New Dot Cinema bids for stardom in major award contest

Llangollen's New Dot Cinema has entered the British Independent Film Awards' (BIFA) Cinema of the Year award, supported by Kia, and is calling on their audience of cinemagoers to help them secure a nomination.

In July cinemas nationwide were invited to enter for a chance to be crowned this year’s Cinema of the Year – and now, the power is in the audience’s hands!

The public vote closes on September 22, the longlist will be announced on October 13, and five nominees will be revealed on November 3, alongside the rest of BIFA's 2026 Awards nominees.

From there, a specially selected jury of cinema professionals will decide the winner, to be revealed live at the BIFA ceremony on Sunday December 6 at London's iconic Roundhouse.

Cinemagoers can vote for their cinema this summer at www.bifa.film/coty-vote.

BIFA's Cinema of the Year award celebrates the venues that go beyond showing films, forming the centrepieces of their communities and bringing people together around the films that matter.

Since 2022, Kia has been a proud champion of independent cinema and the communities that surround it. Now in its second year, their partnership with BIFA on Cinema of the Year gives audiences across the UK the chance to get behind their local and celebrate what makes it special.

New Dot Cinema chairperson Olivia Brown said: “Since New Dot Cinema re-opened its doors just over a year ago, our audience have been telling us how much they love special the small things our cinema has to offer - from the movie quotes on our light box in the foyer, to the one-of-a-kind hand painted Llangollen and New Dot Cinema themed tables. 

"We work extremely hard to create an immersive and inclusive atmosphere and experience for our audience every month. With mood lighting and music that suit that evening’s films as they come in.”

BIFA directors Amy Gustin and Deena Wallace said: “The response to our first Cinema of the Year award was incredible, and we are so excited to bring it back for a second year. Last year, amazing cinemas from all over the UK entered to show just how much they mean to their local areas, and we hope to see that same brilliant support this year. 

"This award is our way of recognising the value of independent cinemas to people and the industry, whilst celebrating the hardworking teams behind the screens and the loyal audiences who support them.”

Steve Hicks, Marketing Director at Kia UK Limited, said: “We are proud to once again support this award and uncover the best cinema in the UK. Film enthusiasts love celebrating their favourite movies during awards season, but now they can also celebrate the best venues for enjoying these films. 

"Nothing compares to the ‘big screen’ experience for those eager to fully immerse themselves in the latest releases, especially when cinemas are so central to their local communities. We are excited to collaborate with the British Independent Film Awards to once again recognise the cinemas providing film fans with the most memorable and enjoyable experiences.”

* Support New Dot Cinema and vote here: www.bifa.film/coty-vote

MP meets New Dot volunteers

* Clwyd East MP Becky Gittins, second from right, called in to meet New Dot volunteers at their Town Hall base yesterday (Thursday) and congratulated them on their achievements since the community cinema's re-launch just over a year ago. She also wished them the best of luck with their BIFA Award entry.

Dee Lane closed for urgent repairs by Hefren Dyfrdwy

 

Dee Lane, Llangollen, has been closed to facilitate urgent works to repair a water leak by Hefren Dyfrdwy.

 

https://one.network/?tmi=GB47209808

September events and activities at Pengwern Hub

Here are the September events and activities planned for the Pengwern Community Hub:  

Ysgol Dinas Brân congratulates GCSE and BTEC students on success

* Above and below: students celebrate their results.

Ysgol Dinas Brân is celebrating the success of its GCSE and BTEC students as they receive the results of their hard work, commitment and determination.

A school spokesperson said: "Today's results reflect the effort students have invested over a number of years, alongside the resilience and perseverance they have demonstrated throughout their studies. 

"Across a broad range of academic and vocational subjects, students have achieved outcomes that they should be immensely proud of, with many securing strong grades that will enable them to move confidently on to the next stage of their education and training.

"Results Day is an important milestone, recognising not only academic achievement but also personal growth. Throughout their time at Ysgol Dinas Brân, students have developed the skills, confidence and independence needed to take on new challenges and opportunities beyond Year 11."

Headteacher, Mr Mark Hatch, said: "We are exceptionally proud of the achievements of our students. Their results are a reflection of the dedication they have shown throughout their studies and of their determination to succeed. Every student has their own story and their own journey, and today is a celebration of the progress they have made and the goals they have achieved."

"The school extends its sincere thanks to staff, parents and carers for the encouragement, guidance and support they have provided. Student success is built upon strong partnerships, and today's achievements demonstrate what can be accomplished when school and home work together to help young people thrive.

"Most importantly, we congratulate our students. Whether they are continuing their studies at Ysgol Dinas Brân Sixth Form, moving on to college, beginning an apprenticeship or entering the workplace, we are confident that they have the knowledge, character and ambition to succeed.

"As they embark on the next chapter of their journeys, everyone at Ysgol Dinas Brân wishes them every happiness and success for the future. We look forward to seeing them continue to grow, achieve and make a positive contribution to their communities and beyond."

Councillor Diane King, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Families said: “On behalf of the Council, I would like to wish a big congratulations to those that are receiving their GCSE results today.

"Their results today will help shape and determine their next steps when it comes to education.

"I’d also like to extend my thanks to the excellent staff in all of our schools whose dedication and commitment to educating young minds make days like this possible.

"Congratulations to all pupils on their achievements today, I wish them all the best in their next steps.”

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I hired a company to install concrete fencing and a gate in my back garden. The quality of the work is poor, some wooden panels are loose and the gate doesn’t shut properly. I paid before I inspected the work. What can I do?

A: When you put your trust in a trader and they don’t meet your expectations it can be really frustrating.

When there’s a problem caused by a trader, you should be able to get it fixed or get some money back. Evidence is important - take photos and make notes about what happened and when, including times and dates, and keep hold of receipts or other proof of payment.

People can experience different types of problems with traders, and there’s specific advice available on our website depending on what the issue is. In your situation, it’s important to note if a trader hasn’t done a good job with ‘reasonable care and skill’, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 entitles you to ask for the problem to be fixed or for a refund.

This is something you can mention when you take the problem up with the trader and cite your evidence. They should fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time, without causing you too much inconvenience. The law doesn’t say what counts as reasonable, so you’ll have to agree on it with them.

If they can’t or won’t fix the problem, you can ask for a partial or full refund, depending on how bad the problem is. You’ll have to come to an agreement about how much you should get. It’s a good idea to start by suggesting a figure and explaining why you think it’s reasonable, then take it from there. Once you’ve agreed on the amount with the trader the law says you should get your refund within 14 days.

If you can’t come to an agreement, or they refuse to fix the problem or give you a refund, there are other steps you can take - including complaining to your card provider if you paid by card.

You can check if the trader is a member of a trade association or quality scheme. If they are, they might have to follow certain rules, and if they’ve broken them you could get help to take your complaint further. They might be part of an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) scheme - a way of solving disagreements with a trader without going to court - or they might agree to use one.

If the trader isn’t part of an ADR scheme, and you’ve already complained to your card provider and the complaint isn't resolved, you may be able to complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

Anyone who is experiencing a problem with building work, decorating or home improvements can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service for advice and support from a trained adviser. The helpline number is 0808 223 1133. 

Grants up to £10,000 available to community groups

The Perthyn Grant Funding Scheme designed to help community groups is now open.

Newly-established groups and also those registered for up to 12 months on the date of application are eligible to apply for funding of up to £10,000.

The money, available across Wales, is to be used to accelerate progress in developing community-led Welsh-language social enterprises and housing initiatives.

The funding can support revenue costs only or a combination of revenue and capital costs.

Applications close when the fund is fully allocated or November 30 this year, whichever comes first.

* For further information, support or an application pack, contact perthyn@cwmpas.coop or visit Perthyn

Wrexham Concert Band to play John Williams music at Town Hall

In its debut appearance at Llangollen Town Hall next month, Wrexham Concert Band will be hosting an evening featuring the iconic tunes of John Williams. 

A spokesperson for the not-for-profit band, said: "Join us for an unforgettable evening filled with all your favourite movie themes brought to life. 

"We'll be playing lots of music you'll recognise including scores from the films Hook, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Jurassic Park  and E.T. 

"So whether you're a fan of epic scores or just love great music, this concert is for you.

"We've often been asked whether children coming along can dress up. They absolutely can and we've even decided to offer a prize of a Harry Potter Lego set to the best U16's fancy dress."

The concert starts at 7.30pm on Saturday September 19.

* Tickets: £12, under-16s go free when accompanied. Purchase: https://tinyurl.com/JohnWilliamsWCB or email: wxmconcertband@gmail.com

Plan for short-stay motorhome facility at Mill Street Car Park

Plans have been submitted for a new short-stay motorhome facility at Mill Street Car Park in Llangollen as part of a wider project to support tourism, improve visitor infrastructure and benefit local businesses.

The proposal includes six overnight motorhome bays and associated infrastructure, helping to encourage visitors to stay longer in the town and spend with local shops, cafés, restaurants and attractions.

The planning application follows improvement work already carried out at Mill Street Car Park, which has helped make the site safer, more attractive and more welcoming for residents, visitors and businesses.

The improvements include replacement of missing and broken block paving, repairs to fencing between the upper section of the car park and the A539, refreshed parking bay lining, new seating, replacement railings and street furniture, upgraded lighting and new footpath crossing points.

The grant-funded improvements are intended to complement the proposed Motorhome Aire provision, subject to planning consent, by creating a better-quality visitor gateway close to Llangollen town centre.

The project will not result in the loss of 29 daytime parking spaces at the site. The area will remain multi-use during the day, with cars able to park between the motorhome bays. At night, additional spacing is required between motorhomes to meet fire safety requirements, which is why the overnight layout differs from daytime parking use.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This proposal is about supporting Llangollen’s visitor economy in a managed and responsible way. By providing designated short-stay overnight facilities for motorhome users, we can encourage visitors to spend more time in the town and support local businesses, while helping to reduce the impact of unauthorised overnight stays. 

"It is also important to be clear that the scheme would not remove 29 daytime parking spaces. The car park would continue to be available for daytime use, with the overnight layout simply reflecting the additional spacing needed for motorhome safety requirements.”

The proposal at Mill Street car park forms part of the overall Denbighshire Motorhome Aire project, which aims to address unauthorised overnight stays by motorhome owners at locations across the county where there is no legal right to sleep overnight in a vehicle.

The scheme is designed to help prevent the environmental and social issues caused by illegal camping, while providing better facilities for short-stay overnight motorhome and campervan visitors.

Across Denbighshire, the project will bring forward proposals for designated overnight motorhome and campervan areas at five locations, focusing on places that are already popular with visitors and close to local businesses that could benefit from increased footfall.

Planning applications will be submitted for each site to enable the installation of the relevant infrastructure. Proposed work will be funded through Welsh Government Brilliant Basics funding, which supports improvements to essential visitor infrastructure, and the UK Government Pride in Place Impact Fund.

The sites, including Mill Street, have been selected because they are known hotspots for unauthorised overnight stays, are popular with tourists and have nearby businesses that could benefit from visitors using designated Aire facilities.

The facilities would provide short-stay overnight parking for motorhomes for a maximum of two nights on public car parks or council-owned areas located close to towns and existing amenities.

At each site, the focus will be on providing safe and secure overnight parking, supported by basic facilities for emptying wastewater and foul water and refilling motorhomes with fresh water. The bays will be hardstanding areas for short-stay use only. BBQs, fires, awnings and tents will not be permitted.

It is proposed that motorhome users staying at Denbighshire County Council-owned sites will be able to pay through a new tariff on the current car parking mobile phone app or at onsite meters.

If planning permission is granted, work at Mill Street will include measures to prevent unauthorised parking and support better management of overnight stays.

Llangollen Pantomime Group to host meet and greet session

 

Scouts to start new Squirrels section for fours and fives

The 1st Llangollen Scout Group is starting a new provision for four and five year olds called Squirrels.

It aims to help young people gain skills for life at a time when it matters most and where it’s most needed.

Group leader Roger Cragg said: "There are plenty of reasons to get stuck in, as Squirrels gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun outdoors, learn new things and earn badges through fun activities.

"We have a Leader ready to run the section and three new helpers but are looking for more, ideally another three or four.

"Squirrels will be meeting on a Monday afternoon at 4.30 in the scout hut, starting in the autumn term.

"There will be a meeting on Monday August 24 if anyone interested in helping." 

* More information on Squirrels is available from: https://www.scouts.org.uk/squirrels/ https://scoutscymru.org.uk/be-a-scout/squirrels/

If you are interested in helping out or know anyone who might and would like to know more, get in touch with Roger Cragg at: gsl@llangollenscoutgroup.org.uk or call 07985 334357, or Lucy at: Squirrels@llangollenscoutgroup.org.uk or call 07951 262424, or you can follow the link on the Squirrels page of the group's website at:  https://www.llangollenscoutgroup.org.uk/squirrels/

Dyfan and his Westhead mates will be cheering on Wrexham tonight

Being in a hospital bed over 5,000 miles away isn't going to stop top fan Dfyan Hughes rooting for Wrexham as they take on Cardiff in the capital tonight (Monday). 

Eighteen-year-old Dyfan from Llangollen was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry as he and his two fellow Westheads were making their way through China on one of the final legs of their mammoth cycling trip from north Wales to Thailand earlier this month.  

And in their latest online update on his recovery this afternoon mates 19-year-old Louis Dennis from Garth and James Thomas from Wrexham are pictured with Dyfan - and one of his nurses - as they say: "We will be supporting the reds on from the hospital wards of Chengdu tonight! Huge first game come on the town!"

The dynamic trio are making their 10,000-mile odyssey in memory of Tony Edge, the father of their friend Harrison, who died following a heart attack in 2024. 

In the collision Dyfan sustained serious injuries to his scalp, neck and legs.

Despite this, he's been fighting his way back to fitness with Louis and James giving regular updates on his progress from his bedside.

In their latest full message they pledged: "We don't know when we're going to touch down in our final destination of Chang Mai but one thing's for sure - we are going to get there together."

Late last week they announced that they'd passed the £50,000 fundraising milestone in aid the British Heart Foundation.

* llanblogger is recording the lads' adventures along the way. To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation, go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads 

Care homes 'national treasures' we can't lose says sector boss

* Mario Kreft. 

Small community care homes in North Wales are “national treasures” that the nation cannot afford to lose, a social care champion has warned.

Mario Kreft MBE has used his place among the UK care sector’s most influential leaders to urge the new Welsh Government to protect care homes at the heart of their communities.

The Care Forum Wales chair said his inclusion in Care Home Professional magazine’s 2026 Power List came at a crucial time, with a new Plaid Cymru government in Cardiff and plans for a National Care Service placing the future of independent providers in the spotlight.

The call also chimes with Plaid Cymru’s pledge to champion homegrown Welsh small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr Kreft believes that the care homes and services rooted in local communities across Wales are exactly the kind of enterprises the new government has promised to cherish and support.

He said: “With the new Plaid government in Cardiff, there is an opportunity for a new beginning to highlight the fantastic work done by small and local businesses who provide the backbone of social care in Wales.

“The average size of a care home in Wales is 40 beds and the vast majority of them are owned and run by people, many of whom live in their local communities across the nation.

“The Prime Minister has spoken negatively recently about private equity funded care homes. I don’t agree that’s an issue in Wales where the typical example is a family-run operation with one or two homes.

“These dedicated people are proud to live in their community and serve their community, creating jobs, providing vital services, without which the NHS would cease to function.

“They are family-run Welsh businesses and it’s been heartening to hear that the new Welsh Government see the importance and value of homegrown  companies like this.

“That’s why it was pleasing to be named by Care Home Professional among this small group of people who are providing or are involved in social care.”

Mr Kreft, who is also the owner of the award-winning Pendine Park care organisation which has nine homes in North Wales, was awarded the MBE for his contribution to social care in Wales and was honoured with a Recognising Achievement Award by the Welsh Government at the St David’s Awards for his innovative work in health and social care.

“I have always stood up for small independent businesses because we started with just one care home with 14 beds so I could look after my grandparents and Gill’s granddad,” he added.

“We’re now one of the top five companies in Wales but we are tiny when compared with some of the giant organisations in England.

“Some of these big organisations are run by friends of mine and they are doing incredibly well but I think there is a specific issue for Wales with a new government that is not yet persuaded by the arguments to support independent care businesses  and is seeking to create a national care service.

“We need to demonstrate that the independent sector in Wales is an important part of that solution, whether care homes and home care companies are run by private companies or charities.

“The most important thing is that the people of Wales are caring for their own people, creating many local jobs.

“These are real community assets, rooted in their own communities and we have always in Care Forum Wales, and I have personally, been interested in supporting the little guy.

“One of many examples is Meryl Welsby who has run a care home in the rural community of Pentrefoelas in Conwy and has been providing care for more than 30 years.

“That’s a vital community resource that has and to grow to around 30 beds to be sustainable, homegrown service – it’s s exactly the kind of company that Plaid Cymru are talking.

“We are blessed in Wales to have lots of services close to people’s homes in their communities so you don’t have to travel far to visit your loved ones.

“But if they are not properly supported within a National Care Service they will not be able to survive – and once they are gone, they are gone.

“Nobody is going to build a new 30 bed home in rural area because it would not be financially viable whoever is running it – because costs of gone up and regulation is more onerous.

“We see cases time and time again where people are moved by the NHS and I know of one person from North Wales who was recently placed in a home in Bristol. It’s utter madness. What is the sense of taking people from their community.

“I’m all in favour of  anybody developing new services but it’s critically important that we don’t lose the vital services we already have.

“My message to the First Minister, as Plaid said in its manifesto,  is that Welsh companies should be cherished and supported because they provide investment and jobs, along with vital services in the case of social care. I would suggest that he should look at the sector in that light.

“Predominantly, people in Wales who need care need state support through local authority or health board funding.

“I hope, with colleagues, to be able to convince Plaid Cymru that supporting these national treasures is a very sensible thing to do, whichever way you look at it.

“So we are urging Plaid’s Senedd members to visit their local care homes and speak to the residents and staff who work in them and understand first hand how it alleviates pressure on our hospitals.

“This is about local people living and working together in their communities providing essential services that underpin the NHS in Wales.”