Locksmith working regularly in Llangollen finds key to success

* Simon Oxberry of Dee Valley Locksmiths on a recent job alongside the police.

A locksmith who works regularly in Llangollen has found the key to a series of industry accolades.

Simon Oxberry founded Dee Valley Locksmiths just over a year ago. In that time he has already landed three Best Rated awards in Wrexham.

And he has just won the title of Best Locksmith for 2026/27 in the Wales Prestige Awards.

Simon, who lives not far from Llangollen, says he has grown his business through hard work, reliability and a commitment to helping people when they need it most.

His jobs range from assisting families locked out of their homes or cars, to helping elderly residents secure their properties, and supporting care homes and local businesses after break-ins. He often works alongside local police.

After the recent break-in at the Deeside Cafe Bistro in Llangollen the firm was called in to repair and upgrade all locks. 

Simon said: "Dee Valley Locksmiths has built a reputation for responding quickly and effectively. Along the way, strong working relationships have been formed with other local companies and services, including collaborations with police and community organisations.

"The business’s dedication has also earned some glowing recognition online, with a growing number of five-star reviews praising the professionalism, speed, and care of the service. 

"Despite the recognition, the focus remains the same - delivering dependable service and helping the community feel safe and secure."

* For more information, go to: https://www.deevalleylocksmiths.co.uk

County council on stand-by to deal with problems caused by icy weather

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for this area between 5pm tonight (Friday) and 10am tomorrow (Saturday) morning, with icy surfaces leading to difficult travel conditions.

Denbighshire County Council says it has resources on standby throughout the warning period to respond to any weather-related incidents should they arise.

 

Further updates will be provided if deemed necessary, it adds.

 

Please report any issues to the council's Customer Service Team, between 8:30am – 5pm, Monday to Friday, by:

1) email to customerservice@denbighshire.gov.uk

2) telephone 01824 706000

3) visit in person a One Stop Shop.

4) use an online web form, available on Denbighshire’s website:

www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/online-forms/online-forms.aspx

In the event of any emergency situation requiring an immediate response, contact should be made directly via the out of hours contact centre between 5pm – 8:30am including weekends on 0300 123 3068. 

Mill Street car park to undergo improvement works

 

Llangollen’s Mill Street carpark is set to undergo a period of infrastructure improvements.

Denbighshire County Council has secured funding to undertake the work, scheduled from March 2, at the car park which will address existing defects at the site.

Work will include the replacements of missing and broken block paving, repair of the existing fencing between the top section of the car park and the A539 and relining of the parking bays.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport and Biodiversity Champion, said: “Improvement works to this car park are important to address infrastructure defects, ensuring the area is fit for purpose, safe and a welcoming facility which will provide a boost for the local economy.”

The improvement works is scheduled to commence during week commencing March 2 subject to weather conditions and contractor availability.

Competition aims to record railway and its spectacular setting on film

* Videographer Andrei Daniel is organising the competition.

Llangollen and Corwen Railway has launched a Photography and Videography Competition to mark the start of its 2026 season, inviting photographers and filmmakers to capture the character of the railway and the remarkable scenery of the Dee Valley.

Entrants are being encouraged to focus on the railway and its location - the locomotives, carriages, stations and the distinctive locations along the line that make the journey so memorable. From steam and diesel locomotives to heritage DMUs (vintage diesel passenger trains with large viewing windows), from busy platforms to quiet rural halts, the aim is to celebrate the railway in all its forms.

The line, across the Dee Valley, is well known for its beautiful stations and striking locations, which provide ideal settings for photography. Places such as Berwyn, Glyndyfrdwy, Carrog, Corwen, Llangollen together with landmarks including the Horseshoe Falls, the Chain Bridge, Coed Pen y Pigyn and the surrounding valley, offer countless opportunities for photographers and videographers to capture the atmosphere of a working heritage railway in a unique landscape.

* The fabulous view from Berwyn station.

With the new season now underway, services such as the Berwyn Explorer are expected to provide particularly good opportunities for entrants, both at Berwyn Station, widely regarded as the most attractive station in the UK, and on board the railway’s heritage trains, where wide windows allow uninterrupted views of the valley.

The competition is being organised in partnership with Andrei Daniel and Llangollen takeaway Dee Pizza, and the railway says it is delighted to be working with one of the region’s most recognisable visual storytellers.

Terry Pickhall, Press Officer for the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, said: “We are very pleased to be working with Andrei on this competition. His videos are helping us tell the story of our railway to a wider audience this year. We are also indebted to the legions of enthusiastic photographers who share their photos with us every year. This super competition is about giving a little back to them and helping them showcase their fantastic work.”

Andrei Daniel said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on our beloved railway. I’m really excited for everyone to take part in this competition. There’s no need for professional cameras; phones are absolutely fine. It’s not about megapixels; it’s about storytelling. I can’t wait to see what everyone creates. I am pleased that this will become an annual event, helping to promote not only the railway but Llangollen as well.”

Prizes include:

First Prize: Two Annual Passes for the Llangollen and Corwen Railway, with the winning image also being produced as a fully accredited jigsaw

Second Prize: £100 cash

Third Prize: £50 voucher at Dee Pizza

The closing date for entries is Monday 4 April, and the winner will be announced at the railway’s Branch Line Gala on Saturday 11 April.

Selected entries will be featured on the railway’s social media channels throughout the competition, with further details on how to enter available via the railway’s website and social media platforms.

Acorn Ceramics now open for business in Oak Street

The former Oak Street Gallery in Llangollen has now been taken over by a new business selling ceramics.

It is being run by Charmain Poole and her colleague and friend Jacqui Atkin. 

Charmain said: "We are calling it Acorn Ceramics and will be selling our own ceramic art works. 

"I make mainly domestic ceramics - pots for eating off - while Jacqui makes decorative pots and animal sculptures. 

"We'd like people to know that we are now open for business. Our opening times for February are Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 4pm."

County council approves 2026-27 budget

Denbighshire County Council has today (Thursday, 12 February) approved its budget and set the Council Tax level for 2026–27.

Like councils across the UK, Denbighshire continues to face significant financial pressures. Demand for services is rising, and needs are becoming more complex, particularly in our schools and from those needing social care.  Next year, costs that are outside of the council’s control are forecast to exceed £20 million for the fourth consecutive year.

Most of the council’s day-to-day costs in providing services is funded by Welsh Government with the remaining 25% funding generated from Council Tax.  The recent increase in funding from Welsh Government – although welcome – does not fully cover our financial pressures, making a Council Tax rise unavoidable.

Councillor Delyth Jones, Lead Member for Finance, said: “With 64% of our budget spent on schools, social care and homelessness, and a further 14% committed to things like the Wales wide national scheme for Council Tax benefit and the levy we have to pay to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, that only leaves 22% left for all other Council services.

“We know these services matter greatly to residents, but the growing demand for statutory services means budgets are continually squeezed. Protecting our most vulnerable residents must remain our priority.

“In setting this year’s budget, we have worked hard to keep Council Tax increases as low as possible, avoiding cuts to services, while still providing the vital services people rely on.”

The approved Council Tax for 2026–27 is 4.76% for Council services, along with the additional 0.46% which has to be paid to the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority levy, giving a total of 5.22%.

Essential services such as education, adult care, support for children and homelessness prevention account for 64% of the Council’s total budget. The remainder covers a wide range of everyday services including:

• Inspecting around 720 food businesses each year
• Collecting approximately 73,000 bins and recycling containers weekly from nearly 49,000 households
• Maintaining countryside sites such as Loggerheads, Moel Famau and Bodelwyddan Park
• Protecting heritage attractions including Ruthin Gaol, Nantclwyd y Dre and Plas Newydd
• Providing over 12 million school meals a year
• Transporting around 2,870 learners safely to school
• Maintaining 11,763 streetlights and 1,419 km of county roads

Councillor Jones added: “I’m pleased that this budget does not require reductions to service delivery. Instead, we have focused on efficiencies, income generation and transforming how services operate.”

For those residents worried about paying their Council Tax, those on low incomes may be eligible for support through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. More information is available on Denbighshire County Council’s website

Senedd Member slams 'slow progress' on Maelor parking problems

* Sam Rowlands MS at the Maelor car park.

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, says it is taking far too long to resolve the "growing" parking problems at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. 

Last November he launched a petition calling for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to get their act together and sort out the daily nightmare.

 

He said: “My inbox is continually full of emails from constituents, patients, visitors and even hospital staff who are telling me the same story: parking at the Maelor has become a daily nightmare.

 

“People arriving for appointments are stressed, anxious and often late because they cannot find a safe or available place to park. Staff working those long and difficult shifts face the same challenges. I have actually spent some time in the car park and seen at first hand how dangerous and frustrating it is to park there.

 

“It really isn’t good enough and it is about time the issue was dealt with as a matter of urgency.

 

“I am angry for my constituents as I feel that the health board is dragging its feet and need to work urgently with Wrexham Council to put some measures in place as soon as possible.

 

“Recently in the Senedd I called for an urgent review of the issue and urged the Welsh Government to get involved as I feel we need a commitment to a full review of parking capacity and management at the Maelor, and a timetable for delivering practical solutions, whether that includes a multistorey car park, park-and-ride options, or better use of existing land or other options that may be available to the Government.”

 

Mr Rowlands called for a statement regarding this issue from Jane Hutt, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Trefnydd and Chief Whip. And she said it was the responsibility of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, working with their local hospital management teams.

 

Mr Rowlands added: “I was disappointed but not surprised with the response from the Welsh Government as quite clearly the health board need support to fix these long-running parking issues at the hospital and as usual the Welsh Government buries it head in the sand.

 

“I have raised my concerns with the Health Board and I hope to have a meeting to discuss the matter, but it would have been a positive step if the Welsh Government had been willing to get involved.”