from Cricieth but who was born in Cardiff, said: "My Dad was a hotelier and we moved whenever he changed jobs. I was drawn into hospitality on the back of it. I worked in some of the biggest hotel companies like Marriott and Hilton and they were fantastic at training so I've benefitted from some very good training. I became interested in becoming a trainer myself predominately in customer service, sales and leadership.

"I set up my own company and worked with big hotels, big venues and visitor attractions.

"Then I moved to Cricieth seven years ago, started learning Welsh and am interested in being part of this project to help people. We hear so often people saying businesses in this area don't make the best of themselves and see what they can do and seize the opportunity."

The third member of the team is Tansy Rogerstone from Conwy. She has spent her working life in events, hospitality and product development.

"I jumped at the chance to be part of this project because I want to be involved in something that really makes a difference. It is amazing what Wales has to offer in tourism and events and enhancing that further and offer an even more inclusive destination is imperative and will take it to a whole different level.

"With the Future Generations Act being introduced it's very important that we follow the framework from the Welsh Government.

"I'm passionate about businesses offering the very best they can and being more inclusive and this is a new way in how we can support them," she said.

Davina said the course is split up into different segments with the first section focussing on background and introduction.

"The why we're doing it and hopefully opening people's eyes to new opportunities. The second day will be broken down into vision, hearing, mobility and toilets.

"Day three is about autism, sensory and brain injury. The last day is about website, marketing, policies and solutions. There's a lot of information," she said.

* More details about PIWS online at www.piws.co.uk

llanblogger is taking a short break

 

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in about a week's time ...

Council's advice on Yellow Weather Warning for snow and ice

Denbighshire County Council has sent out details of the Yellow Weather Warning for Snow and Ice issued by the Met Office for this weekend - and how to cope with freezing conditions. It reads:

Between 12:00 (UTC) on Sat 4 Jan 2025 and 23:59 (UTC) on Sun 5 Jan 2025 Headline Heavy snow, and some freezing rain in places, may cause some disruption over the weekend

 

What to expect

• There is a small chance that power cuts will occur and other services, such as mobile phone coverage, may be affected
• There is a slight chance that some rural communities could become cut off
• A small chance of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces
• There is a chance of travel delays on roads with some stranded vehicles and passengers, along with delayed or cancelled rail and air travel

 

Further Details

Outbreaks of rain spreading progressively northeastwards later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday will likely be preceded by a spell of snow on its northern flank. Whilst there is some uncertainty, any snow in southern and eastern parts of England, especially at low levels, will probably be rather transient before turning back to rain. However, some significant accumulations of snow are possible across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England in particular, at least for a time, where 5 cm or more could accumulate fairly widely, with perhaps as much as 20-30 cm over high ground of mid and north Wales and potentially 30-40 cm over parts of the Pennines. This, accompanied by strengthening winds, may lead to drifting of lying snow.

In addition, as milder air moves northwards, snow may turn to a spell of freezing rain for a time, again more especially across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places. A fairly rapid thaw of lying snow is possible later on Sunday, although exactly how far north the rapid thaw will reach remains uncertain at this stage.

What should I do?

Snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if necessary; if driving, leave more time to prepare and check your car before setting off; make sure you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays (warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).

Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal to reduce your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If making a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery. Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated.

People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow. It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.

Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area.

UK weather warnings - Met Office

 

DCC has resources on standby throughout the warning period to respond to any weather-related incidents should they arise.

 

Further updates will be provided if deemed necessary.

 

Please report any issues to our Customer Service Team between 8:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday, by:

1) email to customerservice@denbighshire.gov.uk

2) telephone 01824 706000

3) visit in person a One Stop Shop.

4) use an online web form, available on Denbighshire’s website:

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/online-forms/online-forms.aspx

In the event of any emergency situation requiring an immediate response, contact should be made directly via the out of hours contact centre between 5pm – 8:30am including weekends on 0300 123 3068. 

Owner gives latest update on Llangollen's injured celebrity cat

* The latest picture of Raymond posted on his own Facebook page.

The owner of Raymond the famous ginger cat has given a new update on his progress after he was accidentally knocked down by a car at the end of last month.

And the post on his own Facebook page has attracted over 80 comments from well-wishers welcoming him home after his treatment.

But the owner says the famous roaming moggy isn't enjoying not being allowed out of a protective cage advised by the vets until his injuries heal.

The furry celebrity, who has his own Facebook page - Raymond the Ginger Cat - is known and loved by scores of admirers for his wanderings around the town, nipping in and out of shops and hotels and even attending a church service on Christmas morning. 

Last Sunday there was an outpouring of shock and disbelief after it was announced on Facebook that he had been hit by a car in the town centre while being chased by a dog. 

Scores of messages of sympathy for his family and best wishes for his speedy recovery began to be posted on social media, one from as far away as South Africa. 

A Gofundme page was set up by a friend of the owner to help pay for his treatment at the vets and it was halted after donations hit the £4,000 mark in just a couple of days.

The owner revealed on Raymond's own Facebook page that his pelvis had been injured on the left side and the bill for treatment was likely to be between four and five thousand pounds, adding that they would pay although any donations would be welcome.

On Monday morning the owner posted that he was "comfortable and pain free," and said they were waiting to hear when he would have surgery, adding that when he did come home he would have to be kept in a cage for six weeks.  

Yesterday evening, the owner took to his Facebook page again to post a picture of Raymond in a cage along with the message: "Not impressed with the cage situation." 

The post has so far attracted over 80 comments welcoming him back home and wishing him a speedy recovery. Some of the read:

"I'm sorry about the cage situation but it's for your own good sweetie."

"Aww bless him he looks so sad not being able to do his usual rounds."

"Maybe he could have visitors from the shop keepers in Llan?? He'd love that I'm sure."   

Air ambulance called to A5 crash scene

 

North Wales Live reports:

An air ambulance has landed at the scene of a crash on the A5. The main road, near Corwen, is blocked, with queueing traffic.

A North Wales Police spokesperson said: "Please be aware there are severe delays on the A5 between Corwen and Glyndyfrdwy due to a collision, officers are at scene dealing." The Welshpool-based air ambulance landed at the scene shortly after 1pm.

Latest update on Raymond the cat's condition

* Raymond is now at the vets and under treatment.

His owner has given a fresh update on the condition of Raymond, Llangollen's celebrity cat after he was knocked down and injured by a car on December 29.

The famous moggy, who has his own Facebook page - Raymond the Ginger Cat - is known and loved by scores of admirers for his wanderings around the town, nipping in and out of shops and hotels and even attending a church service on Christmas morning. 

On Sunday there was an outpouring of shock and disbelief after it was announced on Facebook that he had been hit by a car in the town centre while being chased by a dog. 

Scores of messages of sympathy for his family and best wishes for his speedy recovery began to be posted on social media. 

A Gofundme page was set up by a friend of the owner to help pay for his treatment at the vets and it was halted after donations hit the £4,000 mark in just a couple of days.

The owner revealed on Raymond's own Facebook page that his pelvis had been injured on the left side and the bill for treatment was likely to be between four and five thousand pounds, adding that they would pay although and donations would be welcome.

On Monday morning the owner posted that he was "comfortable and pain free," and they were waiting to hear when he would have surgery. 

At around 8pm this evening (Tuesday) there was a further update in which the owner said: "Hi all, a little update on Raymond - he is still in Llangollen vets due to it being new year. We will have another update in the morning but last time

"We spoke to the vet, Raymond hasn’t wee’d which was a bit worrying but could be down to stress.

"Will let you all know more tomorrow regarding surgery. When he does come home he will have to be kept in a cage for 6 weeks."  

* Llanblogger will bring you further updates on Raymond's progress as and when we have them.