Railway formally backs Llangollen's bid to become UK Town of Culture

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has formally backed the town's bid to become the UK’s first Town of Culture, following a successful public meeting last night  organised by the Town Council.

Representatives of the railway were pleased to attend and to publicly support the proposal, which aims to celebrate the town’s rich cultural life, heritage and community spirit. 

The railway sys it believes the bid reflects not only Llangollen’s international reputation, but also the strength of its local organisations, volunteers and cultural traditions.

David Hennigan, the railway's Trust Manager, said: “Culture and heritage run right through this town, and we were proud to attend the meeting and publicly back the bid. 

"The railway is part of the story of Llangollen, and we stand ready to play our full part in helping the town succeed. We congratulate Llangollen Town Council for taking the lead on this and we stand ready to play our part.

"Volunteers are at the heart of everything that is great about Llangollen and its environs, and it is only right that this bid is led by those who give so much to make Llangollen the town it is. Across the Llangollen and the Dee Valley, it is volunteers who keep traditions alive, organise events, restore buildings, welcome visitors and pass on skills to the next generation. The railway is no different, and we see every day what can be achieved when people come together with pride in their community.”

The railway believes the bid reflects the strength of Llangollen’s cultural life, from internationally recognised events such as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod to the many volunteer-led organisations like the Llangollen Fringe Festival that sustain the town’s heritage and community activities.

Looking ahead, the railway is already planning to bring culture along its tracks in 2026, with activities and events taking place across all stations on the line, including Llangollen, Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen. These plans aim to connect communities, celebrate local history and provide new opportunities for visitors to experience the Dee Valley.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has confirmed that it stands ready to support the bid and to work alongside partners across the town in developing ideas and activities. 

Story says couple fear hillside may collapse onto their cottage

* The story on the BBC News website.

BBC News is reporting that a couple say they are afraid to go to sleep in case the hillside behind their cottage collapses onto them.

Ross and Jill Darbyshire from Rhewl, near Llangollen, said on 28 January they heard a huge noise at the back of the property and later noticed cracks in the sheer slate bedrock.

* For the full story, go to: Llangollen couple scared to fall asleep in case rockfall crushes their home - BBC News

Local CAB advice outreach sessions

 

A new EV with some challenging tech but still Geely good

Geely EX5 drive by Steve Rogers

Meet the Geely EX5, the latest in the tidal wave of Chinese cars to land on our shores but this one has a valuable friend in the UK.

Not a name you are likely to have heard of so let’s start with some housekeeping.

Who is Geely? The company is big in China and has been producing cars for nearly 30 years and has a strong connection with Europe because it is the money behind Volvo, Polestar, Smart… and Lotus.

It is entering the market at the height of Chinese brand popularity, in fact the speed at which new Chinese models are shaping our market is frightening. The big players are BYD, Jaecoo and Omoda and together they sold more cars in January than Volkswagen, the UK’s biggest brand.

The Geely is classed as a compact SUV but this car is spacious throughout with more legroom than expected for back seat passengers who get a nice flat floor and wide enough for three adults to sit comfortably.

Although built in China it was designed in Milan, its classic shape pleasing on the eye if a tad conservative compared to some Chinese rivals. It does not have the scary face of a Jaecoo 7 or the beautiful styling of the X-Peng G6; more the soft, uncluttered lines of a Porsche Macan which is no bad thing.

So what can we expect from this Geely EX5? It is Chinese and that means tech, tech, and even more tech. Apart from a fast demist button, everything goes through a whopping central touchscreen. I am getting used to this type of car but they are still a challenge.

You can’t just jump in and drive away, well you could obviously, but learning how the car functions first is time well spent. I liken it to swatting for an exam and hoping you remember the answers when you open the paper.

The saving grace is voice control as long as you can remember how to say the commands. Too often the reply is ‘I am still learning this function, please try again later’. It does not turn off immediately and records your conversation prompting another reply from our friendly lady. All a bit annoying.

That said, the touchscreen is reasonably easy to master. There is a lot to take in with menus and sub menus but is clearly laid out, it’s just that there is so much of it and there are probably functions I never found. The most useful were the automatic heated seats and heated steering wheel which come on as soon as you are in the car. It is the same for the ventilated seats.

I mentioned the conservative styling, well that changes in the cabin. It is stunning and I would suggest taking a look at the ivory trim. This top of the range model is all but £37k but could pass for a 50 grand motor, it is that special. Dominating the cabin is a long central bridge with exquisite detailing and adds such class to the car. On a practical side this creates a substantial storage area underneath to compliment 32 other storage areas.

Getting to the business end the Lotus factor has paid huge dividends because the springs, dampers and anti roll bars have been refined by Lotus engineers so the Geely’s ride and handling is rather good and sends a ‘we’re coming for you’ message to Chinese rivals.

The battery pack is 60.22kW giving a range of 267 miles which is down on some European makes. The Renault Scenic’s 87kW battery gives a range around 370 miles and the Seat Tavascan is in the same ballpark. Performance is lively enough and the Geely can take a 160kW DC charge so 30-80 per cent is reached in 20 minutes.

A full charge from a standard 7kW home charger takes just over six hours and using the remote control app can take advantage of cheaper EV tariffs some of which start in the middle of the night so you choose when to start and stop. The car can also be used to charge an e-bike and other plug-in devices, handy if you are into camping and other lifestyle activities.

Geely has hit the ground running with EX5 and is sending out a strong message. It feels quality, has a long list of standard equipment and the usual full suite of safety features. This is the start and we can expect 10 more models over the next three years. Watch this space.

Fast facts

Geely EX5 Max

£36,990 (starts £31,990)

Battery 60.22kW

Range: 267 miles

0-62mph 7.1secs; 109mph

214bhp

Emissions: Zero

Boot: 461-1877 litres

Warranty: 6 years; battery 8 years

Insurance group: 35-36

Free half term activities at Hwb Pengwern Hub

South Denbighshire Community Partnership will be hosting a programme of free family activities at Hwb Pengwern over the first three days of the upcoming half term holiday, providing families in Llangollen with different opportunities. 

Hwb Pengwern will open its doors on Monday February 16, between 1pm and 3pm, for a family art and craft session focused on the theme of memories, providing families with the opportunity to enjoy creative activities in a relaxed setting.

 

On Tuesday February 17 families will once again be welcomed to Hwb Pengwern to take part in one of two family cooking workshops, where participants will learn to prepare a dish and take their creations home with them.

 

The programme will conclude on Wednesday February 18, between 11am and 12pm, at Hwb Pengwern with a family yoga session, suitable for all abilities, promoting wellbeing and family time in a supportive environment. Toys will be available for children who may need to move around during the session.

 

All activities are free of charge, but spaces are limited, booking is required and you can call Hwb Pengwern Hub on 01978 280365, or e-mail at: Office@sdcp.org

 

 

Llangollen to go ahead with bid to become UK's first Town of Culture

* The Town Hall was packed with a supportive audience of over 50 people.

Llangollen has decided to go ahead with a bid to become the UK's first official Town of Culture, which could lead to a cash boost of up to £3 million.

The newly-launched contest, which is a national initiative from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), invites towns of all sizes across the UK to showcase original storytelling and accessible, empowering cultural activity to win the title.  

DCMS will pick winners across three size categories - small, medium and large - with one overall UK Town of Culture selected from these.

The winning town will receive £3 million to deliver a six‑month cultural programme in 2028, while the category finalists will receive £250,000 each to develop elements of their proposals. 

* Town Clerk Gareth Thomas, left, gives details of the bid while the Mayor, Cllr Aled Morris, chairs the meeting.

Winners are due to be announced early next year with successful projects the prize-money pays for having to be delivered in 2028. 

Local individuals and organisations were invited by the Town Council to a public meeting at the Town Hall tonight (Tuesday) to gauge local support for a bid.

Over 50 people, including community groups, cultural and heritage organisations, local businesses and other interested parties, turned up to hear a presentation on the competition by Town Clerk Gareth Thomas who outlined the many benefits of making a successful bid.

He said: "It's a chance to amplify Llangollen's Voice nationally and internationally and enables us to celebrate our language, music, heritage, the arts and creativity.

"It would be a boost for tourism, local businesses, job creation and skill development.

"I see participation in the competition going across the generations and presenting many opportunities for volunteering.

"I think Llangollen is ready for this. We've got proven cultural strengths and we've always been ambitious.

"I think it would be lovely if we could position ourselves as a cultural leader." 

There was unanimous support for the bid from the audience, with no voices of dissent being raised.

Representatives of two of the town's major organisations - the Eisteddfod and the heritage railway - both gave their support for the bid.

David Hennigan, trust manager of the railway, said: "It's a wonderful thing and this can be a real springboard for the town. We are ready to play our part and we fully support this."

Eisteddfod chair John Gambles said: "We're completely behind the plan. I'm sure we can find someone amongst our volunteers who can be part of it."

Mr Gambles was answering a call from the Town Clerk for interested people to become part of groups representing various interests in the town which would help co-ordinate the bid. 

Mr Thomas said he had already prepared the framework for the submission, which would  be further worked on and then taken back to an overall group for more consultation by mid-March. 

"Hopefully, we will then have the bid ready by the end of this year," he added.

"It's exciting but scary as well. But I think we at least have a fairly good chance of succeeding."

County to seek funds for public toilets and play facilities in Llangollen

* County Hall in Ruthin.

The facelift of public toilets and the improvement of play facilities in Llangollen are among five projects which Denbighshire County Council will put forward for UK Government funding following a decision by the cabinet today (Tuesday)

In September 2025, the UK Government announced £1.5M of capital funding for every Welsh local authority through the Pride in Place Impact Fund (PiPIF).

This fund aims to deliver visible improvements to high streets and enhance places and community assets, particularly in areas not benefiting from the separate £20M Pride in Place (PiP) Fund.

Following cabinets decision to endorse the selection process, the projects will now be submitted for PiPIF funding to the UK Government and delivered by March 2027. 

The projects are:

Scheme of refurbishment for priority Public Toilets in Key Towns – The project will look to refurbish the public conveniences across the county as identified within the public convenience’s strategy. This will include the installation of contactless payment and refurbishment to reflect individual condition reviews. These refurbishments will include the public conveniences in Llangollen, Rhyl, Prestatyn, St Asaph, Rhuddlan and Ruthin.

Accessible Play Scheme: Additional accessible play equipment and access to rural communities – This is a project that will seek to enhance the accessible play offer in various rural locations within the County using accessible equipment and entry/exit ways. The accessible play offer will expand to Llangollen, Y Wern, Llandrillo, School Field, Corwen, Nant-y-Pandy, Glyndyfrdwy, Coed Afon and Maes-Y-Dre, Ruthin.

Town Centre Property Development Grant Scheme – This grant scheme will look to address eyesore high street properties and has been successfully delivered previously through the Shared Prosperity Fund which is due to end in March. The project will take effect county wide.

Also included are customer toilets at Bodelwyddan Country Park and turning one of the car parks at Barkby Beach, Prestatyn  into a space for motorhomes

Councillor Jason McLellan, Leader and Lead Member for Economic Growth & Tackling Deprivation, said: “The decision that cabinet has made highlights the commitment that Denbighshire County Council has in securing external funding to deliver projects that will bring a range of benefits across Denbighshire.

“These five projects will bring benefits to the local community and were specifically chosen as they already met the PiPIF criteria, were within budget and can be delivered by the deadline.”