The county council is reporting that a temporary one-way system has been installed on Market Street, Llangollen, and George Street has been closed, to facilitate urgent works to restore water quality by Hafren Dyfrdwy.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Christmas Festival raffle results announced
Results of the Christmas Festival raffle, which were drawn at the Bridge End Hotel this Tuesday, are below.
The the raffle committee will be contacting the winners over the next few days to arrange handover of their prizes.
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More after-school play sessions available in Llangollen
One of the team's winter activities.
Both Llangollen and Cowen now have further after-school provision available through the county council’s Play Ranger service.
These sessions are funded through the Welsh Government’s Community Focused Schools funding, which will help to deliver safe play sessions for young people in both South-Denbighshire towns. The sessions are currently funded up until October of 2026.
Parents, carers or guardians are encouraged to fill in the application form for each child to register a place in these sessions. Parents can also register at the session if needed.
The Play Ranger sessions currently run on Wednesdays at Clawdd Poncen playing field from 3:15pm until 4:45pm and in Llangollen’s Pengwern Park on Mondays from 3:15pm until 4:45pm.
These play sessions are held for children aged 6-13 years old whilst children under 6 are welcomed, but must be accompanied by an adult.
Rhiain Morrlle, Head of Children's Service said: “We have this funding up until October of next year, and we are really excited to have these sessions available in both Corwen and Llangollen.
"I’d like to urge and parents or guardians who may have interest in these sessions to register through the form.”
Councillor Diane King, Lead Member for Lead Member for Education, Children and Families, said: “Play is an integral part of childhood, helping with imagination, development and socialisation from a young age.
"These sessions are run by our excellent Play Ranger service, who run fun and exciting sessions for young people in Denbighshire.
"The team have listened to the community and recognised the need for these sessions in both towns.”
* To attend, parents/carers can fill out a registration form per child: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/leisure-and-tourism/forms/play-ranger-service/play-ranger-service-registration-form.aspx
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Bus firm's 'urgent' request to drivers in Llan after vehicles are blocked
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A bus firm has made an "urgent" request to drivers in Llangollen after thoughtless motorists have been parking on double yellow lines - causing blockages for larger vehicles.
* For the full story in Wales Online, go to: 'Urgent request' to drivers in popular North Wales town - Wales Online
MS calls for more collaboration to solve parking issues at Maelor
* Sam Rowlands MS at the Wrexham Maelor car park.
Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, wants the council and health board to work together to resolve parking problems at Wrexham Maelor hospital.
Speaking in the Senedd this week, Mr Rowlands, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure highlighted the importance of infrastructure to cope with a growing population.
He said: “In my region of North Wales, at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, there is a particular issue with parking at the hospital, which has been exacerbated because of population growth, which is a welcome thing, but the infrastructure needs to be able to follow that growth as well.
“Constituents, patients, visitors and staff report daily difficulties at the site. People arriving for appointments are arriving stressed, anxious and often late because they cannot find safe and available parking. Staff working long, demanding shifts are facing the same challenges. And this is not just a minor inconvenience, of course, it's a barrier to care, a risk to patient well-being and a strain on an already pressurised workforce.
“It strikes me that councils are well placed to support health boards with this, not just in terms of developing infrastructure to support these sites, but also perhaps in the management and perhaps enforcement at these sites as well, because councils are experiencing this day in, day out with their own car parks.”
Mr Rowlands asked Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, did she agree that councils and health boards should be working together to see how issues like this at Wrexham Maelor Hospital can be resolved, considering the expertise that sits within local authorities.
The Cabinet Secretary said she would be happy if Mr Rowlands would write to her about the particular issue at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
Mr Rowlands added: “It is quite clear that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board need support to help fix these long-running parking issues at the hospital and welcome any move which move the matter forward.
“I do think, however, that it is also something which needs input from the Welsh Government and I will certainly be writing to the Cabinet Secretary in more detail.”
Monday, December 15, 2025
XPeng G6 is good but is it my car of the year?
XPeng G6 drive by Steve Rogers
Chinese brands are moving the fastest across the UK and in the words of one industry analyst ‘they are no longer a side show, they are the main event’.
If you want a reason why then take a look at this. The stunning XPeng G6 is the company’s first model to hit our roads but at least the Chinese can’t take the credit for its exotic styling. That is the work of a Spanish designer who has plied his trade at Lamborghini and Ferrari.
The electric G6 has hit the ground running with performance, range, fast charging, and technology that is both mind blowing and infuriating. It is impressive enough to drop into my shortlist for car of the year but you will have to read to the end to find out if it has taken the crown.
The styling is there for all to see, SUV size with flowing coupe lines, there are no creases or angles here, just nose to tail smooth.
Inside is where it gets interesting. Typical Chinese minimalist layout, the dashboard dominated by a near 15 inch touchscreen, the only switches are on the steering wheel, and then the blood pressure starts to build trying to figure out how to perform the simplest of functions.
The single interface controls everything. I reached to the driver’s door to adjust the mirrors, it is always there or thereabouts. Nothing. After a lot of trawling through sub menus on the main screen I discovered a diagram which showed the door mirrors are adjusted from the steering wheel. The same screen dive applies to setting the regenerative braking strength.
Frustrating though it was, you cannot help but admire the level of technology the Chinese have brought to motoring. Yet for all that the G6 doesn’t have keyless entry, or does it? Maybe I couldn’t find how to activate it.
What I will say is thank heavens for voice control. A little robot appears on the screen and will control the heated or ventilated seat levels and steering wheel heat, adjust heating temperature or fan power, sort out a destination and find a radio station. Just as well because I even struggled to find my favourite stations.
When I finally cracked the radio I discovered a huge catalogue of music offering hundreds of albums and artists from every genre backed up by a formidable 960W 18 speaker sound system, a great way to listen to your favourite bands or classical composers. Best advice is to travel with a nerdy teenager who will suss this tech challenge in no time.
One final mystery… the G6 didn’t appear to have a glove box, or did it? I pressed everywhere without any luck so is the opening buried in a menu? Someone will know.
Aside from the technology woes the cabin is a great space with smart contemporary trims, solid build quality, comfortable seating and loads of room front and back. The front seat backs fold flat so you can have 40 winks while the car is being charged. Back seat passengers in particular will appreciate the impressive glass roof. G6 seats five in comfort and there is ample boot space for luggage.
For a first effort XPeng has done its homework on the technical front. The G6 is based on 800-volt technology and with DC charging capacity of up to 280kW can reach 80% in less than 20 minutes. A new G6 coming early next year will do the job in 12 minutes. An overnighter will charge the car at home.
There are two battery choices, a lithium-iron 66 kWh with a 270-mile range or a nickel 87.5 kWh with a range of up to 354 miles. A heat pump is standard and will reduce battery wear when the heating is turned on.
Performance from my larger battery model is brisk and the predicted range turned out to be pretty accurate. Next year’s twin motor all wheel drive model will have even more power and match the best of the opposition on acceleration.
Ride quality is a shade above average, G6 is not uncomfortable but as with many of the Chinese brands the suspension settings don’t provide a good enough cushion against poorer road surfaces.
So how has G6 done? Well it hasn’t got my car of the year, that goes to the perfect Kia EV3 ahead of the Seat Tavascan with XPeng G6 a worthy third given this is a first effort. It looks fantastic and delivers on performance, range and safety features and is very well equipped. Not bad out of the 37 road tests this year. Interesting that my top three this year are electric.
Fast facts
G6 Long range
£44,990 (starts £39,935)
Battery 87.5kW
Range 354 miles
0-62mph 6.2secs; 280bhp
Zero emissions. 1st tax £195
Boot: 571-1374 litres
Insurance group 44
Town Council invites people to join free community art project
Llangollen Town Council is inviting anyone who loves to be creative to be part of a new free community art project.
They are asking people to help create some beautifully decorated wooden benches that will be placed around the Llangollen area.
And to do this they'll be using pyrography – a fascinating technique that burns designs into wood – with the aim of helping bring local stories and creativity to life.
A council spokesperson said: "No experience is necessary, all designs are provided and our skilled tutor will guide you every step of the way. It's suitable for adults and families with older children and completely free to take part in."
A taster session is arranged for Tuesday January 13 when the tutor will show everyone how to use the pyrography tools and help them to create small items to take home, such as a keyring or coaster.
This will prepare them for the four weeks of two-hour sessions where they will work on their own benches.
The spokesperson added: "This session would also be particularly suited to adults - or parents with children in school as the sessions are on Tuesdays, 9.30-11.30am, or 11.45am-13.45pm, on January 20 and 27 and February 3 and 10 - and to home educated families with parents and older children taking part together to decorate their own bench.
"The benches will be installed around the Llangollen area later in the Spring. No previous art experience is necessary as the tutor will guide everyone through the process and provide a choice of designs to use."
* If you'd like to get involved, use the link below or scan the QR code on the posters above.
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