Essentials Mag March 2016 Rossett

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MAG

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MARCH 2016 • DELIVERED FREE

YOUR MONTHLY INSIGHT INTO LOC AL LIVING COVERING ROSSETT, MARFORD, GRESFORD, PULFORD AND SURROUNDING AREA S

essentials Text

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AT A GLANCE NORTH WALES PRISON New name has been chosen

GARDENING TIPS BRHS jobs for the garden this March

TERRY DAVIES

IT’S YOUR MAG TOO! Got any comments?

Let’s have them!

Call us on 01244 571602 or send an email to

jill@essentialsmag.co.uk

essentialsMAG www.essentialsmag.co.uk DISCLAIMER The opinions and views expressed in articles and advertisements published in this issue of essentialsMAG are not necessarily the views held by the editors

MIGs and Mash All facts and figures are correct at time of going to press

POLICE ADVICE Information for motorists for approaching cyclist on the road

LOCAL CHAMPION

Whilst every effort is taken to ensure accuracy in this publication, we cannot accept any responsibility for any error or omissions that may have occurred

Registration No. 08947483

George Morris Fencer Printed by EWS Colourprint www.ewsprint.co.uk 01244 545 829

Follow us on Design & Layout by Victoria Lee www.victorialee.uk.com 01978 855 459

@EssentialsJill for online editions of the magazine and up-to-date news

Front cover image of garden at All Saints' Church, Gresford by Trevor Britton

GRESFORD Pharmacy

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Welcome

editor’s LETTER Lot's going on this month. It's a wonder I've not made national news by finally succumbing to facebook. I must be the last person in the world to join up! I've managed to

stay away from it for so long, and I was trying to avoid having yet another thing to do, but there I've gone and done it.

I'm still trying to get the hang of it, but thought it would be useful for local magazine news, and indeed it is! Nice to see so many of you already on there already having a lovely time and lots of chats.

Thank you to local man Russell for writing to me this month about the vandalism to a memorial bench at the quarry, which, he spotted whilst walking his dog. Please read the letters about this, we really need everyone in the community to help, even if it's just keeping your eyes and ears open. If you have children that spend time up there please ask them too if they know anything about it, or even who spends time up there. It has also been formally raised with the local police and has a crime reference number.

www.facebook.com/EssentialsRossett twitter.com/EssentialsJill

Telephone 01244 571602 email jill@essentialsmag.co.uk I'm still on the dog fouling rant too as you will see. No matter how much the world progresses in terms of technology, gadgets, communication, the same inherent problems never go away over the decades, teenagers still struggle for places to socialise, some people are less considerate than others. I think you get my drift. I guess this will never change especially in the world we live in which seems to getting bigger by the minute.

But I am optimistic we are better than that round here, and am sure we can solve dog fouling and vandalism issues!

On a positive note we have two up-andcoming sports superstars on our doorsteps; George Morris, the fencing king and Jack Shepherd, the sailing king.

Both these young guys are working hard and sacrificing a lot to pursue their dreams. I am in awe of their focus and talent and wish them all the best. Who knows we could be watching them take gold medals next in a future Olympics!

And before I go one last reminder to cut your hedges before the end of March and the nesting season starts.

Have a great month of March.

All the best, Jill

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Wrexham to Make Second Bid

For Iconic Poppy Display Wrexham Council are to put in a second bid to bring an iconic and commemorative Poppy Sculpture to the town centre. In partnership with St Giles Church, Wrexham Council will be submitting two bids to the 14-18 NOW WW1 Centenary Art Commissions by the 29 February.

One bid will be to display the ‘Wave’ on Llwyn Isaf and the second to display the “Weeping Window” at St Giles Church in the town centre.

Cllr David Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion and Chair of the Poppy Wave Group said: “I believe residents in Wrexham would love to see one of these displays in the town centre and this time we are putting forward two locations. We are committed to bringing the poppies to Wrexham and I wish the bids every success.”

This will be the second time Wrexham Council have submitted a bid to host the iconic Poppy Wave, with an attempt to bring the display to Llwyn Isaf unsuccessful.

The special poppy sculptures, which had been previously installed at the Tower of London as part of the commemorations to mark the centenary of the beginning of the First World War. Two parts of the original Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which attracted millions of visitors during its time at the Tower of London, will be displayed at

locations across the UK in 2015 and 2016.

The ‘Wave’ and ‘Weeping Window’ have been saved for the nation by the Backstage Trust and the Clore Duffield Foundation, and gifted to 14-18 NOW and Imperial War Museums.

Reverend Bray from St Giles Church, added: “The Weeping Window display could be displayed at St Giles to provide a stunning display for residents and visitors to Wrexham. the public interest in the poppies is huge and I have no doubts they will be seen by many thousands of people should the bid be successful.”

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North Wales Prison

Prison Name Chosen

Wrexham’s new Category B and C prison will be named ‘HMP Berwyn’.

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: “I welcome the announcement on the name of the new prison, and I’m especially pleased that it has been officially given a Welsh name.

This helps to set in stone the identity of the new prison, which is particularly important given that it will allow prisoners from North Wales to remain close to their families.”

The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) previously said of the name: “We had a number of suggestions for ‘Mynydd’, which is Welsh for ‘mountain’ because of the landscape. The prison’s naming sub-committee felt this was an excellent choice but then wanted it to be more localised so suggested naming it after the nearby mountains – hence Y Berwyn.”

NOMS have given zero further detail, despite promises to keep the local community informed.

The Queen has had the final say on the name, signing off on a suggestion put forward to her by various committees.

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Wrexham News

Former Groves School Site Members of Wrexham’s administration have confirmed that the former Groves site is to be redeveloped for education purposes only, as per the covenants that exist on this piece of land, and not for commercial, retail or housing purposes.

Cllr Mark Pritchard, Leader of the Council, said: “Now that the matter called in by Scrutiny Committee who took the decision not to refer the matter back to the Executive Board is complete, it is appropriate that the current administration give the assurance to members of the public that the former Groves school site will not be used for anything other than educational purposes. This is in accordance with the educational covenants placed there many years ago which I believe were visionary for the future of education in Wrexham .

The Council is currently in negotiations to bring a new school to the site. Until the details are confirmed it is not possible to say anything further about what type of school that will be.

The administration recognises that this matter has been very emotive for some people and would like to assure them and all other members of the public that the future provision of schools that are fit purpose in the 21st Century is a priority for us and one which we do not undertake lightly. Providing our young people with an environment that meets that need and helps them achieve their full potential and aspirations is essential to achieving that priority.

Sometimes, particularly with the unprecedented financial challenges the council is facing, it is necessary to take difficult decisions. This was one of those decisions, however, to do nothing with a site that was being mothballed at considerable cost to the public purse was not an option we were prepared to consider. I look forward to announcing further details about plans for the site in the very near future.�

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Local Gresford Fencer

George Morris

Local Gresford fencer George Morris has become British Cadet Epee Champion for the second time!

Last weekend George Morris was competing at the British Championships at UEL London. Sunday was the Junior U20 event where George finished a very good 5th place considering the age and experience of the other fencers. This was after fighting the day before in the Cadet U17 event where after suffering cramp in the final; he produced several inspiring hits to once again become the British Cadet Champion, this is the second time he has achieved this title.

Since the Commonwealth Championships in South Africa, returning with two bronze medals George has competed locally, nationally and internationally, leading Wales to silver place in the Sainsbury's school games team event Sheffield also travelling to Finland, Bonn, Copenhagen and Bratislava representing GBR. Well done George!

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Terry Davies

MIGs and Mash

I’m sure many of you have admired the wing-carrying cargo aircraft BELUGA as it flies over Wrexham on its way to the AIRBUS factory at Broughton but if you are really interested in aircraft, why don’t you visit Hawarden airport, for an even closer view of it?

If you turn right off the B5124 Hawarden road and travel down Manor Lane on the B5129 following the Hawarden Airport signs, you will probably see a beautifully restored Vampire jet fighter of the ‘50s on your right, before turning into the airport itself and checking in at the security gatehouse. Follow the sign for the 'Chocs Away' diner, passing two Russian MIG fighters of he '50s and the Chester Classic Car showroom on your left and continue on to the General Aviation Centre building, within which the Diner and the Flintshire Flying Club are situated.

Inside the restaurant, the walls are adorned with aircraft pictures such as Wrexham's V.C. Flt.Lt. David Lord’s Dakota over Arnhem, De Havillan Comets, HS 125 executive jets and several pictures of Wellington bombers

which were built at the original Vickers Armstrong aircraft factory (one of them in a record 24 hours!) during WW2.

Various model aircraft are placed around the comfortable dining room,and the view through the large windows reveals how close you are to the main runway, and one weekday around about 2pm, you may even see the BELUGA landing or taking off just in front of you. It may also come as a surprise to see yet another '50s Russian MIG, and further to the right are areas where light aircraft and police and civil helicopters are parked.

All in all, it provides a very interesting and enjoyable experience for aviation buffs especially over a coffee or a very good and inexpensive meal!

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New Home for Veterans

Welcomes First Resident A brand new home designed to provide accommodation for veterans in Wrexham has welcomed its first resident. Ty Dewr, meaning ‘Brave House’ on Esytn Road, benefitted from a £2.26m grant last year to help convert and build apartments for military personnel returning to civilian life. Wrexham Council, in partnership with First Choice Housing Association and additional partners purchased Clwyd House on Bryn Estyn Lane in November 2014.

The accommodation with generous living space and outdoor gym will house 12 veterans, with a second development in the pipeline which will see the construction of 16 brand new flats for veterans by First Choice Housing Association off Croesnewydd Road in Wrexham.

Ahead of the arrival of the first resident, Conservative Party Candidate for the Welsh Assembly Elections, Andrew Atkinson said: “It was great to meet with Andy Green again from Alabare and also to meet the rest of the team who will be supporting the veterans.

“The house and living accommodation is absolutely stunning and will serve our veterans proud. Our veterans deserve our support and I was blown away by the building, the plans from the team and the future development down the road of even more homes for veterans.

“There’s lots of ways to help, you could volunteer some time, you could take a collection tin for work, or you could join the Big Sleep Out with myself and others in March.”

Andy Green Senior Community Fundraiser From Alabare – Homes For Veterans North Wales & Cheshire added: “We are really struggling for Volunteers for our Charity Collections and are looking for individuals and businesses alike to help fund our work and be part of the Homes For Veterans journey here in North Wales.

“We have homes in Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and now Wrexham. 100% of our fundraising goes straight towards funding support for Homeless Veterans here in North Wales”.

For details of how to get involved please contact Andrew Atkinson on andrew4wrexham@gmail.com or contact Andy Green at a.green@alabare.co.uk

Essentials Mailbox

Vandalism in the Quarry On 19th February I was walking my dog in the Quarry. Upon climbing the steps to the bench I was dismayed to see the remains of a burnt out fire and multiple broken glass bottles. When I started picking up the glass to avoid my dog and others being cut, I noticed that the illustrative panoramic map had been spray painted over with dark green paint and the bench defaced, which had been supplied by a family in memory of a late loved one, who no doubt enjoyed the view when he was alive. The mindless morons even spray painted the name plate identifying the former loved one.

I understand the need for teenagers to hang out late together in the quarry. I understand the temptation to experiment with alcohol but I fail to comprehend the mindless moronic pleasure derived from smashing bottles and defacing the sign and bench. Whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourselves. You have let yourselves and your families down. I can only hope that maturity results in you reflecting on your actions. So what should we do as a community? Pay for the sign to be replaced?

Apologise to the family who donated the seat? I would like to think that the vandals have peers and members of family who feel as appalled as I do. To this end I will offer ÂŁ100 to anyone who comes forward with information, leading to a conviction.

I would encourage other members of the community and local businesses to match my donation. This is an opportunity to demonstrate that we will not stand by and let stupid acts of vandalism deface our village and mar our enjoyment. At the very least these vandals should be made to pay for the remediation work and be made to put something back into their village that they seem to have little or no regard for.

Russell Wilkinsons Dog Mess in Station Road I saw this on Friday afternoon as I was walking down Station Road.

It look very recently laid! By now most people have had the unpleasant experience of walking through it and it was such a huge amount.

It was getting dark when I left station road so the ladies at Pure Perfection took the photo for me in daylight at the beginning of the following week. I'm sure they don't appreciate this being so close to their business I wondered if anybody had seen the culprit do this or could throw any light on it. It is completely unacceptable, and very selfish behaviour.

Jill Preston, Editor, Essentials Mag

If you have a comment about any local news/information please email: jill@essentialsmag.co.uk

Vandalism in the Quarry Dear Jill, Thank you for letting us know about the letter concerning vandalism in the Maes y Pant site.

I understand that there has been vandalism on the neighbouring Marford Quarry site as well.

We all react to this sort of mindless activity in different ways. Mine is sadness, as those of us involved with the site are proud of what we have achieved so far. Despite this set back we do have further plans to maintain the attraction of the site and this will not put us off. Many Essentials readers visit the site and I would ask that they keep their eyes open and let us know if they see anything untoward. You can contact one of the members of MyPAG if you know them, or let us know through our contact page on: www.maes-y-pant.com. Our many eyes and ears will help to keep the vandals at bay. I've been in touch with the police although yet to talk to them in detail. In any case, we will now be increasingly vigilant. This latest episode is one of a number of incidents in the last six months and we now have to put a stop to it.

Trevor Britton, Chairman, Maes y Pant Action Group

Vandalism in the Quarry I am sorry to hear about the vandalism in the Quarry, it is very sad. I will certainly conduct more patrols in the quarry of an evening and especially at weekends, hopefully a policing presence may deter them. If anybody does come forward with any information for who may be responsible please do not hesitate to report this to North Wales Police via 101.

Lisa-Marie Davies (PCSO 3464)

Sara Cheeney of Pure Perfection Clinic Receives PHAB Standard Sara Cheeney of Pure Perfection Clinic is among the first Aesthetic Nurse and Senior Beauty Therapist in Rossett, Wrexham to receive a PHAB Standard, which recognises and celebrates the professional business and customer care sense of those in the hair and beauty industry.

Sara Cheeney, commented, “I am extremely proud to have received such high recognition for my customer care. I work extremely hard to provide my clients with the best service so they can achieve the results they want.

For information or quotes on Sara Cheeney or Pure Perfection Clinic please contact 01244 571908.

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Abbeyfield - A Caring Sharing Home

What Abbeyfield can offer you?

Living at home can become harder as you get older, but choosing to move into assisted living accommodation doesn't have to mean losing your independence. In fact, many of our residents tell us it feels like a new beginning.

We provide care and support for older people At Abbeyfield we believe older people deserve time and respect. It's our mission to provide the best service of care and housing for all our residents, and to be a champion for older people. We have been a charitable housing organisation for nearly 60 years. Throughout this time our residents are always at the heart of what we do and the services we provide.

Barrie Cornes Barrie Cornes joined Abbeyfield in Wrexham in 1993 and is, in the main, responsible for the day-to-day running and management of the Abbeyfield home in Borras. It's a small close knit team of local people, and the focus is to ensure a home from home happy atmosphere. Barrie's a local man and lives in Bangor on Dee with his daughter Jayne, and he has family locally in Ellesmere as well.

Barrie represents the Abbeyfield Wrexham Society as a Trustee on the Board of the Abbeyfield Cymru Society which is the umbrella body for all the Abbeyfield

Societies in Wales.

He spent the first half of his working life in the Hospital Service.

He was appointed to the position of Treasurer at Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool where he met his wife, and was married in Wales in 1966. Barrie then decided to fulfill a long held ambition to move into the commercial world so he, his wife and their two children, moved to live in Bangor on Dee having obtained a position as Company Accountant with a local Wrexham Company until he was finally appointed to the position of Financial Controller to a large American owned company with their UK Head office in a factory in Ruabon.

Every organisation is as good as its staff and hopefully knowing a little more about Barrie will help you understand the great service Abbeyfield has to offer the local community.

If anyone would like to find out a little more how Abbeyfield can help you or your family Barrie would be happy to chat to you.

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Councillor for Marford & Hoseley

Mike Edwards Wrexham Council The 2016/17 budget has been agreed at a February Full Council meeting. Local residents will pay £1295.41 at band D. However the new formula for funding schools has disappointed many head teachers and governors. The Council is now working on the extra cuts necessary for the 2017/18 Budget. How depressing! Following an Ombudsman’s decision, the Council will review the criteria whether it provides a statutory statement for children with special educational needs or a nonstatutory assessment known as ESAP.

Gresford Community Council The Council has also set up a Finance Committee to monitor expenditure and prepare an annual budget for them to consider. Full Council meetings are held on alternate months at the Methodist Church Hall and at Gresford Memorial Hall. Visit the Council’s website www.gresford.org.uk where you can read the agendas and minutes, advertise your local functions and air your views on local topics.

NHS Costs Sadly only 4% of the population donate blood regularly, which leaves the NHS short of 225,000 donors a year. The NHS uses 7,000 units a day for vital operations. If you would like to give blood, please register as a donor at www.blood.co.uk.

Maes Y Pant Woodland The 3rd annual meeting of the Friends of Maes y Pant will be held at 7.30pm on Monday 11th April at Church House Gresford. During the evening, Friends can hear the latest news, exchange ideas and make suggestions for the future of the site.

It is an excellent opportunity for anyone, who is considering joining to hear what is

CONTACT DETAILS: e-mail michael.edwards@wrexham.gov.uk Tel 01978 854992 proposed. £10 per year is a very small amount to pay for the privilege of walking in our own woods whenever we please! On 21st May everyone is invited to our Coffee Morning and plant sale. Church House will again be the venue from 10.00am onwards.

Welsh Government Aled Roberts has been talking to banks who continue to close village branches. Aled also has secured extra funding for our North Wales Universities, and ensured that nurse/patient ratios are improved in our hospitals. If you do not like everything that our Welsh Government Ministers are doing in Cardiff, tell Aled what you think at aled.roberts@wales.gov.uk.

Marford and Gresford Luncheon Club Do come and join us for a meal and a chat when we meet on 8th & 22nd March, 26th April and 10th & 24th May. Beryl Blackmore will order you a meal if you give her a ring on 01978 855691.

Wrexham Council Contact www.wrexham.gov.uk. Tel: 01978 298989 or Contact Centre in Lord Street

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Hugh Linn

Local Birds & Wildlife This month's photographs show two of our many wintering bird species.

For centuries Blackcaps have been known as summer migrants but in recent years increasing numbers of these attractive little warblers have been recorded at garden feeders in winter. Initially it was assumed that adaptable individuals discovered that as food continued to be available here it was easier for them simply to stay put and avoid the hassle of migrating to their traditional winter quarters around the Mediterranean.

Recent research now indicates that Blackcaps seen at our bird tables in winter may not be those that nest here but individuals belonging to a different population from central Europe. The bird pictured has been in Burton since 14th December last year. By the end of this month we expect it to be heading back east.

BLACKCAP

in a small enclosed garden. The Gresford bird was probably seeking shelter having been blown off course by the wind. It appeared lethargic with slight damage to its beak which suggests it may also have been involved in a collision. The following day it had gone so hopefully it survived.

In late January the Trevalyn floods provided a refuge for a variety of wildfowl including 18 Mute Swans, 11 Whoopers, 24 Shelduck, 5 Scaup, small numbers of Pintail, Northern Shovelers, Mallards, a flock of around 100 Lapwings, some 600 gulls and variable numbers of Redwings and Fieldfares. Obligingly for local birdwatchers most stayed around until well into February.

The Woodcock was found in a Gresford back garden following a night of gales on February 2nd. Some Woodcocks are sedentary residents in the U.K. but each winter our native population WOODCOCK is augmented by migrants from further north as far away as Scandinavia, the Baltic States and even Russia. An old country name for Woodcock is “St. Martin's Snipe” as incoming migrants are expected around St. Martin's Day, 11th November. Woodcock’s are unusual amongst waders for inhabiting woodland with leaf litter rather than estuaries and mudflats.

It is even more unusual to find one

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A Young Man’s Voyage

Jack Shepherd

Who would have imagined that an invitation at the age of seven to join friends at Gresford Sailing Club would put local sailor Jack Shepherd on the Olympic pathway.

Despite a lapse of four years, the urge to take sail was rekindled in 2011 after joining members of the sailing club in the world famous Round the Island race. The race, which circumnavigates The Isle of White with some 17,000 competitors from world beaters to have a go hero’s crewing a range of yachts, was Jacks call to arms.

A summer of sailing back at Gresford and a three day learn to race camp at Llyn Brenig Sailing Club prepared Jack for his first RYA (Royal Yachting Association) regional event at Bala Sailing Club. His victory sailing an Optimist dinghy at the North Wales Onboard Festival ignited the fire that now drives his racing career. Transferring to Llyn Brenig club allowed Jack to gain access to a greater range of boats including the Topper dinghy, which brought Jack further wins at regional events within weeks.

Despite these initial successes, Jack was told that he had started too late and would not be eligible for RYA junior or youth sailing squads; that the Olympic pathway was not possible for him. Jack, however, was undeterred. If anything it made him more determined to train as hard and as often as he could.

2012 saw Jacks progression to National events picking up awards along the way.

His selection to the Topper Racing Squad and rise up national rankings is testament to Jack’s continued desire to succeed at the highest levels. 2013 and a change in boat to the Olympic class Laser (all be it with a smaller sail) saw selection to the RYA Welsh Youth Laser Squad.

Whilst balancing a heavy A level schedule; training and racing is never far away from Jacks mind. Now ranked 8th in the country (in the Laser Radial), the call up to the RYA Great Britain Youth Sailing Squad came in October 2015. Selection to the GB Youth Squad is officially recognised as a key step on the Olympic pathway. Further accolades gained on Jack’s journey include 2014 RYA Welsh Young Coach of the year. Coaching allows Jack to give something back to the sport that has given him so much.

With the 2016 season approaching, and National, European, World championships and A level finals looming, Jack faces a crucial period with funding having a major bearing on his sailing future. Sponsorship both corporate and individual is actively being sought and if you can assist in any way please contact the editor or Email d_shepherd@tiscali.co.uk for more information.

You can follow Jacks progress through Facebook page : Jack Shepherd Sailing.

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Finance News with Hadlow Edwards

It’s Time to Act Regular readers of this page will know that we highlight the benefits of careful tax planning and with end of the tax year looming it’s time to act. Below we have outlined a checklist of the most common opportunities there are available and with some major changes coming in the new tax year it is especially important this year.

• ISA’s. This year’s allowance is £15,240 and this can be invested in a stocks & shares ISA, a cash ISA or a combination of the two. The average value of ISAs reveals how those investing in stocks and shares make the most of the opportunity.

The average cash holds £8,616 compared to nearly £39,000 in a Stocks shares ISA. Despite the recent falls in markets stocks & shares ISAs provide a much greater potential return. Don’t forget Junior ISAs for children and grandchildren are also available.

• Pensions. Every individual is able to invest at least £3,600 to a pension each tax year and receive tax relief on the contributions. For non-taxpayers and basic rate payers it means that the true cost of a £1,000 contribution is £800.

For higher rate taxpayers and additional rate tax payers the saving is even greater.

In times of low interest rates the value of the tax relief is of greater importance

Warren Hadlow

Medwyn Edwards

in the overall return. There is a possibility that tax relief for higher rate taxpayers will be removed in the budget so it is even more important to take action this tax year.

• Gifting assets away. This is one effective way to of reducing the value of your estate for inheritance tax purposes.

All individuals are able to give £3,000 a year away and if not used it can be lost in future. This could be an ideal way to reduce your own estate and fund a junior ISA or pension for children or grandchildren. Using this allowance every year can soon make a difference.

• Capital gains. Gains of £11,100 can be realised each year before any capital gains tax is due. Shares or Funds could be sold to realise this amount and reinvested in an ISA to shelter future gains. Spouses and civil partners should also consider transferring assets between them to realise gains.

Space does not allow us to elaborate on these opportunities or others that are available so please get in touch if you would like more information.

Please be aware that past performance is not indicative of future performance. The value of an investment with St. James's Place will be directly linked to the performance of the funds you select and the value can therefore go down as well as up. You may get back less than you invested. An investment in Stocks and Shares ISA will not provide the same security of capital associated with a Cash ISA. The favourable tax treatment of ISAs may not be maintained in the future and is subject to changes in legislation. The levels and bases of taxation and reliefs from taxation can change at any time and are dependent on individual circumstances.

Contributed by Warren Hadlow & Medwyn Edwards, Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited.

Telephone: 01978 311 611 - e-mail: hadlow.edwards@sjpp.co.uk Hadlow Edwards Wealth Management Limited represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products

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Text

Lisa Davies

Text

Police Advice

Safer Cyclists More and more people of all age groups are relying on pedal power to get them around these days. Here is some information for motorists to help make our roads safer for everyone.

• When turning. Expect the unexpected.

Check your mirrors and your blind spots before turning. Approaching cyclists can often be momentarily hidden behind other vehicles when you’re turning right, or could be coming up on the nearside when you’re turning left. If there is a cyclist approaching, don’t try and turn in before they reach the junction, they may be approaching faster than you think, let them pass.

• When overtaking. Leave at least a meter of space when passing cyclists.

They may move out unexpectedly to avoid a pot-hole or drain cover.

• Treat overtaking a cyclist as you would when overtaking any other vehicle, if there is oncoming traffic or your vision is limited, wait until the road ahead is clear with plenty of space to allow you to overtake safely.

• The slightest touch can destabilize a cyclist. Leave extra room in wet weather to take account of wet or slippery surfaces.

• Don’t overtake a cyclist on a narrow stretch of road, or where the road narrows ahead. Better to wait until the road widens, to avoid forcing them off the road.

• At traffic lights. Some traffic lights have ‘advanced stop lines’ which give space for cyclists ahead of other traffic. Be patient give them plenty of time and space to move off when the lights change to green.

• On a roundabout. You must give way to cyclists approaching from the right, as you would any other vehicle.

• On country roads. Don’t take risks when driving around bends on country roads, your speed should take into account the chance that there may be cyclists, horse riders, pedestrians or slow moving vehicles just ahead.

• At night. As with any other road user, dip your headlights when approaching a cyclist at night.

• Parking up. Once you’ve parked up and are getting out of your car, open your door slowly checking that there is no cyclist approaching on the off-side. They won’t necessarily be expecting a door to suddenly open directly in their path.

• Don’t park in cycle lanes, thereby forcing a cyclist onto the main road. It is an offence to drive or park in a cycle lane marked with a solid white line.

PCSO Alison Heron Tel/Ffon 07813 523980 Alison.Heron@nthwales.pnn.police.uk PCSO Lisa Davies Tel/Ffon 07557 847798 Lisa-Marie.Davies@nthwales.pnn.police.uk

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Wrexham News

A Greener Future

New trees are set to be planted on urban parks and open spaces across Wrexham County Borough. A report will go before Wrexham Council’s Executive Board next Tuesday, asking members to approve an ambitious new Tree and Woodland Strategy for the County. The report says that the new strategy sets out targets to increase the urban tree cover in the County Borough and that this will benefit the local area “in terms of climate change, pollution, flooding and biodiversity.

The average urban tree coverage across the whole County currently sits at 17%. The new strategy sets out to increase this to 20% by 2026.

The report has been informed by extensive research undertaken through the i-Tree Eco Study, which was carried out around the County to measure value of trees to the local urban ecosystem. Data from the study revealed that Coedpoeth has one of the lowest urban tree canopy covers in Wales just 6% - and that four other urban areas, Chirk, Wrexham, Rhos, along with Penycae and Ruabon also have tree coverage which is below the national average.

The study estimates that trees save the local economy more than £1.4m a year.

They do this in a number of ways, such as intercepting 270 million litres of rainwater, which saves £460,000 in sewerage charges,

and removing 60 tonnes of air pollution from the atmosphere, saving £700,000 in health damage costs.

The new strategy aims to ensure that new trees are planted in the right locations and should include larger trees of a variety of species which will help protect against pests and diseases. The i-tree study also revealed that the County’s current tree population is predominantly made up of younger trees.

The new strategy highlights the need to protect our existing trees and to retain as many of our older, large growing trees as possible to ensure we do not lose their valuable benefits of carbon storage, biodiversity and interception of flood water.

A draft of the new Tree and Woodland Strategy was put to public consultation from July-September, 2015 and found that over 81% of respondents agreed with the strategy’s overall aim.

Lead Member Environment & Transport, Cllr David Bithell, commented: “The response to the consultation was extremely encouraging and it shows just how much trees are valued in our urban areas as an important part of the landscape, as well as all the other environmental benefits they bring.

This new ambitious strategy is a very positive step forward for the Council and for our local urban spaces.”

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Gresford Trust Recreational Newsdesk with Phil Jones I have the pleasure of confirming that the date has been set for the annual Village Festival and it is Sunday 11th September.

The Dog Show and the Wrestling proved immensely successful last year and we have already pencilled them into our programme. The launch meeting to help with pulling the event together is at 7pm on Thursday 10th March in the Memorial Hall. There is an open invitation to all local interest groups and volunteers.

Gresford Cricket Club’s AGM was held recently and all key officers were reelected with Ian Baker taking the Chair, Ian Weaver continuing as Vice-Chair, David Lowe again the Treasurer and Secretary John Bell. Chris Ellwood and Craig Morse were singled out for praise for their contributions last season for the 1st and 2nd teams respectively and they will continue to captain these teams in the new campaign.

The 1st team, following their Division 1 success, will play in the North Wales

Premier League this year with the 2nds playing in the newly formed Premier League for 2nd teams.

Harry Morris will lead the U19s side in the ECB Championship. Preparations for the forthcoming season are going well and as always new players, both seniors and juniors, are welcome as are spectators, cricket lovers and especially sponsors. More about the club can be found on the club website: http//gresfordcricket.clubbuzz.co.uk

I can confirm that there remains just a handful of tickets left for the forthcoming Gerry Evans’ Memorial Event being organised by Gresford Athletic Football Club. It is a Sportsman’s Evening being held on Saturday 19th March. Guest speaker is Dean Saunders. For more info call Julian Davies on: 07793276280.

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Anti wrinkle treatment at Rossett Dental Care No longer reserved for the rich and famous, aesthetic treatments are now part of the modern day beauty regimen so don't feel shy about accepting a little help to turn back the clock. Facial muscle relaxant injections and dermal fillers have become much more popular as a minimally invasive way of tackle wrinkles and ageing skin. and as a qualified healthcare professional with expert knowledge of the anatomy of the head and neck, our dentist can provide you with safe cosmetic treatments in a safe environment.

If you feel you could benefit from a little help in tackling the signs of aging, call for a free consultation with Corrin Hickerton tel 01244 571544

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Councillor for Rossett

Hugh Jones Highway Maintenance Together with Dylan Jones our Streetscene Supervisor I have completed an inspection of all the roads in the ward. We looked at surface condition, potholes and flooding issues. There are a number of areas which are pretty poor and I am trying to get them included in the coming financial year’s programme. We are now actively looking at a ‘Plan B’ for the Darland Lane flooding problem and the surface condition of the road. Work is currently being carried out at the Golly and shortly on Stringers Lane. I have also included Burton Road in the wish list, as the utilities trench is sinking.

CONTACT DETAILS: e-mail hugh.jones@wrexham.gov.uk Tel 07583 152703 @hugh_wre

Chester Road

Speed Limit Review

I have held a site meeting with officers to seek a solution to the problem of inadequate footpaths along Chester Road.

The routes to both St Peter’s and Darland Schools in the vicinity of the shop and Butchers Arms are tortuous and the width of the pavement by bus stops used by Darland students inadequate. We will be submitting a ‘safer communities’ bid to the Welsh Government at the next bidding round at the end of 2016.

Thanks to the many residents who have responded in support of the proposed new speed limits throughout the ward. I am meeting with officers shortly to urge the speedy implementation of the new limits. I have also, again, asked for clarity about the operational timings of the 20mph limit outside Darland School. Additionally there needs to be signs indicating where the limit ends.

Response to e mails Broadband Chaos A recent interview with Guto Bebb MP on Radio Wales highlighted the chaotic state of the roll-out of high speed broadband across Wales. As a council we continually challenge Welsh Government officials who publish maps which show that Rossett and Burton are fully enabled when we know the reality is quite different. In many cases, BT cannot give any indication of when the service is available. I have recently been appointed to the Board of Cadwyn Clwyd which is the Rural Development Agency covering this area and I will be making representations through them.

I recently heard (third hand) that I had not responded to e-mails sent by a local resident. I do try to respond as quickly as possible. If for any reason I do not get back to you within 5 days please feel free to send me a reminder.

North Wales Police North Wales Police are looking for Community Speed Watch Volunteers. For those who might be interested visit: www.northwalespolice.uk/recxruitment/voluntee rs/current-vacancies/communityspeed-watch-operator.aspx

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Looking After Yourself

The Value of Exercise Modern life can leave us feeling fatigued and stressed with little energy or desire to exercise. However there are a many benefits to raising your heart rate and exercising both in and out of the gym. Most people know that exercise is good for the heart and muscles however it is also great for coping with stress and depression. So try and enhance your mood and stress bust at the same time. Here are a few tips to start your exercise regime.

If you can't get to the gym then exercise at home using bodyweight exercises such as press ups, squats, lunges, burpees, crunches, tricep dips (using a chair) as a circuit - dependent on your fitness levels.

• Time your workouts that way you monitor your progress • Aim for 20-60 minutes workouts if just starting out. Increasing your duration or intensity each week but not both together.

• If you are planning to lose weight then aim for a gradual loss of 1-2lbs per week • Keep exercises simple. If you are a beginner who's goal is muscle development then stick to the same exercises to get the body and muscles used to exercise. Compound exercises such as chest press, squats, bent over rows, deadlifts, shoulder press are ideal exercises to learn. A word of caution you must learn to do these exercises correctly • Step up the housework and gardening both can be great calorie burners- treat them like a workout for e.g time how long it takes, try and reach a level of intensity that gets a sweat on • Workout in your lunch hour - go for a walk or run or even take an resistance band

• Do 10 minute workouts several times per day. Exercise doesn't need to be in one block spread it out over the course of the day • Plan your visits to the gym by making it an appointment like you would a meeting with the bank manager or accountant.

When planning nutrition make protein a priority at breakfast and think of meals that are not necessarily tradition breakfast such as meat, eggs, vegetables, fish.

• Try and evaluate your surrounding at work, have you got access to a fridge or microwave. Have you got food outlets near by. This can help with not buying processed foods and energy drinks • Try and drink up to 3 litres of water per day to stay hydrated • If you can't purchase meals then make your own plate up using various foods • Prepare food for the week and take it to work or use left over from the night before and take it to work • Count your calories if you don't know how many your are eating then it is hard to know whether to cut or increase your intake. There are various apps available to do this.

Contact Chris, freelance personal trainer at DW Gym, and local Rossett resident on 07876 368646 if you have any questions about health or fitness.

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Wrexham News

Welsh Language Survey In November, Wrexham County Borough Council launched a survey to gather residents’ views on its Welsh language services, seeking the views of speakers, learners and those who understood Welsh to see what improvements could be made to bilingual service delivery.

Some of the key findings to emerge from the survey include: • The number of respondents who understand Welsh – either fluently or mostly fluently – increased by four per cent, going from 48 per cent in 2008 to 52 per cent in 2016.

• Awareness and expectations of the council’s Welsh language services have grown. In 2008, 25 per cent of respondents said they didn’t expect to receive a Welsh language service from the council – but that has dropped to just nine per cent in this year’s results.

• The number of respondents who speak Welsh at home in Wrexham is consistent with the national proportion, at 21.3 per cent.

• 49 per cent of respondents said they used Welsh on a daily basis.

• 70 per cent of respondents said if they contacted the council in Welsh, they received the service they required in Welsh.

Some of the questions on the 2015/16 survey were the same as those used in

a survey undertaken in 2008 so that data could be compared. The results have also been compared with the results of a Wales-wide survey undertaken by the Welsh Government in 2013/14.

The aim of the survey was to ensure that all those who wanted to communicate with the council in Welsh could do so, and to find out whether council’s customers were aware of the channels in which they could use Welsh to communicate with us.

The Council asked respondents what it could do to encourage them to communicate in Welsh. Out of a list of eleven options, the most popular were: • All bilingual staff wearing a badge to identify themselves as a Welsh speaker • The Council taking more of a role to increase the use of the Welsh language • Continuing to invest in providing free Welsh language training for its staff.

• Welsh speaking staff available at the Contact Centre to deal with users face to face The Council will now use the results of the survey to prepare for the implementation of the Welsh Language Standards, and work with departments to ensure that they understand what is expected of them in terms of providing services bilingually.

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County Councillor for Gresford

Andrew Bailey Local Development Plan Further to my report on the Local Development Plan (LDP) last month, a number of constituents have asked me about the Candidate Sites which are contained in the attachments to the documents. There are three categories of such sites; those previously suggested (marked purple), areas suggested in settlement limits (brown) or sites looked at by officers (blue). It is important to read the narrative on each site as well as look at the map. Your local councillors will bear any comments received in mind as the LDP progresses.

The document is live until 25th March 2016 on the (LDP) consultation portal at www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp and paper copies will be in the Lord Street planning office and in our local libraries, including Gresford.

All comments must be returned to:Planning Policy Team, 16 Lord Street, Wrexham LL11 1LG or to planningpolicy@wrexham.gov.uk by 1 April 2016.

Register to vote Campaigners in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including the Chartists and the Suffragettes, fought hard to ensure we all got the vote. So it is regrettable that 21st Century legislation may mean that between three quarters of a million and double that number could lose that right.

Groups such as short term renters, young people and students are particularly at risk.

With the vote for the Welsh Government and the future of our place in the European Union coming up in the next few months I am not going to use this column to tell

CONTACT DETAILS: Woodvale, Pant Lane, Gresford, Wrexham LL12 8EU e-mail andrew.bailey@wrexham.gov.uk Tel 01978 855144

you how to vote, but I am going to plead that you ensure you are entitled to do so.

Contact: electoral@wrexham.gov.uk or ring Wrexham 292020 to check you are, or you can register direct at: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Mindless vandalism Elsewhere in this month’s Essentials you will read of the mindless vandalism that we in the Maes-Y-Pant group have recently suffered. I can only add my voice to the condemnation and ask that anyone with information contacts the police.

Last year we had a great example of how community intelligence can right a wrong.

A memorial bench was stolen from the Gresford Trust lands but members of the community soon spotted it in an unusual place. It was then identified, reported and restored to its rightful place. With you as ‘community eyes and ears’, I hope we can have a similar result here and identify the rather mindless culprits of this act.

For the past 10 years James Roberts have been based in Gresford, but we have now moved to our brand-new salon on the Chester Road in Rossett.

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BRHS-Burton Rossett Horticultural Society Text

Text Gardening News Firstly, I must say how good it was to see so many of you at our Christine Walkden talk last Wednesday. It was very interesting to hear how she started out in gardening, and highly amusing too.

Now that March is here, we can look forward to going out into our gardens again. Mine is in sore need of a tidy-up after all the rain we have had. I shall be glad to mow the grass and make everywhere look tidy again.

There are several jobs to be getting on with: keep an eye out for slugs around new growth and lift and divide clumps of perennials. Now is a good time to deal with any weeds before they get established as well. It is a good thing to top-dress any containers with fresh compost; this will help the plants to grow on, as well as look good. Open up the greenhouse on warm days to ventilate.

My youngest son bought me automatic window openers several years ago, and they have been wonderful. At the time I was still working and it meant that even if I didn’t have time to open the windows before I left for work, it was taken care of for me.

I shall be starting to sow some seeds this month. I do not have heating in my greenhouse so usually start the more tender ones indoors. In the normal way I use the windowsills, however our Pippin cat sits on nearly every windowsill in turn during the day so I shall have to use covers in the greenhouse instead!

My Allium has produced nine flowers over the last few weeks and given me a lot of pleasure. The last flower is almost done. I will cut it down when finished, and save the bulb for next year. They are certainly good value for money.

On the 16th March we have a talk from Richard Lewis about pruning, I am looking forward to picking up tips as I have a habit of running amuck when I start to prune!

Don’ forget to pay your yearly fee to the society as it is due now; £6 for a year’s membership is very good value for money I think.

Enjoy your gardens Carol Edwards.

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ARE YOU THINKING OF A DIVORCE OR A SEPARATION? I am Carol McGuire of Thomas Andrews and Partners Solicitors 31 High Street Wrexham. I have over 30 years of experience in this area of the law so why not come and have a chat with me before you make any decisions.

The initial meeting of 30 minutes is free anyway, so you have nothing to lose.

Please telephone 01978 291506 for an appointment.

Colin Jones

Darland Community Theatre Hello and a very belated Happy New Year! We are now busy rehearsing for our Spring production which will take place on Thursday 7th, Friday 8th and Saturday 9th April - the end of the second week of the school Easter holidays.

We are back in traditional two-act play territory with a terrific thriller Dead Guilty by Richard Harris. It is described as: "A tense psychological study of guilt and obsession" and a BBC review said "The exciting thing about psychological thrillers is that the audience really feels a part of the action, because as one character messes with another’s head, by default they mess with the heads of those watching the action too. And this is true of Richard Harris’s Dead Guilty."

We are delighted that there will be some new faces both on stage and behind the scenes. Acting with us for the first time are Julia Welsh and Adrian Dunn, providing the off-stage voice of the coroner is Paul Sutherland and directing the cast is Nathan Evans. The other actors are Sally Jones and Gem Ketteringham - familiar to you from the October plays. We are always keen to welcome new members, in whatever capacity, so if you think you'd like to get involved please do contact us.

For the umpteenth year running we are keeping our tickets priced at £6; fantastic value as this includes a drink and your interval refreshments. You can buy your tickets online via our website www.darlandtheatre.com For those who would prefer not to or can't book online, we are keeping our old ticket arrangements in place, for now, so you can still reserve tickets in advance, for

collection and payment on the night. Please telephone Jan on 01978 855770, or email communitytheatre@rossett.net with your order. All requests will be acknowledged usually within 24 hours, so please make sure you leave your contact information (email or phone number).

We understand that circumstances change, so we don't mind amendments or cancellations but please tell us in plenty of time, as it's disappointing for our other supporters if we have to turn people away or if there are empty seats on the night.

Thanks to your continued support, we are able to make donations to the school and to local charities. If you have a connection to an organisation that you would like us to consider for future donations, please speak to one of our members.

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Update from

The Maes y Pant Group

Before I update you on what’s been happening, I’d like to give you a couple of dates. We’re having our 3rd annual Friends meeting on Monday 11 April to be held at Church House, Gresford at 7.30pm. This is an opportunity to join the Friends and give us your ideas about what you think we should be doing to benefit the community. We also have our 3rd annual coffee morning and plant sale on Saturday 21 May, again to be held at Church House, Gresford but at 10.00am running through to 12.30pm.

A number of things are happening at Maes y Pant this spring. Local craftsman Simon O’Rourke, who carved ‘Stanley the Quarry Man’ at our main entrance, is to carve a large tree stump near the Whiteway Drive entrance and transform it into a wizard! We are also hoping to have one or two smaller carvings around the site.

Edward Fleming, with the help of his Dad, Mark, has designed some delightful ceramic plaques, which Mark will fire in his furnace.

We will set them out as a woodland trail along the ‘all abilities’ path. Ed was one of the prizewinners in our summer art competition, which used funding from the Wrexham Leader/Airbus 75th Anniversary Community Awards. An information board about the trail will also be erected in April/May. We extended the project after having succeeded in winning £2,000 from Asda from their plastic bag charge fund.

We need to manage Maes y Pant to maintain and increase its attraction as woodland. With this in mind, we have formulated a new management plan for the next five years.

We will clear four more small areas of the site to allow broad-leafed trees to grow in place of the existing Corsican pine and thin out the rest of the pines so that they are less regimented. Contractors will do most of the work later this year, but our own volunteers have started work near the pond. We are also restocking, so if you fancy helping to plant some saplings then please come along on Sunday 13 March at 10.00am at the main entrance.

We are grateful for your support, which spurs us on. If you haven’t donated this year then your help is important. Friends’ donations, proceeds from our coffee morning and the Gresford Festival, along with a donation from Gresford Community Council (which helps to pay insurance for any onsite activities) have helped us to become almost self-sufficient. All our other projects are funded by grants, for which we work hard. I hope you think our efforts have been worth it.

If you haven’t joined the Friends already then please do. A Friends’ application form can be found on our website and it may be posted to Anthony Lewis at 2, The Woodlands, Chester Road, Gresford.

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Wrexham Country Market

nORTh WAleS WIldlIfe TRUST WRexhAM BRAnch

Birds of Prey Wednesday 23rd March 7:30pm - 9:30pm Memorial Hall, Gresford Keith Offord from the North East Wales Raptor Group will give an illustrated talk on his work to protect raptors and their environment in North East Wales.

Rossett Village Hall, Station Road

Saturday 19th March 10am to 12pm Baking, jams, marmalades, chutneys, pickles, jellies, honey, fresh produce, plants, crafts, tea and coffee bar

All welcome. Free entry. Refreshments

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EXTRA MARKET! Monday 14th March Queen’s Square/Lord Street Wrexham Country Market also in the People’s Market in Wrexham every Friday 9am - 2pm

PULFORD & POULTON LOCAL HISTORY GROUP Wednesday 16th March “TIPTOE THROUGH THE TOMBSTONES�

An illustrated talk by Ms Rina Tillinger in Pulford Village Hall at 7:30pm Admission: Members ÂŁ2, non-members ÂŁ3 More information: Hon. Sec. Jenny Nethercott 01244 571040

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St. P Schoo hooll Chapel Lane Rossett R Peters School

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Come and visit the baby lambs Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th March 10am ­ 12 noon The Bungalow, Darland Lane, Rossett Refreshments and cake stall For more info call: 01244 570 242 All proceeds in aid of Christ Church Rossett

50th Anniversary of the Closure of Llay Colliery

www.brhs.or org.uk www.brhs.org.uk £1.00 Members £1.00 £2.

Non on members £2.00 to include ea & biscuits tea

11th March at 11am

GRESFORD ROYAL BRITISH LEGION (Women's Section) RACE NIGHT Friday 11th March. Entry is Free.

Doors open at 7pm First Race 7.45pm

Service at St Martins Church Llay followed by a short service at the Memorial Wheel at the Llay Miners Welfare We will be releasing balloons in memory of the people who lost their lives at the pit.

ALL WELCOME Call: Maldwyn Davies on 855873

ANNUAL EASTER BINGO Saturday 19th March Doors open at 7pm. Eyes Down 7.30pm

BURTON & ROSSETT SHORT – MAT INDOOR BOWLS 7- 9pm at St Peters School, Chapel Lane, Rossett (term time table) Interested? – come and give it a go (it’s good fun) We are a small and friendly run club (no League games) Contact our Club Secretary Vivienne on: 01244 579053

PULFORD BRIDGE CLUB Meets in Pulford Village Hall each Monday, Wednesday & Friday New members welcome.

Please ring Margaret Walker 01244 570435

gresford art group memorial hall, gresford fridays 10am - 12pm come along and join us. new members welcome. no experience necessary.

Wrexham News

Safeguard the Standards

Wrexham Council has launched a Crowdfunding appeal to raise funds to safeguard the standards of the Eighth Army Vets, the Korean Vets, the Burma Star Vets and the Normandy Vets.

The project is part of the Together in Wrexham initiative which looks at alternative ways of providing non statutory services and funding which otherwise would have been provided by the Council.

Cllr David Griffiths, Armed Forces Champion, said: "The Standards are an important part of Wrexham's heritage and I am very pleased that officers have been able to find an alternative means of funding the project which will see the Standards safeguarded for many years to come."

Cllr Hugh Jones, Lead Member for Communities and Partnerships, said: "During these unprecedented financially challenging times it is essential we as a Council look to encourage alternative ways to provide non statutory services. Safeguarding these important standards is

something I believe falls into this category and I am certain that people and organisations in Wrexham will rise to the challenge of raising the funding necessary to ensure the Standards are not only safeguarded but will be on permanent display at the Guildhall for all to appreciate."

In order to promote the appeal a series of short interviews will be released throughout February which features veterans and those associated in some way with the Armed Forces talking about why they believe it is important to safeguard the standards for future generations.

You can pledge as much or as little as you wish at these places: www.spacehive.com/wrexhamhonouring-veterans The interviews are available on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WrexhamArmed-Forces-458139447721793/ Twitter: @wxmarmedforces A total of just over ÂŁ12,400 is required to safeguard the standards.

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