Fire station crew thanked for helping rescue family's dog

* Ryan and his mum along with Tilli the dog meet the crew at Llangollen Fire Station.

A Llangollen family visited Llangollen Fire Station this week to thank crew members for their part in the rescue of their pet dog Tilli last month.

Watch Manager Ben Lloyd took to the station's own Facebook page to explain: "Tilli had been missing for three days during the heatwave last month, but was spotted by Ryan, a local lad, as he drove by - he saw the dog stuck and struggling in the retaining wire that holds the rockface back on the side of the road.

"As a coincidence, Ryan is also the nephew of our Crew Manager, Gareth.

"Ryan shouted to his mum - 'Mum, there’s a dog caught on the fence up there and there’s no one with him!'

"Ryan's mum remembered seeing a Facebook post about a missing dog, and by looking at the post they realised that the dog in trouble was Tilli.

"Ryan and his mum returned to where the dog was stuck, and contacted the dog's owner. By chance we happened to be passing when returning from a call - they flagged us down and we helped release Tilli, who was generally OK but dehydrated.

"We're happy to report that Tilli is doing fine and suffering from no ill effects from her ordeal!" 

Hilux is the Mr Dependable off-roader

Toyota Hilux pick-up drive by Steve Rogers

The pick-up market has been turned upside down with some big names pulling out rather than face stiff cash penalties for not meeting new government emissions regulations.

Before the goal posts were shifted some unlikely companies were clamouring to join the low tax benefits for business and company car people who saw the pick-up as a juicy alternative to an SUV.

Mercedes-Benz teamed up with Nissan, Fiat with Mitsubishi but all four have departed, along with Volkswagen Amorak, leaving Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, Ssangyong Musso and Isuzu D-Max to meet the demand.

Toyota Hilux is an off road giant - it won the Dakar rally in 2019 - but has gone out of its way to tempt families out of their comfort zone. And here it is, the new Hilux Invincible X, a rugged 4x4 with all the luxury frills of an upmarket SUV. Well nearly all.

Why would a family with three grown up kids choose a pick-up over an SUV? It comes down to space because the four door double cab comfortably fits five and there is a pick up deck which will take a mountain of luggage and can be covered to the roofline. And it will tow the largest twin axle caravan or even a fifth wheeler.

Hilux has had a facelift with a new grille and lights design while suspension tweaks have made it more compliant on tarmac. It has worked to an extent but not quite to the level of the Ranger Raptor with its multilink rear suspension. Toyota favours rear leaf springing which is better suited for harsher off road challenges which is what Hilux is really all about.

It is not that Hilux is uncomfortable over poor road surfaces but the ride can be a tad choppy although we found it more settled with the caravan in tow.

For a family the cabin is a pleasant space with nearly all the creature comforts of a large SUV so settle into leather seats, quality carpet, dual zone air conditioning, all round one touch electric windows, Smartphone connectivity through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, while up front the seats are heated, powered for the driver who will also like the 360 degree view camera which is useful for parking a long vehicle like Hilux.

My only gripe concerns definition on the 8in touchscreen which is not the best, and at times barely readable because of sun glare.

Performance from the new 2.8 litre turbo diesel with its 500Nm or torque is stronger than the 2.4 litre and once passed the inevitable diesel engine rattle settles into a comfortable rhythm. Selecting economy puts a small dent in performance but should reward you with around 30mpg. We didn’t need the full power setting for towing and came away with just under 25mpg which is a good return and no worse than the last three petrol and diesel SUVs I have driven with caravan in tow.

On the other side of the coin Hilux is the Mr Dependable off roader, capable of going anywhere and doing anything. It is packed with everything needed for the sternest of tasks whether it is traversing rocky slopes, wading through streams or using its hill descent technology to get down the steepest and most slippery drops.

If it came in bright green it would no doubt be nicknamed the Incredible Hulk.

The Jack of all trades Hilux comes with multiple variations - single cab, extra with occasional rear seats, or a four door double which is the most popular.

Switching from SUV to a double cab pick-up is a bit of a stretch for everyday use because you are paying for a heap of off road technology which will never be used, and you loose out on economy not to mention the initial £2,015 road tax charge.

That said if you have a hefty twin axle caravan this is the bees knees for towing.

A big plus for the tradesman or farmer is a 10 year warranty provided you use a Toyota dealer for servicing and repairs.

Fast Facts

Hilux Invincible X Double cab

£45,985 (starts £27,628)

2.8 litre TD 6sp auto; 201bhp

0-62mph 10.7secs; 109mph

29.7mpg combined

248g/km. 1st tax £2,015

Towing capacity 3500kg

Payload 1025kg

Insurance group 45

Bells will ring out to mark chapel's 250th anniversary

* Trevor Chapel is celebrating its 250th anniversary.

* The inscription above the entrance porch recording the consecration.

This Sunday afternoon all eight bells at St Collen's will ring out to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the consecration of Trevor Chapel as a church. 

It was originally built as a private chapel for the Lloyd family of Trevor Hall in the early 18th century and was consecrated on August 8, 1772. 

It is now one of the churches in the Llangollen Group of Anglican Churches and still holds regular Sunday morning services.

The bellringers will be ringing a quarter peal, which consists of a minimum of 1,260 changes with no repetition, which should take about 50 minutes.

A service of choral evensong is being held at the chapel at 5pm. 

Operatic to present Calendar Girls later this month

* The Calendar Girls and helpers. Picture by Gem Photography.

Llangollen Operatic Society are making a welcome return to the stage after a three-year pandemic gap later this month.

And the production they have chosen is a cheeky little number that will see the main cast members not being too much of a burden to the costume department. 

Because from August 31 until September 3 they are presenting the musical Calendar Girls at Llangollen Town Hall. 

In April 1999, the real-life ladies of the Rylstone and District Women's Institute in Yorkshire produced a cheeky nude calendar to raise money for a hospital that had cared for one of their husbands before he died of cancer.

They could hardly have known that their story was going to be the female Full Monty.

The Operatic grabbed the rights for it back in 2020 thinking it would be a great smaller cast summer show.

But, according to Tracey Jones who is co-producing with husband Mike, it has turned into something much bigger.

She said: "Because of Covid, it's been three years since our last adult production.

"Calendar Girls is an emotional roller coaster show based on the true Calendar Girl story that has also been depicted on film starring Julie Walters, Helen Mirren and many more top British actors. 

"The musical version was adapted and written by Tim Firth with music by Gary Barlow.

"Our show is directed by Nia Pickering, with artistic assistance from Sarah Marshall and musical direction by Elen Mair Roberts."

Tracey added: "The cast comprises old and new faces and our six calendar girls are played by Russ Latham, Tessa Orton Jones, Sue ONeil, Louisa Jones, Amie Harrison and Rachel Dobson.

"They are supported by more fabulous talent including Robin Crowley, Neil Barrett and Jim Allen as the ladies' other halves.

"Then we have our amazing younger cast joining us from the Operatic's junior section, the Young 'Uns, who are playing the ladies' offspring - Celyn Orton-Jones, Ethan Le-Cheminant and Aled Morris.

"The story focuses on the passing of Annie's husband John, being played by Tessa's real-life husband Simon Orton Jones, so it's a real family affair.

"None of this can happen without the ensemble, stage crew, technicians, and members of the society together with great support from local businesses.

"We hope to see local audience support back at great Town Hall when we open."

* For ticket details, go to: www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety

Have your say on county council’s five-year plan

* County Hall in Ruthin, headquarters of Denbighshire County Council.

Residents in Denbighshire are being invited to have their say on what the council’s draft objectives are for the next five years. 

The council has already heard from residents during consultations last summer and in early 2022.  

A set of nine draft themes has been drawn up and residents are asked for their final views before the objectives are agreed in October. 

The draft objectives are:

1. A Denbighshire of quality housing that meets people’s needs: Ensure sufficient good quality housing is available, particularly addressing the provision of what meets the needs of people in Denbighshire.
2. A prosperous Denbighshire: Support post-pandemic economic recovery, including identifying and capitalising on opportunities to upskill residents and enable them to access decent employment and income. We want to use economic growth as a driver to reduce inequality and poverty.
3. A healthier and happier, caring Denbighshire: Promote and support the safety, resilience and well-being of people of all ages, in partnership with strong community networks that enable people to live safely, happily, independently and receive good support when needed.
4. A learning and growing Denbighshire: Support provision of quality learning and training that enables people of all ages to fulfil their potential, both personally and professionally.
5. A better connected Denbighshire: Denbighshire will be a place with thriving, cohesive and connected communities, including good road infrastructure and transport links, better digital connectivity, and social infrastructure to support personal and community well-being.
6. A greener Denbighshire: Become a Net Zero Carbon organisation by 2030, and enhance, preserve and improve our natural assets. We must also mitigate - and work with communities to cope with - the impacts of climate change, which could be in relation to flooding, food provision, etc.
7. A fairer, more equal Denbighshire: Address the inequality and deprivation faced by our communities, reducing the well-being gap, and promoting diversity and community cohesion.
8. A Denbighshire of vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language: Be a county where the Welsh language is a living, thriving language. The county will also maximise its rich cultural heritage and natural assets to support economic prosperity, community cohesion, and instil pride in our communities.
9. A well-run, high performing Council: To be a council that is fair, transparent, performs well, represents value for money, and gives consistently good customer service. The council wants to be creative, brave, ambitious, outward-looking, and an excellent employer, backed by strong governance and assurance.

Councillor Julie Matthews, Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Strategy, Policy and Equalities, said: “All councils in Wales are required to adopt well-being objectives that support the long term sustainability of their communities, for the benefit of future generations. 

“These objectives include the issues that people told us that are important to them and we have wanted those big issues affecting people to be reflected in how we work as an organisation over the next five years. Issues around the cost of living, responding to climate change and improving people’s well-being post Covid are some of the many issues of interest to our residents and we hope people agree that our objectives reflect the needs of communities right across Denbighshire. 

“This is a great opportunity to have your say as we finalise our Corporate Plan”.

The engagement has now been launched and will end on 31 August. Residents can complete an online survey: countyconversation.denbighshire.gov.uk/project/662

E-mail: strategicplanningteam@denbighshire.gov.uk with their comments or phone 01824 706291.

Forms have also been produced which can be filled in and posted to Strategic Planning Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.  Copies of the forms can be picked up at libraries and one stop shops, leisure centres and at Council office receptions at County Hall, Ruthin.

Llangollen road to be resurfaced this month

Denbighshire County Council will be laying a micro asphalt surface on a Llangollen road this month.

As part of a £4m countywide programme that will take approximately one month to complete, work will take place in Tyn y Celyn.

The nature of works comprises of sweeping the existing carriageway, laying the micro asphalt and once the material has hardened sufficiently, adjusting any items of ironwork (manhole covers, stop tap covers, gullies and so on to the new level.

Councillor Barry Mellor, Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transport, said: “The works form part of Denbighshire County Council’s £4 million commitment to improving our road surfaces with this programme costing approximately £400,000.

“Works will be weather dependent and due to the nature of the work it will be necessary to put road closures and signed diversions in place. Generally, the laying of the micro asphalt will take only 1 to 2 days to complete with subsequent works being undertaken the same week or later in the month. A full road closure will be necessary to undertake the laying of the road surface to ensure it is completed quickly and safely.

“Local residents will receive a letter prior to the works commencing and advance signage will be placed on lamp posts with the actual dates.

"The council would like to thank residents in advance for their understanding during the duration of the works."

Police warn about 'emerging pattern' of fuel thefts

North Wales Police have warned people about what they say appears to be an emerging pattern of the theft of cooking oil, heating oil and fuel.

In a message which has gone out to the public through the force's Neighbourhood Alert network PCSO Lucy Green of Conwy and Denbigh Rural says: "Cooking oil is stolen from hotels, pubs, takeaways and cafes - due to the large quantities that these premises require on site.

"Remember, if you are the proprietor to one of these establishments you are entitled to request identification from anyone you do not believe to from a legitimate collection company. CCTV is an excellent deterrent and source of evidence.

"Heating oil is being removed from locations without the owners permissions. 

"We are encouraging those of you with tanks, to ensure they are locked and alarmed. Owners are not realising these tanks have been drained until the heating in the premises goes off unexpectedly."

She adds: "Fuel theft is often paired with a secondary crime of criminal damage. Criminals are targeting large vehicles, wagons and farm machinery. Please ensure you are securing your vehicles. This form of crime is on the rise within the UK. 

"These thefts can be opportunistic thefts and planned operations too!

"Please ensure that you report any suspicious activity via 101, any vehicles or suspect descriptions that you may have. 

"Refrain from sharing immediately on social media, as this could hinder any investigations."

MP praises 'amazing' progress on new Corwen station

* Simon Baynes MP (front, centre) with Peter Jump, Wayne Ronneback, Paul Whitton, Richard Dixon-Gough, Phil Coles (chairman), Joel Scott, Douglas Hebson, Philip Hebson, John Gwynne and Sue Ronneback at Corwen Station.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes has praised Corwen Station on the 'amazing' recent developments following a visit there. 

Mr Baynes met with the Corwen Project Team and the Corwen Station team who recently opened the station to the general public to show what has already been achieved and to indicate that a continuation of passenger services is not far off. 

Mr Baynes said he was delighted to hear about developments that have been taking place including improvements to the station and track adjustments as well as the imminent construction of the station canopy. 

This is being funded as part of the Clwyd South £13.3m Levelling Up Fund grant which Mr Baynes secured from the UK Government.

He said: “It was wonderful to visit Corwen Station and see at first-hand the amazing developments that are taking place. I would like to congratulate everybody involved in the construction work at Corwen Station which has involved a huge amount of volunteer time and expertise. 

"I am very glad to have been able to contribute to the refurbishment of the station via my securing the £13.3m Clwyd South Levelling Up Fund grant from the UK Government which has financed the new canopy for the station. 

"I can’t wait to see the station fully re-opened and steam trains travelling between Corwen and Llangollen next year.”

BBC films Songs of Praise at St Collen's

                                        * The crew filming inside the church.

* Congregation members get ready for the next hymns (above and below).

                           * Filming continues in the church grounds.

It was 'lights, camera, action' at St Collen's this lunchtime.

A film crew were at the church to shoot sequences for the BBC's Songs of Praise programme centred around the regular Hymns & Pimms musical sessions which vicar Father Lee Taylor began hosting during the 2020 lockdown.

Members of the congregation were shown singing a number of well-known hymns ending with the well-known Calon Lan in the original Welsh.

Later it was time for glasses of Pimms to be served outside in the church grounds. 

The Songs of Praise episode featuring St Collen's is due to be shown later this year. 

Feast of top-class rugby planned for Llan

The Royal Marines Charity has announced that it will be playing two high profile games against the cream of North Wales rugby in Llangollen on Saturday August 20. 

As well as treating local fans and visitors to two top quality games of rugby and the chance to meet RFU "royalty" in Ryan Jones (MBE) and Peter Rogers, organisers are hoping to raise much-needed funds for The Royal Marines Charity, as well as making a donation to the Ifan Phillips fund. 

Organising committee member and MD of local business Linguassist Graham Paton - himself an ex Royal Marine - said: “We are extremely excited to be hosting this event and to be able to show off the delights of Llangollen to such a wide ranging audience. I am sure that the town will get behind the whole event and we look forward to welcoming everyone." 

First up on the day at Llangollen Tower Fields will be Royal Marines Veterans v North Wales Barbarians, with kick-off scheduled for 2pm. 

Following this game will be the  highly competitive Royal Marine Corps v R.G.C Senior Academy. 

Attendance is free, with the organisers selling programmes for the match, which will include a raffle ticket where the winner has a pair of tickets for any Wales Autumn International match at Cardiff later this year. 

The fun doesn’t end there, because in the evening there will be a chance to party with the players at the pavilion building and enjoy live music from local bands, a hog roast and a full bar. 

Tickets for the evening event are £10 per person and again all money raised will be going to the RMA and Ifan Phillips fund.

Former International Rugby Union Players include:

* Ryan Jones – A legend of the Welsh game, Ryan is one of a small group of Welsh players to have won three Grand Slams, in 2005 , as captain in 2008 and again in 2021. In addition to a hugely successful playing career, he was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 Birthday Honours. 

* Peter Rogers – Peter is a former WRU who played prop. Rogers attained 18 caps for Wales and during a successful playing career, also turned out for Bridgend RFC, Maesteg RFC, London Irish, Newport RFC & Cardiff RFC.

Other attractions include:

* Weapons Display – For the first time in Llangollen, the Royal Marines will be allowing the public to get up close and personal with a range of cutting-edge weaponry.

* Party with the players – There will be hot food, live music, drinks and a family friendly atmosphere in the post-match party being held at the Pavilion building, tickets £10 per person and all ages are welcome.

Green guide looks at helping town’s environment

A new 'green guide' aims to generate ideas for improving Llangollen's environment.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) has published an illustrated guide to the town's Green Infrastructure (GI) opportunities.

Following on from the AONB’s 2021 publication, ‘Landscape and Nature Recovery in a Changing Climate’, the new guide looks at opportunities for adding to the existing GI network in Llangollen to managing, mitigating, and adapting to the threats posed by climate change.

Developed in consultation with the local community and led by the AONB’s climate change lead officer, the guide identifies six well known locations in the town and how they would benefit from GI additions.

Each of the locations are linked together by a GI route which is a mainly traffic free green corridor which should encourage active travel.

The guide looks at the existing situation in the town, sets out the basic principles necessary to provide a joined-up network of green spaces which benefit the local ecosystem and recommends improvements for discussion which would realise the GI objectives.

These include ecological improvements like tree and wildflower meadow planting and improved facilities such as path and signage improvements and sustainable drainage systems.

Cllr Win-Mullen James, Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said: “This fantastic publication marks the start of a longer-term objective of creating a more sustainable Llangollen. 

"Apart from the council, Natural Resources Wales NRW and the AONB, several local organisations and businesses have already signalled their support for the guide, including the town council and Llangollen Friends of the Earth.

“It’s also good to see Ysgol Dinas Bran pledging its full support as the involvement of the next generations is essential.

“This is a great opportunity to spark discussion and action on green infrastructure from both a community grass roots level, and strategic level and we look forward to hearing the outcomes driven by this document.”

Printed versions of the guide are available from the AONB's Llangollen office at Y Capel, Castle Street, LL20 8NU, and also the Loggerheads Country Park office.

Inspectors survey for serious tree disease in Llangollen

* A tree with Ash Dieback.

Members of the county council's tree inspection team are currently in the town surveying Ash Dieback, a disease that may kill up to 90% of the Common Ash (Fraxinus Exclesior) in Denbighshire. 

In a note to local county councillor Karen Edwards, which she has sent to llanblogger, tree inspector Tom Hiles says: "As these trees deteriorate some will present an unacceptable level of risk to life or property and will require felling.

"The survey season is from June to October, when the tree canopy is in leaf, and the inspectors are focusing on the primary highways and council property. 

"As an Ash dominated area, your ward is a priority for the survey team. Each member of the team has a DCC van with the usual logos which will probably be parked in laybys or by the road.

"All the data collected will inform an action plan, due to be published before the end of this financial year, which will outline the council’s response. 

"Ultimately, as many of the trees adjacent to the highway are in private ownership, the council will start to issue notice, under Section 154 of the Highways Act, requiring landowners to fell trees that have become unsafe."

Railway gets programme of summer events underway

Gill Britten will be running 'pop-up' heritage skills workshops at Llangollen Station every Saturday throughout the summer.

These are linked to the industrial history of the Dee Valley and activities will focus on topics such as working with wool, brass rubbing using railway signage and slate painting.

This Saturday, July 30, the workshops begin with working with wool.

The activities are free to take part in and will be located on Platform 2. 

The aim is to give people the chance to learn a bit about how local industries were revolutionised by the coming of the railways with hands-on exhibits and activities.

* On Wednesday, August 24, Peter Dickinson will give a talk called Steaming Through North Wales at Llangollen Museum, starting at 7pm.

It is described as a nostalgic trip by train from Ruabon through Llangollen and Corwen to the Cambrian Coast.

No advance booking is necessary.

Campaigners welcome improved safety measures at Ruabon roundabout

Local campaigners have welcomed a promise to improve safety at a roundabout used by many Llangollen people which was the scene of a recent accident. 

Member of the Senedd Ken Skates (pictured) and Ruabon councillor Dana Davies both wrote to the council to call for action at the Aldi roundabout linking Ruabon, Acrefair and Rhosymedre to the A483 dual carriageway, which residents had branded dangerous. 

The Labour pair wanted new, improved road marking and signage to avoid the ‘confusion’ causing regular near misses – and Wrexham Council has now agreed. 

In an email, received by Mr Skates on Wednesday (July 27), the council said: “Following a recent site meeting with the Local Member it has been agreed that arrows which were on the road surface on the approach to the roundabout on the A539 travelling towards Llangollen would be replaced along with an advance road sign at the start of the short distance of dual carriageway.  

“This will mean that vehicles approaching the roundabout heading for Llangollen on the A539 will be in lane two along with right turning traffic going into the village of Ruabon on the B5605. This should then reduce any conflict with vehicles in lane one which is taking place at the moment. 

“I will also be looking at speeds of vehicles arriving at the roundabout especially from Ty-y-Fron area of the A539 where there is an allegation of vehicular speed.” 

Mr Skates previously said a number of his constituents had contacted him on the issue saying measures are needed to make it clear to drivers which lane they should be in. 

Mr Skates, MS for Clwyd South, said: “I’m pleased the council has responded so positively to the request Dana and I made, and I hope this will help clear up any confusion for drivers and make the area safer. This is something I’ve been contacted about regularly. 

“I’m also very pleased that the council has agreed to look again at the issue of speeding on the approach to the roundabout from the A483, which is another issue Dana and I have raised previously on behalf of residents.” 

Cllr Davies first raised the issue with Wrexham Council earlier this year – months before the recent crash reported by local media. 

She said: “I’m pleased the council is now taking action to make the area safer. The roundabout has become a nightmare and I hope this will remove any confusion for drivers around what lane they should be in. 

“I also hope the promise to look at the speeding issue results in something permanent being done on that front, as it would go a long way to reducing noise pollution for nearby residents as well as further improving road safety.” 

With the support of local residents, Mr Skates and Cllr Davies were previously successful in helping to stop ‘boy racers’ congregating on the Aldi car park late at night after the company agreed to install a security barrier restricting out of hours access.

 

Llangollen Twenty Club returns to Dibley for its next show

Llangollen Twenty Club has announce its November 2022 production of Vicar of Dibley Christmas Special.

The show will be performed in Llangollen Town Hall from Wednesday-Saturday, November 16-19, including a matinee on the Saturday. 

The society is holding open auditions in the RAFA Club, Llangollen next Tuesday, August 9 and audition material, including characterisations, general information and the all important audition pieces are available, either online via the email address: contact@twentyclub.co.uk, or by contacting Sian Glynne Jones at Courtyard Books, or Chrissie Ashworth on 07970 449843.

A Twenty Club spokesperson said: "This very funny, beautifully written play brings out the best of the eccentric, frankly dysfunctional folk who live in the rural fictional setting of Dibley, led by the fun loving, curvaceous, bubbly vicar, Geraldine Granger.  

"Nothing ever quite goes to plan however hard she tries, hampered by the wacky villagers!

"Do come along to audition, if you are interested in learning more. The last time the club staged a Vicar of Dibley play was way back in 2017 when we played to full houses.

"Covid has delayed this production and the society welcomes a return to putting on two plays per year."

Latest Citizens Advice column

Here is the latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice:

Q: I’m due to fly to Spain during the school summer holidays. After hearing about all the problems at airports, I’m really worried. My family have been looking forward to this and it’s cost us a lot of money. What do we do if our flight is cancelled or delayed? 

A: A lot of people will be worried after seeing the recent news about flights. If you face issues, the Citizens Advice website has lots of information about what to do when your flight is delayed or cancelled. 

If you’re already at the airport when they announce the delay, the airline should give you food and drink, access to phone calls and emails. You should also get accommodation if you’re delayed overnight (including journeys to and from the airport). 

Your airline might offer you vouchers to pay for these or advise you to keep receipts to claim back expenses later. They will only refund ‘reasonable’ expenses, not expensive meals or luxury hotels. 

What counts as a long enough delay to get this help depends on how long your flight is. A short flight only needs to be delayed two hours, whereas a flight of more than 3,500km needs to be more than four hours. Full details are on the Citizens Advice website. 

It’s worth knowing that if your flight is delayed for more than five hours, you don’t have to take it. The airline legally has to give you a full refund for that flight (and any onward flights and return flights if you’re part-way through a connecting journey). Talk to someone from the airline as soon as you decide you don’t want to fly. 

If your flight is cancelled altogether, you’ve a legal right to either a full refund or a replacement flight to get you to your destination. The refund includes any onward flights and money for a return flight if you’re part-way through a connecting journey. Ask about this at the airport if you can. 

Don’t just rebook another flight yourself - check with the airline first because it’s their responsibility to sort out your replacement. If you do have to rebook it yourself, keep any receipts and evidence of why the airline couldn’t do this for you, for example screenshots of live chats. If the cancellation ends up delaying you getting to your holiday by two or more hours, you’re entitled to help with costs. 

Check if you’re entitled to compensation for a delayed or cancelled flight. Again, this will depend on how long the delay was, the distance, and whether it’s the airline’s fault.

The Citizens Advice website has details on claiming compensation for delays or cancellations from the airline. You might also be able to claim from your travel insurance – check if your policy covers this. 

If you have a problem with an airline and you’re not sure what to do, call the Citizens Advice consumer helpline 0808 223 1133 or talk to an adviser online through the Citizens Advice website.

Llangollen organisations back regional Borrow Bus project

* The North East Wales Borrow Bus.

Organisations in Llangollen are backing a scheme to help households across North East Wales help save money and to reduce local levels of waste. 

The Lottery-funded Borrow Bus project is led by reSource, a community interest company based in Ruthin, working in partnership with Drosi Bikes  of Llangollen.

Also involved are the Pengwern Community Hub and Friends of the Earth Llangollen.

According to the scheme's sponsors, the aim is for the bus to travel around North East Wales making it easy for people to share and borrow household and garden items that are used infrequently, so encouraging a local circular economy. 

Over time it would increasingly attend complementary events such as repair cafés, community festivals etc.

To learn more about how the local community and how they could benefit from the project organisers are asking people in the areas involved, including Llangollen, to take part in a survey.

They say this will only take five minutes to complete with responses needed no later than August 19.

All entries registering for a mailing list will be entered into a draw for a £50 voucher.

Organisers add: "All responses are confidential. No individual named person or data is shared without their explicit agreement."

* The survey can be seen at: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/BorrowBus-BaselineSurvey/?fbclid=IwAR2BoZ2jSREkv4z0NjJ6p6A2Hbm0Z0-7CgzMOopoRLC87zgbz_Ms_d6qles

* For further details, contact: Bws.Benthyg@innovas.co.uk 

New bench is installed at popular viewing point

* The new bench at the viewing point.

A popular view point from which to see the mighty Pontcysyllte Aqueduct has been given a new lease of life at Trevor Basin.

The vegetation in the foreground has been maintained at a lower height so that the view of the aqueduct is revealed in all its glory and a rustic bench installed.

The bench is made from the trunk of a mighty elm tree that had to be felled for safety reasons at Plas Newydd in Llangollen 3 years ago.

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Our Picturesque Landscape Project the volunteers that took part were taught the skills involved and can now proudly sit and absorb the views.

Councillor Win Mullen James, Cabinet Lead Member for Local Development and Planning, said:  “Many visitors and local people stop to look at the stunning view from this point and now they can sit and spend time enjoying the picturesque landscape. We would like to thanks the National Lottery Heritage Fund for making this possible”.

Our Picturesque Landscape Project centres on the landscape of the Dee Valley and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site. It takes the theme of inspirational journeys that have been, and continue to be, a feature of the area which is cut by the canal, Telford's A5 and the River Dee. Visitors have drawn inspiration from this beautiful valley in art and poetry since the 18th century and it continues to draw tourists in search of the sublime.

This landscape is under growing pressure with high numbers of visitors drawn to what are often our most fragile sites. The communities on its doorstep, born from the industrial endeavours that shaped it, are now less connected to the benefits the landscape offers. The five year project will invest in the resilience of key visitor sites and engage communities in its appreciation and management while reinterpreting this rich landscape for a new generation.

Projects have been developed under 3 themes -Conserving the Picturesque Landscape, Accessing the Picturesque Landscape and People and the Picturesque.

Our Picturesque Landscape Project is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It is a partnership project developed by theClwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Pontcysyllte Aqueductand Canal World Heritage Site, Denbighshire County Council, Wrexham County Borough Council, Shropshire Council, The Canal & River Trust, Natural Resources Wales, Cadw,Cadwyn Clwyd, Aqueducks (Friends of the World Heritage Site) and the Friends of theClwydian Range and Dee Valley.

http://www.clwydianrangeanddeevalleyaonb.org.uk/our-picturesque-landscape-project/

Denbighshire calls or hosts for Ukrainian refugees

Denbighshire County Council is calling on people living in the county to get in touch with the Welsh Government if they can offer a home for those resettling in the UK as a result of the atrocities in Ukraine.

The council has worked closely with Welsh Government to welcome families and individuals to Denbighshire and teams from the Council have been working to carry out checks at properties put forward as a sanctuary. 

Teams are also working to support people’s health and well-being needs, as well as supporting families to find places in school for their children.

Welsh Government has now renewed its call for more hosts that can offer a home to come forward and Denbighshire County Council is supporting them to share information and reach local communities.

To offer a home in Wales for refugees from Ukraine you must:

1. live or own residential property in Wales
2. have not been matched with guests from Ukraine
3. be able to offer a spare room or separate home for at least 6 months
4. have leave to remain in the UK for at least 6 months
5. not have a criminal record

Councillor Rhys Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Communities, said: “Denbighshire has a long history of accommodating and supporting refugees and over the last five years the Council has resettled 25 families, made up of 95 individuals, predominantly in response to the refugee crisis in Syria and Afghanistan.

“We are pleased to have been able to welcome families and individuals arriving in Denbighshire from Ukraine over recent weeks and that work continues.

“The Council is working to ensure the relevant support is available for families once they arrive in Denbighshire, this includes our education team processing applications for school places.

“Through Home Office funding, we are well placed to provide the necessary support and have a working group to manage the programme, as well as a dedicated team working directly with families, and additional support from partners in the third sector and from local volunteer groups.

“A number of Denbighshire residents have come forward to offer accommodation to those who have been forced to leave Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict and on behalf of the Council I would like to thank them for their generosity.

“However, we need those individuals or families who can provide a home to get in touch with the Welsh Government

* If anyone has any enquiries, or would like to offer accommodation, they should visit: gov.wales/offerhome