Llan Food Assembly has its successful launch

* Food assembly organiser Robyn Lovelock (right) with (left) producer

Timothy Parry, who runs Mug Run roasted coffee in Rhyl, and Llangollen town

councillor Phil Thane.

LLANGOLLEN is the first town in Wales to launch a completely fresh way of buying food. 

The area’s new Food Assembly is an online service that brings people together to buy food directly from local farmers and food producers.

Customers in Llangollen can order food online before picking it up weekly at a local pub, the Ponsonby Arms, where the assembly was officially launched last night (Wednesday).

All the food comes from within around 26 miles of the area, meaning that for every £1 spent, 90p stays in the local economy. 

Weekly shoppers can choose from unique local products, such as organic veg from Babbinswood Farm, oak-smoked cheese from Knolton Farmhouse Cheese, and award-winning bangers from family-run business, Pen-y-lan Pork.

* Mike Ford shows off his Pen-y-lan pork sausages.  

There will also be plenty of pastries, artisan bread and other local and seasonal goodies. 

Community is at the heart of the food assembly – it connects neighbours to farmers, neighbours to each other, and everyone to their food. 

The initiative is organised by Robyn Lovelock from the town who said: “Llangollen is the first town in Wales to have its own food assembly.

“The launch event was very successful and we signed up 40 people on the night. We’ve also had lots of interest on our website.

“While we have some fantastic locally produced food in the area, it can be difficult to find in one place and to buy outside of working hours.

“I’m excited that the food assembly will bring some together local farmers and producers with customers keen to buy fresh, tasty local food and other products.”

She added: “I hope the idea will bring another dimension to food options in Llangollen, supporting its Cittaslow slow food status and adding to the great selection of restaurants and delicatessens already here.” 

At last night’s launch event local customers had the chance to meet farmers, food makers and their neighbours, taste local food samples and see where their food comes from.

Among the half dozen or so producers present was Mike Ford, owner of Pen-y-lan Pork based at Crabtree Farm, Eyton.

He said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the food assembly which I think is a great idea.”

Mike, who recently met Sir Terry Wogan when he visited Chester during filming for his recent TV series touring Britain in a London cab sampling its local food, added: “All our products are produced using only the finest local ingredients and I’m glad to be offering them in this new way to the people of Llangollen.”

* For more information and to register as a customer or producer, go to www.thefoodassembly.com and search for Llangollen, or call Robyn on 0779 9896108.

Llan choir to stage pavilion concert

* Llangollen Male Voice Choir.

Free after three parking for Christmas

Denbighshire County Council has announced that the "Free After 3" parking scheme will again be in operation this year to help support our town centres in the run up to Christmas. 

The scheme provides free parking in all council operated pay & display car parks in town centres after 3pm on a daily basis.

The scheme will starts on Saturday, 21^st November and will operate until the 31st December 2015.

The car parks included in the initiative are:

Corwen
Green Lane

Denbigh
Multi-storey
Crown Lane
Factory Ward
Post Office Lane
Vale Street

Llangollen
East Street
Hall Street
Market Street
Mill Street

Ruthin Crispin Yard (Cae Ddol)
Dog Lane
Market Street
Park Road
Rhos Street
St Peter's Square
Troed y Rhiw

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “We are delighted to be offering this free after 3 initiative again this year.  We feel this is a good way of encouraging people to support the town centres and to access the wide variety of goods and services available from our local businesses."

 

This initiative coincides with the Small Business Saturday initiative across the county where the Council is urging people to support their local businesses and services on December 5^th and in the run up to Christmas.

Friends stage attic sale at Town Hall this Saturday

An attic sale will be held in the foyer of Llangollen Town Hall on Saturday November 21,  from 10am to 4pm.

Tickets (£1) for the grand draw will also be on sale.

Prizes are a luxury hamper, two tickets for Jools Holland at the Eisteddfod, two tickets for the Fringe, two tickets for New Dot Cinema plus popcorn, ceramic table lamp, embroidered footstool, bottle of whisky, antique print of Plas Newydd and other prizes.

The draw to take place in the Town Hall on Friday December 18.

 

The Friends of Llangollen Town Hall were formed in 2010 to improve the facilities for all users of the Town Hall.

 

It is in the process of completing the new LED lighting and house lights and has already provided extra staging, backstage curtains and a new electric piano.

 

The money raised from the attic sale and raffle will go towards the refurbishment and repainting of the building's interior.

Weather warning in place

A yellow "be aware" warning for heavy rain and gales has been issued for this area by the Met Office.

Storm Barney, Britain's second named storm, is expected to bring heavy winds to most of Wales, reaching up to 70mph (113km/h) inland and 80mph (129km/h) along the coast.

Up to 6cm (2in) of rain is expected, with warnings in place from 10:00 GMT for Conwy, Denbighshire and Gwynedd.

This may lead to localised flooding and travel disruption, the Met Office said.

Crime tsar wants public's help with new police plan

Crime tsar Winston Roddick is urging people across North Wales to help him draw up a new blueprint for policing the area.

 

The North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (pictured) wants all communities, groups and representative bodies have a stronger voice in telling the police what they think is most important and what they are most worried about.

 

Mr Roddick is updating his Police and Crime Plan and is keen for as many people as possible to be involved in the process.

 

The commissioner is organising a series of consultation meetings across the region so people can share their ideas.

 

Alternatively, residents unable to attend any of the meetings can respond via an online survey on his website www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk

 

All the meetings will be attended either by Mr Roddick or his deputy, Julian Sandham.

Mr Roddick said: "North Wales is one of safest places to live, work and visit in the UK. and I want to ensure we keep it that way.

 

"Crime in the area has been reduced in recent years and as Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, my job is to ensure this continues.

 

"My overriding objective, where I start from, is that people should feel secure at home and safe in public places and that the police should be visible and available when needed most.

 

“There is an open invitation to all parts  of the community to share their views.

 

“As the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, I have statutory duty to consult local people on policing priorities.

 

“In consultation  with the force, I draft an annual Police and Crime Plan and in order to do that the police and I  need to be aware what local people believe  the policing priorities should be.

 

"My aim is to ensure that the views, needs and expectations of all parts of our communities are reflected in the plan.

 

“I am accountable to the people when it comes to crime and anti-social behaviour  so it is vitally important for me to find out what people think about how the region should be policed.

 

“The updated Police and Crime Plan will set out in plain English and Welsh the level of service people can expect to receive from their local police force.

 

"I meet with several individuals and organisations on a day to day basis and i do listen to their concerns and how we can improve the policing service.

 

"The most impactful changes that I have implemented to date have been as a direct result of what people have told me.

 

"The rights and interests of victims will be at the heart of the Police and Crime Plan and with that in mind a new Victim Help Centre was established earlier this year and specialist teams have been set up to combat cyber-crime and child sexual exploitation.

 

"The dedicated rural crime team was created following the rural communities telling me that rural crime was not dealt with effectively in north Wales, this rural crime team is now well established in north Wales and has made an outstanding difference to tackling crime in rural communities.

 

"The plan will also focus on the rehabilitation of offenders with the aim reducing crime which will in turn mean there are fewer victims of crime.

 

“The purpose of the Police and Crime Plan is to ensure the force is paying specific attention to those points which have been identified as crucial by the public, me and indeed by the force itself.

 

“An important part of my role as Commissioner will be to monitor the force’s compliance with the plan and I will be rigorous in holding them to account on behalf of the people of North Wales.

 

"There is no escaping the significant financial challenge that North Wales Police has already overcome.

  

"By the end of March 2016, over £24m will have been cut from its budget.  It is therefore to their credit that North Wales Police have continued to perform so well during this time of unprecedented cutbacks.  

 

"However, there is also no escaping the fact that the significant financial challenge will continue over the next five years.

 

"When taking into account the savings already achieved, and those to come, the public will recognise that it represents a challenge of great significance and one which will lead to a change in the way policing is carried out in North Wales."

 

* The meetings are being held Eirianfa, Denbigh, January 11, Glyndwr University in Wrexham, January 13 and at the Village Hall in Ruabon January 14.

 

Anybody wanting to contribute ideas can also do so via an online survey on the Commissioner's website www.northwales-pcc.gov.uk or they u can e-mail the Commissioner’s office OPCC@nthwales.pnn.police.uk  or write to the Commissioner at Glan-Y-Don, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8AW.

 

A paper copy of the survey is available by contacting the OPCC and at front counters of main police stations.  The deadline for submissions is January 15.

 

Area is world class food destination, says candidate

* Mabon ap Gwynfor with Steven Evans, proprietor
of Abbey Grange, Llangollen and the Llangollen Brewery

--

Visit Wales should promote Wales and the Dee Valley and Wrexham area especially as a world-class food destination, according to Plaid Cymru – The Party Of Wales’ candidate in Clwyd South, Mabon ap Gwynfor.

He said that more resources should be given to promote the "excellent" quality of food produced and served in the area following the news that The Hand at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog was one of only 19 pubs throughout Wales to make it into Michelin’s Eating Out In Pubs Guide 2016.

This follows the success of Abul’s Spice in Corwen winning the best Curry House in Wales award with Maahis, of Ruabon, coming and Tyddyn Llan in Llandrillo winning a Michelin Star.

 

In addition, The Berwyn restaurant, also of Llandrillo, was awarded one of the top 20 restaurants in Wales by Trip Advisor, and there are exciting plans for Pale Hall, Llandderfel to link up with Michelin starred chef Michael Caines.

Mabon ap Gwynfor also highlighted the quality of food production in the region, citing the Chirk Trout Farm, Craft Ale and Micro Breweries such as Llangollen Brewery, and the world-renowned Welsh lamb and beef reared on local farms.

He said: “Our restaurants, pubs and producers are producing and serving food of the highest quality. We are developing a reputation as a go-to destination for quality food and atmosphere in an environment unmatched elsewhere.

 

"The Llangollen Food festival, which was held last month, gives an excellent taster of what we have to offer.

“The Hand at Llanarmon is a lovely place and being included in the Michelin Pub Guide is recognition of the hard work that has been put into developing the place as a foodie destination.

"Pubs, restaurants and food producers in this area have won numerous awards over recent years.

"Visit Wales should consider using more of their resources to promoting Wales, and this area in particular, as a high-quality food destination. 

"They bring a lot of money into our local economy and the potential to bring in more is huge. It is also a more sustainable economy as they buy local produce from the farm gate. This, in turn, would help our farmers during what is a difficult period.”