Colourful Christmas Festival lights up the town

* The lights in Castle Street right after the switch-on.

Thousands of people flocked to Llangollen's annual Christmas Festival this afternoon (Saturday) and llanblogger  was on hand to record some of the colourful scenes.

* Sion Corn waves to the crowds waiting in Castle Street.

* Chris Burton, dressed as Rudolf, belts out some 60s and 70s sounds in Centenary Square.

* People look for bargains at the Christmas fair inside the Town Hall.

* Market Street was turned into a foodies paradise with the Light Up Local Food stalls.

* The children's fairground ride swings into action in Market Street. 

* The parade heads into town led by a horse-drawn wagon.

* Town crier Chem announces the arrival of the big parade. 

* Llangollen Silver Band sets the pace for the parade.

* A vintage tractor represents the local farming community.

* Bikers in fancy dress were a major attraction.

* A stylish custom pick-up drew lots of attention.

* Town mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy, arrives outside the Town Hall.

* Juggler Jay Gatling goes through his paces in the parade.

* A biker in steampubnk style roars in.

* Huskies were a top attraction with the crowd.

* An elf makes a collection for the festival's charities.

* The Silver Band plays a selection of seasonal tunes in Centenary Square.

* Shea Ferron, one of the stars of the Llangollen Operatic Young 'Uns' next production of Grease, takes the stage. 

* A chorus line from Grease performs.

* Cast member Celyn Orton Jones sings another number from Grease.

* Children from Ysgol Bryn Collen delight the Centenary Square crowd.

* A young visitor meets Sion Corn in his Town Hall grotto.

* Two festival volunteers take a break.

* Chef Brian Mellor gives a cookery demonstration.

* High jinks from juggler Jay Gatling.

* The cast of Llangollen Pantomime Group next production of Aladdin perform a selection from the show.

* Elvis Presley makes an appearance with some friends on the Centenary Square stage. 

* Llangollen resident Ann Owen, who has raised money for the town's Christmas lights in the past, switches on the illuminations with Cllr Karen Edwards who raised cash for them this year.

* A firework display rounds off the festival.

Christmas Festival is this afternoon

Thousands of seasonal revellers are expected to come flocking to Llangollen today for the town’s annual Christmas Festival.

Kicking off at 1pm with the famous parade which sees Sion Corn - the Welsh Santa – being escorted into town over its historic bridge by a colourful cavalcade of entertainers and local groups, the event features children’s fairground rides and games, circus acts, a magician, dancing and face painting.

There will also be a chance for youngsters to visit Sion Corn in his glorious grotto and put in their early requests from what they’d like to see him bring them on Christmas morning. 

During the afternoon visitors can look forward to an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from local groups on two outdoor stages and other on-street entertainment.

The fun-packed day rounds off at 5pm the ceremonial switching on of Llangollen’s legendary Christmas lights and a firework extravaganza. 

Llangollen Christmas Festival is organised by a group of dedicated community volunteers. It costs over £4,000 to stage each year and is self-funding.

The festival aims to provide a free family-orientated event in the safety of the town centre with surplus funds donated to Wales Air Ambulance and local community groups.

Over the last couple of years the police have estimated that the spectacular event attracts over 2,000 people into town during the course of the afternoon.

For the second year the festival has teamed up with Light Up Local Food, a project aimed at promoting Llangollen-based food and drink producers.

Chairman of the festival committee Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais, who is also the local town crier and a member of the town council, said: “With the help of the community we manage, each year, to raise just about enough to fund the event and give a little to charity.

“Last year’s festival was particularly successful, in spite of the weather, and the feedback from those attending was very positive.

“The ‘market’ feel to the event provided by Light UP Local Food was particularly commented upon and helped to attract visitors from much further afield.

“Once again we’re expecting a bumper crowd to come along and help us to give a great early start to Christmas.” 

Try Llan Country Market for a Christmas bargain

* Country Market members Vicky Lucas, left, and Marion Williams at a stall loaded with Christmas goodies. 

Llangollen Country Market members have been celebrating the lead-up to Christmas in their usual manner.

They have been very busy creating seasonal goodies for all.

The members invite people to come in out of the cold, have a drink and stock up on the unique hand-made gifts, cards, wreaths, jams and chutneys and tasty cakes and pastries.

The market is open on Friday mornings, from 9.45am-12.45pm, in the Town Hall until Friday December 14 when it closes until Friday March 1 for its annual break.

Members say: "We wish a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our customers. Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda."

Play is a great way to start Christmas with a laugh

* The cast of The Flint Street Nativity.

Kids say the darndest things.

And a lot of the things they come out with accurately reflect what their parents say and do.

That's the main premise of the play The Flint Street Nativity currently being staged by the Twenty Club at Llangollen Town Hall.

And an unholy piece of hilarity it turns into.

The plot is that grown-ups play a bunch of kids at Flint Street primary school - located somewhere near Llan in this instance but actually in Liverpool as originally imaged by author Tim Firth - as they perform their annual nativity.

We see them first at rehearsal where we hear them inserting into their own childish conversations the phrases they’ve picked up at home from listening to their sometimes dysfunctional parents.

Quite a bit of this stuff  is malicious but is used innocently by the children as weapons in their own little feuds with other members of the group.

This produces some delicious comedy such as when the Angel Gabriel, marvellously played by Twenty Club favourite Sue Griffiths, wills Hannah Edwards’s superb Virgin Mary to fall sick so that at the last minute she can take over that role herself.

There’s much more of this stuff and the laugh factor steps up significantly when the actual nativity performance gets underway.

Another memorable scenario stems from Mary and Joseph’s weary arrival at the inn to be greeted by Si Kneale deftly portraying a far-from-genial mine host. I won’t divulge what happens but don’t forget to look out for it.   

Another stand-out performance comes from Nicola Holmwood as the Shepherd. She’s extremely believable as a little girl, right down to the perfectly-timed twitches, and delivers some real comedic gems.

James Broderick is sheer magic to watch and listen to as the Ass, so called because he spends most of the action wearing a big cardboard donkey head. However, that doesn’t prevent him perfectly delivering some of the play’s funniest moments.

Other neat performances come from Lizzie Clifford as Wise Gold – one of the Three Kings – Kevin Williams who gives a new twist to the Star of Bethlehem, Eiri Jones as The Angel, Joe Clifford as the Narrator, Gareth Edwards as Herod and Joseph and Rowena Owen as Wise Frankincense – just listen to how she delivers her character’s name with the lisp she puts on.  

Why the various kids say the things they do become clearer when the actors appear as their respective parents in the final scene.

The play, which you can still catch this and tomorrow evening (Friday and Saturday, when it helps round off the town’s Christmas Festival) at 7.30pm, is a credit to John Clifford in his first directorial role and is a cracker of a way to start Christmas.

* Tickets, at £8 and £6 concessions, are available from Courtyard Books, Gwyn Davies butchers, Jenni's or Mair Bowen on 01978 822759, or via Skiddle.com

Christmas Festival entertainments programme unveiled

Here's the action-packed entertainments programme for this Saturday's Llangollen Christmas Festival:

Centenary Square Entertainment

Compere: Chris Burton

12.50-1.30: Chris Burton, acoustic 60s and 70s

1.30-2.00: Llangollen Silver Band

2.00-2.20: Young ‘Uns

2.25-2.50: Ysgol Bryn Collen


2.55-3.20: Ysgol Y Gwernant

3.25-3.45: Pantomime Group

3.50-4.05: Cylch Meithrin

4.05-4.45: Chris Burton and Friends

5.00: Announcements about switch-on of lights and firework display

Market Street Stage

Compere: Barrie Roberts

1.15-1.45: Madalene Kirby

2.00-2.20: Jay Gatling magician

2.30-3.00: Chef Brian Mellor cookery demonstration

3.05-3.35: Melodics Choir

3.40-4.00: Creak n Twist balloon modelling

4.00-4.30: Chef Brian Mellor cookery demonstration

Old Sweet Shop

1.30-2.00: Fiona Collins storyteller

2.05-2.25: Creak n Twist balloon modelling

2.30-3.00: Fiona Collins storyteller

3.05-3.25: Jay Gatling magician

3.30-4.00: Fiona Collins storyteller

Tourist Information Centre steps

1.45-2.10: Harley the Clown

3.15-3.40: Harley the Clown

Also in various locations around the town centre

Jay Gatling magician, Harley the Clown, Fiona Collins storyteller, Creak n Twist balloon modelling 

County backs Road Safety Week

Denbighshire County Council is lending its support to the national Road Safety Week awareness events, encouraging cyclists to be as safe as possible on our roads.

The theme for this year is BikeSMART and the week-long campaign is focussing on cyclists and motorcyclists being Bike Smart through safe riding behaviours, appropriate training, clothing and equipment. 

Drivers are also encouraged to be aware of the potential of cyclists being on the roads and using the latest life-saving technologies in their vehicles.

In Denbighshire, the council’s road safety team is rolling out a programme of Bikeability training to all primary schools, with the focus on Ysgol y Llys, Prestatyn during Road Safety Week. Rhyl High School students have recently undertake their Level 3 Bikeability course.

The Council is also supporting the enrolment of young drivers on the Pass Plus Cymru programme. Full details are available on www.dragondriver.com

Many primary schools are taking delivery of "Arafwch yn ein Tref / Slow down in our Town" banners in an effort to keep roads around schools safe.

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel said: “Designated weeks such as Road Safety Week are a great way to raise national awareness of important issues and we are delighted to be supporting this worthwhile campaign in Denbighshire.

“National statistics show that cyclists and motorcyclists account for more than a third of people killed or seriously injured across the UK and more than 100 bike riders are injured every day in crashes.  That is why the education element of this campaign is vitally important and we will do all we can, in partnership with schools, to drive home this vital message."

Old Vicarage care home is under new management

* Richard and Bethan Mascarenhas with Barclays business manager Philip Cawley. 

Siblings Bethan and Richard Mascarenhas acquired The Old Vicarage Care Home in Llangollen.

The investment will allow the retention of local jobs and peace of mind for the existing residents and their families.

The continuity of the service from one local family to the other has been warmly welcomed by former owners David and Joan Morris.

Richard and Bethan attended Ysgol Dinas Bran and universities in London and have both returned to an active family and community life in Llangollen.

It is their wish to stay involved in the industry and they are both committed to being involved in the positive movements for nursing and social care on a national level, and are representatives of the Care Forum Wales.

Bethan said: “Richard and I were raised in the care sector and have a deep-rooted understanding of the individual needs of residents and a well-established link to the local community.

"Demand for quality care is rising across the region and there are pressures across the sector for future placements, so our joint investment is vital to help meet the region’s projected care needs.

"By really understanding the care sector, Barclays has been able to provide debt finance to support the business. Bethan and Richard have a real passion for quality care and have spent their lives growing up and working alongside their parents in their family run care home at Abbey Dingle since 1988.

“We operate as an extended family, providing dedicated residential care to the very highest standards. With 17 beds we are big enough to make a difference but small enough to deliver individual tailored care.

"Most people when asked don’t wish to live in a residential home but when someone chooses to stay with us, we consider that to be a personal accolade and an opportunity for us to do everything to make that stay as happy and enjoyable as possible, with a dedicated and supportive care that specifically meets individual needs.

"The best thing about running your own small care home is the empowerment  to make timely local decisions to improve services for our residents. Satisfaction from happy residents and family members makes all our efforts worthwhile."

She added: "I have real concerns over the UK’s social care strategy and the pressures on the acute sectors of the NHS. Care homes nationally are increasingly under pressure to meet changing regulations and care standards, which is why all sectors must embrace these challenges, investing and improving the standards of care.”

Barclays bank helped arrange the deal and business manager Philip Cawley said: “Barclays is committed to using our industry expertise within the healthcare sector to support such community investments, which are vital to a prosperous economy." 

A special tree planting in the walled garden at the Old Vicarage will be held to pay tribute to Adrian Roberts of Barclays, a popular and well known local bank manager, who passed away before the acquisition went through, and was succeeded by Philip Cawley who stepped in and saw the deal through to completion.

Holy Cross to stage its big seasonal quiz

Holy Cross Church, Llangollen will host its annual Christmas charity quiz at the Hand Hotel in town on Thursday December 6.

Starting 7 for 7.30pm, the rules are no more than four people in a team.

Entry is £3.50 per person, which includes hot punch and mince pies.

Organisers say that as this is such a popular event quizzers should turn up early to register.

* Holy Cross church rooms in the town centre are available for let at what church officials say are reasonable prices, which include a kitchen facility.

For more details, call Muriel on 01978 469143 or Gail on 07910 717386. 

Christmas concert at the Pavilion

Sion Corn tries a canal boat to reach Christmas Festival

* Sion Corn is hauled into Llangollen Wharf by his team of faithful elves.  

Sion Corn has been looking for the fastest way he can reach Llangollen to star in the town’s famous Christmas Festival this Saturday.

The Denbighshire tourist town is famed for celebrating various modes of transport like river, road, canal and steam train.

So the grand old man – he’s known as Santa Claus in English – has been giving them all a try to see which will get him there as quickly as possible so he can spend more time joining in the fun with the thousands of seasonal merrymakers who are expected to come flocking in to the big event on the afternoon of Saturday November 24.  

Latest to be given the Sion Corn transport test was a narrow boat operated from Llangollen Wharf and used more usually to provide visitors with memorable horse-drawn trips on the stunning Llangollen Canal.

Sion Corn jumped aboard and was hauled along on a test voyage by his team of three intrepid elves.

After tying up back at the wharf, he pronounced himself well satisfied with the trim craft.

He said: “It might only travel at a few miles per hour but coming into town by canal could help me bypass all the traffic on the road on what’s sure to be a busy day.

“The only problem was that my elves got a bit puffed out taking the place of the horse which normally pulls the boat – and I’ll have to bear that in mind because you have to think of elf and safety these days!”

Thousands of seasonal revellers are expected to come flocking to Llangollen for the Christmas Festival on Saturday.

Kicking off at 1pm with the famous parade which sees Sion Corn being escorted into town over the historic bridge by a colourful cavalcade of entertainers and local groups, the event features children’s fairground rides and games, circus acts, a magician, dancing and face painting.

There will also be a chance for youngsters to visit Sion Corn in his glorious grotto and put in their early requests for what they’d like to see him bring them on Christmas morning. 

During the afternoon visitors can look forward to an eclectic mix of musical entertainment from local groups on two outdoor stages and other on-street entertainment.

The fun-packed day rounds off at 5pm with the ceremonial switching on of Llangollen’s legendary Christmas lights and a firework extravaganza. 

Llangollen Christmas Festival is organised by a group of dedicated community volunteers. It costs over £4,000 to stage each year and is self-funding.

The festival aims to provide a free family-orientated event in the safety of the town centre with surplus funds being donated to Wales Air Ambulance and local community groups.

Over the last couple of years the police have estimated that the spectacular event draws over 2,000 people into town during the course of the afternoon.

For the second year the festival has teamed up with Light Up Local Food, a project aimed at promoting Llangollen-based food and drink producers.

Chairman of the festival committee Austin ‘Chem’ Cheminais, who is also the local town crier and a member of the town council, said: “With the help of the community we manage, each year, to raise just about enough to fund the event and give a little to charity.

“Last year’s festival was particularly successful, in spite of the weather, and the feedback from those attending was very positive.

“The ‘market’ feel to the event provided by Light UP Local Food was particularly commented upon and helped to attract visitors from much further afield.

“Once again we’re expecting a bumper crowd to come along and help us to give a great early start to Christmas.”

Police boss says he's been gagged on Brexit "chaos"

* North Wales PCC Arfon Jones.

A police chief has hit out after being “gagged” to try and stop him from warning people in North Wales about the threat to law and order caused by the Brexit chaos.

The region’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Arfon Jones, says the National Police and Crime Council and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners has issued what amounts to a gagging order to the country’s 41 police and crime commissioners.

The latest information from the National Police Chiefs Council and APCC about policing contingency arrangements for a ‘No Deal’ Brexit are marked ‘CONFIDENTIAL’ and a warning that they are not to be shared more widely.

Mr Jones, a former police Inspector, said: “I believe that if there is anything that increases the risk of security issues then the public deserve and need to know.

“Unfortunately the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners are very much like the Home Office in that they like to try and put a security classification on this information.

“In my view it amounts to a gagging order but we have been elected and we are under an obligation to tell people what’s going on in terms of crime and policing.

“It is certain that whatever is put in place of our existing arrangements with the rest of Europe will be slower, more cumbersome and more bureaucratic and while I don’t think this will come as a huge surprise to anyone it does bear repeating.

“It’s one reason I would support the call by Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts for a People’s Vote on Brexit now that we know more about the effects it will have.”

Mr Jones’s North Wales region includes the UK’s second biggest roll-on/roll-off ferry port in Holyhead which deals with huge movements of people and goods with the Republic of Ireland.

He fears that security there could be seriously compromised by a hard Brexit which would mean that after March 29 next year the UK could be frozen out of up to 32 of the shared services currently used to target criminals across Europe.

Among them are ECRIS, the European Criminal Record Information Service used 539 million times by British police last year, Europol, the European Union law enforcement agency, and the European Arrest Warrant.

Mr Jones said he intends to ask for the publication of planning documents agreed by the National Police Chiefs' Council on mitigating the effects of a no-deal Brexit and a report on the visit of Lord Willy Bach, the Labour peer and Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, to Brussels to discuss future policing concerns with European Union officials.

The NPCC has set up a 50-person unit to determine how to replace current European policing systems and another team is looking at the pressures on policing a hard Brexit might create.

Mr Jones added: “When we speak to Europeans about Brexit they are very worried because the UK is a big player in terms of European policing and if we crash out of Europe we will crash out of its safeguards against organised crime and terrorism.

“All these important tools we currently use for security and policing are now at risk and could soon be denied to our police forces and the public deserve to know what is being done to replace them.

“Brexit risks putting the UK and North Wales in jeopardy. Our co-operation with the rest of Europe is used to help North Wales Police guard against terrorism, serious organised crime including modern slavery and human and drugs trafficking.

“A hard Brexit will mean starting from scratch, negotiating individually with each country and using instruments that we currently use for countries outside the EU and that will mean extradition will be slower and more difficult, and criminals will evade justice and will find it easier to operate in the UK.”

Museum to hold coffee morning

Barbers back drive to boost men's mental health

Barbers across North Wales will be given a helping hand to save lives while giving a ‘short back and sides’ as part of new drive to raise awareness of men’s mental health and the male suicide rate.

Groomers from across the region are set to receive training to spot the warning signs of mental health problems in their customers, along with best practice guidance on how to listen, give helpful advice, and signpost to support services.

Launching on International Men’s Day (Monday 19^th November), the initiative aims to raise awareness of the avoidable tragedy of male suicide, which is the biggest killer of men under 45 in North Wales, and across the UK.

Statistics show that men are three times as likely to take their own lives as women, with men accounting for 75% of all suicides in the UK.

The training drive is being supported by NHS Charity, Awyr Las’ I CAN mental health campaign and led by Local Implementation Teams which include representatives from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, local authorities and mental health charities, who are working together to implement North Wales’ first integrated mental health strategy.

It’s a cause that is close to the heart of Denbighshire barber, Mahir Soylu, who says that barber shops have an important role to play in supporting men who are struggling with their mental health.

Since opening LL19 Barbers in Prestatyn two years ago, the 31 year old has used his own experience of suffering with stress, anxiety and low self-esteem to help others.

“Barber shops provide that safe space for men to open up about how they’re feeling” he explained.

“We’re not close enough to our customers to know what is going on in their lives, but we work in close proximity to them for 15 minutes and we are literally touching them. That breaks down a barrier and brings more openness.

“I’ve had people crying in my chair. Simply asking people how they are and how they’re doing can make all the difference. I don’t often have the answers but I know I can make an impact by just listening.

“I think the training programme is an absolutely fantastic idea. It will give me a better insight into what it’s like to live with certain conditions and how I can help them.”

Sam Watson, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s Head of Mental Health Service for North West Wales, said the training drive would complement work that is taking place across the region to improve mental health support.

She said: “There have been a number of successful initiatives to encourage people to talk about their mental health, but it’s also vital that people have the skills to listen effectively and provide helpful advice.

“We’re working hard to improve the mental health services we provide, but we also recognise the crucial role that people in communities across North Wales can play in supporting each other.

“The training programme is the first step towards building resilient communities which are empowered to take ownership and responsibility for making changes to improve people’s lives. This is critical if we are to reduce the rate of death by suicide and prevent mental ill health.”

The training programme is set to be rolled out more widely next year and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are encouraging anybody interested in getting involved to register an interest by contacting them at bcu.info@wales.nhs.uk.

The free and confidential C.A.L.L Mental Health Helpline is available 24/7 to provide emotional support and signposting to local services. Call 0800 132 737, text ‘Help’ to 81066, or visit www.callhelpline.org.uk.

Splash praised by Welsh Government Minister

From left, Splash Community Trust chair Stella Matthews;

Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and

Public Services, Alun Davies AM; Clwyd South AM Ken Skates

and Splash director Ray Prescott.

A leisure centre used by people from Llangollen and nominated for a national award has been praised after a visit from a Welsh Government Minister.

Alun Davies AM, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Public Services, was given a tour of Plas Madoc Leisure Centre recently.

Stella Matthews, chair of the Splash Community Trust, which runs the centre said: “It was wonderful to welcome the Cabinet Secretary to Plas Madoc and we’re very grateful to him for taking the time to visit and for his interest.

“He was very impressed with the strides we’ve made in the past four years, which is a testament to our brilliant team, the staff, volunteers, the board and the local community.”

Mrs Matthews will represent Plas Madoc Leisure Centre at the UK Social Enterprise Awards in London on November 28 after being named Social Enterprise of the Year Wales last month.

Local AM Ken Skates was a founder member of the volunteer trust set up to save Plas Madoc after Wrexham Council voted to close it down in 2013.

He said: “From facing the prospect of being demolished to being the pride of Wales and in the running for a UK-wide award in such a short period is incredible. The volunteers, board and members of staff who run Plas Madoc are a credit to our area and they deserve all the plaudits.”

Twenty Club to stage fun play on seasonal theme

* A scene from the Flint Street Nativity to be staged this week.

The Twenty Club Amateur Players of Llangollen are performing The Flint Street Nativity from Thursday-Saturday (November 22-24) at the Town hall this week.

It's an hilarious comedy written by Tim Firth of Calendar Girls fame.

Mizzis Horrocks' class of seven and eight year olds is about to perform their nativity play at Flint Street Junior School for the proud mums and dads - and the occasional social worker.

Squabbles arise when Gabriel wants to play Mary, the Star grumbles he's not a proper star like they have at NASA, Herod won't stop waving to his mum and dad and the subversive Innkeeper is determined to liven up the traditional script. And then the stick insect escapes ...

The children are played by adults, who later play their parents so the set changes accordingly to reflect the difference in scale.

It’s an ideal alternative to the usual Christmas fare with original lyrics set to the tunes of the usual Christmas carols.

It was first performed to critical acclaim at the Liverpool Playhouse.

Director John Clifford said: "The performances promise to be of an excellent standard, as expected from The Twenty Club.”

* Performances begin at 7.30pm each evening and tickets, at £8 and £6 concessions, are available from Courtyard Books, Gwyn Davies butchers, Jenni's or Mair Bowen on 01978 822759, or via Skiddle.com

Poppy volunteers gather for commemorative picture

A large number of the volunteers who lovingly crafted then fixed over 3,000 poppies to the rear wall of Llangollen's Centenary Square to mark the 100th anniversary of the World War One Armistice gathered for a commemorative picture there this morning (Saturday).

It was taken by photographer Alasdair Mackin who runs locally-based Celtic Camera and specialises in everything from family and baby portraits to stag and hen parties.

* For more details, go to: www.celtic-camera.co.uk or info@celtic-camera.co.uk

Free after 3 parking in lead-up to Christmas

* Llangollen's Market Street is amongst those which will be free after 3pm in the run-up to Christmas.

Denbighshire County Council has announced free parking after 3pm every day between November 21^st and December 31^st, to encourage more people to use their high street for shopping in the run up to Christmas and New Year.

This will be available at Llangollen's East Street, Hall Street, Market Street and Mill Street car parks.

In other areas of the county it will be:

Corwen:  Green Lane

Denbigh: Barkers Well Lane,Crown Lane, Factory Ward, Post Office Lane, Vale Street.

Prestatyn: Lower High Street, Post Office, Railway station

Rhuddlan: Parliament Street

Rhyl: Morfa Hall (dsabled bays only), Morley Road, Queen Street, Sky Tower, West Kinmel Street

Ruthin: Crispin Yard, Dog Lane, Market Street, Park Road, Rhos Street, St Peter's Square, Troed y Rhiwl

St Asaph Bowling Green

Councillor Brian Jones, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, said:  “The Free After Three parking initiative has been established now for a number of years and complements the on-going #LoveLiveLocal campaign to encourage more people to use our high streets for their festive shopping.

"We are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity as a Council again this year and hope that people will see the benefits of using our town centre car parks and will be return visitors."

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “There are a wealth of independent shops and businesses county-wide that offer a wide range of good and services. With our free parking initiative after 3pm, we hope more people will come into our main towns to see what they have to offer. I’m sure they won’t be disappointed."

County joins campaign aimed at boosting winter tourism

* Llangollen Canal is a top tourist attraction. 

Denbighshire has signed up to a campaign to encourage tourism across North Wales during the winter season.

‘Get Wrapped Up’ targets audiences outside of Wales, particularly Manchester, and promotes the array of adventure, food and drink, accommodation and events on offer across North Wales during the winter months.

The campaign is funded by the Welsh Government Regional Tourism Engagement Fund (RTEF). 

Conwy County Borough Council lead the project and are joined by Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire and Wrexham (North East Wales), Gwynedd Council, and Isle of Anglesey County Council (IACC), to boost tourism interest all year round, working closely with Visit Wales.

This joined-up approach is one of the first of its kind for the region, with all six local authorities coming together to work on one regional campaign for the benefit of the North Wales economy to help bring new visitors at what can be the most challenging time of the year for the tourism industry. 

It will include radio campaigns, social media promotions, travel and trade opportunities for journalists and a range of resources for businesses to use.

There has already been a positive reaction to the campaign from businesses across the region, with many already supporting the campaign. Businesses large and small across North Wales are being urged to get involved to promote their own products and services to a wider audience this winter.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this project and would encourage as many businesses as possible to get involved in the campaign. Denbighshire has great walks, mountain biking, historic towns, coastal activities, and a variety of events which can all be enjoyed over the winter months.

"Being only an hour away from Manchester and Liverpool, Denbighshire is well positioned as an accessible destination for a relaxing short break in stunning surroundings. Having an all year offer is also key to attracting more people to work in the tourism sector and make a real impact on the economic prosperity of Denbighshire.”

* Follow the campaign for all of the latest events, news and exclusive competitions by searching #DiscoverNorthWales / #DarganfodYGogledd on social media or visit www.northeastwales.wales

Edie set to be a favourite with New Dot audience

* Sheila Hancock stars in Edie to be screened tomorrow by New Dot cinema.

Tickets are selling fast for this Fridays screening of ‘Edie’, a newly released film starring Sheila Hancock, set in the beautiful Scottish mountains.

“Online sales are way-up this month, it looks like we’ll have a really good turnout for this inspiring, feel-good tale of determination,” reports the volunteer-run, pop-up cinema.

Edie is 83 years old. When her controlling husband dies, she realises she has a once-in-a-lifetime chance to achieve an ambition she’d shared with her father - to climb Mount Suilven in Scotland.

She packs an old camping bag, waves goodbye to her disapproving daughter and sets off on

a life-changing adventure.

Llangollen Town Hall will be transformed tomorrow (Friday) into a big-screen cinema with balcony and floor seating, popcorn and a licenced bar.

Tickets for Edie are available at The Llangollen Oggie Shop on Castle Street, online and on the door.

* More details can be found at: www.newdotcinema.org, on Twitter or Facebook.

Charities urged to contact Aldi for free Christmas food

* Ken Skates AM and Susan Elan Jones MP. 

Charities are being urged to contact their local supermarket for a Christmas food donation.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and AM Ken Skates want to make organisations such as soup kitchens and foodbanks aware of an annual Aldi giveaway which helps local people.

An Aldi spokesman said: “All our UK stores will close from 6pm on Christmas Eve until Thursday December 27 to give our colleagues a well-earned break, so we will be donating unsold fresh food to good causes in the local community. Each of our UK stores will select one charity from their local area.”

Interested parties should contact christmas@aldi.co.uk with their name, charity number (if applicable), a shirt description (eg soup kitchen, foodbank etc), their contact details and, if possible, the postcode of their three nearest Aldi stores.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones said: “It is important to note that only charities who apply via this email address will be eligible. The closing date for applications is Sunday, November 18 and successful applicants will require volunteers and transport to collect the food at 5.30pm on Christmas Eve.”

Ken Skates AM added: “Last year Aldi donated almost 500,000 meals from over 300 participating stores. Hopefully we can help make it even more this year. If you would like any more information, contact Lee Wright on 020 7300 6343 or email lee.wright@bm.com.”

MP threatens government over betting measures

Update:

The maximum bet on fixed-odds betting terminals will be cut from April after the government bowed to pressure.

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has vowed that Theresa May’s Government will be the first to be defeated in a Finance Bill vote for 40 years unless it changes its stance on fixed odds betting terminals.

Ms Jones (pictured), who is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals, was one of the first MPs to sign a cross-party backbench amendment to the Finance Bill calling for the maximum stake on the gambling machines to be reduced from £100 to £2 from April 2019.

She said: “This is not about having a light flutter. Fixed Odds Betting Terminals are called the ‘crack cocaine’ of gambling because they’re highly addictive machines that are causing people to lose up to £16,000 a day. I’ve questioned Government Ministers about this and made it clear we need to act fast.

“Either the Government supports our amendment and we deal with this problem together or we  - a combination of cross-party backbenchers supported by the Labour Party front-bench - will use our votes in Parliament to defeat the Government. Too many people’s lives are being affected and we can’t wait any longer.”