Man aiming to stand in election complains of delay in obtaining paperwork

 * Paul Penlington.

The man chosen by Plaid Cymru as its candidate for Clwyd East claims Denbighshire County Council has ignored his attempts to obtain the necessary paperwork for him to stand in the general election on July 4.

Paul Penlington, a former Denbighshire county councillor, said: “I am intending to stand for Parliament but my attempts to get the necessary paperwork from Denbighshire have largely been ignored.

“I have been attempting to get the paperwork for a week now, my intention being to complete it well ahead of the submission deadline in order to avoid any errors.

“I have emailed twice, I have rung every day this week, but only had an answer once, and then was told they had been told not to put people through to electoral services.

“The monitoring officer with overall responsibility for this election it turns out was also away and doesn’t seem to have left anyone to respond to electoral queries. 

“Eventually, out of increasing frustration, I rang the CEO directly and spoke to someone in his office, yet again I was told I couldn’t be put through and that someone would get back to me. I am now a week behind other candidates and still do not have the required paperwork. 

“I will have a very limited window to get the signatures I need and complete the paperwork with time to spare in case of errors.”

A spokesperson for Denbighshire County Council said: “All Clwyd East candidates should contact Flintshire County Council for the relevant paperwork for the upcoming election.

“However, we have posted out papers to the candidate first class and will be in contact with him to advise him of the situation. 

“The deadline for submission is Friday June 7 by 4pm.”

Latest local roadworks alerts

Latest local roadworks alerts from Causeway one.network are:

B5103 From Junction of A5t to Junction With A542 Horseshoe Pass Road, Llangollen, Denbighshire,North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency

04 June - 04 June

 

Delays likely - Diversion route

 

Name: Diversion

 

Location: B5103 From Junction Of A5t To Junction With A542 Horseshoe Pass Road

 

Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks

 

Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council

 

Current status: Planned

Roadworks

 

Berwyn Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire

05 June - 07 June

 

Roadworks, Delays likely

 

Traffic management: Traffic control (two-way signals)

 

Description: Hydrant Rebuild chamber Job in Carriageway (Hot Rolled Asphalt-55/10 )

 

Works location: OPP POST OFFICE

 

Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Hafren Dyfrdwy.

 

Responsibility for works: Hafren Dyfrdwy

 

Current status: Planned work about to start

 

Works reference: ZU0028102/000013664121A

 

Town councillor's petition aims to save Market Street toilets

* The Market Street public toilets currently under threat.

A Llangollen town councillor is running an online petition opposing the controversial plan by Denbighshire County Council to get rid of the Market Street public toilets. 

As llanblogger has been reporting, the county aims to divest itself of all its public conveniences in a bid to save money. 

One suggestion it has made is that the toilets could be taken on by town or community councils but Llangollen town council has already said this is a non-starter in its case. 

The proposal has caused a storm of protest across the county and particularly in Llangollen. 

Now local town councillor Scott L Felton has started a petition at change.org,  which has so far attracted around 900 of its target 1,000 signatures. 

In the petition introduction he says: “Like most local authorities in Wales, Denbighshire County Council (DCC) has to find savings. It has targeted the entire public toilet asset within the county as, staggeringly, public conveniences are non-statutory. That means they aren't protected by law. They are thus an easy target for an authority with an appalling track record for abuse of the public purse itself.

“Llangollen is well known the world over as a day tripper and longer stay destination. It is home to the world famous International Musical Eisteddfod. The town sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is part of the Llangollen Canal World Heritage site.

“It regularly features in the top 5 destinations within Wales in a plethora of polls and surveys. The bulk of the town's economy is tourism based. Despite this, DCC is willing to sacrifice that by closing down the town's (and others elsewhere) public toilets to save some money, part of the losses which are of its own doing. This is barbaric , uncaring, cold, heartless and defies logic.

“DCC has planned to close or otherwise dispose of the county's public toilets by close of 2024.

“Coach operators bring thousands of visitors to the town and drop off aside the toilets, most of whom immediately head there. Disabled, infirm, pregnant visitors etc rely heavily on such a facility. If the toilets close, those thousands of visitors will be dropped off elsewhere and Llangollen's economy will suffer hugely. Who has ever heard of a major tourist destination without public toilets?

“DCC's shoulder-shrug attitude is that visitors will use the private toilets of local businesses and community councils will take over the assets. It beggars belief that any human being could even think this up and actually promote it is a suitable alternative.

“If you've ever visited Llangollen, you will know how precious a jewel this little town is in Wales' crown. Please sign this petition to help force Denbighshire County Council to reverse its decision and keep Llangollen's public toilets open. “

* To see the petition go to: https://www.change.org/p/save-llangollen-s-public-toilets-denbighshire-council-abandon-any-closure-plans

New waste recycling scheme starts today

From today (Monday June 3) Denbighshire County Council is introducing changes to recycling and waste collections, including new containers and weekly collections for recyclable materials. 

Residents on the Trolibocs service will have received a letter outlining their collection dates for the new service, including any changes to the day they will be putting out their recycling. 

If residents are still unsure, there is a link on the website, which once the address is inputted, will provide the updated collection date. The link can be found here.

The council says waste crews will continue to work hard over the weekend to deliver the last few outstanding containers to residents and adds it is confident that all deliveries will be completed. 

If for some reason a resident doesn’t have their container by Monday, June 3, they should continue to use the blue wheelie bin or single use sacks for recycling until they receive their new containers. 

The council has received a large number of calls regarding the new waste changes within the last few days and would like to remind residents that if they have already logged a query about the new waste and recycling containers, there is no need to phone again to follow up, as the query is logged into the system and is being dealt with. This allows the contact centre staff to deal with more queries, more quickly. 

If residents have been unable to get through to the contact centre to log their new waste change query due to busy phone lines, they can fill in the following form here.

Tony Ward, Corporate Director, Environment and Economy, said: “From our waste operatives, through to the contact centre staff, there are a number of teams working incredibly hard to ensure that everything is ready for the roll out of the new service on Monday, including delivering new containers through the weekend in time for the service changes. 

"Separating materials at source will improve the quality of recycling that we collect and will also mean more recyclable materials will remain within the UK and be recycled as new products. As well as helping to reach mandatory waste recycling targets set by the Government, this new waste model will save the council up to half a million pounds per year.

"The council would like to thank residents for their co-operation during this transitionary period and appreciate their patience and understanding.”

Town council intends to co-opt two new members

Llangollen Town Council intends to co-opt two members to fill two vacancies for councillors it currently has.  

The public notice says:

Roadworks alert from Pengwern to Tyn Celyn

Latest local roadworks alert from Causeway one.network is:

Road From Pengwern to Tyn Celyn

03 June - 03 June

 

Delays likely - Diversion route

 

Name: Diversion

 

Location: Road From Pengwern to Tyn Celyn

 

Description: Streetworks / License - Streetworks

 

Responsibility for event: Denbighshire County Council

 

Current status: Planned

 

Eisteddfod's free ticket goldrush leaves scores of happy people

 

        * And they're off! People dash onto the field to begin the treasure hunt.

Scores of local people had fun this morning hunting for golden envelopes containing coveted free tickets to all the evening concerts being held as part of this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

The big goldrush on the Eisteddfod field began at precisely 10am when scores of people who had been waiting patiently at both main gates were let loose to start frantically combing hedges, outbuildings and the “big tent” itself for 80 golden envelopes hidden earlier by volunteers.

They contained tickets to shows this month and next by everyone from Sir Tom Jones to Kathleen Jenkins and from Simple Minds to Madness.

The first set was discovered within just 20 seconds by a young lady who had the brainwave of looking underneath the first object she spotted inside the town-end gate – a plastic traffic cone – where she saw they had been taped.

This find was followed by a procession of claimants which continued steadily until lunchtime.

People beamed with delight as they discovered that the unique treasure hunt organised by the Eisteddfod team had saved them hundreds of pounds.

In some cases whole families, complete with children and dogs, took part in the proceedings, many staying on the field for hours until they found what they were looking for.  

Eisteddfod vice-chairman John Gambles said: “I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who came along to join in the treasure hunt, making it a huge success.

“It turned out to be a thoroughly enjoyable occasion and I was delighted to see many people going away very happy with their tickets to some of our biggest shows this summer.

“It also turned out to be a real community event of the kind we love to encourage at the Eisteddfod.

“I’d also like to thank the team of our volunteers who made the event possible.”

       * The first tickets were found within 20 seconds.

* Another early treasure finder.

* Smiles all round as the tickets turn up.

* A game for all the family.

* The queue of happy claimants.

* The generation game.

* What a great way to spend a morning.

* A jubilant family have their picture taken by an Eisteddfod cameraman.

* Found one at last!

* Keep on looking.

Top women's bike race heads over Horseshoe Pass

* The route of stage 2 of the race, including the Horseshoe Pass on June 7.

The Tour of Britain Bike Race Women 2024 is to come through Llangollen and over the Horseshoe Pass on Friday June 7.

The race’s second stage will start and finish on Chester Street in Wrexham’s city centre and will take in some of the breathtaking scenery in Denbighshire, West Cheshire and Chester, with a further one sprint and two Queen of the Mountains segments along the way.

The peloton will travel north out of Wrexham, crossing into West Cheshire after just 20km, where the route ramps up alongside the Peckforton Hill Range, part of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge.

The route will then cross back into Wrexham, taking in the villages of Bangor-on-Dee and Overton, before the sprint will be decided in Johnstown. The race will then continue along a scenic stretch of the Llangollen Canal.

Riders will have less climbing to contend with on this stage However, big crowds will be expected on the iconic Horseshoe Pass, which arrives at a pivotal point of the stage with around 30km to go.

The ensuing descent will set up a fast run-in to Wrexham for the stage finish to conclude the race’s journey in Wales, passing through Minera and Rhostyllen, before a short hop back over the border to Warrington for stage three.

Stage two will start at 11:15, with riders expected to return to Wrexham for the stage finish at approximately 15:15.

#llangollen #Denbighshire #wrexham #northwales #britishcycling #cycling

Town Council advertises for deputy clerk

Llangollen Town Council is looking for a Deputy Town Clerk. 

The job advert reads:

Position: Deputy Town Clerk (Facilities and Organisation)

Employer: Llangollen Town Council

Hours: Part-time, 24 hours per week

Location: Llangollen, Denbighshire.

Salary: LC 1 (7-12) £24,294 - £26,421 (pro rata).

Llangollen Town Council is a busy local council supporting the town of Llangollen. As well as operating and managing the Town Hall it has responsibility for key heritage assets, open spaces and supports a full programme of local events.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced person to join our dedicated Council team as Deputy Town Clerk (Facilities and Organisation).

As the Deputy Town Clerk you will play a crucial role in supporting the Town Clerk to ensure that the decisions of the Town Council are effectively implemented, particularly in relation to facilities and operations. Your will possess good organisational and administrative skills with experience in facility and events management 

Having the ability to work independently, and as a team player, you will be able to make a positive impact on the local community, whilst working within a collaborative and supportive environment offering professional development opportunities.

Llangollen is a vibrant community that has a wealth of culture, heritage and local talent. It is a magnet for tourists situated as it is in the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.

Why not join us to continue making Llangollen a better place to live, work, and visit. 

How to Apply:

An application form and further information is available from the Town Clerk, townclerk@llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk or call 01978 861 345 to talk through the details. 

The closing date for applications is 28 June 2024. Interview dates will be advised following receipt of applications, during early July.

www.llangollentowncouncil.gov.uk

Llangollen Town Council is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Public meeting to be held ahead of Eisteddfod

* Sir Tom Jones will perform at the Eisteddfod. 

Residents and businesses in Llangollen are being invited to a public meeting ahead of this year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

Representatives from both the volunteer team behind the festival and co-promoters Cuffe and Taylor will lead the meeting to answer and address all questions covering subjects such as traffic management, noise alleviation measures, and access to the site.

The meeting will take place at 7pm next Tuesday (June 4) at Llangollen Town Hall.

Chair of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Professor Chris Adams said: “This summer we have an exciting programme lasting a month. It includes additional concerts with live music promoters Cuffe and Taylor, who have a track record of putting on successful major events across the UK.

“The public meeting - the fourth we've held since last year's Eisteddfod - will be an opportunity for Llangollen residents to get the latest information, as we gear up for the Eisteddfod. It’s important to us to keep local residents in the loop, to ensure the impact on our town is positive.”

Numerous steps are being taken to maintain a safe environment for the general public during event days, including a one-way system in certain areas. A dedicated phoneline is also being launched to allow residents to contact the Eisteddfod team with any issues during the festival.

Some of the world’s biggest artists will head to Llangollen this summer.  Bryan Adams arrives in the town on June 18, followed by global rock stars Simple Minds, indie heroes Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and Suede, BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith and disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC all among the artists headlining dates on either side of the iconic peace festival.  The summer events will finish with a spectacular concert by British pop giants Madness on Saturday July 13.

The headline concerts are built around the core Eisteddfod week which returns for its 77th year, from July 2 – 7 and features concerts with Tom Jones on July 2, followed during the week with Welsh folk superstars Calan, Royal Harpist Alis Huws, Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists John's Boys Chorus, West End stars Kerry Ellis and John-Owen Jones, the return of GRAMMY award winning Gregory Porter and a Gala Concert with mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins..

Phone line is only available on concert days from: 16:00 – 23:00 18th June – 29th June and 11th – 13th July and 8am – 11pm from 2 – 7 July.  The number will be 0331 630 7526.

*Tickets are available from https://international-eisteddfod.co.uk/event_picker/2024-shows/

The pavilion grounds will be closed to general public from Sunday 16th June – Wednesday 17th July 2024.  Access will be for ticket holders only to ensure the safety and security of all customers.

More stars to join Jess Glynne at Eisteddfod show

* Issey Cross. 

* The Mercians. 

Drum and Bass breakout star Issey Cross will support pop superstar Jess Glynne when she headlines the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod this summer.

Jess Glynne will perform a headline show on Friday July 12 and it is announced today she will be joined by Issey Cross and indie rock band The Mercians.

Tickets are on sale now from llangollen.net  

Rising vocalist and songwriter Issey Cross, who has just released latest single Energy In My Town, first burst onto the scene in 2021 with debut single Who. In 2022, her breakthrough hit Used To This, in collaboration with legendary producer Wilkinson, spent 14 weeks in the UK Top 40 and 12 weeks on the BBC Radio 1 Playlist.

Cross has worked with some of the industry’s biggest names including Nathan Dawe, Bru-C, Clean Bandit, Hybrid Minds and Ella Henderson. Her hits include Oh My, Sleepwalking and the Top 20 smash Bittersweet Goodbye, an acclaimed reworking of The Verve classic Bittersweet Symphony.

Opening the night will be The Mercians, an up-and-coming indie band with more than one million streams on Spotify. The band's sound is reminiscent of the British indie rock revival of the early 2000s but with a fresh and modern twist.

Jess Glynne has made history as the only female British solo artist to achieve seven number 1 hits on the UK Singles Chart. She first rose to fame with her remarkable vocals in Clean Bandit’s GRAMMY-winning Rather Be and Route 94’s My Love in 2014. Since then, she has dominated the UK charts with hits like I’ll Be There, Hold My Hand, and Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself.

Glynne’s two platinum-selling albums have both reached Number 1, earning her nine BRIT Award nominations, three Ivor Novello nominations, and a GRAMMY Award. Her music has been streamed more than 1.2 billion times!

After taking a short career break Glynne, who has delivered some of the most memorable dance-pop hits of the past decade, is back with new music for 2023. Her latest album Jess features the already released singles Silly Me, What Do You Do, Friend Of Mine and Enough. 

Glynne's headlining show is part of a series of concerts taking place as part of a new partnership between the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

The legendary core week of the festival runs from July 2 – 7 and features concerts with Welsh icon Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins, and international best-selling artist Gregory Porter.

Jess Glynne, Tom Jones, Katherine Jenkins and Gregory Porter join global rock stars Simple Minds, British pop giants Madness, indie heroes Kaiser Chiefs, Manic Street Preachers and Suede, BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith, disco legends Nile Rodgers & CHIC and global rock star Bryan Adams among the artists headlining dates on either side of the iconic peace festival in 2024.

Artistic Director at the Llangollen Eisteddfod Dave Danford said: “This year we wanted to make sure there was something for everybody, so we’re really excited to have Issey Cross bringing her eclectic electronic music sounds to North East Wales! She’s had some huge hits over the last couple of years, followed up with live performances at some of the biggest music festivals in the world. We can’t wait for her to raise the pavilion roof with her set in Llangollen!”

For more information and to purchase tickets go to llangollen.net

 

 

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in a few days time ...

Town crier Chem to give D-Day 80th anniversary proclamation

 

* Town crier Austin "Chem" Cheminais is full cry.

Llangollen’s town crier is joining his big-voiced counterparts from across the world to deliver a very special proclamation to mark the 80^th anniversary of D-Day.

Austin “Chem” Cheminais, who is also a former mayor of the town, recently found to his delight that he was on a list of over 300 town criers from many countries who have been asked to send out to their local communities, on Thursday June 6, the commemorative message detailing the famous cross-channel invasion of Europe in the summer of 1944.

On the day, and accompanied by a contingent from the Llangollen branch of the Royal British Legion, he will stand in Centenary Square and at 11am cry out the proclamation which has been specially penned for the occasion by Christian Ashdown of the Ancient and Honourable Guilds of Town Criers who formerly served with the Household Cavalry.

The criers taking part come from every nation of the UK and also from countries right across the globe.

Chem, who is one of only 10 from Wales and will officially represent Denbighshire, said: “I was absolutely delighted and very proud to hear I had been chosen for this momentous occasion which commemorates such an important part of world history.

“To speak these historic words is a great honour.”

The proclamation he will deliver is:

“Oyez, Oyez, Oyez

“Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France - an incredible achievement in military planning and logistics uniting brave service personnel from air, sea and land forces at the beginning of Operation Overlord.

“By the day’s end, over one hundred and fifty thousand Allied troops had successfully stormed the now famous Gold, Juno, Sword, Utah and Omaha beaches to achieve a toehold in France.

“In the weeks that followed, the Allies fought bitterly against a determined foe from the unforgiving countryside of Normandy to the liberation of Paris two months later.

“We should all remember and never forget the selfless sacrifice and courage of all those involved and use this Commemoration to pay our tribute to those who gave so much to secure the freedom we all enjoy today. God Save the King!”