Island removed as junction work continues

* The bollard island at the A5/Hill Street has been removed. 

The bollard island at the A5/Hill Street junction has been removed by contractors.

Working on behalf of the county council and the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent, they moved in on January 9 to begin a six-week upgrading programme there.

This will include the creation of three new signalised crossings.

Two of these will be on the A5, one from the front of number 4 Berwyn Street to the side of the Armoury, and the second from the front of M’Eating Point to the front of the Welsh Methodist Chapel.

The third crossing will be on Castle Street, near the A5 junction, running from the side of the chapel to the front of the shop opposite.

The priority of the junction of Hall Street and Hill Street will be amended, with the existing bollard island there being removed. A new uncontrolled crossing will run between the Armoury and the Grapes.

There will be a new stop-line position marked on the A5 in front of the junction.

However, llanblogger recently reported how a concerned resident, after a long study of the issue, was worried that the new-look junction could be dangerous to pedestrians and had expressed their fears to the county council and the Welsh Government.   

The resident, who did't wish to be named, told llanblogger earlier this week: "The Welsh Government has not answered my emails yet. I've stated to them the safety issues and asked if they think the junction is safe with the junction partially blocked at every red light from any vehicle and with no pedestrian refuge island on the uncontrolled crossing. 

"They have asked the CEFNFFYDD (North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent) to answer. CEFNFFYDD have said they are not responsible for the safety issues and not responsible for passing it as safe. 

"In fact, nobody has actually confirmed who is responsible for passing it as safe. CEFNFFYDD say that the Welsh Government are responsible for that. So basically, they keep passing the buck between themselves."

The Welsh Government has already declined to comment. Now llanblogger has asked Denbighshire County Council for a response. 

Skates calls for north Wales road decisions to move away from Cardiff

Clwyd South MS and former Welsh Transport Minister Ken Skates (pictured) has called for all decisions over the region’s roads to be devolved from Cardiff to North Wales. 

In a statement demanding clarity and action from the Welsh Government, Mr Skates said decisions over all roads – major and minor – should be made in the north. 

At present, decisions over whether to improve the A483, A55, A494 and A5 are made in Cardiff. Mr Skates wants those decisions to be made in North Wales – with funding also handed to the north. 

He said: “We need certainty over how transport in North Wales will be improved.I’ve been Minister for Transport and Economy. The two roles are now split, but they are both incredibly demanding. Having that experience, I firmly believe that decisions over roads, buses, rail and active travel are best made at a regional level. It’s time to devolve to the North, beginning with our major roads.” 

Mr Skates also said decisions and funding over rail improvements in North Wales should be devolved to the region from Westminster. 

He added: “At the moment, those decisions and the funding that accompanies them sit with UK Government. At the very least, should we succeed in getting a consequential of HS2 expenditure, then it should allocated fairly to the North on a track mile basis.We need to be in charge of our own transport system here in North Wales. Both Cardiff and London need to hand over the powers and funding to enable us to take charge and deliver for our citizens.” 

Mr Skates welcomed assurances from the Welsh Government that it would not turn its back on the steel, car, aerospace and farming sectors in light of the roads review. 

He said: “These vital sectors contribute more in carbon emissions than transport, but are undergoing revolutionary transitions. We will help them transition at the greatest pace available.”

Young 'Uns make frighteningly good job of The Addams Family

* The memorable dinner scene at the end of act 1.

* Gomez and Morticia take centre stage flanked by Lurch (left) and Uncle Fester.

* Wonderful Wednesday.

Llangollen Operatic Society’s Young ‘Uns have made a frighteningly good job of The Addams Family, a musical tale of the everyday life of a ghoulish American family.

Thanks to its fabulous costumes and chillingly atmospheric setting, the whole scary spectacle they will be staging at Llangollen Town Hall from this Thursday to Saturday takes on a dreamlike – or should that be nightmare? – quality.

Add to this some superb performances pitched, in both acting and singing respects, well above their ages the 27-strong cast from the society’s junior section have created something of a Llangollen masterpiece.  

The Addams Family is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice.

The show is based on The Addams Family characters created by Charles Addams and tells the story of a creepy clan with a taste for all things macabre. 

At the head of the family are the frightening Gomez Addams and his haughty wife Morticia, recreated respectively by the highly talented Ethan Le Cheminant – sadly making his final Young ‘Uns appearance before heading off to uni to study maths – and the devilishly divine Heledd Edwards.

Living alongside them in their musty dungeon of a mansion are their children, the teenage girl Wednesday and younger lad Pugsley, both with a wholly unnatural fondness for the darker side.

Katy Clark as Wednesday has a staggeringly good voice capable of waking the dead whenever she lets it rip and Dylan Harrison brings a cooky cuteness to the role of Pugsley.

Other occultist occupants of Chez Addams are Ethan Roberts who, thanks to his ingenious bald wig and capacity for sheer on-stage vitality, makes for a memorable Uncle Fester, and Gracie Broadbent as the Grandma of the family. She brings a hard-edged, hard-bitten American style to the part which at times is shockingly effective.

Helping out around the house is butler Lurch, a man who if he isn’t actually one of the undead one suspects would help them out in a crisis. He’s been perfectly packaged and presented by Sam Gonzalez Jones.

The story centres around the affect meeting a “normal” young man has on Wednesday.

Will the blossoming affair with Lucas, who is well played by Freya Mortimer, turn Wednesday normal too or will she stay the kind of gal who likes nothing better than a bit of crossbow practice in her spare time?

We shall see as the plot develops, introducing as it does a hair-raising visit to the Addams’ place by Lucas’s parents Mal and Alice, skilfully portrayed by Will Robinson and Leri Roberts.

All the principal characters, whose efforts are well supported by a live nine-piece band, are brilliant.

But what takes this production to a whole new level for the Young ‘Uns is the dazzling support they receive from a supporting cast portraying the family’s dead ancestors, some harking back to ancient times.

Their costumes, which are simply gobsmacking, are perfectly toned in with the settings and enhanced by some intelligent lighting. All this can be seen to stunning best effect in the dinner scene at the end of the first act which takes on the look of a classical religious painting.

To be commended for putting all this together in such a stylish way are co-artistic directors Robin Crowley and Jo Lloyd, producer Pamela Williams, assistant producer Dee Smith and musical director Julian Cattley.

You can see the show for yourself at the Town Hall from this Thursday to Saturday. Performances start at 7.30pm except the Saturday matinee which begins at 2pm.    

* Tickets for the Addams Family, which are selling quickly, are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenoperaticsociety and also from Jades, Oggies and the Tourist Information Centre at £12 and £10.

* Maybe an unkind cut for little Pugsley.

* Uncle Fester presents some bald talent.

* The butler Lurches in.

* Grandma instructs Pugsley on her potions.

* The potential in-laws come to call. Lucas is on the right.

* The ancestors get in on the act.

Railway highlights its volunteering opportunities

* Repairing  a 60-year old Class 26 locomotive’s traction motors (above) to dressing up as elves to help Santa for Christmas (below) are some of the volunteering opportunities on offer. 

Llangollen Railway will be launching new volunteer recruitment activities throughout this year.

It will also be hosting an inaugural open day on Saturday February 25 with the aim of showcasing volunteer opportunities across all areas of the railway.

A railway spokesperson said: "We have ambitious plans for 2023, with our brand new station in Corwen opening, a busy schedule of trains to run, a lot of improvement work scheduled on our track and infrastructure, teas, sandwiches and delicious cakes to make and serve, gardens to plant and tidy, stations to paint and popular special events like our Classic Transport weekend to run. 

"We also welcome people who would be interested in supporting the Business, Governance and Board management side of the railway. It’s a challenging but amazing time for us.

The spokesperson added: "Whatever you’re interested in doing, if you can spare any time, we will be taking you up on it.

"Of course, we welcome people with prior experience, transferable skills or specialist technical knowledge, but that is not vital. Enthusiasm, interest and commitment are far more important. 

"No prior knowledge, experience or skills are necessary for getting involved as a volunteer – in fact we actively encourage people to try something new or different from their day job – that’s what volunteering is all about. Whatever you may choose to have a go at, full training is provided, whether you’re looking after our passengers as they arrive or helping to rebuild a 90 year old steam locomotive.

"There really is something for everyone in the volunteering experience – be it front-of-house, back-of-house, somewhere in-between or a bit of everything.

"Many volunteers get involved in several different things - you’re not expected to stick to one job. You may see someone dressed as an elf at Christmas who is then getting stuck in to repairing the track. Whatever you want to try your hand at the only real requirement is to be safe and trained to do it - and be willing to get stuck in."

The railway says places are limited so potential volunteers are being encouraged to register as soon as possible by emailing vlo@llangollen-railway.co.uk or telephoning 01978 860979 during office hours.

Report on incident involving pedestrian in Queen Street this morning

The Denbighshire Free Press online has reported on an incident involving a pedestrian in Llangollen this morning (Monday).

* For the full story, see: https://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/23317829.incident-involving-pedestrian-lorry-llangollen/

Local appeal for supplies for Turkey earthquake zone continues

* The lorry carrying supplies for Turkey leaves Llangollen on Saturday.

As one convoy of vital supplies leaves Llangollen bound for the earthquake zone of Turkey, a fresh appeal for donations for the victims of the disaster is underway in the town.

Well-known local community champion Cat Meade says she and the Llangollen Support Group are now working with UareUK - United to Assist Refugees UK (Refugees North Wales and Overseas) and can therefore take further clothes donations.

Particularly needed are those for children, men and women, including socks, underwear and also toiletries.

Donations can be dropped at Wingetts in Castle Street, Llangollen until February 27, says Cat.

On Saturday Huseyin Duyar, manager of the Deeside Cafe in Castle Street, drove to Manchester with a truckload of clothing for Turkey. From there it was to be transferred to a larger lorry which would take it on to the devastated quake zone in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border.     

Huseyin is originally from the city of Diyarbakir which is only about half an hour’s drive from the epicentre of quake. 

Tens of thousands of people are thought to have been killed and thousands others injured in the disaster which has left many people homeless and in dire need of assistance of all kinds. 

Donations for his appeal came flooding in from the local community and even from as far away as Holyhead. 

Next Sunday Huseyin and three friends will be flying out to Turkey from Manchester Airport taking more supplies with them, paying for excess baggage.  

They will remain in the country for about five days, staying with friends, and are ready to help distribute the supplies to the affected areas if asked to do so. 

St David's Market planned for March 4

 

On Saturday March 4 the Inner Wheel Club of Llangollen in collaboration with Tenovus and the Town Hall are holding a fair to celebrate St David's Day. 

Exhibition in town explores being homeless

An exhibition on being homeless is being staged at Llangollen's Dory Gallery in Regent Street until March 19.

It combines images from The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre’s photographic archives and photographic artist, Tony Mallon’s project, Homeless. 

This moved beyond the human presence to explore and examine the spaces and experience of living in homeless hostels in Merseyside. 

Homeless was exhibited in 2015 as part of LOOK/15, Liverpool’s international photography festival at the Unseen Photo Festival, Amsterdam. 

The project was supported using public funding by Arts Council England and The National Lottery. 

This is the second time this work has been displayed together, the other being at The Salvation Army’s William Booth College, London in 2018.

Dory Gallery opening times are 10am - 4pm Saturday and Sunday only. The gallery will be closed on February 25 and 26. 

Latest local roadworks notified by county council

Latest local roadworks notified by Denbighshire County Council are:

O/S TOWER FARM COTTAGE TOWER ROAD 14/02/2023 16/02/2023 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works WALES & WEST (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE NUMBER 2, QUINTA BIRCH HILL 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 MILL STREET 27/02/2023 01/03/2023 NMWTRA Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights 21:00 - 06:00

A539 Outside 5 CHURCH STREET 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Trydanol / Electrical Works QUARTZELEC (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

OUTSIDE 6 GREENFIELD 27/02/2023 27/02/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement O'CONNOR UTILITIES (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Nr GLASFRYN ABBEY ROAD 20/02/2023 22/02/2023 Gwaith Dwr / Water Works HAFREN DYFRDWY LLANGOLLEN

From Dee Cottage to Bishop's Walk MILL STREET 03/03/2023 05/03/2023 Torri Coed / Tree Cutting SHIFT TRAFFIC EVENTS LTD. LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 Hall Street Llangollen HALL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Parking Suspension Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Chapel Street CHAPEL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Un Ffordd/ One Way

MILL ST CAR PARK MILL STREET 24/02/2023 24/02/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works MORRISON UTILITY Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

Former Llangollen Railway Footpath A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 23/02/2023 23/02/2023 Torri Coed / Tree Cutting KTL CONTRACTING LTD LLANGOLLEN

A539 Wrth / Nr Haulwen ABBEY ROAD 02/03/2023 02/03/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works ALUN GRIFFITHS LLANGOLLEN

Christmas Fair group hands over £2,000 in raffle proceeds

* The £1,000 is presented to the air ambulance. From left: Paul Cakebridge (pilot), Simon Cartwright (critical care practitioner), John Palmer and Austin Cheminais of the Christmas Festival, Oliver Ayleson (critical care practitioner) and Ian Parry (festival).

* John Palmer and Austin Cheminais, left and right, hand over the £1,000 cheque to Llangollen Foodshare's Steph Mitchell, Sian Jones and Gill Robinson.

Representatives of the Llangollen Christmas Festival Group have been sharing the proceeds of the raffle that runs alongside the big seasonal event. 

The group says there was a great response to the latest raffle and stresses thanks should go to the hardworking volunteers who managed to sell an amazing 3,000 tickets.

This has enabled the group to donate £1,000 to Wales Air Ambulance and £1,000 to Llangollen Food Share. The remaining £1,000 will help fund this year’s festival.

Austin Cheminais, who chairs the Christmas Festival, expressed the groups thanks to all the local businesses in and around Llangollen who donated prizes for the raffle, which included a light aircraft flight from the Air Ambulance base at Welshpool Airport. 

He said: "The 2022 Christmas Festival was the best yet and we managed to make it a completely free event. 

"Its success was due to the support we had from the community and the generous donations from anonymous donors. 

"Thanks go to the businesses and shops around Llangollen, the groups and individuals who joined the parade, our local schools, the groups that performed for us on the day and to Sunbelt Rentals, who provided the traffic management without charge. 

"The hardworking team who put the Christmas Festival together have already had their first meeting of the year to start to plan this year’s event which will take place on Saturday November 25. We hope to make it even bigger this year."

* If you would like to get involved in helping to organise the event or are able to support us financially please contact Chem at chemshouts@gmail.com

Applications open for latest round of UK Government funding

Denbighshire has been allocated almost £26m from a new UK Government fund set up to replace the money it used to receive from Europe before Brexit.

And it is now looking for applications on how to spend it in the county to benefit communities and place, local businesses and people and skills.

Projects must be submitted by later this month.

The £2.6 billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was launched last April to succeed the old EU structural funds and is described as the central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda. 

Its aims are to boost productivity, pay, jobs and living standards, spread opportunities and improve public services, restore a sense of community, local pride and belonging and empower local leaders and communities.

Denbighshire will get a total of £25.6 million to invest over three years. 

The first call for UKSPF projects is now live and will remain open until midday on February 24.

* To find out more about the about the fund and to apply, visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/uk-shared-prosperity-fund

Llan-based expert offers free online advice for Third Sector

A Llangollen-based expert is offering free advice on building a sound business strategy for the Third Sector.

Selana Kong, managing director of the International Dispute Resolution and Risk Management UK Centre (IDRRM UK), has organised a free webinar entitled "Leveraging Communities - Intercultural Business Strategy for the Third Sector".

It takes place online at 1pm on Wednesday February 22. 

Confirmed speakers are Brian Colley, Tyger Sonia Benbow-Jones and Dr Francis Law.

Selana said: "Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship. Always count the cost of your business. 

"Join us to learn from a UK social enterprise award winner, community councillor and international dispute resolution and risk management experts to learn how to make your business cost-effective, attractive to business partners, environmentally and socially friendly, and easy to access to a wide range of guidance and support."

* Register free at: https://bit.ly/3RNIEFX

Clubbercise classes to launch in Llangollen

Denbighshire Leisure (DLL) is bringing a night out to your workouts with the launch of new Clubbercise classes in Llangollen. 

These new fitness classes - there is another one starting in Denbigh - are launching following a successful rollout of Clubbercise at Ruthin Leisure and Nova Prestatyn last year. 

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of DLL, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to give our members this new premium experience, and in true Denbighshire Leisure style we are now running Clubbercise at four locations across Denbighshire. 

"To be trusted by an International brand like Clubbercise is a fantastic honour and we cannot wait for our members to experience these classes, they truly are one of a kind.”

With the famous strapline ‘Bringing a nightout to your workout’, Clubbercise is described as the perfect mix of fun and fitness. 

The full-body workout is said to suit all fitness levels, set in a dark room with disco lights and Clubbercise glowsticks, each routine is set to club anthems and 90s classics. 

Classes start in Llangollen on February 17. Members can book a week in advance on the DLL app.  

* For more information, visit: https://denbighshireleisure.co.uk/dllclubbercise/

Llan cafe boss arranges mercy missions to Turkey earthquake zone

* Huseyin Duyar with some of the supplies bound for the Turkey quake zone. 

A Llangollen restaurant manager has been co-ordinating efforts to collect clothing and other supplies to help victims of the massive earthquake which struck near the Turkish/Syrian border earlier this week. 

And Huseyin Duyar of the Deeside Cafe in Castle Street is taking part in two missions to ferry the piles of aid donated by the local community out to the worst-hit area – one by road and another by air. 

Huseyin is originally from the city of Diyarbakir in Turkey which is only about half an hour’s drive from the epicentre of the quake in Kahramanmaras, south-eastern Turkey, near the Syrian border. 

Tens of thousands of people are thought to have been killed and thousands others injured in the disaster which has left many people homeless and in dire need of assistance of all kinds. 

Huseyin said: “When I heard about what I happened I immediately knew I had to do something to help the people in my homeland, so I posted something on our Facebook page to say we were collecting warm winter clothing and other supplies for those who have lost everything. 

“The donations just came flooding in from the local community and even from as far away as Holyhead. 

“We have had so much brought into the cafe that we have two store-rooms completely full of warm clothing of all kinds, for men, women and children. 

“The community have been so good it’s just unbelievable what has been donated.” 

Huseyin was originally only planning to take the donated items over to Turkey by plane on Sunday February 26 because it is faster to get the aid to where it is needed most. 

But so much has been brought in that he and friends have now decided to slot in another delivery before that. 

So, this Sunday, he and Oswestry takeaway owner Halit Sevim will be collecting up all the clothing being stored at the Deeside Cafe and taking it by lorry over to Manchester where a group of Turkish ex-pats will be loading up a much larger vehicle for a mercy drive out to the earthquake zone expected to take five days. 

Bags of items collected on Huseyin’s behalf by Cat Meade at nearby Wingetts estate agents will also be loaded on to the wagon bound for Manchester. 

Although Huseyin won’t be heading for Turkey this weekend he and three friends will still be flying out there from Manchester Airport on Sunday February 26 taking as much as they can carry between them, paying for excess baggage. 

They will remain in the country for about five days, staying with friends, and are ready to help distribute the supplies to the affected areas if asked to do so. 

Huseyin added: “What we desperately need now are nappies, baby food, thick socks for men, women and children and sleeping bags. 

“If anyone can help us with these things, we would be delighted to have them brought in to the Deeside Cafe. 

“I’d like to thank everyone who has made donations so far. It's been a fantastic response. 

“This is a terrible disaster which has affected so many people. That includes Haci Subasi who worked at our cafe as a waiter until last summer. His parents live close to where the earthquake struck and their house has been totally destroyed.” 

* Huseyin is not collecting monetary donations for the appeal but his colleague Donna Wynne suggested that people might like to donate to a non-government appeal which she has checked out. This is at: Ahbap Platformu Resmi Sitesi 

Teachers call off February 14 strike

ITV Wales is reporting this afternoon that teachers in Wales have announced they will no longer strike on February 14 after a new pay offer from the Welsh Government.

The National Education Union (NEU) Cymru said it had agreed to cancel the planned industrial action after "detailed talks" with the Education Minister and government officials.

The union has moved the walkout to March 2, while it consults with its members on the new offer.

It comes as NHS staff in Wales and members of the Fire Brigade Union both recently called off strike action after new pay offers.y

Young film-makers of Ysgol Y Gwernant take a bow

* The film-making team from Ysgol Y Gwernant are presented with the framed poster by Cllr Win Mullen-Davies (far left).

Llangollen Town Hall took on the appearance of Hollywood on Tuesday evening when a group of young film-makers from Ysgol Y Gwernant made their glittering debut at a Night on the Red Carpet.

Under the guidance of experts, a group of talented pupils from the Year 6 class recently made a short film entitled 'A Time Travel Adventure: Discovering Castell Dinas Brân’s Camera Obscura, 1869 - 1910' which tells the fascinating tale of how Llangollen's ancient castle developed into a popular tourist area during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.

The team worked hard to research, film and act in the movie that was made in collaboration with the Your Picturesque Landscape team of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It has both English and Welsh language versions.

Howard Sutcliffe, lead officer of the AONB, said that ever since it was set up 10 years ago it had been their ambition to have a project like this and it was great that it had now gone ahead.

He added that the Ysgol Y Gwernant team had done an "absolutely fantastic job" on every aspect of the film.

Councillor Win Mullen-James, Denbighshire County Council cabinet member for the AONB, said the film showed what a talented group of people Llangollen has.

And she presented the whole group with a framed poster depicting highlights of the AONB - one of six, copies of which are available in Llangollen Tourist Information Centre.

The evening also saw the launch of the AONB's own short film, "An Animated History of the Dee Valley" which tells the story of our picturesque landscape by sweeping across the valley, depicting the changes to the landscape and historic features through the centuries.

* A briefing from a man from the past is one scene from the film.

* A black and white sequence shows how the film dips back into Victorian times.

  * Pupils of the present-day discover details of Castell Dinas Bran's rich past.

* A top-hatted character helps tell the tale.

* A bearded Llangollen resident knows a thing or two about the castle.

* ... and so does this local workman from a different time.

* Edwardian children at play near the castle in another scene from the film.

Latest Citizens Advice column

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I’ve been offered, and accepted a new job. The new company wants me to start as soon as possible but we’re really short-staffed where I am now and I don’t know how soon I’ll be allowed to leave. How should I bring all this up with my boss?  

A: Congratulations on your new role! It can feel awkward telling your employer you’re moving on but there are set processes in place. The time between telling your employer you’ve found a new position and you actually leaving is known as your notice period. 

 

If you’ve been in your current job for less than one month, you won’t have to give any notice period (unless your contract says otherwise). If it’s more than a month though, you have to give at least one week’s notice. Check what your contract says to find out how much notice you’ll be expected to give. 

 

If you don’t have a contract, and your employer has no written record of you agreeing to a notice period but you have been employed for more than a month you have to give at least one week’s notice. 

 

Although it may be tempting to hand in your resignation as soon as possible, it’s worth waiting until your new employer has confirmed your new employment, for example by signing your contract or by giving you a start date.

 

 It’s then best to give your resignation in writing (email is fine), so that you have a record of the date you told your employer. You can find guidance on how to do this on the Citizens Advice website, where we have a page on handing in your notice. 

Fixed-term contracts are a bit different, as you won’t need to give notice if you intend to leave on the last day of your contract. Leaving before the end of a fixed-term contract usually means giving at least one week’s notice, but again check your contract to see if this is different. 

Don’t forget about your holiday days during your notice period. If you have any unused annual leave, speak to your employer about either taking these during the notice period or being paid back for them in your final paycheck. 

Finally, sometimes people can change their mind about moving jobs or find their circumstances alter. If this happens to you, you should speak to your current employer to see what your options are and if you can stay in your current role.

Everyone’s situation is different, but if you face any challenges with an existing or potential employer, contact Citizens Advice for advice: 0800 144 8848 or visit our website pages about what to do when you’re leaving a job.

Ysgol Bryn Collen to be closed next Tuesday due to industrial action

Denbighshire County Council has sent out a notification that Ysgol Bryn Collen (Primary) in Llangollen will be closed next Tuesday February 14 due to industrial action by education staff.

Dinas Bran students get taste of world of work

Ysgol Dinas Bran students got a realistic taste of the future world of work recently.

Last Friday all of the school's Year 11s undertook a mock interview with a local employer.

The school says its aim is to raise career aspirations and introduce pupils to employers who can inspire, inform and motivate them.

Over 20 employers gave up their time to participate, including Airbus Careers, SP Energy Networks, Royal Navy Recruitment, A N Richards, Kronospan, Openreach The Open University, Excel Recruitment and Careers Wales.

On its Facebook page the school says: "The day was a complete success. Thank you to all of the employers who took part and to all of our students who were a credit to themselves and the school.

"We are all very proud of them and their impeccable behaviour."