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."

Last-ditch case made for vital A483 improvements

Labour representatives have made a final-hour plea to the Welsh Government not to ditch crucial junction improvements on the A483.

Ahead of an imminent decision over road improvements across Wales, Clwyd South MS Ken Skates has met the Minister responsible for transport, Lee Waters, to press for ‘vital’ work to go ahead.

“The Welsh Government paused work on improvements to the A483 in order to consider them in the context of the climate emergency,” said Mr Skates.

“I’ve consistently argued that the improvements are vital in reducing emissions, safeguarding pedestrian safety on nearby roads and in ensuring buses can operate reliably.

“I have met the Deputy Minister again this week to call on him and Welsh Government to do what is right for the people of Wrexham County Borough and for the environment. It is vital that junction improvements along the A483 are progressed.”

He added: “This decision will impact on the lives of people living in local villages, towns and the city of Wrexham for years to come – a green light for the improvements is essential.”

It is hoped that the go-ahead for improvements at junctions 3-6 on the A483 would open the door for further work to improve junction 1 at Ruabon – and the Halton roundabout.

Cllr Frank Hemmings, who represents Chirk North, said: “I have written to the Minister in the past regarding the A483 improvements. This road is the heartbeat of North East Wales, linking to Mid Wales and the North West of England. We are seeing long delays between Ruabon and Halton on a daily basis, with traffic queueing for some distance either way and creating even more pollution.”

Cefn Mawr councillor Derek Wright said: “I fully support Ken on demanding urgent improvements to the A483. It’s simply unable to cope with the volume of traffic now using it. When you look at the money spent on the junction of the A483-A5 just south of Oswestry, why do we have to put up with the daily congestion in both directions all the way to the Post House roundabout south of Chester?”

Cllr Gary Brown (Brymbo) added: "These improvements – especially for junction 4 – are long overdue, and remain key to unlocking the potential for sustainable growth in our communities to the west of the city centre. It’s vital that the Welsh Government plays its part in directing investment for a better future here in North Wales.”

Cllr Dana Davies, who represents Ruabon, is leader of the Wrexham Labour Group. She said: “Ken has argued all along that these improvements should go ahead, and we are 100% supportive.

“Improving junction 5 is extremely important to the delivery of the Wrexham Gateway project. Given the UK Government’s refusal to support the bid, any infrastructure improvements which can be delivered by the Welsh Government become even more vital.”

Cllr Davies added: “Not only would this project significantly enhance junctions 3-6 and alleviate the near-gridlock we see at peak times, it could then lead to work to improve junction 1 at Ruabon and the Halton roundabout. It’s crucial for our area and we are praying our pleas will be listened to.”

Llan Ramblers enjoy morning hike around Erddig

Llangollen Ramblers enjoyed the sunshine on a morning hike around Erddig last week.

* If you're interested in joining them  - and they say you'd be very welcome - contact Judy Smith on smithdinbren@gmail.com

Lexus could be hybrid for you - if you can afford it

Lexus NX 450+ drive by Steve Rogers

Car sales for the last year show we are starting to warm to hybrid and all electric power.

There is more choice and there are a few electric cars for under £30,000, still a lot of money, but it is progress. People tell me owning an electric car is appealing but are still anxious about charging away from home and that is a genuine concern

Who knows whether we will be ready for the switch over in 2030 but if I was changing cars now I would be looking at hybrid or, better still, plug-in hybrid and the car attracting the attention of those with enough money in the bank is the new Lexus NX 450+.

This is the first plug-in hybrid from Lexus and has left the motoring world asking why it has taken so long when parent company Toyota has more experience of alternative power than any other car company. Mitsubishi came up with a plug-in hybrid SUV eight years ago.

It’s here now and as far as electric range goes it is a world beater. With a light foot on the accelerator the NX has a range of up to 43 miles on the open road and could rise to more than 50 trundling around town. That is better than anyone, and the car self charges when the electric juice has run out. Another first.

NX quickly became the company’s best seller after its launch in 2014 but was always behind rivals like Audi Q5 and BMW X3 when it came to driving dynamics and technology. Well watch out boys because the new model is a belter and a half. The hybrid side is one thing but Lexus has gone to town on everything, vastly improving driving pleasure while the tech upgrade outguns its rivals.

The centre piece is a 14 inch touchscreen with clear graphics and razor sharp response. Cloud navigation gives live traffic updates and is the way to go given the challenge of navigation apps on smart phones.

The number of buttons has been reduced from 78 to 45 but there are still nice tactile switches for controlling the heating or changing the radio volume. The bit I needed more time to master are the touch sensitive buttons on the steering wheel. Hover over the switch and a graphic for a particular function appears in the head up display but is so fiddly to operate I gave up.

For pure ease try the voice control which is excellent for choosing a radio station, changing the heating, selecting a navigation destination or asking for a window to be opened.

One word describes the cabin - fabulous. You are spoilt rotten in every way, even the doors release electronically but pushing a button instead of pulling a lever actually takes a little time to master.

Volvo has been my benchmark for the most comfortable seats but the NX matches the Swede here and on the safety front. The Lexus cabin feels like a fortress with so many safety features detecting potential accidents, and with sensors and cameras surrounding the car you should never be at risk of scraping any part of the body.

They have even managed to sort out lane assist which I always turn off. It is now less sensitive and will not tug the car back when moving to overtake or driving close to a verge.

NX 450 is a powerful all wheel drive five door SUV with ridiculously high economy because of its electric range but when depleted do not expect to achieve more than high thirties on petrol power.

Ok the NX 450+ is out of reach of the majority but for those who can pay this sort of money it is good value against its premium rivals and with its low emissions an absolute tax steal for the company driver.

Fast Facts

NX 450+ Takumi

£62,050

2.5 litre petrol; 305bhp

0-62mph 6.3secs; 124mph

256-313mpg combined

26g/km. 1st tax £155

Insurance group 41

Boot 545-1436 litres

Upgrade proposed for rail line through Chirk/Ruabon

* Chirk rail station.

A main rail line used regularly by Llangollen travellers could be in line for an upgrade.

Today (Friday) sub-national transport body Midlands Connect releases its Marches Road and Rail blueprint at a virtual conference.

It says the aim is to help ‘unlock the full economic potential of the Marches and Mid and West Wales.

The proposals are for a suite of upgrades for rail improvements in Herefordshire; Shropshire; and Telford & Wrekin as well as counties in Mid and West Wales. The plans have been created in conjunction with the Welsh Government.

For the Chester to Shrewsbury line, which stops at Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk and Gobowen, Midlands Connect is proposing:

• Secure faster and a higher frequency of trains, with greater direct connectivity between Telford and Chester
• Reviews of accessibility to train stations, identifying any barriers people may have in using them for the “first and last mile” of their journey.

Midlands Connect also proposes the government support upgrades on the Birmingham – Black Country – Shrewsbury rail line as the ‘gateway’ to the Marches and Mid and West Wales.

It also recommends road upgrades for the A5 not just to improve local safety, but to enhance the longer distance role played by the A5 in connecting England to Holyhead and beyond.

It also suggests delivery of the Pant – Llanymynech bypass as soon as possible as well as the A49 corridor given its role in moving people and freight in and out of Wales.

Midlands Connect will take this blueprint to Government to ask for funding, specifically for the rail schemes as part of the Union Connectivity Review, in conjunction with the Welsh Government. Funding was set aside to progress key projects in the report, released in November 2021.

Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect said: “This document outlines a series of road and rail projects that we believe could unlock the full economic potential of the Marches and Mid and West Wales.

“Midlands Connect has been working closely with the Welsh Government to create a plan that we will take to government in Westminster.

“All these improvements would help bind the union together but help Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin get the rail and road improvements they need.”

 

Newbridge road may be shut for another year, says BBC story

According to a story on the BBC online service, the B5605 in Newbridge may be shut another year.

* For the full story see: Wrexham: B5605 in Newbridge may be shut another year - BBC News

 

Local roadworks notified by county council

Latest local roadworks notified by Denbighshire County Council are:

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

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

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 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

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

A542 Hall St Link Road HALL STREET LINK ROAD 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PHILIP BI LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

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

CHAPEL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PHILIP BI LLANGOLLEN Un Ffordd/ One Way

Hall street Llangollen HALL STREET 09/01/2023 17/02/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT (PHILIP BI LLANGOLLEN Atal Parcio / Parking Suspension Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 MILL STREET 27/02/2023 01/03/2023 NMWTRA (LISA BILTON) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights 21:00 - 06:00

Rotary briefs cubs on its worldwide aid projects

Mike Lade (pictured above) from the Vale of Llangollen Rotary visited the Ist Llangollen Cubs to talk about his organisation's two humanitarian projects which cope with natural or man-made disasters around the world.

Shelterbox and AquaBox both began as Rotary projects, in Helston, Cornwall and Winksworth, Derbyshire respectively.

Shelter Box is more often than not one of the first non-government organisation’s into any natural, man-made disaster or conflict.

And AquaBox provides a crate filled with humanitarian aid as well as a family-sized water filtration system that will process polluted and contaminated water to make it safe for drinking.

Mike Lade said: “The cubs were very attentive and seemed to really enjoy working the demonstration AquaBox to turn the filthiest water into clear water fit to drink.

"We were very grateful for the presentation of a cheque that will be put to good use on one of our community projects."

More information on Shelterbox and how you can contribute can be found at www.shelterbox.org and for AquaBox details visit www.aquabox.org.

The Vale of Llangollen Rotary welcomes individuals and couples of 18+ from the local community who want to be “people of action”.  

The club normally meets face-to-face, at Liberty Tavern in Market Street, Llangollen on Monday evenings at 7.30pm. Alternatively, people can join the meeting from wherever they are via the club's Zoom account connection.

* For more information on the club, contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, valeofllangollenrotary@gmail.com, or see www.valeofllangollenrotary.com. 

Work on new woodland area near cemetery almost complete

* Jeanette Robinson and Mike Gleed of the Tidy Town Team plant a tree in the woodland area.

* David Davies, left, of the Tidy Town Team and John Gambles of the Mission Area get stuck into the tree planting. 

Work to transform an area of under-used woodland near St John’s Church off Abbey Road into a 'tranquil' outdoor area should be finished by the end of this month.

That's according to the man in charge of the Green Space project to sympathetically redevelop a 1.5-acre triangular-shaped piece of land between the river, the railway and the cemetery into what he described as a “tranquil area where people can find peace with themselves ... where they can sit, relax and contemplate.”

John Gambles leads the Valle Crucis Mission Area, the body which co-ordinates the work of 15 parish churches in the Dee Valley area and has led the project with cash from the Green Communities Project match-funded by St Collen’s Church.

Yesterday (Friday) volunteers from Llangollen's Tidy Town Team, who have been closely involved with the work since it began last year, were back on site to add the final touches to the woodland area in the shape of 20 new trees.

Mr Gambles said: "Work on the tranquil area will be finished by the end of this month with the pathways in place and the land cleared and tidied, and then it's a case of doing a little more work around the cemetery.

"Also included in the scheme is extending the existed limited car parking area for graveyard visitors by the removal of a privet hedge and the planting of a line of ornamental trees to screen it from the consecrated land set aside for the extension of the burial area, the creation of a small wildflower meadow plus the fixing of posts and chestnut palings along the rider side of the site."

He added: "The Tidy Town Team has done more good work for us by planting the trees in the woodland area.

"The 20 they have put in are a mixture of apple and quince trees, which have all been sourced in either north Wales or the border counties of England - the apples are from Bardsey Island off the Lyn Peninsula, so hopefully we will soon have an edible forest here. 

"Some trees, a number of which were diseased, were removed from the woodland area but logs from the healthy ones have been left on the ground to create a habitat for small mammals.

"Wildlife will also benefit from the 20 bird nesting boxes created for us by the technical department at Ysgol Dinas Bran and put in place ready for this year's breeding season.

"Everything that's been done will soon be turning green, so hopefully this will be a lore more pleasant place."  

Choir's St David's Day concert announced

 

Safety concerns expressed about new-look Hill Street/A5 junction

                               

The resident's picture of the way the junction is currently.

* Their interpretation of the many ways pedestrians and drivers will have to assess the re-modelled junction before negotiating it.

A Llangollen resident has voiced concerns that the work currently being carried out to re-shape the junction of Hill Street and the A5 could be “very dangerous” for pedestrians.

Contractors for the county council and working on behalf of the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent moved in on January 9 to begin a six-week programme at the busy junction.

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 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.

The concerned resident, after a long study of the issue but does not wish to be named, says they have expressed their fears about the work to the county council and the Welsh Government.   

They explained: “I've been trying to raise concerns for over a year. I have just been passed around. I was told the plans would be revised. They haven't been. 

“I have now been forwarded to the Welsh Government but they won't be back for comment for 15 days. It's too late then. Plans need to be changed now.  

“Pedestrians crossing from bottom of Hill Street will have to look for traffic coming from five directions at any one time from a 315-degree radius, on a very busy junction.  

“As it is at the moment it can be dangerous to cross to the island, having to assess for traffic from three directions, the other two being on other side of island as the current layout is now. 

“People are limited to concentrate on only a few things at any one time. Putting this fact in a scenario for pedestrians to cross the road is very dangerous.  

“It is dangerous because not only will the pedestrians have to assess dangers from five possible directions but also and a driver will have to assess vehicles and pedestrians from five possible directions. Drivers will fail to see pedestrians crossing if they are concentrating on traffic from four directions.  

“To add, the crossing will be longer than what it currently is now.”

The resident added: "The 'keep clear' area will get blocked as there is only space for one car in front of the traffic lights (which already partially blokes the exit from Hill St). 

"With a flow of traffic, I doubt very much that vehicles will wait for the space in front of lights to clear before they proceed to it. It is inevitable that when the lights turn red that at least one car will be in the 'keep clear' area, blocking off exit and entrance. 

"In the new plans there will be no space for vehicles caught in the 'keep clear' area to move to, in turn completely blocking the junction every time the lights are red. I think there should be a box junction instead of 'keep clear'. 

"I also think it is vital that a pedestrian refuge island is placed halfway across the crossing at bottom of Hill St crossing." 

* Llanblogger has asked the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent to comment. A spokesperson said: "The correspondent will receive a reply to his letter/e-mail very soon. We won’t be providing a separate response."