Cheers as London rail link looks set to return

GOBOWENERS – and naturally Oswestrians – are cock-a-hoop they’re getting a ‘whisky and pasta special’ direct train to London.

It’s the first full link since the memorable Wrexham, Shropshire, Marylebone Railway shut up shop in January 2011.

It’s all supposed to happen this December 8 when the Aberdeen-based First company and Italian government-owned Trenitalia, take over the West Coast line from Virgin Trains on a 70:30 basis.

Most London trains will continue to reach Holyhead via Chester, but a train is planned to go direct to Llandudno – via our vital Gobowen. On its return run it brings Gobowen its first direct train link to the capital in eight years. Just like Trains for Wales brought new look trains to Gobowen and Chirk, so will this ‘whisky and pasta special’.

Details are still being ironed out, but if you pump into Google ‘First Trenitalia London to Llandudno direct train’, you can spot the great news yourself.

Call for shop action

TWO tatty buildings are still blighting otherwise businesslike and cheerful Cross Street, as they have for years.

They diagonally glimpse each other across the road, and all efforts to press owners to do something about them – or get the Oswestry town council to take action – have failed miserably.

Meanwhile we have to daily put up with them and their their rotting façades.

Surely the combined brains of Oswestry Town Council and BID can come up with what has become a perpetual blot the landscape?

Connecting all of us...

FIRST there was one mobile phone shop, then along came another and now soon you’ll be seeing triple, with Vodafone moving into an empty card shop near to the existing two mobile phone shops at the bottom of Bailey Street.

A planning application has been lodged with Shropshire Council by mobile phone giant Vodafone. The card shop has put a notice on its door telling customers they’re closing.

I guess if you want to go mobile there’s safety in numbers and at least you know where to find them!

Help with ‘work-flow’

DO YOU want to help move a ‘mountain’ – in an ambitious big challenge to shift the last blockage on the Montgomery Canal, in the bid to reach Pant. You will also be able to boast to friends you helped build the newest canal bridge in Britain.

Schoolhouse Bridge bridge number 86 at Crickheath had to be demolished decades ago, and was filled in with earth. But now that stands in the way of rapidly moving progress.

Michael Limbrey, chairman of the Restore the Montgomery Canal! appeal team says you can start by contacting www.RestoreTheMontgomeryCanal.uk where you can also make much-needed donations.