County gets new chairman



Councillor Gwyneth Kensler of Denbigh has been elected chairman of Denbighshire County Council for 2015/16.

Councillor Kensler's chosen charities for the year will be the Samaritans, Mudiad Meithrin and autism initiatives.


At the full council meeting in County Hall, Ruthin,  Councillor Ann Davies of Rhuddlan was also elected vice chairman for the year ahead.


Out-going chairman, Councillor Brian Blakeley of Rhyl, presented cheques of £1,250 each to representatives of his two chosen charities for the year -  Ty Gobaith and the Rhyl RNLI.

Davies hits out again over A5 roadworks

* The controversial A5 roadworks.

WITH revelations of an “unprecedented” number of calls about drivers rat-running through a residential area to avoid it, a councillor claims Llangollen people are being treated as “mushrooms” over controversial roadworks on the A5. 

A lengthy section of the road was closed just before Christmas to allow investigations to go ahead into problems with the retaining wall opposite the Tyn y Wern hotel.

This has led to complaints about congestion caused by the long-phase lights controlling traffic flow through the works and a lack of information from the Welsh Government about how long they will last.

Now, Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has had information from a Denbighshire County Council official that shows a high volume of complaints about drivers going out of their way to avoid the blockage.

He said: “I have been told by an officer in our transport department that they are receiving an unprecedented number of complaints about the number of vehicles using Maesmawr Road as a way of avoiding the temporary traffic lights.

“The high number of vehicles using that road is creating a safety issue as it is predominantly residential in nature and is not designed to carry the level or class of vehicles now using it.

“I also understand that the traffic management arrangements are likely to be in situ for a sustained period of time

“Our transport team recently asked the Welsh Government if they have any time scale on the works and about any proposed remedial works.

“They also asked if a temporary prohibition of through traffic accept for access would be an option in the short term pending North Wales Police's approval.

“However, a reply from the Trunk Road Agency simply notes these comments and confirms they are dealing with the A5 retaining wall.”

He added: “I am disgusted with the reply, which is basically a cop out by the people in charge of this project. They are treating us like mushrooms.

“I have been fighting this battle now since last year.

“I have involved the Minister, Edwina Hart, through our local AM, Ken Skates.

“Residents are fed up, local members are fed up, there is the potential for children to be harmed and we are still being treated like mushrooms.

“There has been no news of what has been found, no news of resolutions, no news of time scales. What exactly is going on?

“MPs had a rude awakening last week. The Welsh Government needs to wake up and smell the coffee.”

Town Council meeting re-arranged

We have been asked by the Town Clerk to inform readers that the next meeting of the Town Council will been re-arranged for THURSDAY 28 MAY 2015, at 7pm.

Twenty Club revisits Fawlty Towers

* (Above and left) scenes from the Twenty Club's last production of Fawlty Towers. Pictures by Chris Noble.  

FOLLOWING their sell-out production of Fawlty Towers in 2012, the Twenty Club in Llangollen will be performing three more episodes of the iconic sit-com this November and are holding open auditions this summer.

The auditions will be held in Llangollen Town Hall on Tuesday July 28 at 7pm.

All main roles and supporting parts will be up for grabs.

Fawlty Towers, by John Cleese and Connie Booth, was one of the major TV comedy hits of the Seventies and the three episodes being performed this time round will be Communication Problems, Waldorf Salad and Basil the Rat.

They will be staged at Llangollen Town Hall during the week commencing November 2.

* For further information, email: contact@twentyclub.co.uk or visit facebook.com/twentyclub.

County wins funds to replace street lights

Denbighshire County Council has been successful in receiving government funding to replace the county’s street lights with a more modern and energy efficient technology.

The Council has successful applied for funding through Salix, a government funded initiative to fund a six year energy reduction programme, worth £280,760k a year.

To help reduce energy consumption, the council will:

• introduce a system for dimming and managing lights
• use white lights to replace existing equipment
• introduce more efficient electronic equipment
• introduce LED lighting schemes.

Steve Parker, Denbighshire's Head of Highways and Environmental Services, said: “The council’s street lighting electricity costs increased by over 10% during the 2014/15 financial year, which led to an increase of £35k on the current street lighting energy bill.

“The cost to run the lighting was £345,340 and with the certainty of increases in electricity tariffs this additional increase would have placed an additional burden on the street lighting budget.

“Any further increases in energy costs would have an adverse effect on the council’s ability to maintain existing lighting to its current standards. That is why we had to consider applying for a large investment, to ensure the sustainability of the service."

As well as financial savings, there are environmental benefits through reductions in carbon emissions.

Councillor Smith added: “There are currently 11,790 lighting units in Denbighshire, much of which is outdated and inefficient in comparison to modern technology currently available.

“Street lighting has a major impact on the environment, allowing use of areas after dark and reducing crime and fear of crime. The use of modern and recyclable street lighting equipment can provide options for reductions in energy use, thus reducing the authorities’ carbon footprint leading to a more sustainable future for the street lighting service."

To date the council has replaced the majority of its lanterns on principal roads with new efficient LED light sources. This has resulted in significant energy savings of over £100K per year.

Major bike event planned for Pavilion

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has welcomed news that a major motorbike event is powering its way into the town this summer.

Hundreds of bikers will be heading to the International Pavilion for Bikefest 2015 on Saturday and Sunday, August 1 and 2.

It will feature competitions, classics, clubs, customs, demonstrations, displays, mega-prize raffle, trade stands on and off-road bikes, sporting VIPs and stunts.

Cllr Davies said: “As a lifelong biker myself I’m aware of the spending power of the biking fraternity.

“I remember the popularity of the previous bike shows held in Llangollen and hope Bikefest will be as successful as they were.

“Local businesses, both traders and accommodation providers, will do well from this event and it ties in with Denbighshire County Council’s tourism strategy. I wish it well.”

Cllr Davies says he has also met with the Chester Harley Owners Group who are returning again this year for their rally at the Pavilion.

“They made their first visit last year and enjoyed it so much that they have booked the Pavilion for the next few years,” he said.

“That’s good news for the local restaurants and accommodation providers. It’s also good news for the Pavilion which is providing a world class venue for events such as this.

“The Harley Owners’ Group are extending a welcome to the townspeople to visit their rally on site during the day to inspect their magnificent chromed machines.

“They would welcome the chance to meet with town residents and traders. There will be motorcycle merchandisers there and no charge to get on the field.

“I’d like to thank the team at the Pavilion who have worked so hard to attract such prestigious shows.”

* For more details of Bikefest go to: http://www.llanbikefest.co.uk and for the Harley event, see
http://www.devalegionhog.co.uk/www.devalegionhog.co.uk/Home.html

Llan Male Voice Choir on lookout for singers

* Llangollen Male Voice Choir's 2015 line-up. 

A CHOIR which has performed in the Royal Albert Hall and around the world is on the lookout for new members.

Llangollen Male Voice Choir -  Côr Meibion Llangollen – was formed 33 years ago and has since gone from strength to strength.

And it has just put out the call for new singers, especially tenors.

With just six men, the choir first tuned up back in 1982 in the home of one of its founder members, Leslie Wilson, who became long-term chairman. Current president is Ian Bluck.

First conductor was Peter Dennis Jones, whose dedication and inspiration made the choir what it is today and whose death in 2006 came as a great loss.

The choir has had several conductors over the years, with David Bird now in his second year at the helm.

There have also been a string of accompanists and currently in the role is Christopher Enston who took over from his mother, the late Alwen Enston, who had occupied it for 11 years.

Deputy conductors and accompanists are Owen Roberts and Ken Grain. 

Over the years the choir has travelled both in the UK, and also to Canada, France, Germany, Malta and especially to Holland, where they have exchanged several visits with their Dutch friends in Deventer and Friesland.

The choir enjoys taking part in joint concerts, and have been several times to the Royal Albert Hall in London with the massed Welsh choirs, and to the MEN Arena in Manchester three years ago.

They have also taken part in the TV programme Dechrae Canu, Dechrae Canmol at the Marble Church at Bodelwyydan , and have appeared on Songs of Praise.

The choir takes seriously its charity role, with the ladies raising money with raffles, CDs and stalls.

As well as appearing in various local venues to sing, the choir performs in churches and chapels, at weddings and birthdays, to raise money for their funds.

As the choir grew, it moved to The Hand Hotel, Llangollen.

Its secretary Lesley Willis said: “Over the years we have lost many members and it is difficult to replace them. But we have some very loyal members who travel long distances to be with the choir from places such as Formby, Tarporley, Congleton and a wide radius of Llangollen.

“In the early days practices were twice a week, but sadly, as numbers decreased, we have just one practice a week on a Friday evening, followed by a sing song in the bar afterwards - thus entertaining many visitors from far and wide who come to this busy little tourist town in the beautiful Vale of Llangollen, the home of The International Eisteddfod, held annually in July.”

Lesley added: “Our repertoire includes not only a wide variety of Welsh and English music, but other languages too.

“Our motto is Cyfeillgarwch drwy Gan - Friendship through Song - which is very apt because we have made friends throughout the world, some returning from afar to hear us, showing music has no barriers.

“We are always looking for new members, especially tenors at the moment, and anyone wishing to join us can come along The Hand Hotel on Fridays at 7.30pm.”