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Archives for March 2007

Bellamy donates cash to Wrexham

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:28 UK time, Friday, 30 March 2007

The board at today issued a statement on the club website thanking Wales & Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy who has made a "very generous donation" towards their fight against relegation.

Bellamy tells the website: "Being a proud Welshman and supporter of Welsh football, I feel it's important that Wrexham retain their place in The Football League and I hope this gesture can help."

According to , the cash helped Wrexham - one place off the bottom of the Football League - to sign three players on loan as they seek to avoid dropping into the Conference.

Anger over town's Welsh-only sign

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:17 UK time, Friday, 30 March 2007

G has been in touch with the Flint mini site to post a rant saying the name of Flint's railway station has been changed with a Welsh-only sign saying 'Y Fflint' station with no English 'Flint' version.

I called Arriva Trains Wales about this and spokesman Maggie Abbett says the decision to call the station Y Fflint had been taken by the local authority.

G argues: "It pains me that some people try to enforce a false culture upon us. We are English speaking Welsh in this part of the world, and it's time for us to stand up against insinuations that this is something to be ashamed of."

What do you reckon? Should it be Flint, Fflint or both - or does it really matter to you? Post comments on the Flint mini site.

Extreme sports & music festival in Llan

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:06 UK time, Thursday, 29 March 2007

, a major extreme sports and music festival is to be held at in June with a freestyle motorcross arena, BMX dirt jump competition, a street course skate park, rock climbing, handgliding and paragliding and two evening concerts.

'Teach our boy in Welsh'

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 12:43 UK time, Thursday, 29 March 2007

The parents of Brandon Donnelly, 12, who suffers from autism, say he’s been treated unfairly because there’s no school available where he can be taught through the medium of Welsh.

Brandon currently attends mainstream Welsh-medium Ysgol Glan Clwyd, St Asaph, but he can only attend part-time because of his condition.

His mum, Paula, of Meliden, near Prestatyn, tells the there are no Welsh-speaking special units in the area. However, the Welsh Assembly says grants are available if councils were to apply for funding.

Wrexham sailor held in Iran

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:33 UK time, Wednesday, 28 March 2007

The reports today that one of the 15 sailors being held in Iran is from Wrexham.

The revelation comes as UK defence officials announced that satellite data shows the sailors were 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters when they were seized, reports .

Ouch! Rio relives Wrexham trouncing

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 07:53 UK time, Tuesday, 27 March 2007

Rio Ferdinand tells the he's drawing on personal experience to ensure the England football team don't suffer an embarrassing giantkilling by Andorra tomorrow.

He tells the newspaper: "I've been on the receiving end of a cup upset before and it's not nice. The worst was probably an FA Cup defeat against Wrexham at Upton Park. It was my first start for West Ham and it wasn't a great introduction to my FA Cup career. It was an embarrassment."

That's one of the big games etched on fans' memories too, along with the day they beat Arsenal. Rio's reminiscing provides a little light relief for Wrexham which is fighting relegation from .

Use the [Welsh] force, Luke

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:59 UK time, Monday, 26 March 2007

Another Wenglish entry as dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg [I'm learning Welsh]

Cyfarfodes i [I met] the great Elwyn Hughes penwythnos diwetha [last weekend] in Bangor achos roedd o'n dysgu cwrs ymarfer arholiad [as he was teaching an exam practice course] for those of us sitting the GCSE course ym Mehefin [in June].

His name has been written across all the literature and text books I've been using over the years and to meet the Bangor University tutor himself I was expecting some kind of Gandalf the wise - you know, the sourcer played by Sir Ian Mckellen in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

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Big bruv's watching us

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:11 UK time, Friday, 23 March 2007

And boy does he need to because I've been reading some interesting stats about Denbighshire's 80 CCTV cameras which record more than 300 incidents a month on streets around Rhyl & Prestatyn, according to .

Denbighshire Council has recently expanded the CCTV network to include Rhuddlan and opened a new control centre where nine operators view 22 monitors and five big screens which take live feeds from the cameras on the streets. Do the cameras make you feel safer or paranoid?

Poles enter Welsh language debate

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:19 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2007

reports today that Poles are to be encouraged to learn Welsh and English when moving to our country.

Well, Pole Szczecin has been in touch and, whilst not making the type of comment to win new friends, it does raise an interesting point: "At least all of us do speak Polish. How is your Welsh?"

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Getting to the bottom of the knicker mystery

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 07:59 UK time, Wednesday, 21 March 2007

Locals in Buckley are puzzled as to why more and more women's underwear is decorating a single tree behind the Tivoli nightclub, reports which has a photo of the fruity tree.

I reckon they're 'trophies' of recent conquests being put on display. Do you know what I mean? Tut, tut!

AMs battle over 'vigilante' blogging

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 13:28 UK time, Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Clwyd West Labour AM has come under fire after he used his own blog to publish a picture of a man he claims was riding a motorcycle on a pavement without a helmet in Towyn and then shopped him to the police.

My namesake, Conservative leader AM has accused the assembly's culture minister of "misguided vigilantism", according to . What do you reckon?

Little Connah goes global with his blog

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:03 UK time, Tuesday, 20 March 2007

Just wanted to make sure you were aware of a new being written by , five, and his family in Gronant, near Prestatyn, as he uses the site to raise awareness about a condition called , a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.

The family are using the blog to raise awareness and funds to send Connah to the US for treatment, according to .

Stars of animation come to town

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:46 UK time, Monday, 19 March 2007

A major exhibition is being held in Wrexham showcasing ‘’ and featuring work by Mackinnon & Saunders (Corpse Bride, Mars Attacks) and characters from Cosgrove Hall Films (Noddy, Little Robots, Postman Pat) and HOT Animation (Bob the Builder, Pingu).

It's being held here as part of the and really is a big deal, according to industry website .

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What do Rhyl & Sydney share?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:05 UK time, Monday, 19 March 2007

Aussies have been spending the weekend celebrating the of the Sydney's Harbour Bridge. But did you know it was built by the same guys who built the so-called Blue Bridge [view then & now photos], aka the Foryd Bridge, at Rhyl?

I think Dorman Lang saved their better work for the Australians, don't you think?

  • Useful link:

When dad & taid were miners...

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 12:06 UK time, Friday, 16 March 2007

The realities of life down the long-gone pits of NE Wales have been brought back into the spotlight thanks to the photos and memories former colliers have recently been sharing in our Old Photos and Local History mini sites.

For me, there is one image of Hafod Colliery miners that sums up the nature and conditions of the work. Covered in coal dust and sweat and wearing only boots, shorts and hard hats, you can see how physically demanding the work really was.

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Factories on terror list

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:15 UK time, Thursday, 15 March 2007

Interesting story in the saying the Kronospan factory, Chirk, and Flexsys, Cefn Mawr, have been identified as two of 18 places in North Wales which would pose the biggest dangers if attacked by terrorists.

A total of 18 key places have been listed in the for the North Wales Region which will go before the board today.

And so the racist jibes start

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 07:49 UK time, Wednesday, 14 March 2007

I suppose it was inevitable that those who find it hardest to articulate their views would resort to intimidation and bullying. Racist graffiti aimed at migrant workers has been daubed around Deeside, reports weekly freebie the .

The issue of migrant workers coming to live and work here was always going to be an emotive subject but, so far, we've largely been able to have a sensible debate about it.

It will be interesting to see if the influx of immigrants - a word in itself that wrongly seems to conjure a negative bias, don't you think - will be an issue in the forthcoming Assembly elections in May.

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Bendegedig! [Wonderful!]

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:11 UK time, Monday, 12 March 2007

Another Wenglish entry as dwi'n dysgu Cymraeg [I'm learning Welsh]

Weles i [I saw] a classmate from my dosbarth Cymraeg dros yr benwythnos [my Welsh class over the weekend] at one of the petrol stations in Mold. Ac fel roedden ni sefyll yna, siaradon ni Cymraeg [And, as we stood there, we spoke Welsh].

It's the first time it's happened to me that out in the world - and not necessarily wearing my Welsh 'hat' - I instantly switched on the Welsh. Sometimes, I need a bit of a warm up cyn i mi medru [before I'm able to] switch on the Welsh side of my brain. Do you know what I mean?

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Chester FC seek Welsh name change

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:01 UK time, Monday, 12 March 2007

Interesting to read on yesterday that Chester City FC are considering a name change which could include 'Flint' because part of their ground is actually within Wales.

The main reason behind this is because club bosses appear to want to snub local English council, Chester City Council, accusing them of little support. I can't imagine a Welsh club entertaining the thought of seeking English-ness in whatever form, can you?

Seeing stars: Who've you bumped into?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:26 UK time, Friday, 9 March 2007

You seen any celebs recently whilst out and about? The reason I ask is I saw snooker legend and now TV pundit - the guy who made the upside down spectacles famous - waiting for a lift in Abermorddu, Wrexham, this morning.

I'm not sure whether he was waiting for a lift from Steve Davies or a bus, but he was waving to passing motorists who recognised him as he stood outside the double glazing showroom. Apparently he has lived in nearby Llay for a couple of years.

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David bids £500m for Aston Martin

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 14:40 UK time, Thursday, 8 March 2007

Llanfair DC motorsport millionaire David Richards is on the brink of securing a multi-million pound deal for the world famous Aston Martin as he is leading a consortium from America and the Middle East in a £500million bid to buy Aston Martin from Ford, reports the new-look .

Angel of the North for Queensferry?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:55 UK time, Thursday, 8 March 2007

Five design teams have been picked to come with up ideas for a major landmark to be built at Queensferry - but we want to hear your suggestions.

The proposed Flintshire site is in the vicinity of the Blue Bridge, an historic crossing point, and an area with a range of transport - the River Dee, the A494, railway lines and a major cycle route - so there are plenty of things to get you thinking.

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Vote for a new bridge at Rhyl

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:29 UK time, Thursday, 8 March 2007

Denbighshire Council is bidding for Lottery cash to build a cycle-safe bridge between Rhyl & Kinmel Bay because the Grade II listed Blue Bridge - which can't be altered - isn't regarded as the most safe for cyclists, according to .

For the scheme to be successful, you have to log on to and vote for the scheme as the most popular bid will win a cash hand-out. It's listed on the website as .

Personally, I've used the bridge as part of the coastal cycle path and it does feel a little dicey, especially when you've got kids in tow.

Buried treasure goes on show

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:18 UK time, Tuesday, 6 March 2007

A medieval ring discovered in Hope, finds from Caergwrle Castle and a gold ring found by metal detectorists at Nercwys, near Mold, have gone on show at Mold Library & Museum, reports .

Council website criticised - again

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:53 UK time, Tuesday, 6 March 2007

Flintshire Council website [] has found itself being criticised for a second time - first time was last Stepember - due to the number of times its web service is down due to technical difficulties, according to a report in .

Political correctness gone mad?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 15:21 UK time, Monday, 5 March 2007

That's the headline in with the editor reacting to news that signs have been put up in Wrexham in English and Polish - but with no apparent Welsh translation.

The signs are on the entrance gate to the Erddig Country Park, Wrexham, advising visitors on fishing rules. The Environment Agency tells the it was an omission on their part and a Welsh version will be added.

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Eisteddfod tickets go on sale

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 15:29 UK time, Friday, 2 March 2007

Full details of this year's in Mold have now been announced with tickets going on sale on the official website. Among the line-up will be celebrated pianist LlÅ·r Williams.

Watch out, there's a warden about!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:15 UK time, Friday, 2 March 2007

Holywell Town Council have been putting aside cash to employ their own traffic warden from April to help deal with parking problems in the town. Is it that bad? I hear parking's a problem on the main street in Flint - with motorists pulling up on the double yellows - but, as far as we know, people haven't been grumbling about problems in Holywell. Can you tell us different?

PS. We've had a couple of other issues relating to roads and motorists this week with the A525 being branded one of the UK's worst roads. And Tom has been in touch with The Rant to let off steam about HGV drivers on the A494.

Hopping mad!

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 08:58 UK time, Friday, 2 March 2007

Organisers of Llangollen's annual bunny hop race - where kids and adults compete in daft hopping races - have had to cancel this year due to the risk of prosecution from competitors who take a tumble.

Says Judith Dodd from Llangollen Enterprise: "We’ve really had to take this decision because of the litigious nature that has been seeping into our society. A hop, skip and a stumble could simply be more trouble than it’s worth."

And so our kids have to miss out on a bit of harmless fun. Does it seem fair?

Which road drives you round the bend?

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 11:17 UK time, Thursday, 1 March 2007

A survey of 4,000 people found that the A525 through NE Wales to be in the top 10 of worst roads in Britain, according to insurer - and the current roadworks in Wrexham around the Eagles Meadow development were singled out as being particularly bad.

The road stretches from Rhyl, St Asaph, Denbigh, Ruthin, the dreaded Nant y Garth Pass and on to Wrexham and Whitchurch. But for me it's not as bad as the A55 every Friday afternoon and Sunday in the summer months when the traffic is heading to and from the coast. Which road do you dread most in North Wales?

Planned travellers' sites revealed

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Nick - Web Team Nick - Web Team | 10:52 UK time, Thursday, 1 March 2007

So now we know the suggested locations for a proposed travellers' camp in Flintshire.

A source told the newspaper the sites included Glode Way, Buckley - already the comments have been coming in - Crumps Yard and Dock Road in Connah's Quay; Greenfield Business Park Area 2; and two sites in Sandycroft and Sealand.

Flintshire Council had, so far, refused to say which sites they were considering because it was early days. However, they have promised to make an announcement soon so the public can have their say about the preferred location. We have posted the council's official statement in the Buckley mini site.

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