General election called for July 4

Prime Minister calls general election for July 4.

Town council decides against taking over Market Street toilets

* The public toilets in Market Street.

Llangollen Town Council has decided not to pursue the transfer of the town's existing public toilets in  from Denbighshire County Council. 

After thorough deliberation by the full Council at their meeting last night (Tuesday) it was resolved that neither taking ownership nor covering the full cost of Denbighshire County Council running and maintaining the public toilets would be feasible for the Town Council.

Un a statement town clerk Gareth Thomas says the decision was based on financial projections indicating "substantial losses" associated with the operation and maintenance of the facilities. 

If these projected losses had been added to the Town Council’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, it would necessitate a minimum precept increase of 57%, translating to an additional £45.26 per household. 

"Such an increase would place an undue financial burden on the residents of Llangollen," councillors concluded. 

The statement adds: "Denbighshire County Council has indicated that should the Town Council agree to the transfer, significant further expenditure would be required to upgrade the facilities to meet modern-day standards. This additional financial commitment would exacerbate the fiscal strain on the Town Council and its residents.

"The Town Council acknowledges the importance of public toilet facilities for both residents and visitors to Llangollen. However, the financial implications of taking on the full cost and responsibility of these facilities would compromise the Town Council's ability to fund other essential services and initiatives that benefit the community.

"Llangollen Town Council remains committed to working collaboratively with Denbighshire County Council to explore alternative solutions that ensure the continued availability and upkeep of public toilets in the town without imposing unsustainable costs on the local population."

Upgrade work on town gas network completed on time, says supplier

Work to upgrade the gas network in the Bache Mill Road area of Llangollen has finished on time.

Gas emergency and pipeline service Wales & West Utilities has finished the £400,000 work, which it says was essential to keep the gas flowing safely and reliably to local homes and businesses, keeping people warm for generations to come.

To plan the work Wales & West Utilities liaised with Denbighshire County Council and it was agreed that traffic management would be in place whilst work was ongoing.

Wales & West Utilities Adam Smith managed the work and said: "We are pleased to complete this work on time and would like to thank the local community for their cooperation.

"While most of the gas network is underground and out of sight, it plays a central role in the daily lives of people across Llangollen, and the wider area. Whether it’s heating your home, making the family dinner or having a hot bath, we understand how important it is for your gas supply to be safe and reliable and there when you need it.

"This work was essential to keep the gas flowing to local homes and businesses today, and to make sure the gas network is ready to transport hydrogen and biomethane, so we can all play our part in a green future."

* If you smell gas, or suspect the presence of carbon monoxide, call us on 0800 111 999 straight away, and our engineers will be there to help any time of day or night.

Collen Players back on stage for music hall and variety show

The Collen Players are heading back on stage. 

The popular Llangollen-based old time music hall and variety group are promising a "marvellous evening of melodious merriment and vivacious variety" at St Collen's Community Hall on Friday July 19, starting at 6.30pm.

They say: "Immerse yourself in an opulent odyssey of entertainment and enchantment and prepare for a dazzling display of dramatic delights, where every act astounds and every performance is pure perfection. Secure your seat for an unforgettable night of theatrical thrills and musical magic."

* Tickets, at £15 including a buffet supper, will be on sale soon.

One person airlifted to hospital after Horseshoe Pass incident

The Leader is reporting this morning (Tuesday) that one person was airlifted to hospital following a collision on the Horseshoe Pass yesterday, ambulance chiefs have confirmed.

* For the full story, go to: Patient airlifted to hospital after Horseshoe Pass crash | The Leader (leaderlive.co.uk)

Operatic's tough take on life inside takes no prisoners

* A scene from Bad Girls the Musical staged by Llangollen Operatic Society.

llanblogger preview

Llangollen Operatic Society is releasing a set of desperate jailbirds plus a bunch of equally hardcore screws onto Town Hall audiences this week.

From tomorrow (Wednesday) until Saturday a talented 17-strong cast – backed as usual by a highly competent production team and an accomplished orchestra – have been set free to present Bad Girls the Musical.

But if you’re thinking previous of prison-themed musicals you might have seen, forget it. Because Jailhouse Rock this definitely ain’t.

Based on the smash-hit TV drama series from the 1990s, the action takes place inside the fictitious Larkhill women's prison. 

* Trouble is never far from the surface in Larkhill women's prison.

But despite the dark comedy, which is ladeled out as thickly as prison porridge, and the excellent songs which accompany and fuel the action, this is strong stuff, with themes such as sexual exploitation, suicide and drug dependence tackled head on. And that means the dialogue is hard core too.

The opening scene of a young prisoner being put through the usual demeaning process – including a humiliating strip-search - of being checked in for her time behind bars sets the tone for the whole piece.

As the plot develops we gradually meet more of her fellow inmates and prison officers whose character weaknesses and strengths are magnified by their mutually captive situation. We see loud, brash and violent prisoners become protective of one another, or “screws” with dark traits become even darker.  

But, despite the challenging subject matter, this is a wonderfully well-handled piece of musical theatre with a polished cast which includes some real gems, such as Naomi Riley and Amie Harrison-Bickley as, respectively, prisoners Nikki Wade and Shell Dockley, and Louisa Jones and Sue O’Neill as officers Helen Stewart and Sylvia Hollamby. 

* ... but there's also some glitz on occasions.

Turning in a particularly fine take on loathsome principal officer Fenner is Kevin Williams.

There’s also some neat old lag-style cameos from log-time Operatic favourites Chris Platt and Jan Bellis.

The stage sets are bang-on from what we know of our grim Victorian nicks, and production values, masterminded by joint producers Tracey Kempster-Jones and Caroline Anthonisz, are extremely high.

Direction is as spot-on as we’ve come to expect from Chrissie Ashworth and choreography – yes, they do dance rather well around G Wing when they're not being abusive or violent – is skilfully guided by Sarah Marshall and Rob Stevens.

Stylish musical direction comes courtesy of Elen Mair Roberts.

Stage management is in the capable hands of Tessa Orton-Jones and sound smoothly done by JB Sound.   

* Bad Girls is on at Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday May 22 to Saturday May 25 with a matinee on the Saturday afternoon. Tickets are available from: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety

Grow Llangollen hears talk from permaculture specialist

* Grow Llangollen members hear from guest speaker Steve Jones.

Grow Llangollen held their eighth talk this last Thursday, welcoming permaculture specialist Steve Jones. 

Grow Llangollen is a community organisation working towards sustainability and food security by inspiring and supporting local people to grow food through community gardening, produce sharing, and informative talks and workshops.

Steve owns Sector39 training and is a partner at Treflach Farm near Oswestry, where he delivers a lot of his training. 

He led a fascinating discussion across key aspects of permaculture and how it can be delivered at garden or market scale, emphasising the principles of observing and interacting to understand energy systems and storage opportunities.

Permaculture is a form of land use modelled on natural ecosystems, following the cycles, diversity, and resilience found in nature. 

* Steve Jones.

Steve talked about the value and impact of community gardens he's started in Newtown which has helped transform engagement around food within the town. 

He was a founder of Cultivate Newtown, which started on an industrial estate when they were able to build a roundhouse which attracted growers. 

He explained how his work has required significant persistence with three burglaries in three years causing set backs, and some damage to trees planted - but that persistence has paid off: participation has never been higher and the vast majority of trees have thrived. You can read more about Cultivate Newtown here https://www.cultivate.uk.com 

Alongside places in Wales that he has worked, Steve gave fascinating examples of how devastated, unproductive hillside areas in Zimbabwe have been transformed by permaculture. 

In Chimanimani district in Zimbabwe, groups of residents have volunteered their time over the past 15 years to restore productivity and bring young people back to the land. Before and after photos can be seen here https://www.permaculturenews.org/2013/08/15/the-chikukwa-permaculture-project-zimbabwe-the-full-story/ 

He talked about how permaculture could be integrated into farming in Wales to restore the productivity of land as the UK is now among the most nature-depleted in the world.

The example from Zimbabwe prompted a discussion on how that volunteer-led achievement contrasts with expectations here that such projects need external funding and are often done by outsiders, perhaps missing opportunities to shape the future for ourselves by getting involved in practical initiatives. 

This led to a further discussion about how to get more people involved in community gardens at Bryntysilio, Pengwern and Corwen, who are all welcoming new volunteers. 

Steve also talked about the value of biochar in his work. Biochar is any organic material or 'biomass' that has been cooked at a high temperature with limited oxygen present. 

The approach creates a soil enhancer that stores carbon for hundreds of years, boosts food security, and increases soil biodiversity. While this is available commercially, it can be easily produced at a garden level too. 

Grow Llangollen will be organising a field visit to Treflach Farm to see the farm in action (the subject of another recent talk) and to learn how to make biochar. 

You can find more information about permaculture here: https://www.permaculture.co.uk/what-is-permaculture/

The next gardening session at Bryntysilio will be on Sunday May 26, from 10 am to midday.  

The next talk will be held on June 20, topic to be confirmed.

* For more information, you can message us on our Facebook page (7) Facebook or by email: admin@growllangollen.org