Full programme for Saturday's Christmas Festival

 

* Sion Corn will start Saturday's

Christmas Festival.

 

The arrival of Sion Corn – Santa Claus – at the town’s station will mark the start of this year’s spectacular Llangollen Christmas Festival on Saturday. 

Herladed by a town crier, the grand old man will then lead a grand parade, starting at 1pm, along Castle Street, Market Street, East Street and Parade Street to the Town Hall where he will take up residence in his grotto ready to welcome young visitors who will receive a small gift from him.  

To avoid long queues to see Sion Corn tickets will be sold in advance at quarter-hour time intervals. Thes will be available in advance from the Tourist Information Office in Llangollen and the Town Hall on Saturday.   

Oak Street will be closed from 10am-6pm where street entertainment, market stalls, music and dancing will take place. 

Also on the afternoon’s packed entertainments programme are facepainting, magicians, storytellers, morris dancing, circus acts, a samba band and Llangollen Silver Band. 

There will be lots of musical entertainment throughout the day, with a number of local choirs performing on the Chapel steps until the Christmas lights are switched on about 5.30pm. 

Youngsters from local schools Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant have entered competitions to see who will have the honour of lighting up the town at the big switch-on ceremony, which will be followed by fireworks display.

Donations towards the festival have been made by the town’s Chamber of Trade and Tourism, as well as other organisations and individuals. 

There have also been a number of fundraising events, including a bingo evening at the RAFA Club and a sponsored car wash with the help of the fire service.  

Collection boxes in various locations in the town and have raised over £100 so far. 

The festival fund was also boosted by Chamber of Trade and Tourism chair John Palmer who did a gruelling sponsored run from Corwen to Glyndwfrdwy and then swan six miles down the River Dee to the Horseshoe Falls. 

Pitches will be available at various locations across the town for those who bring their own stalls but tables will also be available in the Town Hall and the Band Hut in Parade Street at a cost of £20, and anyone interested should contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or Gareth Thomas on 01978 861345. 

The festival is a community event run and organised by volunteers, and net proceeds from the event will be donated to Hope House Children’s Hospice in Oswestry.  

If you would like to take part and help with the arrangements, particularly on the day, then contact Ian Parry on 01978 753897 or email: parry.ian@btinternet.com

 

Programme of Events

 

The Parade 

1.00pm from Railway Station

(Castle Street/Market Street/

East Street/Parade Street/Town Hall)

1.         Town Crier 

2.         Silver Band 

3.         Various Groups 

4.         Vintage Car  

   5. Horse & Carriage with Town Mayor                                                                                        

6. Morris Dancers

 

7. Circus Acts

 

8. Sion Corn  

 

9. Karamba Samba Band                                                             

10.            Fire Engine

Chapel  Steps – Castle Street

 

1.30pm       Ysgol Bryn Collen Choir

1.50pm       Ysgol Y Gwernant Choir

2.10pm       Llangollen Silver Band

2.45pm       Melodic Mondays Ladies Group

3.05pm       Llangollen Male Voice Choir

3.25pm       Karamba Samba Band

3.45pm       Operatic Society

4.05pm       Pantomime Group

4.25pm       Clerical Error Morris Dancers

4.45pm       Llangollen Silver Band

5.15pm             Announcements:-

                        Raffle Prize Draw

                        Best Dressed Window

                        Town Mayor’s Address

5.30pm             Switch on of Christmas Lights

                        Firework Display

                        Circus Acts

           Other Entertainment

 

Sion Corn’s Grotto in Town Hall

(Tickets, £4.00 each, are timed every quarter of an hour to avoid queuing and are available in advance from Tourist Information Centre and from 1.30pm on Saturday from the Town Hall Foyer).

 

     Town Hall Area       - Raffle Tickets

     - Hog Roast

     - Mulled Wine

 

Nativity Feature – Castle Street

 

Storytelling/Music/Magician/Balloon Man at Castle Courtyard

 

Face Painter – Band Room, Parade Street

 

Market Stalls in Town Hall/Band Room/Oak Street

(Open from 12 Noon to 5.30pm. Refreshments available in Town Hall and Band Room)

 

Oak Street          -  Children’s Rides

-      The Tower

-      Market Stalls

-      Musical Entertainment

-      Hog Roast

Also throughout the afternoon there will be Circus Acts, Morris Dancers, Magician, Storyteller, Balloon Man, Busker performing at various locations in the town

Health shake-up decision delayed

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has announced it will delay any decision on a major shake-up in North Wales health services until the New Year.

 

The proposals contain plans, which have sparked a barrage of protest locally, to close Llangollen Cottage Hospital and replace it with a new health centre somewhere in the town.

Llyr Gruffydd, North Wales Plaid Cymru AM, said: “The decision by BCUHB’s management to delay the decision until the New Year on its centralisation and downgrading proposals is, I believe, a direct result at the tidal wave of opposition to these plans.

“Whether it’s the criticism of plans to close community hospitals and downgrade others or the discredited notion of moving neonatal intensive care to England, it’s clear that the sustained campaign by so many different groups has taken them by surprise and forced a rethink.

“I hope this is not just a pause. I hope they will read, as I have, the many considered and thoughtful positive alternatives being proposed and think again. We want an improved local health service in the North not one that forces people to travel unreasonable distances to access services and tries to impose a metropolitan model on what is a very diverse region.

“The battle to ensure the best possible care for people in the area isn’t over, but a small victory has been won today. I think everyone who has marched, attended a meeting, lobbied their Assembly member or written to express their views can be proud that they have forced the Betsi Cadwaladr management to pause to consider their next move.”

North Wales leg of Tour de France suggested

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called on the Welsh Government to do all it can to bring a British leg of the Tour De France to North Wales.

Tour De France race organisers ASO have recently signalled a desire to bring a leg of the prestigious race back to Britain, possibly as early as 2014 or 2015.

British Cycling, the Governing body of the sport in the UK, has proposed a ‘Grand Depart’ stage which would see the UK leg started in Edinburgh and end in the South East, with racing in Wales being contained on the third day.

The move would need backing from the Welsh Government and the AM is hoping North Wales can be involved in the stage..

A second rival bid comes from Yorkshire, who hope to have the stage in entirely in their region.

 

Mr Skates said: "In recent weeks there has been a clear sign from ASO, the organisers of the Tour De France, that they want to bring the race back to the UK very soon in order to capitalise on the huge explosion of interest there has been in cycling since the Olympics.

“There are two rival bids for the UK Leg, with British Cycling backing a bid which includes Scotland, England and a portion of the leg in Wales. Given this, I can think of no better place to hold the race than here in North Wales.

“There aren’t many top level sporting competitions that North Wales can host, we will always miss out on the big stadium-based events to South Wales. However for an event like this North Wales is perfectly suited given the spectacular local scenery and the numbers of people who would come out to line the route.

“Given the surge in popularity for the sport and the economic benefits that could be won by staging a route in North Wales, I am hoping the Welsh Government will work with ASO and British Cycling to explore how the region can be involved.

“A gruelling Clwydian Range leg of the Tour De France could be spectacular and do wonders for how we promote and market the area.”

A report by Transport for London highlighted how the British Leg of the 2007 tour, the last time a leg was staged in the UK, attracted crowds of over three million and generated over £70million for the London economy alone.

The First Minister said Welsh Government discussions were ongoing with partners involved in staging a British leg of the Tour De France.

New support for volunteers and sports clubs

Denbighshire Leisure service has launched an initiative to help support volunteers and community sport clubs across the whole of North East Wales.

Linking with Wrexham County Council, Sport Flintshire and Glyndwr University,  Denbighshire Leisure service will support clubs through free training and resources so that they can provide the best setting for volunteers within their clubs.

Clubs will need to meet some simple criteria and will be able to work with the council to benefit from better links with young volunteer sport leaders at local schools, specialised students from Glyndwr University, which can be as vast and varied from accountancy, to physiotherapy, ground maintenance and computer technology, good practices to create a more positive environment for current volunteers, and ways to advertise efficiently for new volunteers.

Councillor huw Ll. Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Toursim, Leisure and Youth, said: “Volunteers are the backbone of community sports clubs. Many clubs wouldn’t exist without such dedicated volunteers and this initiative will help community sport clubs recruit and retain more volunteers in a variety of roles.

“With the success of the Olympic and Paralympic games in London this year, this initiative will help to increase participation at all sport clubs through the county.”

Some sport national governing bodies are already backing the campaign along with Sport Wales. Hockey Wales is currently preparing the same criteria for their new club accreditation programme as the recommendations for this volunteer kitemark scheme.

Debra Barker, the North Wales Regional manager for Hockey Wales , said: "It's good to see that national governing bodies, local authorities and Sport Wales are looking to work together with sport clubs to help improve the offer across all sport for volunteers in North Wales.”

For more information on the local free courses on offer from this month, free sport development resource CD or to meet a Leisure services representative to plan how your club can move forward together. Contact the Coach and Volunteer development officer Matt Hilliker on matthew.Hilliker@denbighshire.gov.ukor 07798742290 or follow this link to the Denbighshire Leisure website:http://www.denbighshireleisure.co.uk/events.html

County council "out of touch" with Llan, claims KLS

* One of Llangollen's long-term empty properties.

Mike Edwards, chair of Keep Llangollen Special, attended the National Regeneration Summit 2012 at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay last week.

 

Here, specially for llanblogger, he gives impressions of what it meant for Llangollen. 

 

 

* Mike Edwards
 

The summit, which I attended on behalf of Keep Llangollen Special, focused on the problems facing town centres and local economies in the difficult financial climate the country is enduring. 

There were a number of interesting speakers and workshops examining amongst other things

community empowerment and innovative ways of endeavouring to solve the varying problems facing towns up and down Wales.  

The Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage addressed the conference and drew particular attention to the consultation document "Vibrant & Viable Places" which sets out a new regeneration framework and the consultation which is open until January 14 for all interested parties to make their representations on the proposed framework. 

Town and city centres up and down Wales are suffering badly in the current economic climate, as revealed in recent data from the BRC that 11.3% of shops were vacant across the UK, but that 15.1% of retail units were currently vacant across Wales.  

Up to now Llangollen has fared relatively well in this respect with only a small number of shops being vacant in the defined town area, but there are a number of other properties which have been vacant for years and stand derelict and are eyesores in the town. 

It was interesting to hear from one speaker from Denbighshire CC saying that in other parts of the local authority's area they had stepped in to break this cycle of decline and acquired such properties for regeneration projects – perhaps these approaches will be taken in Llangollen to protect an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and World Heritage Site Buffer Zone? 

Keep Llangollen Special consider that Denbighshire's approval of a planning application to build an out-of- town supermarket in contravention of the Welsh Government’s planning policies in relation to protection of town centres and sustainable development will have a severe impact on the vibrancy and viability of Llangollen town centre.  

In addition to this Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board intend to close the Community Hospital in 2013 and eventually relocate the GP Health Centre to an edge of town location and possibly  take with it other facilities such as dental, chemist and support health services which are currently available to residents in a central town location. 

Denbighshire CC is totally out of touch with the community it serves in Llangollen and the Welsh Government’s thinking on vibrant and viable places and their statement that: "Everybody in Wales should live in vibrant, viable and sustainable communities with a strong local economy."  

We call upon Denbighshire to address these issues and develop strategies to deal with vacant unused and underused properties in Llangollen and protect and develop and properly market the "brand" of Llangollen and its numerous independent shops and supporting local supplier network.

Texts will remind patients of hospital appointments

* Texts will be sent to remind outpatients of appointments at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which covers Llangollen, has launched a text message reminder service for all outpatient appointments.

In future, patients will be asked for a mobile phone number at the time of booking and agreeing their appointment date and time.

 

Four days before the appointment they will receive a text reminder to confirm their appointment arrangements.

 

Patients can choose not to receive such a reminder.

Rachel Whitehall, the board's assistant director planned care, said: “Lives are getting busier, and it is all too easy to forget an outpatient appointment, particularly when the date is fixed well in advance.

 

"But each missed appointment wastes staff time and leaves other patients having to wait longer to be seen. By introducing this service we hope not only to help patients themselves with a gentle reminder, but also reduce the number of no shows at outpatient clinics.

“The new text service started on Monday, November 19 and if we can demonstrate that patients are finding the service useful and the ‘did not attend’ rates are reducing, the text service will become a permanent feature."

Welsh Assembly should have new powers, says report

The Daily Post is reporting today that the Welsh Assembly should be granted new powers to raise taxes and borrow funds to boost capital spending, according to a commission.

The report adds: "But a year long inquiry by the Silk Commission suggests that the ability to vary income tax in Wales should follow only if agreed in a new referendum.

"It also rules out devolution of corporation tax to Wales unless it goes ahead in Scotland or Northern Ireland.

"Borrowing powers for the Welsh Government to boost infrastructure should also be ‘subject to prudent limits agreed with HM Treasury’, the study concludes.

"The 198-page report ‘Empowerment and Responsibility: Financial Powers to strengthen Wales’ makes 33 recommendations to Welsh Secretary David Jones.

"The proposals to hand Wales its own tax and borrowing system for the first time represent ‘a significant change which should be implemented step-by-step to build experience and balancing risks to the Welsh and UK budgets’, the report says."

See http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/11/19/give-wales-its-own-tax-and-borrowing-system-says-silk-commission-55578-32261830/

Minister will have final say on health shake-up

* Elin Jones AM.  

Campaigners battling to preserve local health services in Llangollen have welcomed an exchange between Plaid Cymru and Health Minister Lesley Griffiths in the Welsh Assembly.

Plaid’s health spokesperson Elin Jones said to Ms Griffiths:  “Minister, it is important to have a national medical perspective to help plan hospital service configuration  “However, the independence, transparency and integrity of the national clinical forum are important. “It needs to be independent of the Government and the interests of individual health boards.  “Despite events surrounding the possibility of rewriting specific documents, do you agree that there is now a clear divergence emerging between the medical opinion of the national clinical forum, which wants to reduce the number of large general hospitals, and the medical opinion at a local health board level, especially in Hywel Dda Local Health Board and Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board, which want to keep a lot of what they already have, much to the pleasant surprise of some of us? “Given this divergence of medical opinion, locally and nationally, do you now accept that, ultimately, decisions on hospital configuration will have to be taken by you?”

Ms Griffiths (pictured right) replied: “When we started out on this process, I always knew that a part of it would end up on my desk. That is obvious. “I also knew that there would be a divergence in opinion. “I also know that there are many vested interests as we go through this process.  I will come in right at the end, when we have those definitive reports.” A spokesman for the local health service campaigners described the Senedd exchange as “good news”.

 

Tough action demanded over tree disease

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates has called for the Welsh and UK Governments to work together to manage the spread of Ash Die Back in North Wales.

Chlara Fraxinea – otherwise known as Ash die back - is an imported fungal disease and experts suggest it has the potential to be as dangerous as Dutch Elm Disease which wiped out 25m trees in the 1970s and 80s.

100,000 Ash Trees in England have been destroyed by the disease with Wales' first case being confirmed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) in Carmarthenshire.

The AM said its spread to North Wales was ‘almost inevitable’ and called for ‘clear and co-ordinated’ guidance to help those with infected trees on their land.

Mr Skates said: “Unfortunately the spread of this disease to North Wales is almost inevitable. What we need now is strong leadership from the Welsh and UK Governments and clear guidance being given to landowners who discover this disease on their land in North Wales.

“Infected trees need to be reported quickly and we need clarity as to whether they should then be cut down or left in situ. We need to be guided by expert scientific opinion on this matter, my only concern is to make sure that this happens quickly.

“We also need have clear guidance on how to handle leaf litter, because of the danger of diseased spores being moved to other sites. From this point onwards it may well be a case of moving resources to manage the outbreak as best we can when it finally comes.

“I raised this issue in the Senedd at the start of October, calling for a ban on imports of nursery stock. Sadly we have gone way past that and it now threatens the very survival of some of the most beautiful and historic Ash Trees in North Wales.

“Landowners and members of the public need to be better informed and I will be pressing the Minister for clear guidance from the Welsh and UK Governments.”

Ash dieback was first recorded in Eastern Europe in 1992 and spread over two decades to infect most of the continent.

The first confirmed case in the UK was recorded at a nursery in Buckinghamshire back in March.

Extra housing land earmarked in Llan

Llangollen is one of the areas where it is being suggested extra houses are built to meet future housing requirements in Denbighshire.  

Across the county more than 8,000 new homes could be built as part of the Local Development Plan (LDP) currently under consideration by the Welsh Government.

Proposed sites include greenfield locations in villages  and extra plots have been added to the county’s draft LDP after the Welsh Government said Denbighshire’s initial proposals were insufficient.

Mike Edwards, chair of the Keep Llangollen Special group, points out that among the sites suggested is a 0.26-hectare piece of land at Wern Road in the town which would provide space for eight dwellings.  

Mr Edwards said: “This this is small scale development, but it does impinge on the greenbelt area on the lane which leads up to Castell Dinas Bran and appears to be outside the existing settlement boundary.

“On a general point there is limited scope fortunately for new development within Llangollen due to the topography.”

A recent public meeting was held in Denbigh to oppose the extra homes plan.

Opponents claim tdditional houses across the county would place an “intolerable” burden on the county’s services and infrastructure.

Amongst the additional sites are plans for 172 houses on land at HM Stanley Hospital in St Asaph, 84 on land adjacent to Ysgol Heulfre, Denbigh, 59 on land at two sites in Ruthin and 15 on land at Cynwyd.

Other sites are at Bodfari, Cyffylliog, Dyserth, Llanarmon yn Iâl, Llanbedr DC, Llanfair DC, Llangollen, Llanrhaeadr, Prestatyn, Rhuallt and Rhuddlan.

A hearing on the LDP is due to take place in late January.

Ysgol Dinas Bran goes international

Ysgol Dinas Brân has launched its new Comenius project, with seven other European countries - Estonia, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, the Czech Republic and Turkey. 

The aim of this two-year project is to investigate the nature of young people's beliefs, in Europe.

It will involve a number of mini-projects and tasks, coupled with visits by both teachers and students.  

The first event at the school will be the launch of the logo competition, so that the overall project, its final book and its website will have a logo that represents its theme. 

The initial visit was to the Czech Republic, where, in Uhersky Brod, teachers and students had a programme of meetings and events, culminating in their participation in a candlelit procession and a folklore evening. 

Each country will take two teachers and three students to each meeting, the next of which will be in Estonia, in March 2013, followed by Sardinia, in April. 

Wales will host in May 2013 and the project will end in Germany - the project co-ordining country -  in 2014, where there will be a big festival to mark its conclusion. 

Peter Williams, the school’s international co-ordinator, said: “We are hoping that the project will help our students to look more closely at what they believe, themselves, as well as the society around them.

“We are hoping, equally, that they will be able to broaden both their cultural and linguistic experiences, as all student visits are homestay ones.”

New police commissioner speaks out

North Wales' new Police and Crime Commissioner says he will be accountable for "every penny and every decision made".  

 

In a statement on his website, Winston Roddick, (pictured below) who was elected to the new post on Thursday, says: "It is a great honour for me to have been elected as the first Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales.

"The people of North Wales who voted yesterday have shown that they want an independent commissioner.

 

"We now need to ensure that this new role works effectively for the communities of North Wales.

 

"Turnout was low for these elections across the UK, but the voters have made a choice.

 

"What is important now is that we work together to ensure the best possible police service for North Wales.

 

"As your Police Commissioner I will act independently of any outside interference and I will not let politics get in the way of delivering the best possible police service.

 

"During my campaign, I promised to increase the visible presence of the police, to ensure security at home and safety on our streets, to work with the Chief Constable and officers to ensure the best police service.

 

"I promised to reach out and build partnerships inside and outside the criminal justice system and be accountable to you for every penny spent and every decision made.

 

"These are now my top priorities.

 

"During the coming weeks I will set out how the office of Police and Crime Commissioner will work and how we will reach out and to communities across North Wales.

 

"I will meet the Chief Constable at the earliest opportunity and start working with him and his officers.

 

"I would like to express my sincere thanks to all those who supported my campaign and who voted for me."

Police promote plan to reduce cycle theft

* North Wales Police are helping you to protect your bike against theft.

Your local Police Community Safety Team are promoting Bike Register which is a free online bicycle identification and registration initiative which is intended to reduce cycle theft, identify stolen bikes and assist in owner recovery.

Norman Hughes, a Crime Reduction Officer, said: "It is possible to register on line athttp://www.bikeregister.com/ or by returning the registration forms to the Community Safety Team. Bike Register may also be contacted via their free phone number 0800 587 4739.

"Registration forms have been distributed to local cycle stores who have agreed to provide the forms with each new purchase during the Christmas period.

"As a team we have also contacted local cycling clubs promoting the scheme highlighting the possible benefits.

"The support we have received has been very encouraging and I urge everybody to register as it is free and could assist in the recovery of stolen bicycles."

He added: "Once registered, details are posted on a secure on-line database which Police Forces across the country have access to.

"Owners also receive a free log book and specific crime prevention information.

"We have intentionally highlighted this initiative during the Christmas period as bicycles could be included on wish lists of presents.

"The initiative is intended to promote crime prevention and not to raise the fear of crime."

More information is available on the North Wales Police website http://www.north-wales.police.uk/Advice & Support, Bicycle Security.

Llan residents offered special Christmas deal

In a special Christmas deal Llangollen-based Whitewater Active is offering local residents 20% off a range of outdoor activities.

Until December 24, they can make the saving on white water rafting (Llangollen only), kayaking, climbing/abseiling and gorge walking vouchers.

A company spokesperson said: “At the centre in Llangollen we offer rafting and kayaking on the River Dee, climbing / abseiling at Trevor rocks and gorge walking at Bwlchgwyn.

“We do offer other activities at various locations but it will be the four activities mentioned that we would like to promote to the residents of Llangollen at a reduced rate.

“Rafting takes place on the River Dee here in Llangollen and is a two-hour activity. We provide wetsuits and all safety equipment but the customer is required to bring a pair of trainers that they don’t mind getting wet, swimwear and a towel.

“Kayaking also takes place on the River Dee in Llangollen and again is a two-hour activity. As with the rafting we provide wetsuits and all safety equipment but the customer is required to bring a pair of trainers that they don’t mind getting wet, swimwear and a towel.

“Climbing/abseiling takes place at Trevor Rocks, customers are required to meet at the centre first to collect their safety equipment then they are required to drive to the rock face in their own vehicles. This activity lasts for three hours.

“Gorge walking also lasts for three hours but that does include the travel time to Bwlchgwyn, and again customers are required to meet at the centre first and then drive to the gorge site in their own vehicles.

“Full details of all the activities can be found on our website www.whitewateractive.co.uk.

“You can now purchase a voucher for any of the activities mentioned above for only £44 per person when this is usually £55 per person.”

Conditions are:

·         Vouchers are valid from 25.12.2012

·         Vouchers expire 30.06.2013

·         Bookings required via phone on 01978 860763 quoting reference KLS20

·         Not open to trade customers

·         Minimum number of people required for activities to take place

Roddick wins North Wales PCC election

* Winner - Winston Roddick. 

Independent candidate Winston Roddick has been elected as North Wales' first Police and Crime Commissioner.

Low turn-outs have been recorded in yesterday's elections across the UK.

In Denbighshire turnout is said to have been a meagre 16.7%.

Mr Roddick scored victory over four other candidates in North Wales - another independent, one Labour, one Tory and a UKIP representative.

He is a barrister and former senior legal adviser to the assembly.

PCCs, as they will be known, will be responsible for setting priorities for their police force, overseeing its budget and hiring the chief constable.

Mr Roddick beat Labour's Tal Michael in the second round of counting.

He began his career as a police constable in Liverpool before becoming a barrister and has been a crown court recorder.

The count went to the second round, with the second preference votes from other candidates going forward.

Those candidates eliminated after the first round were Irish-born Colm McCabe, the Conservative candidate, a former chief officer for the special constabulary in North Wales; Richard Hibbs, a Llanduno-based businessman, an independent, and Warwick Nicholson, a retired police officer, was Ukip's only candidate in Wales.

Latest roadworks in the area

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following roadworks in the area:

Berwyn Road, Llangollen, until November 17, temporary traffic lights to allow water works by Dee Valley Water. 

Pendre Road, Berwyn, until December 6, road closure to allow work by DCC Bridges. 

A5, Corwen, Highgate Crossroads to A5104 junction, from November 21 to December 5, road closure to allow work by Electricty Alliance West. 

A5, from Carreg Afon to Heol Llanundain, temporary traffic  lights to allow retaining wall works by CCBC Structures Trunk.  

Bridge Street, Corwen, from November 19-25, temporary traffic lights to allow improvement works by Amberon.

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, junction of Castle Street, November 11, stop go boards to allow drainage works by KTL Contracting.

Louisa speaks direct from India

* Louisa, left, celebrates the end of her marathon ride with a well-earned glass of champagne. 

We have now received the final e-mail from Llangollen Operatic’s Louisa Jones describing how she felt after completing her gruelling 260-mile charity bike ride through India.

Louisa, 33, has been taking part in the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

Along the way Louisa and her fellow cyclists had to contend with pothole-strewn roads and soaring temperatures sometimes over 30 degrees.

In her last message she says: “Well, today at approximately 12:00 Indian standard time, we arrived at our final destination amid much whooping and jubilation.

“I woke up at 6am feeling refreshed and re-energised and the final 40km through hilly terrain just flew by as if it was the first day. It was a great feeling to know we were on the home stretch.

“2km before the finish line, we all stopped, tied balloons to our bikes and helmets, then cycled the final stretch together.

“It was an amazing experience as we celebrated with champagne and group photos and a lot of people were very emotional. Indeed, I still can't quite believe that we have cycled 350km (260 miles) in four and a half days, sometimes in blistering heat, on a diet of curry twice a day (oh for a plate of baked beans!)

“I am even more amazed by the women themselves; I am amongst the youngest of the group. The oldest lady is 65 and the average age is around 42. Many have had or are still recovering from cancer or getting over other personal challenges. Everyone has a story but no one has wallowed in it and the support and camerarderie shown has been humbling; it has been about completing the challenge as a team and not as individuals.

“We are now on the coach to Jaipur where we are looking forward to a proper shower and bed. Tonight we will celebrate our achievement with a party, then tomorrow we have time in the city before heading back to Dehli in the early hours of Sunday for our flight home.”

In earlier messages this week, Louisa told how at one stage along the road she had been catapulted over the handlebars of her bike after being cut up by a jeep.

She also revealed how, later in the trip, she and many of her fellow cyclists had been suffering from the dreaded “Delhi belly”.  

Louisa flew out to the sub-continent on Friday of last week and after a short period of acclimatisation began her marathon ride which took her and around 90 other intrepid women cyclists from across the UK from the city of Agra – home of the iconic Taj Mahal - through the rural state of Rajasthan in north-west India to the capital, Jaipur.

To maintain their tight schedule the group, ranging in age from their twenties to sixties, had to average around 40 miles a day.

The route followed was far removed from the usual tourist trails and took riders both on and off road.

In advance of her trip to the sub-continent Louisa raised the cash necessary to guarantee her a place on the ride.

Thanks to strong support from family, friends and work colleagues she managed to burst through the £2,800 qualifying barrier some months ago and pledges are still coming in.

She also made  a personal contribution of £500 towards her fundraising total, which will be distributed between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’ Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

+ To make a contribution towards Louisa’s challenge go to http://www.justgiving.com/louisa-jones2012/eurl.axd/5805f2ef88f5e749aa33e11e94dbaeb7   

Louisa completes her Indian charity challenge

* Riders celebrate the end of their charity challenge. 

Llangollen Operatic star Louisa Jones has completed her gruelling 220-mile charity ride through India.

A message on Facebook from the challenge organisers this morning (Friday) says: " ,,,,,,,, And the challenge is over... The last cyclist has crossed the finish line.. Congratulations to the girls of Group 3... Wonderful show!!!"

Louisa and around 90 other intrepid woman cyclists from across the UK have spent the past week riding through the sub-continent as part of the Action for Charity’s Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge to raise cash for three women’s cancer charities.

Along the way they have battled rough roads and soaring temperatures.

Louisa has been keeping llanblogger readers in touch with her progress with a series of e-mails.

Communications permitting, we hope to bring you her final message later today. 

Help available to get empty homes back into use

People in Llangollen looking to return empty properties back into use can now apply for financial help thanks to a new scheme.

The Houses into Homes scheme has made over £2.35 million available to people across North Wales in a bid to provide people with much needed homes.

In Denbighshire, over £300,000 has been made available.

The Welsh Government scheme provides interest free loans to enable the renovation, improvement and conversion of empty properties for use as residential accommodation.

Eligible properties must have been empty for six months or more.

Single units of accommodation can receive a loan of up to a maximum of £25,000, with a maximum loan of £150,000 available per applicant.

Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for housing, Councillor David Smith, said: “This funding is extremely welcome and will go a long way in helping turn empty or derelict properties into homes for people across the county.”

Huw Lewis AM, Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, said: “Empty homes are, quite simply, a wasted resource. There are approximately 20,000 long term empty properties across Wales, depriving people of a much needed home and blighting the community.

“Providing good quality, affordable homes for people is a priority across Wales and we have been exploring a number of ways to help us meet the growing demand. We hope the Houses into Homes scheme will encourage landlords, home owners and developers to come forward and turn empty properties into homes.”

For more information about Homes into Houses scheme, contact
Debbie Nalecz, Empty Homes Officer on 01824 706817 or debbie.nalecz@denbighshire.gov.uk

MEP opens new local office

 

* From left, Wrexham county councillor Arfon

Jones, Jill Evans MEP and Denbighshire

county councillor Arwel Roberts at

the opening of the new office.

Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales MEP Jill Evans has opened a new office in the centre of Wrexham.

The official opening of the Regent Street office means she is the only MEP in Wales to have maintained an office in the north since being elected.

 

She is the senior Welsh MEP, having been first elected in 1999, and covers the Llangollen area.

Ms Evans said: “I’m really pleased to open an office again in Wrexham, which, as the largest town in the north, is such an important regional centre.

“Our office here is in a good position to deal with constituents’ concerns and I’m delighted to have welcomed everyone here for the opening. I encourage people to contact me to give me their views, ask questions or raise concerns. They can do that by coming into the office or by telephone or emailing jill.evans@europarl.europa.eu ”

As well as a number of Party of Wales members, county councillors Arfon Jones (Wrexham) and Arwel Roberts (Denbighshire) attended the opening.

Located in the same building is Plaid Cymru the Party of Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd, who represents the North Wales Region in the National Assembly, Jill Evans represents the whole of Wales in the European Parliament.

Council's Christmas service announced

Get in the festive spirit and join Denbighshire County Council for a celebration of Christmas at St Asaph Cathedral on Wednesday, December 5, at 7pm.

Along with traditional carols and Christmas readings, there will be performances from talented Denbighshire pupils.

Tea, coffee and mince pies will be served following the service in the cathedral.

People are advised to park their vehicles at either the Cathedral car park or at Ysgol Glan Clwyd.

A collection will be made on the evening in aid of the chairman’s chosen charities, St Kentigern Hospice, Rhyl Lifeboat and Vision Support.