Westheads back on the road and heading for Asia

The three young friends on a mammoth cycling trip to Thailand in aid of a heart charity are now back in the saddle again after their winter halt.

Dyfan Hughes, 18, from Llangollen, Louis Dennis, 19, from Garth, and James Thomas,19, from Wrexham aim to cycle the 10,000 miles to the Far East in memory of Tony Edge, the father of a friend who died following a heart attack in 2024.

The intrepid trio, calling themselves the Westheads, set out from Lllangollen Football Club's HQ last August at the very start of their marathon ride which they reckon will take them at least 18 months to complete. 

To date they have cycled through Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Turkey and Georgia and are now heading for central Asia.

Along the way they aimed to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation but, so far, well-wishers following their daily social media updates have pledged a healthy £23,000 to their cause.

The lads spent the winter in the town of Batumi on the Black Sea coast of Georgia and recently got back on the road as the weather improved.

In one of their latest updates they outlined the problem of exactly how to get safely into Asia with political problems in both Iran and Russia.

They have therefore decided to take a plane ride with their bikes across the Caspian Sea to Aqtau in Kazakhstan. 

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Happy St David's Day/Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus from llanblogger

Road traffic collision on A5 Froncysyllt

Update: At 4.15pm North Wales Live was reporting that an air ambulance had landed at the scene.

Free heritage craft at Pengwern Community Hub

The Little Learning Company are running free heritage craft activities at venues around Denbighshire, including Llangollen, during March.

On Wednesday March 4 there will be a session on folk art at Hwb Cymunedol Pengwern Llangollen Community Hub from 2.30-4pm.

You can book online or just turn up on the day. To book a place visit the  website: https://www.thelittlelearningcompany.co.uk/event-details-registration/trailblazer-heritage-craft-activities

World Day of Prayer united service

A World Day of Prayer united service is to be held at the English Methodist Church, Riverside, at 10.30am on Friday March 6. All are welcome.

Cytun Churches Together Llangollen has arranged a Lentern study group, which is a journey through Lent with the six Welsh cathedrals.

Sessions will be held every Tuesday until Easter at the Memorial Hall in Market Street, from 12.30-1.30pm. All are welcome.

Berwyn Shuttle project begins as historic railbus arrives at Llangollen

 

* The railway's Steve Barker, Oliver Lang and Roger Hodgkinson welcome the railbus to Llangollen.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has today (Friday) welcomed the arrival of historic Railbus No. 79962, marking the beginning of an exciting restoration and operational project that could deliver a more environmentally sustainable shuttle service between Llangollen and Berwyn. 

The Railbus has arrived on loan from the Vintage Carriages Trust, one of the UK’s leading accredited railway museums. Built in 1958 and one of only four surviving examples of its type in the world, Railbus 79962 represents a rare and innovative chapter in railway history.

 

Designed as a lightweight and economical solution for lightly used branch lines, the Railbus seats approximately 56 passengers and was built for flexible, efficient operation. Its low weight and ability to operate frequent short services make it particularly well suited to modern sustainable transport challenges.

 

The project, which formally begins now, has the potential to support the development of a regular Llangollen to Berwyn shuttle service. There is strong and growing interest from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in establishing a shuttle to help reduce traffic congestion and parking pressures at Horseshoe Falls during busy periods.

 

By offering an attractive alternative to car travel, the shuttle would help protect the sensitive Dee Valley landscape while improving access for residents and visitors.

 

Tim Pulford, Engineering Manager at Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “The arrival of Railbus 79962 is a significant and exciting moment for us. A great deal of preparatory work has already been completed, including asbestos removal, floor repairs, heater overhaul and soundproofing. From an engineering perspective, this is a well understood vehicle with clear solutions to the remaining challenges. Our volunteers have inspected it thoroughly and we are confident it can be restored to a high standard and returned to operational use.”

 

As part of the partnership, the Vintage Carriages Trust will fund the overhaul of the Railbus and provide technical advice, operational guidance and, if required, driver training. Planning for the project is already well advanced.

 

In addition to its environmental benefits, the restoration programme will create new volunteering, training and skills development opportunities in light traction operation, mechanical systems and heritage restoration, supporting the railway’s long-term sustainability.

 

The Railbus project reflects Llangollen Railway’s commitment to partnership led, practical solutions that protect the environment while widening access to the Dee Valley.

MS opposes moves to legalise assisted dying

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales (pictured) says he is totally against any moves to make assisted dying legal. 

In the Senedd Mr Rowlands spoke against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill which was approved by 28 votes to 23.

 

He said: “I'm unwavering in my decision, founded in my Christian faith, that it is not right for this Bill to proceed, because no matter their health, no matter their stage of life, every person is precious, every life is of equal worth, and our laws and healthcare system should always reflect that.

 

“Beyond my personal beliefs, I have serious concerns about patient safety, legal clarity, inequality and constitutional accountability. The fact is that granting consent now would embed into Welsh health services a practice that remains deeply contested. The Bill is still in Committee Stage with, as we've heard from others, over 1,000 amendments yet to be resolved.

 

“Let's be clear, while this Bill is titled with the words 'assisted dying', the Bill seeks to amend section 2(1) of the Suicide Act 1961 to remove criminal liability for those who assist another person to end their own life. This LCM is asking us to embed assisted suicide within devolved health services in Wales.

 

“While crucial details remain unresolved. At a time when we rightly invest in suicide prevention and tell vulnerable people their lives matter, we must confront the contradiction of facilitating suicide as a medical service in certain circumstances. Doctors, as we know, are guided by the principle to first do no harm. This Bill would place our clinicians in Wales in conflicting roles, preventing suicide in some patients while validating it in others.

 

“If we are serious about dignity at the end of life, our priority should be universal access to high-quality palliative care, not the introduction of assisted suicide into mainstream practice.

 

Mr Rowlands reiterated his worries later on ITV’s political programme, Sharp End, where he expressed his concerns over the Bill and its principles.

 

He said: “I am deeply against the principle of assisted dying which is actually assisted suicide and it places health professionals in an extremely difficult position.

 

“We should be supporting people to live.”