Road closure sparks message to traffic chiefs

* The road closure on the A5.

Mike Edwards, of Llangollen Cittaslow group, has written to Wales traffic chiefs about the long-running road closure on the A5 on the eastern approach to Llangollen.

In the emailed letter, copies of which he has sent to Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones and AM Ken Skates, he says:

"I understand that you have recently distributed an information leaflet to `certain"residents' in the vicinity of the A5 closure in Llangollen.

I feel it is disrespectful to all residents of Llangollen and the Dee Valley that the carriageway on this section of road has been closed since November, 2014 and only now have you given selected people information on why this action was taken.

You will no doubt have appreciated that this is a tourist and commuter route through Llangollen and used by residents travelling South towards Shropshire and the motorway network beyond Shrewsbury. The closure is causing unacceptable delays for residents which will be compounded next weekend when the holiday traffic intensifies coming to and through Llangollen, now we are in British Summertime.

It is further difficult for residents because the A539 Mill Street which provides access and egress to town from the other side of the valley has been and will be subject to temporary traffic control where BCHUB are constructing a new Medical Centre(I appreciate that this highway is under the control of Denbighshire CC). Minor routes through the Pengwern Vale are also subject to closures denying access to and from The Ceiriog Valley.

My main complaint is that you have taken actions to close a Public Highway without consulting nor advising residents in our Community why this action has been taken causing immense disruption for residents many who work outside the valley.

I fully expect a jargon riddled reply, but would be pleased to hear your explanation in the hope that it will be helpful to the people of Llangollen and the Dee Valley. I hope that your reply will provide useful information particularly how long this issue is likely to take to resolve bearing in mind that the International Eisteddfod is only  three months away. These issues must be causing great difficulties for the Emergency Services!"

Police warn over A483 collision

North Wales Police tweeted just before 12 noon today (Monday) ....

North Wales Police ‏@NWPolice 3m3 minutes ago

Please be aware of a road traffic collision on the #A483 near the McDonald's r'about #Chirk. Road not blocked but traffic getting busier.

 

 

New school governors sought

Denbighshire is seeking more school governors to come on board and register to be a community volunteer and help make a positive impact in our schools.

A council spokesperson said: "Governors have a vital role to play in supporting schools to provide the best possible learning experience for all pupils and are accountable for the conduct and standards of schools in Wales.

"We want to hear from people who are keen to make a positive difference in their local communities and who are interested in being part of a team and bringing their own expertise, enthusiasm and commitment to the role.

"In return, all new governors are provided with training and are fully supported through a mentoring programme."

* For more information and to register your interest, please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/governors

Easter egg hunt planned for the abbey

 

Why not hop along to Valle Crucis Abbey this Easter Sunday and participate in an Easter Egg Hunt.
 

Make sure you get there early to avoid disappointment.

The first 30 children that take part in one of our trails will be rewarded with an Easter prize for taking part.

Dates, times and prices

Dates
05 Apr 2015
Times
11.00pm - 4.00pm
Prices
Adult - £3.50
Family - £10.50*
Senior citizens, students and children under 16 - £2.65
Member - Am Ddim/Free
Disabled and companion - Am Ddim/Free
*Admits 2 adults and all children under 16

More "difficult decisions ahead" for county

Denbighshire councillors are faced with more difficult decisions about the county’s budget, despite having already steered through “choppy waters”.

That’s the message from council chief executive Mohammed Mehmet writing in the first electronic edition of the County Voice magazine.

Mr Mehmet (pictured left) says the new `e-communication' is just one example of the many changes in Denbighshire arising from the budget setting process.

For this financial year, Denbighshire had to meet a savings target of £8.8m in order to set a legal budget.

The electronic version means the council has been able to save up to £20,000 annually in this one area alone.

The chief executive says: “As with every single cut we have made, we have had to weigh up the pros and cons and look for innovative ways to ensure we still have a suitable way to provide a service, in this case, how we highlight what is happening within the county council.

“Of course, we cannot assume everyone has internet access and so to mitigate this, print-outs will be available to read in our libraries and One Stop Shops.”

Dealing with budget cuts, Mr Mehmet says: “Councils across the UK have been absorbing cuts to budgets for the last five years.

“In Denbighshire, we have now set our budget for 2015/16 but it has certainly not been an easy process with some really difficult choices to be made by councillors.

“These have included cutting budgets in some important areas and also to popular services as well as having to introduce charges for others.

“We are at the stage where we seriously have to consider which non-statutory services we can continue and at any one time, our officers are working hard to ensure that, even when a budget is cut the service can continue to be delivered where at all possible.

“This is a very difficult task which requires expert knowledge in their field and can require us taking a very different, at times radical approach to the challenges we face.”

The chief executive says cuts have been made in order to protect more important priorities, such as:

* Setting the lowest Council Tax increase in North Wales and the second lowest increase in Wales at 2.75%.

* A £90m investment programme for building new schools and improving existing ones has also been protected.

* Protecting Social Services.

* All leisure, libraries and youth facilities remaining open next year.

* Keeping roads maintenance, public protection, building control and planning, and housing services at a level that is at least as good as the Welsh average standards.

Mr Mehmet adds: “I'm hopeful that, subject to no in-year changes from Welsh Government, we will be able to develop further proposals for minimising the impact of the cuts to our residents but I say this with the proviso that cuts are predicted to last for several years to come and, although we have steered our way through choppy waters so far - there is no doubt that our councillors will be faced with more difficult decisions ahead and work is already underway to this end.”

* To sign up for the electronic edition of County Voice, go to www.denbighshire.gov.uk/countyvoice

Leaflet gives details of A5 road closure

Nearby residents have today (Friday) had leaflets pushed through their doors giving latest details of  the long-running road closure on the A5 in Llangollen.

The leaflet says:

Tall tales to be told at the aqueduct

* Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Tall tales will be told when Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site hosts a family fun day.

Next Tuesday March 31, Ruth Moore-Williams, folk singer and story teller, will be enthralling children and adults with her canal ditties and wild words of the waterways.

A range of community craft and food stalls will be selling their wares and Explorers, the children’s education arm of the Trust, will be hosting activities for children of all ages.

Visitors to the event will also be the first to see the newly-refurbished grade II listed twin dry docks, which have been restored as part of an £88,000 project funded by the European Rural Development Programme, Wrexham County Borough Council and public donations to the Canal & River Trust.

Dating back to the early 19^th century, the docks were in need of vital repair work to seal leaks in the chamber walls, remove vegetation, replace and repair posts and fences.

The project has included improvements to public access, painting and masonry repairs, and new paved pathways near the visitor centre. The covered dock is currently leased by boat hire company Anglo Welsh and is still used for boat repairs.

Lynda Slater, visitor centre manager at Trevor Basin, said: “The fun day will be a fantastic celebration to mark the end of the refurbishment and landscaping work and the start of the main summer season.

“Each year the magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct attracts more than 200,000 visitors as word spreads of this stunning engineering masterpiece. Opened in 1805 and designed by Thomas Telford and William Jessop, it is the highest, longest aqueduct in the UK.”