Ö÷²¥´óÐã

Early next week, there will be a change to how you leave comments on this blog - we're upgrading our current registration system to a new and improved one.

When you log in to the new system, you will be prompted to upgrade your existing account, and you should be able to do that with a minimum of fuss.

More details on this can be found on the Ö÷²¥´óÐã Internet Blog.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

There's bad news for Rhyl this week with the Daily Post reporting that an . The proposed Ocean Plaza development aimed to revitalise Rhyl, bringing apartments, a 60-bed hotel, supermarket and pubs to the area where the funfair once stood. But the developers went into administration in June and no-one else has come forward to buy the land. Business owners and residents are concerned that the development may never go ahead.

In lighter news for the town, the also reports that Britain's Got Talent favourites Stavros Flatley are to switch on the Christmas lights. The Greek dancing duo will be joined by other entertainers at the ceremony on 19 November.

In Ruthin, a local policeman has praised the town for its community spirit. Rural community beat manager PC Osian Davies has been in post for five months and is quoted by the as saying that the town's " community spirit glass is very full".

Other stories in the papers this week include:

- The Leader
A giant version of the famous painting has been unveiled at Wrexham's Eagles Meadow shopping centre. It is made up of 86 different segments painted by community groups in Wrexham.

- The Leader
Staff at the university are to be balloted on strike action following the sacking of the branch chairman of a union. The University and College Union (UCU), claims that Hamish Murphy was dismissed from his post for carrying out trade union activities following a long-running dispute between UCU and the university. Glyndwr University deny the claim.

- Daily Post
The Welsh Assembly Government is behind the initiative which will involve a direct sales campaign with consumer advertising, producer events, talks and a regular project newsletter. There will also be a project website to inform producers and consumers of events and the initiative's progress.

[If you want daily updates, follow us on or use our ]

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

More and more people are thinking of going it alone and setting up their own businesses, said the yesterday at Mold market.

And who can blame them what with the continued round of redundancies [Today: | Wednesday: | Tuesday: ].

That said, market day in Mold was busy yesterday. People were spending.

I was in town to meet a group of people looking to set themselves up in business. They had come together on a business start-up course run by WAG and were taking part in a challenge to put their business skills to use.

There was a great sense of 'we're in it together' as a lot of the other local businesses and organisations with shop fronts in town rallied round them. .

Recent start-ups Tasters Delicatessen provided lunch, Tracy Edwards' Ashfield Images took photos to act as a record of the day, as well as others.

It makes a change to have something positive to say about the jobs front.

Tag:

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

A new fly-on-the-wall Ö÷²¥´óÐã TV series, [starts next Monday] shows viewers why Stephanie Booth is the brains behind a string of successful businesses - she's driven and takes no nonsense. [Take a look ]

And now, it seems, she wants to apply that approach to marketing Llangollen where she has some of her hotels, and a 50-acre home where she has an animal rescue.

Episode one starts with Stephanie hosting a meeting of Llangollen Chamber of Trade - where she's appointed the chairperson. Later, she's seen pounding the streets of the town drumming up new members.

She wants 100 local traders on board - and you get the feeling she's going to get them.

Then we see her taking staff to task at Bodidris Hall, Llandegla, and selling a new £5 lunch menu to customers.

How well Stephanie is received by the TV audience remains to be seen.

She has been in the media spotlight before having had gender reassignment surgery - facing scrutiny at the hands of her peers.

But from the preview I've just seen, she has got one fan already.

It's also going to be great to see our part of the world on the telly.

And, if nothing else, she will have succeeded in raising the profile of Llangollen thanks to TV air time.

Hotel Stephanie, Monday, 2 November, Ö÷²¥´óÐã One Wales, 10.35pm

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

Unsurprisingly during what's being described as the worst recession since the 1950s, stories about business and how to boost it in our area are in the papers this week.

Hotelier hopes that a forthcoming Ö÷²¥´óÐã TV servies about running her businesses will help to generate interest in the area. The has a story about Stephanie, who owns and manages a number of local hotels, including the Wild Pheasant in Llangollen and Bodidris Hall in Llandegla.

The Leader also reports on a . The plan aims to develop the area in a way that will benefit residents, businesses and the visitors.

Meanwhile in Rhyl locals are worried about the effect the temporary closure of the Foryd bridge will have on their businesses, as reported by the . The bridge will be closed sporadically over a three month period for vital structural works and owners of nearby businesses fear for the effect on trade.

Other stories in the papers this week include:

- The Leader
As Air Products closes its doors after 50 years, employees of the firm are to record a song marking its closure with the proceeds going to charity.

- Denbighshire Visitor
£5.4m is to be spent on three new operating theatres at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and it's hoped that this will cut waiting times for for day surgery and diagnostics.

- The Leader
And finally...a Flintshire man is the 'proud' owner of a beach ball which caused 'one of football's strangest-ever goals'!

[If you want daily updates, follow us on or use our ]

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

Here's a copy of the weekly newsletter sent to email subscribers:-

How big's the 'Old Lady'? - Derek walks Moel Famau - Wobbly bridge - Getting 'hyper local' - Half term and Halloween fun - Holy wells - Castle guides - Band on the radio - Lady Mostyn - Chester owe Wrexham - And more

Derek walks Moel Famau
Ö÷²¥´óÐã Wales weatherman swaps his suit for outdoor gear as he heads to Moel Famau for a new series of Weatherman Walking.

A yew tree known as the Old Lady has been growing in the churchyard at Gresford for more than 1,500 years - and now it's time to see how big she's getting.

In search of north east Wales' holy wells, Alys finds St Mary's in a tranquil location, far from the beaten track.

Do you know which of our castle ruins featured in a painting by Turner and Shakespeare's Richard II?

Local group The Roseville Band perform a live session on Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Wales' Evening Show.

Postscript: Lady Mostyn
The next episode of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Radio Wales' obituary series looks at the life of Lady Mostyn, 89, who died this month, and whose family have lived at Mostyn Hall for 500 years.

Chester City could be expelled from the Football Conference if they do not repay debts to Wrexham by Monday.

Looking ahead to local events over the school holidays, including a host of spooky events to mark Halloween.

Blogging about
Wrexham's wobbly bridge is an award winner and taking a closer look at 'hyper local' websites covering north east Wales.

Hwyl am y tro - bye for now

Subscribe to the newsletter

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

So called sites have been the focus of an interesting article about their origins this week, , and how the mainstream media has been slow to take them seriously.

For what it's worth, I'm a fan. And, I have to say, these sites in north east Wales have been a help in my work, acting as a source for ideas, stories and talking pointings. I wish there were more!

Only yesterday I was reading taking issue with parking charges in town and saying how locals are grumbling.

As a local history fan I'm a regular reader of Colin's which focuses on the resort's history and change.

And as a hill walker I keep up to date with John's website, , as well as the musings of members of who chat via .

What all these blogs have in common is they're a place for like-minded people to talk and share - and long may they continue.

Which local bogs do you follow?

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

, so says today's Leader.

The 'paper highlights Wrexham Civic Society's praise for the structure which is still a talking point a year after it opened:

Is it me or does the bridge wobble?

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

It's been a busy week for the media in north east Wales starting at the weekend with a .

Here are a few more that caught our attention from the .

- Flintshire Chronicle
Teenager Rhys Thomas - left severely disabled after choking on chewing gum two years ago - is leaving hospital and returning to his family's home in Holywell for the first time on his birthday.

- Daily Post
Flintshire Council are hoping to attract £10million over a 10 year period from the Welsh Assembly Government to improve living conditions in Connah's Quay, Shotton and Queensferry.

- Rhyl Journal
An urgent review of parking in Denbighshire's coastal towns needs to take place, according to Vale of Clwyd MP Chris Ruane who points out that Rhyl, with a population of 27,000, has one small free car park out of 11 while Corwen, population 1,300, has two free and with free spaces at Ruthin too.

-Tizer
Scores of concerned and angry customers confronted representatives from Oswestry's water provider last week. Severn Trent's water strategy manager, David Essex, has admitted that there was, at times, an "unusual quality to the drinking water".

- Leader
Plans for a controversial £3 million 'superpub' at St David's Park, Ewloe, have been given the green light, in a dramatic U-turn by council planners.

- Daily Post
A mother has told how masked robbers armed with a gun attacked her family in a terrifying raid at their Colwyn Bay home. Three men broke in, tried to strangle Llinos Jones, 49, and tie up her 13-year-old son. The raiders then forced her partner, Alfie Parry, 52, to hand over cash and fled.

[If you want daily updates, follow us on or use our ]

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

Regular visitors and contributors will know the popularity of our [and wonderful] collection of local ghost stories but one of the most unusual is the occasional sighting of phantom planes [Ghost plane buzzed street and 'My brush with tragic WWII pilot '].

Over night, Barbara Lloyd from Wrexham has been in touch claiming to have seen a Hercules plane appear low in the sky from nowhere. It's a description we've had reported to us several times. Barbara made this sighting yesterday on the Wrexham-Chester border and asks whether anyone else saw it.

"...I saw a plane when driving home from Chester to Wrexham about 4.15pm in broad sunny daylight. It appeared first just beyond Dodleston - out of nowhere flying very low and then again as I was turning onto the A483 in Rossett.

"It was only after arriving home that I realised it hadn't made a sound. I looked for the shape on the web and found it - it was a Hercules bomber - dark grey and olive green - it was that close. Did anyone else see it?"

Can you help - and do you believe it could be a phantom plane?
Note. On and off we've had many comments shared about this type of sighting over the last few years.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

We hear it said frequently that children don't 'play' as much as they should or used to because of their favoured game consoles and computers.

And now we hear that even if they wanted to, they don't have nearly enough outside space to play - and with the right equipment on which to play. [Ö÷²¥´óÐã News: ]

I can hear some of you already: 'It wasn't like that in my day!'

So, how much space is needed? According to the story, six acres (2.4hec) of open space should be set aside per 1,000 people. What do you make of that? That's one thing North east Wales is blessed with - space.

The story goes on to say Wrexham council found a shortage of children's equipped playgrounds in 33 of its 35 community council areas.

That sounds like an expensive job to put right. Money aside, is it simple enough to say 'build them and they will come'?

By the way, we've put together a guide to town parks and Wrexham has some great examples, complete with play equipment: , and .

PS. Check out the new contrapation at Llay play park [within the grounds of Alyn Waters Country Park]. It's a roundabout like no other from which you dangle by your arms - great fun!]

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

On first glance, it looks a little odd. A loco sandwiched between two carriages making its way through our fantastic countryside from Llangollen to Carrog.

But when you find out it's actually being driven from the lead carriage - it's called an auto coach - with the loco providing the power in the middle and accompanied by the firemen - then it starts to make sense.

Then, once the train reaches its destination, the driver makes his way to the rear section [into the other auto coach] where he's able to take the controls again and, therefore, it's no longer the rear but the front of the train.

• Bookmark with:
• del.icio.us |
• Digg |
• Reddit
• - What's this?

While there's some good news with the story that Karen Morrisroe, the young mum taken seriously ill with E. coli, has left hospital and is to make a full recovery. [See and ]

There's also lots of local controversy too:-

Rhyl's roads are giving local residents cause for concern according to the . There are photos of some of the roads.

In Denbigh, the on Monday at the start of a public inquiry into plans for a wind farm development. Earlier this year, proposals for 13 turbines at Gorsedd Bran, Nantglyn, complete with electrical store room and compound area, were rejected.

Meanwhile, picks up on the issue of wind farm plans at Coedwig Clocaenog Forest.

The reports on wasps forcing the closure of a postbox in St Asaph. They've been stinging the locals and posties and box won't be reopened until the pest controllers have been in.

Like or loathe the Hightown high rise, the Leader updates on reports that , with concern from residents.

The has a report on "time wasters" turning up at Hospital A&E departments with minor ailments including sore throats.

This is being addressed in Wrexham with the provision of a GP out of hours service which has now been placed next door to A&E.

Spotted: says watch again as local band Gallops' music has been used as the backdrop to last week's late-night episodes of TV teen drama Hollyoaks. You can see them in action tonight at Yales, blogs Adam Walton.

[If you want daily updates, follow us on or use our ]

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

A beautiful photo submitted to our photo pool on Flickr shows the firework display which ended a day of celebrations at the Aqueduct on 3 October as supporters of the aqueduct marked its world heritage status.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

For your amusement, we've uploaded a short video clip, , showing a group of canoeists paddling over towering Pontcysyllte Aqeduct - and then stopping to admire the view.

This clip didn't make it into our which has become a new world heritage site along with Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

It's only when you know the scale of this towering landmark that you can appreciate the breath-taking view that a group of canoeists had when paddling over the aqueduct. If you haven't walked along it, here's a photo looking from the ground up.

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?

Among stories of note this week the new chief constable for north Wales attends a meeting in Colwyn Bay ahead of taking up his appointment on November 1, there's more bad news on the job front, this time in Dyserth, and a day of celebration at Froncysyllte Aqueduct will feature a visit from Thomas Telford himself!

- Rhyl Journal

NHS bosses announce that a Rhyl hospital is to close to overnight patients. Royal Alexandra Hospital on the town's East Parade will not be taking overnight patients from November 1 but NHS bosses have promised that this move will not lead to the eventual closure of the hospital.

- The Leader

An actor playing Thomas Telford will be attending an event on Saturday 3 October to celebrate the Froncysyllte Aqueduct being granted World Heritage status this year. Among the many attractions at the event will be a performance by the world famous Froncysyllte Male Voice Choir.

- Daily Post

Former miners in the Vale of Clwyd and Delyn could still be missing out on their share of compensation for chest diseases and Vibration White Finger. There are concerns that solicitors dealing with the cases may have mistakenly taken a share of the compensation awarded to their clients and few former miners realise that they are entitled to this money back.

- Denbighshire Visitor

There was more bad news on the jobs front in the area this week with fears that jobs could go at Anglia Ö÷²¥´óÐãserve, based in Dyserth, after the company confirmed that it has lost a major client.

- Daily Post

Mark Polin, currently the deputy chief in Gloucestershire, will take up his new post as chief constable of North Wales on November 1. He replaces ex-chief Richard Brunstrom, who retired in July.

[If you want daily updates, follow us on or use our ]

• Bookmark with:
• |
• |
• - What's this?