Work starts on Chain Bridge

The BBC is reporting this afternoon (Wednesday) that work has started on the restoration of the world famous Chain Bridge.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30205556

Mike guides the guides around town

* Mike Smart (second from right) outside The Hand Hotel, Llangollen with some of the Guides. 

OFFICIAL guide Mike Smart spent some time last weekend guiding other guides around Llangollen.

Mike, who is local North East Wales Tourism Ambassador and Clwydian Range & Dee Valley AONB guide, led a group of 20 Green Badge Guides on a tour of the town.

Mike, who is also part of TREKsmart.net Guided Walking, said: "The Green Badge Guides had just completed their three years of studying to become the higher level Blue Badge Guides.

 

"The Blue Badge Guides course is overseen by Coleg Llandrillo and requires a huge in-depth knowledge of history, heritage, people and landscape, culminating in an intense week of activity and exams.

 

"My job at the weekend was to guide the guides around Llangollen and share my local knowledge of the Dee Valley, the AONB and its protected landscapes, the UNESCO Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site along with other places to visit when these guides re-visit with tour groups in the future.

 

"Tourism is hugely important to the area and we should help encourage it in any way we can."

 

Mike's TREKsmart organisation is arranging a walking festival in Llangollen on May 2, 3 and 4 next year.

This will take in the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB and Pontcysyllte UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

He added: "Come and join us for short, medium and long walks.

 

"Two of the walks include a steam train ride, and there will also be wilderness walks, history walks with a Blue Badge Guide, food and drink walk, Nordic walking, photography walk and talk plus evening entertainment with Welsh folk storytelling music and songs."

 

* For more details, go to www.llangollenwalkingfestival.co.uk/ and on Facebook. Email: hello@treksmart.net

Fatal accident on A483: appeal for witnesses

Police are appealing for witnesses and information following a fatal collision on the A483 yesterday evening (Monday, November 24).

Officers were alerted to the incident at 6.13pm which involved a silver coloured Peugeot 307 and a Scania HGV on the A483 between Halton roundabout and the junction with Ruabon.

Emergency services attended the scene. The male driver of the Peugeot, who is believed to be in his 30’s and was the sole occupant of vehicle, died.

His next of kin have been informed.

The driver of the HGV is not believed to have sustained injury.

The section of road was closed for a number of hours and diversions were in place.

Investigations into the collision are continuing and officers are appealing to anyone who witnessed the incident to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit at Deeside on 101 quoting reference R185086.

Police appeal follows serious A483 accident

Police have appealed for witnesses following a serious road traffic collision on the A483 between Chirk and Ruabon last night (Monday).

See more on the story on the Leader website at: http://leaderlive.co.uk/news/141135/police-appeal-for-witnesses-after-a483-chirk-crash.aspx

Walkers sought to organise local events

People from Llangollen are being sought to help with organising a suitable mix of walking events in the area.

Interested walkers from Llan recently held a meeting with those in Corwen to discuss future joint ventures and it became clear that the Dee Valley has vast potential to attract walkers and benefit the economy of the area.

Llan walker Ian Parry said: “The idea of creating a Dee Valley Walkers Are Welcome group was floated and gained much support particularly from the Corwen team.

“But we now need to encourage walkers from Llangollen area to  join and help with organising a suitable mix of walking events in the area.

“We would need to get the support of Llangollen Town Council and Corwen Business Association and Denbighshire's Dee Valley Business Action Group in order to proceed and this will be organised in the coming weeks.

“I would like to invite anyone from the Llangollen area interested in getting involved in this exciting venture and help the economy of the Dee Valley to contact me on  01978 753897, or email: ian.parry@uwclub.net.”

MP warns over "nasty scam"

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones is urging constituents to be alert to "a particularly nasty scam" that she says ends up costing people hundreds of pounds for just making a telephone call.

She has also written to the Secretary of State of the relevant Government department urging him to act fast to bust the scam operation.

Ms Jones said: "A constituent brought this scam to my attention so naturally I wanted to inform as many constituents as possible and get the Government to act. This is not the usual 'get rich quick' scam. In this case, many people could lose hundreds of pounds by making what looks like a simple phone call to collect a parcel." 

According to the MP, the "scam" is as follows:

 

A card is posted through your door purporting to come from a company called PDS (Parcel Delivery Service) suggesting that they were unable to deliver a parcel and that you need to contact them on 0906 6611911 (a Premium rate number).
If you do call the number and you start to hear a recorded message you will already have been billed £315 for the phone call.

Ms Jones added: "Anyone receiving a card with these sort of details should call Royal Mail Fraud on 020 7239 6655 and Crime Stoppers. UK. on  0800 555 111.

"It's also really important that people are aware that the premium rate number may change so please do not call any number stated on a card from PDS

 

"Constituents are of course always welcome to contact me if they feel they have been the victim of a scam or have any other problem I can help with." 

 

County to run free parking scheme again

Denbighshire County Council has announced that its "Free after 3" parking scheme will again be in operation this year to help support town centres in the run-up to Christmas.

The scheme provides free parking in all council operated pay & display car parks after 3pm on a daily basis.

The scheme will operate until December 31.