Leisure firm adds more classes to popular Clubbercise programme

Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) is adding more classes to their hugely popular Clubbericse programme after a success launch across four sites. 

The success of Clubbercise at Ruthin and Nova has now led to DLL rolling out five Clubbercise classes at four of their venues. 

Waiting lists have been made for those unable to get on to the classes at Llangollen and Nova continues to  have classes sold out every week. 

With the strapline ‘Bringing a night out to your workout’, Clubbercise is a mix of fun and fitness. 

The full-body workout is aimed to suits all fitness levels. Set in a dark room with disco lights and Clubbercise glowsticks, each routine is accompanied by club anthems and 90’s classics. 

For those looking to ‘glow all night’ there are classes at Ruthin, Denbigh, Llangollen and Nova now available with DLL. 

These are all included in the DLL memberships and give members a chance to get fit while having fun every day of the week.

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.

"We’ve had sell-out classes since we launched, with waiting lists being set up in Llangollen and Nova for people wanting to attend the classes. With the continued success of Clubbercise across DLL, it’s only a matter of time before another site gets added to the schedule.”

Members can book a week in advance on the DLL app and non-members can pay as you go. For more information, visit: https://denbighshireleisure.co.uk/dllclubbercise/

County council weather update

County Network Position and Weather Update; (Thursday 09 March 19:00hrs

Further heavy and significant snowfall is forecast through this evening and overnight, with no anticipated changes to the predicted accumulation levels already reported in the earlier update, although there is a possibility of increased accumulations at lower levels. In addition to the snow, icy conditions are also expected along with the potential for some freezing rain, leading to a risk of black ice and some potentially challenging conditions overnight and in the morning. The county road network continues to be largely passable with care. The Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen and Gwaenysgor Hill, Prestatyn are still currently closed.

 

DCC gritting teams will be working continuously through this evening and overnight to keep the primary network open and the teams will be salting all priority gritting routes. Agricultural snow plough contractors will also be deployed across the county again tomorrow, in order to assist our teams in dealing with the worst affected routes.

 

The weather on Friday is set to improve throughout the morning, with snow levels gradually decreasing but it will still remain very cold, and there will be only limited thawing and melting of any remaining lying snow. Friday night will again be a bitterly cold night, with temperatures expected to be well below freezing, and in some cases as low as between -6 to -8 Celsius across most parts of the county.

 

The Met Office amber warning is set to remain in force until 09:00 tomorrow, along with a wider yellow warning covering the whole of North and Mid Wales through until 14:00hrs tomorrow.

 

Looking ahead, a weather front is set introduce rain during the daytime on Saturday, although there is still the potential for this to turn to sleet/snow at for a time, before milder conditions set in. A further update will be provided tomorrow morning.

 

In the event of any emergency situation requiring an immediate response, contact should be made directly with Denbighshire Customer Services or via the Galw Gofal out of hours contact centre on 0300 123 3068.

Further updates will be provided if deemed necessary.

Please report any issues to our Customer Service Team between 8:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday, by:

1) email to customerservice@denbighshire.gov.uk

2) telephone 01824 706000

3) visit in person a One Stop Shop.

4) use an online web form, available on Denbighshire’s website: https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/online-forms/online-forms.aspx

In the event of any emergency situation requiring an immediate response, contact should be made directly via the out of hours contact centre between 5pm – 8:30am including weekends on 0300 123 3068.

Priffyrdd a Gwasanaethau Amgylcheddol

Highways and Environmental Services

Ffôn/Tel: 01824 706866

Hill Street junction roadworks will now go on for another week

* Work at the junction of Hill Street and the A5 will go on for another week.

Roadworks to improve the junction of Hill Street and the A5 in Llangollen will now take another week to complete, llanblogger has just discovered.

The project to upgrade the traffic lights and realign the junction, providing signals to the pedestrian crossing phase, began on January 9 and were originally due to be finished six weeks later on February 17.

But it was announced shortly before that date that they would actually run on until March 9 - this coming Thursday.

However, llanblogger thanks to Llangollen county councillor Karen Edwards, has now seen a copy of an official note by the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agent (NMWTRA) that the work, being carried out by contractors A Parry Construction Ltd, will not now be completed until Thursday March 17.  

No reason is given in the note for the second extension to the deadline.

However, when the work was last extended the Trunk Road Agent said in a note to the county council that the extra time was needed "due to changes to the original NMWTRA scheme with the addition of Puffin Crossings, along with other unforeseen changes." 

llanblogger is taking a short break

 

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in around a week's time

Teachers to tackle Llangollen Canal Walk in aid of hospice

* At the back are the six teaching staff taking part Steven Jones, Martin Wyeth, Laura Hughes, Jane Parr, Laura Thomas and Sarah Hughes. At the front are Grace O'Hare, Deputy Head Girl, Archie Lee, Deputy Head Boy and Cassius Curran, Head Boy. 

A group of teaching staff from a Wrexham primary school are lacing up their walking books at taking on Hope House Children’s Hospice’s Llangollen Canal Walk this month. 

Six staff from Ysgol Sant Dunawd in Bangor-on-Dee will be taking on the 10-mile trek on Sunday, March 12 to help raise money for the hospice which cares for children and families in the area.  

Steven Jones, Martin Wyeth, Laura Hughes, Jane Parr, Laura Thomas and Sarah Hughes decided to raise money at the same time as bonding outside of school. 

Teaching Assistant Laura Thomas said: “We like to get together outside of work and we are a bit of a family here. 

“This walk has always looked really good, especially as it passes over the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, and this year we decided we would take it on as a group and raise money for such an incredible local cause.  

“As a teaching staff we work with and are passionate about children so it felt it was fitting for us to help raise money to support local children too.” 

The group has so far raised more than £275 and are asking for anyone who would like to sponsor the walk to visit justgiving.com/fundraising/mark-wyeth1. 

Fundraiser Cat Dowdeswell recently gave an assembly to the children and staff to thank them for their fundraising efforts and explain more about the charity. 

She said: “We are so touched that the staff from Ysgol Sant Dunawd chose to support us by taking on our Llangollen Canal Walk. 

“Without the fantastic support of our local community and those taking part in our events we wouldn’t be able to be here for those seriously ill local children and their families when they need us the most.” 

The Llangollen Canal Walk has been sponsored by this year by Principality Building Society. 

James Harper, social impact lead at Principality said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring this amazing walk and raising money for such an important charity. We’ve got our hiking boots ready to join the walkers on the route, and our fingers crossed for dry weather.” 

Four Great Highways drop-in to be held at Town Hall

* The access point to the railway is one of the key areas 

included in the Four Great Highways scheme.

A drop-in session is to be held at Llangollen Town Hall to provide local residents, businesses and visitors with an opportunity to view the concept design options that have been developed for the Four Great Highways scheme as a result of the recent consultation. 

The scheme is aimed at promoting and enhancing the four great ‘highways’ of Llangollen: the Llangollen Canal and World Heritage Site, the former Ruabon to Barmouth railway line, the River Dee and Thomas Telford’s historic route, the A5 Holyhead Road.

The intention is to improve the visitor experience and increase the amount of time people choose to spend in the area.

Proposed works include providing landscape and engineering improvement works to enhance accessibility and biodiversity, as well as making it easier for visitors to understand what is available in the area and how to find it.

The four key areas which have been identified are: Wharf; Access points to the Wharf, Railway and Lower Dee Mill Park; Lower Dee Mill Park and Signage & Wayfinding (including visitor information in car parks).

On Wednesday March 8, from 11am – 3pm, the project team will be present at the Spring Jobs Fair being held in the Town Hall.

They wish to give members of the public chance to see the concept design as part of Denbighshire County Council’s stand.  

The project designers from Burroughs & The Urbanists will then be joining the team from 3pm – 7pm onwards at the Town Hall, to discuss the scheme designs, and to answer any questions or queries anyone may have.

The concept designs will then be made available for viewing at Llangollen Library from the afternoon of Monday March 13 for the week, allowing people to view the concept designs at their leisure.

Further information regarding the designs will be available on our website from next week as well for those who may not be able to come along next Wednesday.  

The team will be welcoming feedback via its e-mail address regarding the design options and says it looks forward to hearing people’s thoughts and views – fourgreathighways@denbighshire.gov.uk / pedairprifforddfawr@sirddinbych.gov.uk  

Balloons are back at the Pavilion ... but just for the day

* Up, up and away goes one of the scaled-down

 balloons from the Pavilion field.

 * Another couple of balloons get ready for launch.

 * Ballooning enthusiasts gather around the field. 

Balloons are back at the Pavilion after a break of a few years.

It's now some time since a regular balloon festival was held at the Llangollen venue and eventually lost to Oswestry.

But today (Saturday) the field around the Pavilion has become a launch-pad for around 20 scaled-down and manned balloons brought in by private enthusiasts from around Britain and Ireland.

A number were already there early on and began to take off assisted by their ground crews.  

Organisers have asked us to point out this is a private event and that they are not able to cater for spectators on the field. However, they say they are happy to have people watch the balloons from the canal towpath which overlooks the field.

Roadworks alert from one.network

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Track To Groeslwyd And Rhydonnen Isaf, Llangollen, Denbighshire 06 March - 17 March   Delays likely - Diversion route   Name: Diversion   Location: Abersylio To Efenechtyd   Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks   Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council   Current status: Planned

Llangollen Round wins national award for its charity support

* Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes met Llangollen Round organisers to congratulate them on the £120,000-plus they raised in 2022. From left: Nadine Isaacs from Cancer Research UK, challenge organiser Judy Smith, Simon Baynes MP and organisers Jason Morley and Sandra Woodhall. 

Organisers of the Llangollen Round Challenge have won a national award for the major support they have given to a cancer charity.

The often gruelling 35-mile run/walk through the beautiful yet tough terrain of the hills surrounding the town was launched in 2012 by members of the Llangollen Ramblers group and is based roughly on the Alpine Walk Tour of Mont Blanc.

The amount raised for Cancer Research UK (CRUK) by the challenge has climbed steadily from £33,000 to last year's total of almost £120,000 which was boosted by government returns on charity donations.

In recognition of this massive cash support for CRUK and the involvement and commitment of around 100 volunteers who run the event the Round has been selected for the Flame of Hope Award.

These national awards are CRUK's annual accolades to celebrate the achievements of its most outstanding and inspiring volunteers.  

This year they received a record-breaking 835 nominations from staff and volunteers across the country.

Judith Smith, a Llangollen Round founder and organiser, said: "We will be receiving the award at a ceremony in Manchester at the end of March, after which the Tourist Information Centre in Llangollen has agreed to put it on display for a limited time. Do go and take a look.

"We are very grateful to all of you who have offered your support in whatever context - this recognition is yours also."  

The 2022 Round attracted over 500 entries from across the UK and abroad and saw 238 walkers or runners finishing it in a single day with another 189 completing it in two. 

The event can be completed in either one or two days and also saw another record set for the route being completed in the fastest time.

A fresh record was set when the first person back at the event's Llangollen Leisure Centre base was certified to have covered the whole 35 miles in just seven hours.

The fastest woman completed it in just seven hours and 34 minutes. 

The two oldest people to complete the course were aged 90 and 87.

As usual 80 volunteers manned checkpoints along the route where those taking part were served with water supplied free by local businesses and cakes presented by home bakers in the area.

More helpers were back at base checking in participants and handing out their times.   

Llangollen Ramblers explore Kynaston's Cave

 

On a beautiful day last week Llangollen Ramblers were out exploring Kynaston's Cave on Nesscliffe Hill.

* If you would like to join them, email Judy on smithdinbren@gmail.com for a current programme. 

She said: "We look forward to seeing you!"

MP praises work of locally-based families charity

* Simon Baynes MP with (from left) Deb Whalley, Suzie Allcock, Sian Boffey and Helen Hutcheson of the Therapy Stars Foundation.

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes MP attended the launch of the new charity, Therapy Stars Foundation in Penley, to hear about their work to support families of children with a long-term or life limiting condition.  

The foundation offers awards of £500 to families living in North Wales, Shropshire or Cheshire, so that children can access the therapy they need. 

These therapies include more traditional professions such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, but also lesser known ones such as music therapy, equine therapy and hydrotherapy and aquatic therapy. 

At the launch Mr Baynes met trustees Deb Whalley, Suzie Allcock, Sian Boffey and Helen Hutcheson who delivered a presentation on the new charity’s work and aims. 

While the families of children with long-term and life-limiting conditions can face great financial pressure, Therapy Stars Foundation’s provision of financial awards aims to allow for the early intervention that can be crucial, along with the access to ongoing therapy.  

But the amount of work Therapy Stars Foundation can do depends on how much money they can raise - to learn more about their work, or to find out how to volunteer and support them financially, please visit: www.therapystarsfoundation.org.uk.

Speaking about the launch, Sian Boffey, co-founder and trustee of the charity, said: "We had such a great turnout at the launch of our new charity and we are excited to be able to support as many local families as possible. 

"We are keen to spread the word so that others can signpost families to Therapy Stars Foundation and also help us to fundraise as much as possible."

Mr Baynes said: “It was a real pleasure to attend the launch of the Therapy Stars Foundation and learn about their fantastic work to support children with long-term or life-limiting conditions. 

"I am grateful for the opportunity to hear first-hand the positive impact that their dedicated staff and volunteers will have on the lives of those they support. 

"I also look forward to supporting Therapy Stars Foundation in their future fundraising efforts which are so vital to ensure as many children as possible locally can benefit from the therapy they offer.” 

Latest local roadworks update from county council

Latest local roadworks update from the county council is:

BRYN MELYN RTW SUN BANK 17/04/2023 28/04/2023 Gwaith Ar Wal Gynnal/ Retaining Wall Works DCC BRIDGES AND STRUCTURE LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A542 Chapel Street CHAPEL STREET 09/01/2023 09/03/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Un Ffordd/ One Way

Hall St Link Road HALL STREET LINK ROAD 09/01/2023 09/03/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

MILL STREET MILL STREET 13/03/2023 13/03/2023 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works MORRISON UTILITY SERVICES LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

Former Llangollen Railway Footpath A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 10/03/2023 10/03/2023 Torri Coed / Tree Cutting KTL CONTRACTING LTD LLANGOLLEN

A539 Wrth / Nr Haulwen Abbey Road ABBEY ROAD 22/03/2023 22/03/2023 Adferiad/ Reinstatement ALUN GRIFFITHS LLANGOLLEN

A542 Outside property "Cip o'r Bont" MILL STREET 20/03/2023 21/03/2023 Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works DRAINTECH SURVEYS LLANGOLLEN

Hall street Llangollen HALL STREET 09/01/2023 09/03/2023 Gwaith Gwelliant/ Improvement Works DCC WORKS UNIT Atal Parcio / Parking Suspension/Un Ffordd/ One Way

County leader says residents deserve better from local health board

According to a story in the Denbighshire Free Press, residents in Denbighshire deserve better than the former board of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, says the leader of Denbighshire Council.

For the full story, see: ‘Residents in Denbighshire deserve better’ from Betsi Cadwaladr | Denbighshire Free Press

Rhos Male Voice Choir is looking for new members

 

Rotary installs charity bra bank at health centre

                   * The Rotary Club's bra bin at Llangollen Health centre.

Vale of Llangollen Rotary has been collecting sacks full of unwanted bras from the Against Breast Cancer Bra Banks in Llangollen and Chirk.

Their aim is to keep the expensive textiles out of landfill for the recycle value of the textile of £700 per tonne for the charity. 

The collection of unloved or ill-fitting bras is one of the Rotary Club's environmental and international projects.

The club has moved the Bra Banks from Stans Nisa Store and the Co-op in Llangollen and has just installed one at Llangollen Health Centre in Bishops Walk.

You will find the pink Against Breast Cancer Bra Bank bin near the doors where bras can be deposited. 

The club says it doesn't matter what condition the bra is in - it is still wanted provided it is laundered. 

This initiative also helps support the Against Breast Cancer charity in the UK and helps families in Africa.

The collected bras go to a recycling company in the UK to get sorted and baled to start a new life in African countries such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya. 

Here the bales are bought by the African women to resell as small businesses for them to support their families by selling the bras in the marketplaces.

Many of the bras are resalable as they are. Some are taken apart by the African women and remade as cottage industries. 

The ones that are not reusable in the sorting process in the UK are broken down and recycled as cotton waste and metal. 

The recycling company are donating £700 to cancer research for every tonne of bras collected, that's only 9,000 bras! 

The Vale of Llangollen Rotary says it is ready to welcome 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.

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from one.network are:

 

A539 Llangollen Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire

03 March - 05 March

 

Delays likely - Diversion route

 

Name: Diversion 1

 

Location: A539 Llangollen Road

 

Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks

 

Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council

 

Current status: Planned

 

 

 

Mill Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire

03 March - 05 March

 

Delays likely - Diversion route

 

Name: Diversion

 

Location: Mill Street

 

Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks

 

Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council

 

Current status: Planned

Global search begins for new international singing star

* Baritone Emyr Lloyd Jones is presented with his prize for winning the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition by Mario Kreft MBE, proprietor of Pendine Park.

A global search has been launched to find a new international singing star.

The prestigious Pendine International Voice of the Future competition will be one of the main highlights of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod which gets underway on Tuesday, July 4.

It will be the first full length festival since the pandemic struck, with international competitors once again returning to the picturesque town in the Dee Valley where Wales meets the world.

The aim of the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition which started in 2013 is to advance the careers of the world’s most gifted young singers.

Applications to take part are now being accepted with a £3,000 cash prize for the winner as well as exciting career development opportunities, while the runner up will receive a cheque for £1,000.

Last year's winner, baritone Emyr Lloyd Jones from Bontnewydd near Caernarfon, Gwynedd put in a stirring performance to take the title and was dubbed the new Bryn Terfel.

He was presented with the Pendine Trophy – a solid silver salver - and the £3,000 prize by Mario Kreft MBE, proprietor of the arts-loving care organisation, Pendine Park, who sponsor the competition.

Once again the prize this year will come from the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT) which supports cultural and community initiatives across Wales.

The festival’s executive producer, Camilla King, was excited by the changes being introduced to the competition for 2023. 

She said: "Last year, we celebrated our 75^th anniversary, and for the first time staged the final of the Pendine International Voice of the Future on our closing Saturday night, alongside the prestigious Choir of the World competition, broadcast live on S4C, and it proved to be a roof-raising climax to the Eisteddfod.

“Twenty competitors made it through to the live competition, with six in the semi-finals and two artists competing for the winner’s title. This year, we’ve added a third spot to the final stage.

“We’re also introducing an International Accompanists prize, in recognition of outstanding achievement by a young pianist. So many of our talented young singers form a creative partnership with their accompanists who are of a similar age and we wish to recognise their ability.”

She added aspiring young singers should be aged between 20 and 32 on July 5, 2023 and prepare a contrasting programme of music from oratorio, opera, lieder or song.

The International Accompanist competition carries a prize of £1,000 and eligible accompanists will be aged 28 or under on July 5, 2023.

The competition winners also enjoy the opportunity to perform at future Eisteddfod concerts and with other Welsh arts organisations, and will receive a working session with one of the UK’s leading opera companies.

Pendine Park proprietor Mario Kreft MBE said: "My wife, Gill, and I are delighted to be sponsoring the Pendine International Voice of the Future competition once again via PACT.

“The Pendine Trophy, which is solid Edwardian silver bearing a Chester hallmark, was kindly donated by the late Tony Kaye of Kaye’s Jewellers. It’s a stunning and beautiful trophy.

“Our aim in supporting the competition is to provide a springboard for brilliant young singers from around the world to achieve their dreams of establishing a career on the global stage.

“The competition chimes perfectly with our ethos at Pendine Park because the arts in general and music in particular provide the golden thread running through everything we do to enrich the lives of our residents and staff alike.

“Last year a star was born when we were enthralled by the emerging talent of Emyr Lloyd Jones whose bravura performance was rightly likened to that of a young Bryn Terfel.

“I am sure that this year’s competition will also be a memorable musical treat.”

Looking forward to this year's Eisteddfod, which runs until July 9, Camilla King said: "Audiences can expect six days of entertainment, with a new improved Eisteddfod Maes, the annual Parade back, bigger and better than ever, and some exciting changes for the closing Sunday, in the form of new competitions.

“Music, dance, culture, has the power to help us understand the world around us, and to lift our spirits, bringing people together in the joy of performance. This is what Llangollen was founded for, and what we strive to continue to do, 76 years later.”

* Applications for the International Voice of the Year competition closes on March 24.  Further details online at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

Local health board put into special measures

 

""

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has announced that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will be put into special measures because of serious concerns about performance, leadership and culture.

The Chair, Vice Chair and independent members of the Board have agreed they will step aside.  New independent members will be appointed to the Board to lead the organisation as it continues to rebuild its services following the pandemic. Health and Social Services Minister Eluned Morgan said: “I have serious concerns around the performance of the health board and I have not seen the improvement in services I expect for the people of north Wales.  I have therefore decided to take action to rectify this.   “I have informed the Board that I am putting the organisation back into Special Measures with immediate effect. This significant decision is made in line with the escalation framework. It reflects serious concerns about the performance of the organisation, about its governance, and issues with leadership and culture that are holding back progress. “I recognise that the health board has had significant challenges for a number of years and has worked hard to overcome these challenges. But now is the time for new leadership to deliver the improvements that are needed.” A number of direct appointments to the Board have been made by the Minister to ensure stability. The non-executive team will be led by Dyfed Edwards as the new Chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, a former leader of Gwynedd Council and the deputy chair of the Welsh Revenue Authority. The new Chair will focus on renewing the leadership and culture of  the Health Board which will support its workforce to provide safe and effective services for the people of north Wales. Dyfed will be supported by Gareth Williams, Karen Balmer and Rhian Watcyn Jones as interim independent members of the Board. Further direct appointments will follow in the next few weeks. A campaign to recruit new independent members to the Board who will take the organisation forward beyond this initial period of stabilisation will commence later this year.    Key to developing and building a sustainable organisation will be the appointment of the substantive chief executive. The recruitment process for this post is about to start. The health board will also be supported by an intervention and support team. Eluned Morgan added: “Every day thousands of people are receiving good care from the NHS in north Wales but there is a large degree of inconsistency in safety, performance and quality across the region, addressing this inconsistency will be the focus of the new board. Whilst special measures will apply to the organisation, I wish to reassure both patients and communities served by the Health Board, as well as the staff working for it, that day to day services and activities will continue, with an increased focus on quality and safety.” * Gill Harris, Interim Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, sent out this message to patents this afternoon: "Following the publication of the Audit Wales report on Board effectiveness last week and in light of the significant challenges we continue to face, the Health Minister has today announced that the Health Board will be escalated into Special Measures. "While this is extremely disappointing, I acknowledge that more needs to be done at a greater pace to regain the confidence of our staff and our communities.  "The increased level of intervention and support that special measures provides will involve working more closely with Welsh Government and the development of an improvement plan with key milestones. "The arrangements will also involve the creation of a Health Board turnaround team during the coming weeks. Alongside this, our Chair Mark Polin, Vice Chair Lucy Reid and independent Board members have stepped down. The Health Minister will now appoint a new Chair and a number of new independent members to work alongside our Executive Team."

Call goes out for help with running Christmas Festival

* John Palmer and Austin Cheminais of the Christmas Festival team hand over a £1,000 cheque to the ladies of Llangollen Food Share.

The team which organises Llangollen's annual Christmas Festival would like to hear from anyone interested in helping out with this year's event.

According to their chair, Austin 'Chem' Cheminais, the 2022 festival was the best yet, thanks to the support they had from the community and generous donations from anonymous donors.

He said: "The hardworking team who put the event together have already had their first meeting of the year to start planning this year’s festival, 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 me by emailing chemshouts@gmail.com."

Representatives of the festival Group recently shared the proceeds of the Christmas Raffle that runs alongside the festival, which sold 3,000 tickets last year.

This enabled them 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.

Chem added: "Our thanks go 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.

"Thanks also go 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."

St David's Day to be celebrated with town hall market

 

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. 

Running from 10.30am until 2pm and with free admission, it features a range of stalls selling everything from prints and cards to cakes.

There will also be face painting, a raffle and tombola plus music.

All proceeds will go to charity.