Llangollen Railway steams into a busy May

* Loco no 80072, British Railways Standard class 4 tank engine, which has recently returned to Lllangollen after a spell out on hireat other railways. It will be a main player on trains at Llangollen this summer season.

 

May will be another busy month at Llangollen Railway.

This weekend, train services will run at hourly intervals from the station, starting at 10.15, and continue until 4pm. 

Saturday will feature steam and diesel locomotives and Sunday and Monday will see two steam locos running - the British Railways Standard Tank 80072 and Great Western freight 3802. 

Next special event on the heritage railway is the Teddy Bears Picnic on Sunday, May 19. 

Saturday, May 11 sees the latest in the railway’s popular series of murder mysteries.

Car rally passes through town this weekend

* Cars from the 1970s and 1980s such as these will take part in the rally.

MORE than 70 drivers in a prestigious motoring event will make a brief stop in Llangollen early on Sunday morning.

Competitors in the famous Border 100 Road Rally – some from as far away as Jersey and the Isle of Man - will have a re-fuelling halt in the town at around 1.30am.

The two-day event, which was voted the best road rally in the UK in 2007, begins at Llanfyllin in Powys on Saturday and the Llangollen fuel stop comes at roughly the half-way point of the route, which takes in areas of Powys and Denbighshire before finishing 100 miles later at Meiford in Powys.

The 75 entries include cars from the 1970s to the present day such as VW Golfs, Ford Escorts, Renaults and Subarus.

Clerk of the course Iwan Jones said: “The cars won’t be in Llangollen for very long. It will just be a fuelling halt, which is known as a ‘splash and dash’ in rallying.”

The event’s organisers have gone to great pains to assure Llangollen residents to ensure that no unnecessary disturbance is caused as the rally passes through.

They recently dropped off letters to a number of local homes saying that all checkpoints will be manned by efficient marshals and placed where possible far enough away from dwellings so as not to allow excessive noise to be created.

The letter adds: “The competitors will be notified that any undue nuisance created by them during the event will mean their instant disqualification.” 

Latest local roadworks

Denbighshire County Council has given details of the following roadworks in the area:

Abbey Road, Llangollen, temporary lights on May 17 to allow pole renewal by ScottishPower.

Birch Hill, Llangollen, road closure from May 8-September 20 to allow water works by Welsh Water.

 

Search continues for missing Acrefair man

North Wales Police say they are continuing in their efforts to trace Acrefair man David Clwyd Davies (pictured below) who has not been seen since the April 7.

 

Detective Inspector Arwyn Jones, who is leading the enquiry said: “It will be four weeks on Sunday May 5 since Mr Davies was last seen and our investigation into his disappearance remains a priority.

 

"We would again ask members of the public who may hold any information that may assist the enquiry to come forward, particularly anybody who knows Clwyd, and who may have any information about his life or movements, past or present.    

 

“We would ask any person who regularly uses the public footpath which runs from Tower Hill, Acrefair towards Tref Y Nant Farm to come forward.  

 

 “We have received a number of requests from members of the public to assist with searching for Clwyd, and although we would like to thank those who have offered, we would discourage this at this time and would like to reassure the public that we have highly trained search advisors involved in locating Clwyd.”

 

Anybody with any information should contact North Wales Police on 101 or alternatively Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

County tackles rising benefit fraud

Denbighshire County Council is cracking down on benefit fraud, which has risen up by almost 100% in four years.

In 2012-13 investigations by the authority's Benefit Compliance Section resulted in a total of 160 sanctions against benefit claimants who had made false statements to claim Housing and Council Tax Benefit, or who had failed to promptly notify a change which affected their benefit.

Many of the cases were investigated in conjunction with the Department of Works and Pensions investigation service. This is an increase of almost 100% in four years.

Whilst the most serious cases were prosecuted, the section also offered a number of cautions and Administrative Penalties as an alternative to prosecution.

Where these were declined the cases were referred for prosecution.

An Administrative Penalty is a fine imposed on the total overpayment of 30%, which has recently been increased by legislation to 50%.

The council can now also impose a Civil Penalty (£50 in Benefit cases and £70 in Council Tax Reduction cases) in instances where a claimant has negligently made an incorrect statement and failed to take reasonable steps to correct the error, failed to provide information requested or failed to report a change in circumstances, without reasonable excuse.

As well as conducting investigations into benefit offences the section is also proactive in using all appropriate measures to recover Housing Benefit Overpayments. 

One of the cases which the council investigated with the DWP featured recently on BBC’s Saints and Scroungers programme.

A query was received from a London Borough about a disabled parking permit in London which was registered to a property in Denbighshire.

Enquiries in Denbighshire raised suspicions and the case  was referred to the DWP Organised Fraud Team.

As a result it was discovered that a person was using two identities and claiming from a number of properties in Wales, Manchester and London.

The false claims against various authorities amounted to over £150,000 in ten years. A Proceeds of Crime Order was made against him and to date Denbighshire have recovered over £5,000 of their debt.

Other significant cases included -

A claimant failed to declare capital from the sale of his father’s house and received a sentence of 30 months.

A nurse received a 12 month community order after failing to disclose that her husband was living with her.

A number of  claimants were found guilty of failing to promptly report a change in their circumstances which affected their benefits.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Cabinet Lead Member for Finance, said: "The majority of residents comply with the law. However, there is a minority of people who defraud the system by claiming public money they are not entitled to.

"To them, our message is clear. If you willingly defraud the Council, we will take action. Residents who only claim what they are entitled to have absolutely nothing to fear."

Llan hosts Friendly Walking Weekend

 

 

Llangollen is playing host to a Friendly Walking Weekend this Saturday and Sunday.

 

Those wishing to take party can choose from short, medium and long challenging walks all led by professional guides who will share their local knowledge of colourful history, heritage and folklore whilst guiding you through some of the most beautiful countryside in North Wales.

The programme, organised by Treksmart, is:

Saturday, May 4:

Walk 1: SHORT, 2 hours.

ONE FOOT IN THE PAST - HISTORIC TOWN WALK

 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Sarah Jones.

This walk is a real learning journey around Llangollen town centre where Sarah brings the history people and places to life.

START 10.30am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Price £5.00        

Children under 5 years free.

Sorry NO DOGS.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 2: SHORT, 3 hours.

HISTORY IN THE LANDSCAPE WALK

 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Sarah Jones.

Including stories of Valle Crucis Abbey, Castell Dinas Bran, a romantic castle ruin (some steep climbs).

START 2.00pm outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Price £5.00.

 

Children under 5 years free.

Sorry NO DOGS also. NOT suitable for pushchairs.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 3: MEDIUM 7 miles (approx 4 hours) .

ROMANTIC RUINS & STUNNING VIEWS

 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Chris Grier

START 10.30am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Heading north and taking in views of Valle Crucis Abbey ruins, a rewarding section of Offa's Dyke Path, climb up along side a pretty waterfall, a cliff-top walk with distant views and… Castell Dinas Bran, a romantic castle ruin.

Price £7.00.

 

Dogs welcome, providing the owner takes care of the dog’s every need.

Wear good comfortable walking boots, bring your waterproofs (just in case), plus lunch and drinks.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 4: LONG and challenging 14 miles ( approx 8 hours).

GET HIGH IN THE DEE VALLEY

 

Walk Leader is Mountain Leader trained Mike Smart.

START 9.00am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.  

This walk includes walking across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Thomas Telford's 1805, 1037ft long and 127ft high industrial masterpiece which spans the Dee Valley carrying the Llangollen canal.

Visit Trevor Canal Basin, the Panorama huge limestone cliffs offering fantastic views up and down the valley and Castell Dinas Bran, a romantic castle ruin. 

Price £9.00.

 

Dogs welcome, providing the owner takes care of the dog’s every need.

Wear good comfortable walking boots, bring your waterproofs (just in case), plus food / lunch and drinks. There will be snacks available half-way round at Trevor Basin.

Sunday, May 5:

Walk 5: SHORT, 2 hours.

ONE FOOT IN THE PAST - HISTORIC TOWN WALK
 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Sarah Jones.

This walk is a real learning journey around Llangollen town centre where Sareh brings the history people and places to life.

START 10.30am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Price £5.00.

Children under 5 years free.

Sorry NO DOGS.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 6: SHORT, 3 hours.

HISTORY IN THE LANDSCAPE WALK
 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Sarah Jones.Including stories of Valle Crucis Abbey, Castell Dinas Bran, a romantic castle ruin (some steep climbs).

START 2.00pm outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Price £5.00

Children under 5 years free.

Sorry NO DOGS also.

NOT suitable for pushchairs.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 7: MEDIUM 7.5 miles (approx. 4 hours).

STEAM TRAIN RIDE & DEE VALLEY MEANDER
 

Walk Leader is Green Badge Guide Chris Grier.

START 10.30am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

We start with a heritage steam train ride along the beautiful Dee Valley with view of the towering hills on either side and the river running alongside, then walk back along the valley side through woods and hill-side farms, visit the Horseshoe Falls to finish along the canal back to start.

Price £12.00

Train ticket included.

Wear good comfortable walking boots, bring your waterproofs (just in case), plus packed lunch and drinks.

Dogs welcome, providing the owner takes care of the dog’s every need.

Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

Walk 8: LONG and challenging 14 miles ( approx. 8 hours).

HIGH MOORS WILDERNESS WALK & STEAM TRAIN RIDE

Walk Leader is Mountain Leader trained Mike Smart.

START 8.00am outside the Tourist Information Centre, Castle Street LL20 8NU.

Trek across high wilderness and remote heather moors with fantastic views in all directions and then… a rewarding heritage steam train ride back to the start.

Price £14.00.

Train ticket included.

Wear good comfortable walking boots, bring your waterproofs (just in case), plus food / packed lunch and drinks.

Bookings can be made online at http://www.treksmart.net/llww.html

NOTE: This is a wilderness walk and there is nowhere to buy snacks.  Remember Dad's Army Private Fraser saying "it's a wild and lonely place", well this is.  Dogs welcome, providing the owner takes care of the dog’s every need. Please join your walk leader 15 minutes before the start time.

National Eisteddfod will mean £8 boost to county

Latest edition of the Free Press is reporting that Denbighshire stands to benefit from up to £8million when the National Eisteddfod arrives this summer.

See the full story at: http://www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk/news/122332/-8-million-eisteddfod-boost-for-denbighshire.aspx