Tourism Ambassador scheme proves popular in Denbighshire

A scheme providing people with training and knowledge about tourism in Denbighshire is proving popular with 200 signing up since its launch last year.

The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador Scheme offers a variety of online training modules on a variety of themes in order to improve the overall visitor experience. It’s totally free and open to everyone. This is the first online scheme of its kind in Wales. 

Module themes include - Denbighshire towns & city, walking, cycling, history, arts, coast, Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB, welsh language & culture, food tourism and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

There are 3 levels of awards – bronze, silver and gold, depending on the amount of modules completed. Each person receives a certificate, pin badge and window stickers on completion of the awards.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “We know that continuous learning can have a positive impact on people’s lives. Whether people are looking to brush up on their skills, to try something new, to seek information or to improve their job prospects; Adult Learners’ Week is a great time to start. The Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador Scheme offers the flexibility and convenience for you to gain new knowledge and become part of a shared interest community.”

The online scheme launched in 2019 and continues to grow with a range of Ambassadors including local people, accommodation and attraction providers, shops, pubs, students, library staff, tour guides and volunteers.

Jenny Whitham, who runs Faraway Follies boutique guest lodges in Llandegla said: “Becoming a Tourism Ambassador is a great way of getting to know more information about the area that I could impart to my guests. The online modules are well-paced, a nice mix of video and words, they’re easy to follow and the quizzes at the end are fairly simple. Adding that extra little bit of service for guests is invaluable. If the locals are friendly and knowledgeable then people will be encouraged to visit and return to the area.”

Paul Hughes. walking group leader for the Vale of Clwyd Mind commented: “I chose to become a Denbighshire Tourism Ambassador because it gives you more information, it’s always handy to have more knowledge when you’re leading people on walks and taking people around the different areas. The course is free as well which always helps. And you can do it at home over a couple of evenings a week, so it’s brilliant. You can’t have enough knowledge as they say, it’s always nice to learn something new.”

The scheme is now being recognised across North Wales and other local authorities and National Parks are looking at running a similar online scheme. The long-term aim is to establish North Wales Ambassadors to ensure tourism messages are consistent to maximise the visitor experience and encourage sustainable tourism.

The project has received funding through the Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government.

* For more information on the scheme and to complete the modules please visit – www.denbighshireambassador.wales

County businesses receive £33m in government covid support

Businesses in Denbighshire have already received emergency coronavirus support totalling more than £33m from the Welsh Labour Government.

The most up-to-date information shows 2,761 businesses of all sizes across the county have been awarded crucial support since the pandemic struck – with more grants being awarded every day.

Clwyd South Member of the Senedd Ken Skates said: “I am proud that the Welsh Government has been able to help so many local businesses, from small and medium-sized enterprises to key local employers and hotels and pubs. The Welsh Government’s support package for businesses is the most generous anywhere in the UK and more money reaching small businesses every day.”

Welsh Government data shows 2,274 Denbighshire businesses already in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief got grants of £10,000 and another 297 in the tourism and hospitality industry were awarded £25,000 each. In addition, more than 2,500 start-up grants of £2,500 are currently being processed.

The Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF), which was designed to fill the gaps left by the UK Government’s support schemes, has so far awarded £3.17m to another 190 Denbighshire companies. Among the recipients was Llangollen Railway, which received a £70,000 grant.

Peter Carroll, managing director of ProAdventure in Llangollen said: "The help has made it possible for the directors to carry on with mail order all through lockdown, and given us the certainty that we can keep stock levels up to cope with increased mail order volumes and bring staff back from furlough earlier than might have been possible without support."

South Denbighshire Community Partnership, based in Corwen, has also received Welsh Government support throughout the crisis to help it meet the growing demand associated with the Covid-19 outbreak, enabling the not-for-profit group to help hundreds of vulnerable local people.

Neatcrown, which employs up to 70 people at its Corwen factory during busy periods, received £77,500 through the ERF. 

Managing Director Colin Roberts said: “The money from the Welsh Government allowed us to safeguard jobs at the site during a period of real uncertainty. Our orders had been decimated and we had workers shielding. It really was a lifeline at that point. 

“We are a close-knit company and we’re part of the community. We have multiple generations of the same family working here and have some members of staff who have worked here for more than 30 years. It would have been a huge blow to Corwen if we’d had to close. We wanted to keep going and the support from the Welsh Government helped us do that.”

Mr Skates added: “Around 11% of all awards through the Economic Resilience Fund have been to businesses in North East Wales, and almost £28m has been awarded in total across North Wales. Sadly, it is impossible to help every single business, but the vast majority of applications have been successful, and I’m pleased there are many which we have helped stay afloat.

“I’m proud to be part of a Welsh Labour Government which is standing up for our region.”

In addition to the support for local businesses, Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod – which had to cancel this year’s event – received a Welsh Government grant of £338,000 to help with business continuity through 2020, including planning and preparation for 2021.

Chairman Rhys Davies said: “We are very grateful for the support of Welsh Government so that we can continue to promote Welsh culture on the international stage and spread the peace message around the world. There are going to be challenges for all festivals, so collaboration is the key.”

Schools investment on the cards

Schools in Llangollen could benefit from a £52million investment programme.

Plans to improve facilities at Ysgol Pendref, Denbigh; Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Gwernant, Llangollen; Denbigh High School and Ysgol Plas Brondyffryn are included in the second phase of the Welsh Government’s 21st Century Schools and Colleges Programme.

Under the first phase a £90million investment saw a new school built for Rhyl High School and Ysgol Tir Morfa, a new faith school in Rhyl, Christ the Word Catholic School, a new joint site for Rhos Street School and Ysgol Pen Barras in Ruthin as well as a new schools at Ysgol Llanfair Dyffryn Clwyd and Ysgol Carreg Emlyn in Clocaenog.

A seven-classroom extension and refurbishment at Bodnant Community School, Prestatyn, a three-classroom extension and refurbishment at Ysgol Bro Dyfrdwy, Cynwyd and an extension and refurbishment of Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph were also included in this phase.

A proposal business case for the second phase of the programme, funded by the Welsh Government and Denbighshire County Council, will be discussed at the Council’s Cabinet meeting on September 22nd.  If approved the green light will be given to these projects which will see options for development at these schools progressed and business cases developed to seek the funding for individual projects. 

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, the Council’s Lead Member for Education, Children’s Services and Public Engagement, said: “Supporting young people is a priority for the Council under our Corporate Plan and during the first phase of the programme more than £90 million has been invested in Denbighshire’s schools benefiting more than 3,500 pupils.

“As well as the benefit to young people, the investment of £90m also impacted on the local economy with a strong emphasis placed on local procurement which saw five of the eight projects led by North Wales firms and work secured for many local contractors.

“The second phase of the programme is set to see further investment in Denbigh and Llangollen which will benefit even more pupils in the county. This investment will be targeted to ensure we address the condition of our school buildings and improve the pupils’ learning environment.

“The Council has also been lobbying the Welsh Government for additional funding to enable investment at Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen, St Brigid’s Denbigh and the primary sector in Rhyl as part of the second phase of the programme.”

New Audi flagship still has that old Vorsprungdurchtechnik

* The new Audi Q8.

Audi Q8 road test by Steve Rogers

Audi had one thing in mind for the Q8: Make it the best premium SUV money can buy.

And the flagship of the Q family makes quite a statement with design lines a little more adventurous than we are used to. 

Compared to not so pretty Q7 the Q8, with its restyled in your face grille, frameless doors and sloping coupe roofline, is really quite attractive.

Flagship or not the Q8 is 66mm shorter than Q7 although there is no shortage of space inside. With the split rear seat backs folded two could happily bed down for the night while there is oodles of room for long legged passengers in very comfortable seats. 

That dipping roofline rules out a third row but the job of hauling seven people is the province of Q7.

Make no mistake a lot of thought has gone into this car and that becomes evident once inside. 

It is a bit like taking your seats in a top class theatre and waiting for the curtain to rise on a star studded show. In this case the main event is the virtual cockpit, a full width screen in the driver's binnacle and two central screens, 10.2in up top for the car's main functions, navigation, telephone, Bluetooth and stuff you are never likely to use, with the lower 8.6in screen for the everyday functions of heating, radio and the like.

It looks like touchscreen but requires a gentle press on the function which gives a satisfying tick to let you know the job has been done. Trust me, this is clever stuff.

Not only is it the most technologically advanced set up I have come across it looks fantastic and although intimidating takes little time to work out. The star turn has to be the ability to use a finger to write the navigation address on to the face of the lower screen. That is so cool.

I did not try inputting Llanfair PG full out but most of the time the town, street, postcode is predicted and can be selected from a list to complete the operation. Voice control was not so effective but can work if you have the patience.

For the first time I have had an Audi not loaded with 10 grands worth of extras and that's because the top Vorsprung model gives you just about everything in one package so sit back and enjoy the luxury of fine leather, exquisite trim and finish and such niceties as air conditioned front seats, powered steering wheel adjustment and gobsmackingly clever Matrix LED lights that dance around like a ballet company. 

There is much more along with a list of safety features as long as your arm.

Air suspension is a given on cars at this level and the Audi is again bang on the money. There are several settings but just go for comfort and feel how the Q8 can stifle the jarring affect of potholes, poor surfaces and even speed humps.

I used Q8 to tow my caravan - I can think of cheaper and equally capable tow cars - but my goodness did it do the job. The combination of the air suspension and torque from the 3-litre turbo diesel make this a mighty towcar - it could pull two of my vans, and the slick eight speed auto box is a stress free match. It was also surprisingly fuel efficient returning 27mpg over 160 miles with my wife behind the wheel and 24mpg with me. No sarcy comments please.

Some of this fuel efficiency will be down to the 48 volt mild hybrid technology which allows the engine to coast without any throttle. Driving solo the Q8 hit 40mpg which is seriously good for a car of its size and weight.

I've been banging the petrol drum with the last few cars I have tested but from what I have just experienced my recommendation would be diesel because of the engine's refinement, performance and economy.

So is Q8 now the best premium SUV on the market? In some ways it is. It is a technological tour de force and ahead of everyone, and I have always said no one can trim a car like Audi excepting the super luxury motors of course. It does not handle as sharply as a Porsche Cayenne, but does that matter when the majority of its life will be cruising in the fast lane?

Can it topple Range Rover Velar from the top of the pile? Well for me the Velar still looks the part but that's about all. Such difficult choices!

Need to know

Q8 50 Vorsprung quattro

£84,375

3-litre TDI; 286bhp

0-62mph 6.3secs; 152mph

32.8mpg combined

228g/km. 1st yr tax £2175 then £145

Boot 605 to 1755 litres

Conservation work resumes on Old Lock Up

* Sue Hargreaves, chair of the Armoury Conservation Trust. 

* The renovated interior of the building. 

* The doorway.

* ... and the door knocker.

Conservation work has resumed on Llangollen's historic Old Lock Up building after being halted by lockdown.

In the last update given to llanblogger at the beginning of this year by the Armoury Conservation Trust which is undertaking the work, the team had just discovered a hidden original stone wall.

Now a trust spokesperson says: "Needless to say, progress has been hindered, and indeed came to a complete standstill, due to the pandemic.   

"However, with restrictions easing in recent months, we've welcomed the return of our team of top tradesmen.

"Stu Morris and son Brad have returned to repoint the stone wall with suitable lime mortar, entirely replace the wooden floorboards,  and insert a new partition wall, as well as fixing and replacing several doors.

"Jason Pryde has rerouted gas pipes, Les Davies has resited electrics, and Roger Morison has done an incredible job of oiling the new wooden floor, stripping and repainting historic doors, iron and woodwork, painting the shop in custom colours and fitting ironwork to our doors.

"Whilst there is still work to be done in the coming weeks, the progress is astonishing.

"The Armoury Conservation Trust is delighted to be bringing this important historic building back into use, and we look forward to our upcoming annual meeting to decide how best to share the space with Llangollen's residents."

Council chief quizzed over broken canal railings

* Karen Edwards's picture of the broken railings.

A council chief has been questioned about the safety of broken railings on the canal bridge near to Llangollen wharf.

Contacting Judith Greenhalgh, chief executive of Denbighshire County Council (DCC), late last month former town councillor Karen Edwards wrote: “I would like to draw your attention to the damaged railings on the canal wharf bridge. 

Supplying pictures of the damage, she added: “This damage occurred at least three years ago. It begs the question as to why this hasn’t been fixed and I would like to know what DCC intend to do about it.

“To be honest, we’re all getting pretty fed up with the lackadaisical approach being taken by DCC in this town and it’s high time DCC officers stepped up to the mark and stopped taking this town for granted as a ‘cash cow’ for DCC coffers.”  

Ms Greenhalgh responded: “As this relates to the parapet railing of the bridge I can confirm that the area was inspected by the Senior Engineer in the Structures team and he is of the view that the fence is still fit for purpose and is therefore a low priority in terms of repairs.

“Unfortunately the railing does get caught quite regularly by buses travelling up to the school but to rectify the alignment so that damage won’t occur is unfeasible.

“We do monitor the situation carefully and should any further damage occur then the position will of course be re-assessed.”

Ms Edwards wrote back to the chief executive saying she was “perplexed” by the response.

She told Ms Greenhalgh: “School buses do not use this route. The children attending Dinas Bran school walk to the Pavillion car park where the coaches are parked . I’m somewhat surprised you don’t seem to be aware of that.

“Coaches do however take tourists up Wharf Hill to Llangollen Wharf where visitors enjoy the canal boat trips.

“ Whilst I’m not a structural engineer, the photographs I provided clearly show that the metal railings are no longer securely fixed to the stone parapet base. When was this last inspected?

“Surely you are placing your council at risk of a negligence claim for failure to protect the safety of users of a public highway, both pedestrians, including the plethora of visitors and residents  that regularly walk that way to access the public footpath that leads up to Castell Dinas Bran, not to mention the school children and drivers of vehicles .

“The pedestrian access to the canal is also below that bridge, so what happens if a vehicle goes through those damaged unsecured railings and crashes onto the path below?

“Regardless of the safety aspects, which are paramount, the damaged railings look an absolute mess rather like the ones on the A539 also reported recently and damaged months ago.

“Bearing in mind that Llangollen is an important inland tourist destination set in the picturesque landscape of the World Heritage Site and AONB , this needs urgent attention  to deal with their damaged appearance.”

Historic roof at St Collen's goes under investigation

* One of the experts examines the ancient roof

at St Collen's Church.

A team of experts has been drafted in to help investigate the historic roof at St Collen’s Church in Llangollen.

Vicar, Father Lee Taylor has put together a task force to lead a new project to reorder the building to make it a more adaptable space for the community and also more engaging and accessible for visitors. 

The most striking part of the building is the 15th century carved oak hammer beam roof which is thought to have links with the monks at Valle Crucis Abbey. 

Father Lee said: “A previous St Collen’s guide book boasts that this is what we got in Wales while Michelangelo was working in Rome. It is believed to be the finest example of medieval Welsh craftsmanship. 

“We want to get a more accurate dating of the roof and interpretation of all the carved figures on it. We are also planning to install a new lighting scheme that would highlight and enhance all the carved images on the roof.” 

He added: “I have been in touch with the Royal Commission on the ancient and historic Monuments of Wales and am delighted that they want to work with us. 

“One of their senior investigators, Richard Suggett, an expert in architectural history, and his colleague chief executive Christopher Catling, visited St Collen’s recently to assess the roof as to its suitability for tree-ring dating which may provide an exact date for the roof.  

“The result of this would be a visitors interpretation board placed at the back of church. 

“One fascinating story depicted on the roof is of the man who drank too much ale. 

“Often, medieval woodcarvers would embrace the humour of the secular world by portraying stories that would be cyclical. 

“In this particular three-part story, the man is shown firstly rolling beer barrels, secondly drinking the contents from one of the barrels and, thirdly, fully immersing himself in the barrel so not to let any go to waste.”

Town Council still aims to light up the town for Christmas

* Graham Paton, managing director of Linguassist Ltd, switches on last year's lights with the Town Mayor, Cllr Jon Haddy (left).

In the wake of the cancellation of this year's Llangollen Christmas Festival due to the coronavirus threat the town council has confirmed that the festive lights will still be lit up.   

Town Clerk Gareth Thomas said: “The Christmas illuminations have always been the responsibility of Llangollen Town Council alone, and whilst it has been an integral part of the Christmas Festival the switching on of the lights is not dependent on this year’s event taking place. 

"I have spoken to the contractors engaged to undertake the works and they have advised me that they are able to do so whilst maintaining safe social distancing. 

"Therefore, the illuminations will be installed during October with a view to them being switched on as early as possible to try and provide some much needed Christmas cheer over the winter months. 

"Clearly this year’s switch-on will be a much simpler affair because of the restrictions on outdoor gatherings, but consideration is being given to some form of modest event."

The Town Clerk also reported that other aspects of the Town Council’s activities are slowly returning following the restrictions caused by the pandemic. 

Members of the public can now arrange an appointment to visit the council offices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays where a socially-distanced meeting space has been set up in the Council Chamber.

At present regulations governing community centres do not allow meetings of local authorities to be held indoors and therefore Town Council meetings will continue to be undertaken remotely until the regulations allow face to face meetings.

However, other changes to these regulations do allow for exercise in gatherings of no more than 30 people in community buildings.

Therefore, the Town Council are, this Tuesday, considering the reopening of the Town Hall on October 1 to facilitate this and considerable effort has gone into making the building Covid secure.

The Town Clerk said that during lockdown the council's Facilities Officer, Charlie Jones, assisted by volunteers, has been busy decorating the vestibule, booking hall and the first floor landings of the Town Hall. 

Charlie said: “It was appropriate to make use of the fact that the Town Hall has been closed to start repainting and renovating a number of public spaces. 

"I am indebted to the help of volunteers particularly Charles Harris and Chris Stone who have helped with this work and have allowed the Town Council to keep cost down during this difficult period when closure has resulted in a loss of income. 

"It has also not been easy with the limitations of social distancing, but the end results of all our efforts has been rewarding. 

"It is very pleasing that this work has been done in time to, hopefully, receive dance classes back to the Town Hall next month.”

Designated landscapes to receive £7.2m government funding boost

Projects to improve access to the countryside and boost the sustainability of Designated Landscapes are to receive funding of £7.2m, Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn announced today.

£4.7m has been awarded to National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) to be invested in green infrastructure such as electric vehicles, retrofitting existing buildings with energy efficiency measures, and restoring peatland and woodlands.

A further £1.76m has been awarded to local councils to improve Wales’s network of footpaths and bridleways, making them easier to use and more accessible to all. 

This is in response to people rediscovering local footpaths and trails as part of their daily exercise during the recent Covid lockdown. 

£337,000 has also been awarded to 11 projects to improve recreational access to water and £309,000 to community orchards and allotments to support community growing projects.

The Deputy Minister made the announcement during a visit to Moel Famau in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB which will benefit from £180,000 from this programme to ease traffic congestion, carry out remedial work to address erosion to paths and surrounding land and reduce light pollution. 

An additional £54,000 is also allocated to Denbighshire County Council for important upgrades to its network of footpaths and bridleways.

Hannah Blythyn said: “Our National Parks and AONBs cover a quarter of Wales and are hugely important in helping tackle the loss of biodiversity and climate change.

“While our Designated Landscapes are very special to the people of Wales and attract millions visitors each year, access to local green spaces proved just as important during lockdown and this funding demonstrates that we greatly value our local footpaths and other rights of way.

“Following easing of the lockdown, many of our most popular countryside sites have faced significant pressures from large numbers of visitors. While most have visited responsibly, there have been high-profile cases of illegal parking, littering and unregulated camping which have caused damage to our fragile landscapes. This funding has therefore included projects that mitigate the negative environmental effects of tourism such as erosion, littering and pollution.

 “As lockdown has eased, the need to invest in a safe, high quality visitor experience for an increasing number of visitors has been highlighted. This, along with the need to make a contribution to tackling climate change, is a major challenge for our Designated Landscapes.

“This funding will support our National Parks and other bodies to address these challenges and to ensure everyone can continue to enjoy our countryside for years to come.”

Councillor Tony Thomas, Denbighshire's Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, who is also the Chair of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Advisory Committee, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and were equally as delighted to receive funding announced for AONBs and national parks.

“The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB has always proved popular with visitors and residents, with the stunning scenery, magnificent hillsides and historic towns and villages a magnet for thousands of visitors each year.

“Inevitably with increasing numbers of visitors, we do experience some traffic congestion in our most popular scenic attractions and the sheer volume of people venturing into the hills also have an impact on the quality of footpaths over time.  This funding will be used towards projects that will help address these issues and protect our landscape for generations to come."

Perfect place for a trip down memory lane

* ReCollections on Abbey Road.

* The shop is packed with items of all kinds.

A man who is passionate about music, film and TV legends has filled up his new shop in Llangollen with their memorabilia.

ReCollections in Abbey Road is the brainchild of Steven Brady and is now trading seven days a week and online. 

With a heavy emphasis on music, the shop is bursting with official t-shirts in a constantly changing range of alternative, hard rock, metal, punk and progressive artists and bands, including Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, The Cure, David Bowie, Jim Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin, The Jam, ACDC, The Rolling Stones, Manic Street Preachers, Oasis, Kiss, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns n Roses and many more.  

It's also overflowing with key chains, mugs, posters, cushions, postcards, stickers, magnets and all sorts of well-priced gifts for others or personal treats. 

Steve says he likes to keep things changing, so that each time you visit there will be plenty new to look at. 

When it comes to films, ReCollections has got merchandise from Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, Star Wars, Wrestling, Marvel, Magic Roundabout and all sorts of collectable items, as well as Banksy holographic posters, wallets, bags, DVDs of historic concerts and festivals, and prints of original concert posters.

He’s also planning to have an HMV-style poster rack on the wall for customers to flick through and take a trip down memory lane.

Steve has an original vinyl section which is growing, and he’s looking into getting new pressed vinyl of modern classics too.  

Also packed into the shop is a plethora of 80s vintage memorabilia. There are toys, games consoles, books, annuals, video games, Hornby railway collectibles and even Trolls.  

Steve and his partner arrived in the UK from New Zealand seven years ago, and the picturesque town of Llangollen was the first place they visited.

Having moved here he gained years of retail experience in Tenovus, 

Steve said: "I saw lockdown as an opportunity to get all my older stock sold online and take time to revamp and regroup. 

"I reorganised and completely refined the store to exactly how it is meant to be - a total nostalgia trip, specialising in what makes people happy. 

"The customers love it, and the vibe is amazing. And this is just the beginning."

Steve speaks fondly of Wales and the opportunities he’s found here.

"Opening a music-focused shop on Abbey Road, which is just an hour away from Liverpool, is m dream.

"Since I've been here I've met some fabulous, enthusiastic music fans from all over the world who now come to shop in ReCollections.  

"I love that the merchandise in the shop bridges the gap between teens, their parents and grandparents."

Steve already supports local groups by donating the proceeds from the PPE masks he sells in the shop, and he says he’d like to get more involved with things like Plastic Free Llangollen, local fundraising and the Llangollen live music scene.  

He is considering putting up a gig noticeboard and playing and promoting local bands’ music in the shop, as well connecting with the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod when it returns in 2021.

Steve, who says his mission is to bring joy to his customers, added: "Nothing is too much trouble. Pop in to ask for anything you’re after, or send a message via Facebook or WhatsApp so I can find the perfect items for you." 

Framework for Corwen station waiting room now in place

* A platform level-view of the new steel structure at Corwen. 

Picture by George Jones.

The fabricated steelwork for the on-platform waiting room at the new Corwen station has now been put in place.

Designed by EWP Structural Engineers of Bangor on the recommendation of Denbighshire County Council, the steel beams were fabricated by Barnett Engineering Ltd of Rhosllanerchrugog and delivered to site for assembly by their team. 

With help from the project’s Road Rail Vehicle, the beams where hosted into position to form an oblong box within the area of the waiting room measuring 15 x 4 metres with provision for services to toilets already plumbed in.

The steelwork comprises four Ibeams for each corner with eight intermediate wind posts and associated cross beams to link the vertical members, all weighing in at around four tons.  

The design called for integral strength to support the roof which will be part of the station canopy and subject to high winds at this exposed, elevated position on the embankment.

The steelwork sits between the three pairs of ex-Blackfriars, London canopy columns surrounding the access stairwell and the final pair of columns at the eastern end. The casual observer now has some idea as to how it will all link together to provide for the canopy.

The eventual canopy will require the fabrication of six assorted ‘A’ frames to support the roofing material and have been specially designed to cater for the variations in the width of the platform and curvature. However, construction of these is for a later stage of the project.

With the steelwork in-situ, the preparation of the surrounding area can be completed and a good start has been made by contractors Wrexham Paving on the laying of the tactile edging and paving blocks at the eastern end of the platform.

Project Leader, Richard Dixon-Gough said: “I would like to thank Barnett Engineering for their work to help us complete this project. They have done a great job in fabricating and erecting the steelwork for the waiting room building on the Corwen new build station platform.

“It is a little unfortunate that the results of their skills will be hidden within the structure of the building when the brickwork etc. has been completed, but at least we can enjoy the visual impact in the short term.

“Our association Barnett Engineering has been very successful, and this is the latest example of their skills and expertise as applied to the project; others include the new build water tank and the modifications required on the canopy columns, all of which are admired by the passing public and we have received many positives unsolicited comments about their presence on site.

“The steelwork is a further example of how the overall project is now coming together after many years of planning and hard work by a small band of volunteers on site. 

“Once completed and passed fit for purpose the new build station and infrastructure will be opened to the public and will increase footfall within Corwen helping to boost the local economy.”

People must wear masks in shops from Monday, says First Minister

The BBC is reporting that people in Wales must wear masks in shops and other indoor spaces from Monday, according to the First Minister.

Mark Drakeford said the change came as 20 people in every 100,000 in Wales now had coronavirus.

Indoor meetings of more than six people from an extended household will be illegal from Monday.

The rule will not apply to children aged 11 and under. Up to 30 people from different homes can still meet outside.

Mr Drakeford said: "Today for the first time we will go to a point where 20 people in 100,000 are suffering from coronavirus in Wales.

"That is the threshold we use for people to have to quarantine coming back into the UK.

"And having reached that today, we will be making the use of face coverings mandatory in shops and in closed public spaces in Wales."

He said if the figure fell, the advice could be re-examined.

2020 Christmas festival falls victim to coronavirus

Llangollen Christmas Festival has become the latest casualty of the coronaviris situation.

The annual event draws thousands of people to the town from across a wide area for a day of fun and entertainment ending in the switching on of the Christmas lights and a spectacular fireworks display.

Hundreds of pounds is also regularly raised for local charities of the Welsh Air Ambulance. 

But  the group that organises the festival now says that having considered the risks they have reluctantly decided to cancel this year’s event.

In a statement this morning they say: “We feel it would be unrealistic and irresponsible for us to organise a festival that attracts over 2,000 people into town, with little chance of social distancing, whilst coronavirus is still a threat.

"We are hoping that we’ll be able to organise some smaller 'Chritmassy' activities during December but it will obviously be dependant upon the coronavirus advice at the time.

“We will be back and our plan is for Llangollen Christmas Festival 2021 to be the biggest and best ever."

2021 panto is off due to Covid-19 ... oh yes it is!

 

* Cast members for the 2020 panto, Pinocchio.

Organisers have been forced to cancel the next Llangollen Pantomime due to the coronavirus situation.

The group was due to stage its production of Cinderella at the Pavilion next January.

But as theatres have not been given the go ahead to get back into action, the show will have to wait until the following year.

Panto spokesperson Sharon Jones: “We had over 40 cast members ready to put it on under the direction of Simon Orton Jones but there’s no way we can do that now.

“For the youngsters this is particularly disappointing because, with some doing A Levels and others going off to university, this was their last opportunity to be in one of our shows. Still, it could be worse.”

The group, which put on its first panto back in 1984, are now looking forward to bringing Cinderella to the stage in January 2022.  

Meanwhile, according to Sharon, they are hoping to stage some form of show for younger members around the time the panto would have been running.

“It could be either a zoom thing or socially-distanced gathering based on  performances or a competition.

“The idea would be to keep the group together and give them something to look forward to.

“They could put something together during the Christmas holidays and senior members would help them with the choreography or music.”       

Kronospan gets £622,000 from government to safeguard jobs

* Inside the Kronspan factory in Chirk.

Hundreds of jobs at Chirk-based manufacturer Kronospan have been safeguarded with help from the Welsh Government’s Economic Resilience Fund (ERF).

The company, which supplies wood-based panel products, is a key employer in North East Wales with more than 620 workers.

Kronospan experienced a dramatic reduction in sales as a result of the pandemic and the subsequent interruptions to cash flow, which left the company facing an extremely challenging period.

It received £622,000 from the Welsh Government’s ERF, which has helped the business continue to operate through the pandemic and ultimately protect the workforce.

The ERF, which is part of the Welsh Government’s £1.7bn support package for businesses, is providing thousands of companies across Wales with significant financial support. It complements the help provided by the UK Government.

To date, more than 13,000 businesses have received financial support worth more than £280m and the fund has helped protect more than 75,000 jobs.

Ben Spruce, chief financial officer of Kronospan, said:“The assistance provided by Welsh Government has helped us protect jobs and support our local suppliers.

“It has been a difficult period for everyone and we are extremely grateful to our entire team, both those who have worked throughout and those who were furloughed and have now returned.

“The support received demonstrates to us the proactive approach Welsh Government has taken during this crisis to support businesses, protect jobs and help the regional economy build back stronger.”

Deputy Minister for Economy, Lee Waters said: “Kronospan is an important employer in North East Wales and I’m pleased we have been able to provide crucial financial assistance at a time when the company needed it most, helping protect hundreds of jobs.

“Coronavirus has placed incredibly difficult challenges on our business community and our immediate response has been to try and protect companies, jobs and livelihoods through an unprecedented package of support, delivered at pace, worth £1.7bn.

“Our Economic Resilience Fund has been a key part of that and absolutely essential in supporting thousands of businesses across Wales in dealing with the economic impacts of the pandemic.”

County council signs are reminder to keep your distance

* One of the county council signs on Castle Street. 

A series of signs have been placed across Denbighshire as part of a visual reminder for people to continue to social distance when they’re visiting town centres.

The signs have been installed as part of a wider campaign to encourage more people to visit town centres safely.

In June, the county council set up a Task Group to support town centre businesses during and after the re-opening of shops, working jointly with business associations and local communities. 

The council also has teams out and about in our main town centres, monitoring compliance with safety guidelines, as well as offering practical support to businesses, such as signage or posters.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, who is also the Cabinet Lead Member for the Economy, said: “For more than three months, town centres - the heart of many of our communities - stood still and quiet, with businesses closed and visitors and locals alike asked to stay at home and away from others until things became better. 

“The easing of restrictions on town centre businesses has been a step in the right direction and the council has worked closely with the business associations and communities across Denbighshire to ensure the re-introduction of services has been as smooth as possible.

“The signage is one of a number of initiatives that have been introduced in town centres.  

"Teams of staff from the council have also been working in town centres, liaising with businesses and listening to their feedback.  

"They have also been able to identify what works well and whether there were any localised issued that needed addressing.

“The messages around social distancing are equally as relevant as they were at the beginning of our work and we would like to thank the communities of Denbighshire for supporting this essential work."

Olympic Triathlon heroes in action

* Christian Edwards, son of Llangollen man 

Mike Edwards, in the Olympic Distance Triathlon.

Llangollen man Mike Edwards was in Ellesmere on Sunday watching his eldest son, Christian, competing in the Olympic Distance Triathlon comprising a 1500 metre swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run. 

Mike says: "While I was there I also saw our local vet Clive Bourne, who is in the veteran athlete 60 age group, taking part and I notice from the result he completed the event in 2 hours 48 minutes 17 seconds."

Corwen station project hailed as "magnificent achievement"

* Robin Jones is shown progress on the station project by Richard Dixon-Gough. 

Robin Jones, editor of the monthly Heritage Railway magazine, called in at the Corwen station site to catch up with the progress on work to create a new terminus station.

In the course of a conducted tour of the site, he inspected work on the platform with the recently installed heritage canopy columns, as well as the completed trackwork.

The water tank and signalbox were also features new to him since his previous visit.

He expressed himself very pleased with the work undertaken so far, describing the station as ‘magnificent’ and the renovation of the former London Blackfriars station columns an impressive addition to the platform.

Robin Jones said: “Whilst other railways might have made do with a wooden platform at the end of the line, at Corwen a proper station facility has been created by project members.

“I think the Corwen station is a miraculous achievement and a phenomenal construction in the middle of nowhere.The volunteer effort which has created the station has been against the odds in terms of physical constraints, the labour needs and the ever-present fund-raising requirement.” 

Thanking Robin Jones for his visit, project leader Richard Dixon-Gough said: “We still have some way to go yet before the station is ready and able to receive passengers, therefore all kinds of support are still required prior to opening this new build terminus station to the fare paying public.”