Open Doors weekend hailed a success

Llangollen Civic Society, which organised the special event, has thanked all those who took part in Open Doors 2012 last weekend.

The aim was to throw the spotlight on the area’s hidden historic gems, including the Chain Bridge, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Newydd, Y Capel, Castell Dinas Bran and local churches.

* An 1835 architect’s drawing of the Old Lock Up.

Members of the public were invited to view and be briefed on the history of these locations over Saturday and Sunday.

A spokesman for the Civic Society said: “We would like to thank all those who took part, from those who opened their doors to the public, those who helped man the buildings and exhibitions and those who led walks and gave talks. 

“This year was another successful year, in some cases attendances were disappointingly lower than last year, but some newer exhibits were very popular.”

One exhibit which was attracted a lot of visitors was the Old Lock Up, or Armoury, on Victoria Square. 

Since being acquired by Sue Hargreaves the old building has been transformed to more like it would have been when it was first built in 1835. 

She also mounted a display showing the history of the building, from its original architect’s drawings, subsequent changes and uses. 

She was ably assisted by an “old lag” in the cell, convincingly played by Mike Law. 

For those of you who missed the event Sue will be opening the building for Hanes on Monday 25^th of September – minus a prisoner in the cell.

The exhibitions in the Town Hall included a display on the history of the Chain Bridge, and the status of the restoration project.  

Lorna Jenner is anxious for local people to contribute their memories of the bridge and any information they can give about its history. 

For those of you who missed it the exhibition will be at the Chain Bridge Hotel until 3^rd October, where there is also an exhibition by the Institute of Civil Engineers, called “Web of Iron” which celebrates the history of suspension bridges, and features our own Chain Bridge.    

 

·         The Web of Iron Exhibition.

llanblogger questions future of Oakleigh House

* The future of Oakleigh House is still unclear.

Llanblogger recently lodged a Freedom of Information request with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) seeking clarification of its future intentions for Oakleigh House, the now-empty former mental health resource centre in Abbey Road.

We did this because the property has frequently been mentioned in connection with proposals for a general health shake-up in the area. 

Unfortunately, the very guarded responses to our eight questions, do not shed much light on what the board’s intentions are. 

Here is the basis of the reply from BCUHB:   

Q1: Is Oakleigh House, the now-empty former mental health resource centre situated on Abbey Road, Llangollen, currently in the ownership of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) or any other public organisation and precisely how long has it been empty? 

A: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) owns Oakleigh House and vacated the building in September 2010.  

Q2: If in the ownership of the BCUHB, does the BCUHB have any plans for its future use for a health-related purpose?  

A: No.  

Q3: If not, is the BCHUB actively seeking to dispose of the property by either sale, lease or rent?  

A: The Health Board is in the process of marketing the property for disposal and are seeking initial advice from our Agent. 

Q4: If the property is already up for sale, lease or rent, what progress has been made to date in this process?  

A: Please see response to question 3.  

Q5. If the property is being offered for sale what is the current asking price?  

A: Please see response to question 3.  

Q6. Have any offers so far been made by any party to buy or lease the property?  

A: Some interest has been expressed. 

Q7. If so, what has been the result of any offers for the property?  

A: Interested parties have been advised of the Boards processes in the identification of surplus sites and given assurance that they will be notified when the property is to be offered for sale.  

Q8. While the property remains in public ownership, what is the annual cost of

maintenance and security to the BCUHB?  

A: £500 per annum.

WI enjoys glass painting display

Guest Alison Cutler laid on a fascinating display of painting on glass for 29 members of Llangollen Women's Institute at the Welfare Hall on Thursday night of last week.

Using a projector, she provided them with a demonstration of how she creates her intricate and colourful patterns and then invited some of the members to try their hand at the art-form.

* Alison Cutler talks to WI members.

* Alison demonstates her art using a projector.

* Members discuss what they have learned.

 

Who do you think you are?

Family History for Beginners, a free talk on the do’s and don’ts of researching your family tree, will be held at at Denbighshire Archives in Ruthin on Friday, September 21, from 6-7.30pm

The event includes advice and demonstrations using local resources and websites such as Ancestry.com and Findmypast.co.uk.

It is bookings only as places are limited and the event will be presented in English only.

To book, call 01824 708250, or e-mail: archives@denbighshire.gov.uk

Berwyn Street roadworks from today

Latest roadworks bulletin from the county council shows there will be electrical works on the A5 Berwyn Street, Llangollen, controlled by temporary traffic lights, from today (Monday) until Wednesday, September 10-12.
 

Concerns voiced over empty Llan properties

* The Old Bank building off the A5.

The chair of Keep Llangollen Special has voiced his concerns about the new of empty shops and commercial premises in the town centre.

Mike Edwards said: “Llangollen is relatively fortunate that there is currently a relatively low vacancy rate amongst shops, but Jades Home has recently closed down and there are many other vacant or underused buildings which the local authorities are failing to tackle.

“For example, the Old Bank Buildings in Berwyn Street, the chapel opposite, the old Job Centre and the old seed factory on the A5 and so on.”

He added:  “If Denbighshire County Council allow Sainsbury's to build out of town and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board relocate the Community Hospital to a health centre also on the edge of town and take with it the chemist, dentist etc, which is what they propose, it will ruin our vibrant town centre.”

Along the same lines, Mr Edwards has just received a response from Denbighshire County Council to comments he sent in about the authority’s draft priorities for 2012-17.

Tony Ward, the council’s improvements priority manager, writes to Mr Edwards: “Although the priorities for this council have not yet been agreed, I would be surprised if ‘Developing the Local Economy’ did not feature prominently in the Corporate Plan once it is agreed, and that many of the issues your raise were not included within that priority.  

“The intention is for the corporate priorities to last for the 5 years of this council term, and the detail of all the draft priorities has rightly not yet been developed fully. Once the Corporate Plan is agreed, the council will develop a programme of work to help deliver the priorities, and the issues you raise are clearly relevant to that discussion and are extremely valid. I certainly recognise many of your comments from conversations I have had with other members of the public and also with some Members of the council.  

“Your comments will be passed on to our Elected Members when the Council meet to debate the content of the Corporate Plan on 9th October 2012, and you are more than welcome to come to that meeting if you wish. I will also pass on your individual comments to the relevant Heads of Service so that they can consider your comments in the planning and delivery of those services.”

 

* The old chapel opposite.

* The former Jades at Home store in Castle Street.

 

* Former Job Centre in Castle Street.


 

 

Another atmospheric marina study

Reader Alan Found has sent in this atmospheric picture he took of Llan Marina on Thursday evening of last week.

If you have similar pictures of the marina or any other local scenes we'd love to see them and publish them on llanblogger.

Just e-mail them in to us at llanblogger@gmail.com