Learn to play the ukelele course planned

Plas Madoc wins £500,000 boost

Assembly Member Ken Skates has welcomed a huge investment by the Welsh Labour Government in Plas Madoc Leisure Centre.

The Clwyd South AM said he was delighted that communities minister Carl Sargeant had awarded a £500,000 grant for the facility, which was saved from the bulldozers after Wrexham Council leaders voted to demolish it in 2014.

“This £0.5m grant is massive for Plas Madoc, and I’m delighted for the team that their application has been successful. They really deserve this,” said Mr Skates, who was a founder member of the charitable trust set up to save the centre.

Mr Skates added: “I’m proud that the Welsh Labour Government has shown its support for Plas Madoc Leisure Centre, and I would like to thank Carl Sargeant for awarding this grant.

“The volunteers who run the Trust and the centre’s hard-working staff have done such an amazing job, from rescuing and reopening it initially to making it the success story it is now.

“The fact that Plas Madoc is even still standing is testament to a people power, and the public need to continue to support it as they have done so brilliantly over the past two years.”

Decision time looms for controversial homes scheme

* The site of the proposed housing development at Vicarage Road.

A controversial scheme to build 99 homes on land at Vicarage Road in Llangollen is likely to be decided within the next couple of months, according to a senior county planner.

Earlier this year Castlemead Homes submitted an application to Denbighshire County Council for the development, which includes a mixture of two, three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached properties.

But the scheme has sparked fears amongst people in the area that local roads will not be able to cope with the extra traffic it will generate both during construction and when the new homes are occupied.

The scheme has attracted considerable opposition and members of the group campaigning against it have submitted evidence to the council which they say shows the kind of traffic problems it would create on roads leading to the site from the town centre.

One of the opponents has just received notification from a senior planning official which says: “We are in the process of receiving various amended details in relation to the application. Once these details are complete and finalised then a re-consultation with interested parties will take place.

“The deadline to report to October Planning Committee has passed and therefore I would anticipate that the application will be presented to either the November or December Planning meeting.”

Planning permission to build 54 houses on land adjacent to Vicarage Road was granted to Castlemead on appeal by Denbighshire back in 2001.

Attached to the original application was a Section 106 agreement under which the developer was legally bound to build a new access road to the site before the scheme was started.

The field above the main site has since been included in the Local Development Plan at the request of the Planning Inspectorate to encourage the building of more houses to meet local demand.

Castlemead’s latest application has been to build a further 45 homes, making a total of 99 houses on four parcels of land.

A statement issued on behalf of the company by planning consultants in support of the application said it would not be economic to build the access road before construction work starts on the houses and suggests it should be put in place by the time the 31^st dwelling has been occupied.

As part of the formal consultation process, the town council has been able to give its official response to the application although a decision on it rests with the county council.   

At their May meeting all seven members of the town’s planning committee voted to object to the proposal.

In a subsequent development, the Welsh Government told the county council not to decide on the application until major road issues had been clarified.

Wales Rally heading for county

Denbighshire County Council is gearing up to welcome the sights and sounds of rally cars as the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB returns to the county for the third year running.

Two of the stages of this year’s Rally of Legends – the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship - will be staged in the Clocaenog Forest on Sunday morning, October 30^th.

Rally cars will be visiting Ruthin on Thursday 27th and Sunday 30th of October 2016 for servicing and refuelling purposes.

As a result, the car park on Park Road, Ruthin will be closed to the public, except permit holders from Wednesday October 26^th 2016 to Sunday October 30^th 2016  at 5pm.  

Permit holders will be permitted to use the car park outside the following hours; Wednesday October 26^th 6pm to 3pm Thursday October 27^th  2016 and Saturday October 29^th 3pm to 3pm Sunday October 30^th 2016.  On Sunday, 30^th October , rally cars will refuel between 8.30am and 2pm.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE said: “We are delighted to see the return of Wales Rally GB to the county.

“The commitment of Wales Rally GB organisers to return shows that Denbighshire and North Wales as a region is a great place to host major events of this kind. It is one of the key highlights of  rallying calendar with thousands of spectators visiting the stages to see the action and others taking to the streets to show their support to passing vehicles.

“We have a wealth of fantastic scenery and forest locations that are ideal for the sport and we are delighted to be working with organisers to help facilitate another successful event in Denbighshire."

Dayinsure Wales Rally GB comes to the historic town of Ruthin on Sunday, 30^th October.  Live coverage of the Brenig Stage will also be screened at Park Road car park on Sunday, 30 October.  The live broadcast begins at 9am , cars are expected to arrive in Ruthin at 9.50am, the refuelling will be completed  by 12.15pm and the live broadcast comes to an end at 1pm.

For further information about the rally, please visit: www.walesrallygb.com

Special landlord event to be staged at Pavilion

Denbighshire County Council is hosting its latest Landlord Roadshow at Llangollen Pavilion on Tuesday November 1.

The event, which runs between 12 noon and 7pm, is held twice a year by the council's Housing Enforcement Team and provides help, advice, training sessions and presentations for landlords in the county.

There will be help and advice with a range of topics, including Rent Smart Wales, Housing Disrepair, Housing Options and Homelessness, Letting Agents, Energy Efficiency, North Wales Police & Fire Service, Landlord Insurance, My Deposits and Direct Collection Bailiffs.

Training sessions and presentations include:

* 1pm – Rent Smart Wales – Short presentation on new legislation for landlords registering and licensing followed by Q & A

* 2pm – SJL Insurance Services – Presentation Landlord Insurance and how to avoid having your insurance claim refused followed by Q & A

* 3pm – North Wales Police – Training. What all landlords need to know about modern slavery followed by Q & A

* 4pm – Energy Grants – Presentation on free grants available to landlords followed by Q & A

* 5pm – DCC housing Services – Presentation about Landlord incentives, preventing homelessness followed by Q & A

* 6pm – High Court Enforcement Services as seen on TV’s ‘The Sheriffs are coming’ -  Presentation on Enforcement services followed by Q & A.

Organisers say there's no need to book a place at this event, and people can come and go throughout the day. 

* For more information, call  01824 706389.

Eisteddfod celebration ale to premiere at food show

* Raising a toast to Harmony Ale ... Hamper Llangollen chairman

Colin Loughlin with Ynyr Evans from Llangollen Brewery.

A craft brewery has created a special ale so beer lovers can raise a hearty toast to Llangollen International Musical Festival’s landmark 70^th anniversary next year.

Ynyr Evans, who heads up the popular Llangollen Brewery based in Llantysilio just up the road from the famous Eisteddfod site, will be helping ale aficionados say cheers to the iconic annual cultural event when he launches the tasty new brew at this year’s Hamper Llangollen food festival.

And he reckons they’re in for a real treat when they taste his Harmony Ale, inspired by the Eisteddfod’s proud heritage of using music to promote peace and understanding amongst nations.

Thousands of foodies are expected to flock to the popular food festival which will see the Denbighshire tourist town become the culinary capital of Wales over the weekend of October 15 and 16.

Next July’s Eisteddfod will see a round of celebrations to mark 70 years since the very first festival was held in 1947 to foster international reconciliation and friendship in the dark years just after the end of World War Two.

It was with this in mind that 31-year-old Ynyr decided to produce the new ale which he says is specially blended to create a subtly harmonious flavour.

“I’ve been working on the new ale for some months now because I wanted to get the taste just right,” he explained.

“It’s a medium brown traditional bitter which is well-hopped to produce subtle after-tones conveying the Eisteddfod’s atmosphere of harmony.

“I love the festival and have been going there for many years both as a visitor and supplier of beer for the on-field and indoor bars.”

To come up with the new Harmony Ale, Ynyr has brought to bear years of brewing experience which began when he and his uncle Steven Evans, who owns the Abbey Grange Hotel and a number of pubs in the area, went into the beer making business together back in 2010.

Their new brewery was based in what had been the Abbey Grange’s farm shop on the road up to the Horseshoe Pass and close to historic Valle Crucis Abbey.

Ynyr, who had previously obtained a degree in geography and a master’s degree in countryside management, recalls that in the early days they were producing just 250 litres of ale per brewing but that expansion of the operation rapidly followed.

He said: “We extended the brewery into the old stables behind the hotel and gradually upped our production to our current 2,200 litres per brew and also increased our staff to three full-timers and two part-timers.

“We sell to scores of pubs across North Wales and into the North West of England but concentrate very much on looking after our local customer base.

“We only use the finest ingredients and local underground water source to produce our distinctive country ales, which include Llangollen and Welsh Black Bitters, Grange No. 1 and Wrexham Borders pale ales and Llangollen Lager.       

“A couple of years ago we created a beer named Holy Grail inspired by a local legend involving the great Cistercian abbey of Valle Crucis and Dinas Bran Castle, on the hilltop towering over Llangollen.

According to the story, the castle is the final resting place for the Holy Grail, the cup that Christ drank from at the Last Supper and that there is a tunnel all the way down to the abbey below.

“We launched it at Hamper Llangollen and it went down so well that we’ve kept it in our product line-up.

“We’re doing a single brew of the new Harmony Ale, which means we’ll have 2,200 litres in nine gallon casks selling at about £3 a pint.

“Apart from launching it on our stand at the food festival we’ll also put some of it into local pubs to see what people think of it. If it does we'll consider keeping it too.

“We’re really looking forward to being at Hamper Llangollen again because it’s such a popular festival which we’d never think of missing and I can’t wait to unveil the new Harmony Ale.”

Eisteddfod marketing officer Megan McNutt was very impressed that Ynyr had taken the trouble to brew up the new ale especially for the festival’s landmark anniversary.

“It’s a lovely idea and we’re very grateful to him,” she said.

“It’s particularly nice to see the Eisteddfod being supported in this way by a very prominent local enterprise because apart from its international outlook, our festival relies very heavily on community support."

Hamper Llangollen chairman Colin Loughlin is also looking forward to sampling the new brew.

He said: "I think it's a wonderful idea to create a new ale to celebrate this major milestone in the Eisteddfod's history.

"The fact that the brewery has chosen to launch it at Hamper Llangollen is a perfect way of bringing two of the town's iconic festivals together.

“We're looking forward to a really special event this year. Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting."

* For more details about Hamper Llangollen 2016 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Wild Pheasant hotel has new owner

The Daily Post is reporting this afternoon that Llangollen's Wild Pheasant hotel has been sold - two months after its sudden closure.

For the full story, see: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/business/business-news/llangollens-wild-pheasant-been-sold-11975097#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Tackle Ruabon speeding, urge Labour duo

Wrexham Council has been urged to tackle speeding drivers ‘hammering’ through Ruabon.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates and local councillor Dana Davies say many residents have raised concerns about motorists routinely flouting the 30mph limit on the B5605, the busy main road through the village.

Mr Skates said: “A growing number of my constituents are raising concerns about speeding through Ruabon, which has been ongoing for many years and, sadly, shows no sign of slowing down. I know Dana gets a lot of complaints about it, too.

“There is a play area not far off the main road, and parents are rightly worried about letting their children cross it because of cars regularly hammering along. I have asked the council to consider traffic-calming measures to ensure – as far as possible – that vehicles stick to the speed limit, and hope to have a response soon.”

Cllr Davies, leader of the Labour group on Wrexham Council, said: “This is an issue I’ve raised repeatedly and one I get a lot of complaints about. You get cars racing along that main road on a daily basis, and we’re not just talking about a few miles over limit. Something needs to be done sooner rather than later.”

Mr Skates has also asked North Wales Police Chief Constable Mark Polin to consider enforcement action in the village as a deterrent.

Silver Band to hold ladies' fashion night

Llangollen Silver Band will be holding a Ladies' Fashion and Fun Night at the band room on Saturday, d October 22, from 7pm.

Tickets cost £3, with this including a free drink and nibbles.

Tickets can be bought from the market at the Fringe or from band members.

The band says it would also be extremely grateful of any donations of unwanted ladies' clothing that could be sold during the evening.

Donations can be taken to the band room on practice nights (Monday 6:45 - 9pm and Friday 6 - 8pm).

MP calls for more government support for charities

* Susan Elan Jones MP at the UK Labour Conference in

Liverpool with a representative of national volunteering charity Volunteering Matters.

Susan Elan Jones MP has called for the Government to think more carefully about it can best support charities during two speeches at this year's UK Labour Party Conference.

The Clwyd South Labour MP, who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Committee for Charities and Volunteering, spoke at meetings organised by the Charities Aid Foundation and Common Vision about the future of charities.

Ms Jones proposed new ideas on grants to cover overheads, accountancy changes to support social enterprises and the need for extra support for small, community-based charities.

The MP also called on the Government to scrap the Lobbying Act.

She said: "It was a great pleasure to take part in two very well-attended meetings with many people who work or volunteer for charities. I was very pleased to take part in these events and to work with many national and local charities in this way."

Dai Chef to recreate Pavarotti meal at Hamper Llangollen

A TOP celebrity chef will recreate the memorable meal he cooked for legendary tenor Lucian Pavarotti.

Dai Chef (left) will be sharing the superstar tenor's gastronomic secrets when he appears live at this year’s Hamper Llangollen Food Festival. 

Thousands of foodies are expected to flock to the popular event which will see the Denbighshire tourist town become the culinary capital of Wales over the weekend of October 15 and 16.

During his time at the Bryn Howel Hotel, Dai cooked for a whole host of superstar singers, including José Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, who came to appear at the Llangollen International  Musical Eisteddfod.

But the high of his glittering career for Dai was spending a week as personal chef to Pavarotti when he headlined during an emotional return to the festival in 1995.

Pavarotti's (pictured right) pilgrimage came exactly 40 years after he had first competed there as a 19-year-old member of the Chorus Rossini choir from Modena, Italy in 1955.

To celebrate the occasion Dai will weave his magic to prepare again the meal he prepared specially for the maestro in that glorious summer 21 years ago.

Dai, who is now executive chef at The Cliffs restaurant in Morfa Nefyn near Pwllheli, said: “At the time Pavarotti came to stay I was executive chef at the Bryn Howel in Llangollen, then one of the top five hotels in Wales.

“I was appointed as his personal chef for the week and used to serve him in the restaurant and his private suite.

“He was there with his father, Fernando, and a full entourage, including his promoter Harvey Goldsmith, and I used to prepare every meal for him.

“On the Sunday night after his smash hit concert at the Eisteddfod, just up the road from the hotel, I created a special meal for him and his 450 guests.

“I’ll never forget what it was. The starter was a smoked salmon and soft cheese roulade and the main course was Welsh sirloin beef flamed in whisky served with cream of wild mushrooms.

“The most memorable part of the meal for me was the dessert, which was a white chocolate and strawberry tart.

“Pavarotti loved it so much he asked me to prepare four more of them, although he didn’t eat them all there and then and took them back to his suite to serve to his friends and visitors.

“The story about this got out and led to a BBC2 TV documentary programme called Four Tarts and a Tenor.

“I must say the tart was so good I still serve it now at The Cliffs.”

Dai added: “This is exactly the meal I’ll be recreating for visitors when I do my live cooking demonstration at Hamper Llangollen, which is a festival I love appearing at as I was one of its original founders.

“Llangollen is actually like my second home because during my time at the Bryn Howel I lived in nearby Chirk and had the dual role of chairman and a second row player with Llangollen Rugby Club.

“I have cooked for other big names from the music world like José Carreras and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa but I’d say that working with Pavarotti was definitely one of the pinnacles of my career.

“It was one of those times when everything was just right – my own abilities, the hotel I was working in and the Eisteddfod – I’ll never forget it.

“Pavarotti himself was a fantastic man. He was at the top of his profession but never forgot his humble beginnings.

“Contrary to popular belief he wasn’t actually a big eater but he did eat often.

“While he enjoyed the larger set-piece meals I’d say his favourite dish, which I prepared for him often at the Bryn Howel, was a simple soup or potage made from a tiny bit of pasta with something like little pieces of lobster, fillet steak or asparagus.

“I’d so that for him in the morning and he’d eat bits of it throughout the day perhaps with some fresh bread and cheese on the side and a sprinkling of the balsamic vinegar from his home town of Modena.

“He told me his mother used to make it for him and he loved to eat it during his downtime in his room with his father. It was his comfort food, if you like.

“I also remember getting in boxes of fresh lemons, which he used to help his voice.”

Dai added: “Throughout the week the paparazzi were hanging around the hotel trying to find out what he was eating but I never told them anything as I was sworn to secrecy.

“All sorts of things were happening, like the old guys from the Modena choir who came with him singing in the car park of the hotel and some big Welsh cob horses being bought in to go through their paces for everyone.

“It was a real festival week with real celebrities and I want to recreate a little of that atmosphere with the meal fit for Pavarotti I’ll be preparing at Hamper Llangollen.

“I love the Llangollen event because, unlike some food festivals, it’s not in a marquee but in a proper setting with a big stage, which gives it a real sense of theatre when you’re doing cookery demonstrations.

“I also look forward to Llangollen because of all the old friends I meet there.”

Dai was born and raised in Aberystwyth and trained at a culinary college in Haverfordwest.

He gained his initial experience in the kitchens of some of the largest hotels in London’s West End and by the age of 21 he was the youngest chef saucier – in charge of the creation of delicious sauces – at the world famous Carlton Club in St James’s.

Later, Dai became head chef at the White Hart restaurant in Lewes, Sussex, and for a time was the personal chef of the owner of Simpson’s in The Strand, which is based in the same building as the capital’s iconic Savoy Hotel.

He then returned to Aberystwyth to run his own restaurant and during a 12-year period starting in the 1990s was executive chef at the Bryn Howel Hotel.

In 1996, Dai captained the Welsh team at the Culinary Olympics when it won a bronze medal for its culinary skills, and soon afterwards he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Glyndwr University in Wrexham.

After spell as a chef trainer – many of his pupils are now working in some of the world’s finest restaurants – Dai took another hands-on role as chef director at the Ship Inn at Red Wharf Bay on Anglesey and was later executive chef at the Bodnant Welsh Food Centre.

At The Cliffs, which has just undergone a £1 million refurbishment, he is in charge of a six-strong kitchen team and co-ordinates the preparation of up to 100 meals a night.

Hamper Llangollen chair Colin Loughlin is delighted Dai Chef is returning to the food festival again.

He said: "Dai is an exuberant character and a talented chef which is a recipe for success at the food festival.

"His appearance this year will be all the more memorable because he's recreating the meal he cooked for Luciano Pavarotti which will stir a great deal of interest.

“We're looking forward to a really special event this year. Thanks to a whole host of indigenous companies, North East Wales is rapidly establishing a reputation as a centre of excellence for high quality cuisine.

“The food festival is a perfect shop window for the companies who form the backbone of our rural economy.

"The location of the Pavilion is absolutely spectacular - I can't imagine that any other food festival in the UK has a more beautiful setting."

* For more details about Hamper Llangollen 2016 visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com and for more information about Llanvalley Natural products go to  www.llanvalley.co.uk

Labour duo praise primary school after visit

Children at a community primary school played host to their MP and Assembly Member.

Susan Elan Jones and Ken Skates visited Ysgol Acrefair and met Rebecca Turner, who became headteacher 12 months ago.

The Clwyd South politicians were full of praise for the school and staff.

Ms Jones said: “It was a very enjoyable visit, and I would like to thank Mrs Turner and her team – and especially the children – for such a lovely warm welcome. It’s clear that the relationships between staff and pupils are very positive, which contributes hugely to the children’s high levels of enthusiasm to listen and learn.”

Mr Skates said: “Ysgol Acrefair’s last Estyn report rated both the school’s performance and prospects for improvement as ‘good’, and while that was a few years ago it is obvious that the many positives highlighted then still apply now. The children are happy and well-behaved, and the school has a wonderful, friendly atmosphere.”

Mrs Turner added: “We were delighted to welcome Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones to discuss our exciting plans to provide a greater range of support and activities for parents and children and the wider community of Acrefair.”

County urges people to join #LoveLiveLocal campaign

Denbighshire Council is encouraging residents to get involved in their #LoveLiveLocal campaign and be in with a chance to win prizes every month until Christmas.

The council wants people to share pictures of lovely purchases they’ve made locally to the hashtag #LoveLiveLocal on Twitter or share pictures with them on Facebook and they will automatically be entered in the draw to win a six-month membership to any Denbighshire gym and leisure centre.

The campaign has the backing of many local businesses across the area and the support of local politicians.

Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: ‘It’s really important that people get behind the businesses in their local towns and villages. Sharing the wonderful things that can be bought locally is one way to do this. In the run up to the festive season, the more people who are posting and talking about shopping in Denbighshire the better.’

The campaign aims to build up a network of user experiences of Denbighshire businesses and if you visit the hashtag you can see what a wonderful array of products and services are available in the county but we want it to become bigger and better and that relies on the public to share their positive experiences using the hashtag to create that online community. 

It also has the backing of our local business champions.

Upgrades planned for county leisure centres

Leisure centres across Denbighshire are set to undergo a digital revolution, with a programme of investment being introduced to expand and improve digital services county-wide.

Customers will see an enhanced service with the digital developments providing opportunities to make our leisure centres more modern and fit for the 21^st Century.

The first project is the installation of three ‘fast track kiosks’ at Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen Leisure Centres.

These will complement the facilities already in place at Rhyl Leisure Centre and Nova, Prestatyn and will allow existing members to book into and register for activities in seconds, without the need for any delays at reception. 

In September,  all seven leisure centres (Llangollen, Corwen, Ruthin, Denbigh, St Asaph, Rhyl and Prestatyn) will have wi-fi installed.

As more of the fitness suites migrate onto “the cloud” and many customers use their own personal devices to track their fitness progress, improved connectivity for mobile and smart devices has become a necessity.  In response to customer demand, wi-fi will become available in specific areas in each site. 

October will see the relaunch of the denbighshireleisure.co.uk website.  With a new cutting edge look, the redesigned site will provide improved, but simpler access to information for customers, via an improved layout.  Popular information, such as swimming and class timetables, will be available in a few simple clicks. 

By the end of 2016, the website will also incorporate facilities for online booking of activities and online booking for fitness membership, with both of these initiatives currently being finalised.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Acting Cabinet Lead Member for Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be introducing a range of brand new developments at our leisure centres.  They will be of great benefit to existing and brand new customers, with the latest technology assisting us in our efforts to improve the customer experience.

“More and more people expect to receive services at the touch of a button. Our latest investments will allow people to benefit from this, whilst also maintaining a more traditional approach through a front desk reception area.

“These latest developments support our commitment to keep investing in our leisure offer in Denbighshire."

Funding for community projects announced

Nine projects across Denbighshire are to benefit from funding allocated as part of the Town and Area Plans.

The successful projects include Llangollen Sports Club, £5,400 for new grass-cutting equipment and Pentredwr, £3,000 for Community Centre refurbishment.

This funding will be allocated between now and May 2017.

This was the last tranche of funding for projects.

Llan Youth Choir tuning up for Christmas

Llangollen Youth Choir are looking forward to Christmas already.

They are working hard with Elen Roberts on their festive repertoire, some classic pieces and some requests from the singers too.

With new recruits having joined at the last September rehearsal there are more places available for singers in school years 5,6,7 & 8. 

Monthly Saturday morning rehearsals at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Please email singing@llangollenyouthchoir.com for any information and find all news on www.llangollenyouthchoir.com and the Facebook page: Llangollen-youth-choir – which is managed by Ceylon Orton-Jones, a year 8 singer.

Board game group has first meeting

A new Llangollen board game group has its first meeting at the town’s RAFA Club this Friday evening.


Running between 7 and 10pm, it’s masterminded by local man Kenny Goodman who said: “This is the first time I've done it and this is the only board game night in Llangollen.


“There will be a good mix of board games including Splendor, Pixel Tactics, Scrabble, Cludo, Pokemon Master and people are welcome to bring their own board games.


“I'm looking to create a family and enthusiast-friendly group.”


Kenny added: “Donations towards the RAFA Club charity and the board game group are much appreciated as this is a free event.  All donations to either goes towards keeping it going.”


* For more details, see:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LLBGG/


https://www.facebook.com/events/1763059597315157/

Louisa gets back on her bike for a great cause

* Louisa Jones is ready to climb back into the

saddle for a marathon charity challenge.

AN INTREPID Llangollen Operatic Society member is getting back on her bike for another marathon charity challenge.

Back in 2012 Louisa Jones, 37, took part in a gruelling 260-mile cycling expedition through India in aid of three women’s cancer causes, raising over 3,000 along the way.

Now she’s planning to climb back into the saddle for the same three charities - Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

From February 6-17 next year she will be joining a group of 70 women to cycle 450km (280 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

* Louisa on her Indian challenge in 2012.

Louisa, who works as a project manager and lives in Chirk, said:  “This is the second time I have taken on such a challenge, having successfully undertaken the Women V Cancer Cycle India event in November 2012, which took a group of us across rural Rajasthan in aid of the same three causes.

“Although fairly fit, I am not a cyclist so the event will require me to undertake quite some training in order to get to the level of fitness and stamina needed to complete six days of cycling in a very different climate and terrain.

“It will be no easy task but I believe it will be extremely rewarding both personally and in terms of the benefit to the charities and the excellent work that they do in the areas of research and support. Without the generosity of donors, they simply could not continue.

“Through sponsorship and fundraising activities, I am aiming to raise at least £1,700, 100% of which will go directly to the charities. I will be paying all tour and administrative costs of about £1,500 myself.”

* To sponsor Louisa, go to her fundraising page at:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Louisa-Jones9

llanblogger notches up £200 from Memory Walk

* Phil at the finishing line with his medal.

llanblogger raised £200 to help in the battle against dementia when he strode out in the Alzheimers Society's first ever Memory Walk in Delamere Forest on Saturday morning.

Phil Robinson joined around 3,500 fellow trekkers in the big event, which was part of the current season of walks being held across Britain with the aim of raising £6.4 million to help finance research into the distressing condition which affects 225,000 people in the UK each year.

Phil chose to walk the route around the lake in memory of two close members of his family who suffered from dementia.

He said: "It was a fantastic day which saw upwards of 3,500 people gathering on the car park at Delamere to take part in the first Memory Walk to be held there.

"There was a real carnival atmosphere, with a Zumba warm-up session before we all headed off into the forest, where we found a drum band in a clearing who were helping to set the pace for us.

"On the walk it was amazing to see the little cards attached to people's official teeshirts describing who they were remembering as they marched on - parents, grandparents and spouses.

"There were people of all ages, from tiny tots to more mature walkers and, as they went along they were sharing their stories about why they had decided to get involved.

* Thousands of people gather before the start of the Memory Walk.

"Almost as numerous as the human trekkers were the dogs people had brought along with them - some proudly wearing their Memory Walk teeshirts or Alzheimers Society scarves."

* Out on the trail.

* A four-legged walker proudly wears the official Memory Walk teeshirt. 

He added: "The whole thing was brilliantly organised with walk marshalls dotted along the route to make sure everyone was ok and didn't get themselves lost.

"I understand that the current season of walks will involve around 100,000 across Britain, and if they have as much fun as I did it's something they'll never forget.

* A drum band helps set the pace for walkers.  

"I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me, enabling me to comfortably hit and then better my fundraising target of £150 to make £200 for this extremely worthwhile cause."

* See Phil's Justgiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Philip-Robinson8

Balloons take flight again ...

Another balloon flight this morning ...

   ... and last night's fireworks ...

Bring homes back into use, says county

Owners of empty homes across Denbighshire are being encouraged to return their properties to use to provide extra housing and deter antisocial behaviour.

There are a number of financial incentives available to assist empty home owners in bringing their properties back into use, from Welsh Government interest free loans to local authority assistance. 

The council can also help with project managing the works and give advice on how to get a reduction on VAT for renovation works to empty properties.

Currently there are around 700 long term empty properties in the county and an Empty Homes Officer has been allocated to help home owners with the process of returning their empty properties back to use.

Councillor Barbara Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Modernisation and Housing, said: “Long term empty properties are a cause for concern and homes left empty for more than six months are a wasted resource in an area of high housing demand, they can attract crime, vandalism and antisocial behaviour as well as being a financial burden on owners."

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for the Public Realm, said: “We understand that the prospect can be stressful and overwhelming so Denbighshire County Council have allocated an Empty Homes Officer who is available to offer tailored advice and support for anyone returning their property to use. 

"This includes advice on how to make the most of your property, renovation advice, financial advice and advice on selling your property, with all advice and assistance tailored to individual circumstances. An empty home needs to be looked after as much as one which is lived in, it makes financial sense to put your vacant property to use.”

Additional benefits can be gained by bringing a property back to use, including giving the owners a financial return, removing the burden and worry of being responsible for a vacant property and also provide extra homes in the County without the need for new builds.

Denbighshire County Council is keen to assist owners in returning their properties to use, however in circumstances where the property is considered to be having a detrimental effect on the neighbourhood and local amenities and all offers of voluntary assistance have been rejected, the council says it will consider taking enforcement action which could involve issuing an improvement notice to make the owner to bring their property up to current housing standards, enforcing the sale of the property or serving a demolition order.

For home owners wanting to find out more on this service or if you would like to have a discussion regarding your empty property, contact the Empty Homes Officer on:

Empty Homes Officer, 
Built Environment Team,
Caledfryn,
Smithfield Road,
Denbigh,
Denbighshire,
LL16 3RJ

Or you can email: built.environment@denbighshire.gov.uk / 01824 706717.