Health and wellbeing events for town

A pilot project in Denbighshire to improve the health and well-being of residents through working directly with people in their own communities is hosting more events across the county, including one in Llangollen.

 

* Llangollen Health Centre. 

The Community Led Conversations project is all about having meaningful conversations with residents to help them take control of their own lives, working with them to find solutions for their individual needs and connecting with people on issues that matter to them.

 

As part of this project, sessions called Talking Points are being piloted in various areas where residents can drop in and speak to a range of people on issues that matter to them. 

 

Sessions include:

 

Thursday, November 26^th – Llangollen Health Centre – 10am-3pm

Thursday, December 10^th – Canolfan Ni, Corwen – 10am-3pm

Thursday, December 17^th – Llangollen Health Centre – 10am-3pm

 

Councillor Bobby Feeley, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Well-being, said: “This project is very different as we are changing the kind of conversation we are having with our residents. Rather than ask what the problem is, we will be asking residents what matters to them. Then we will work with them to provide advice and support on local support that is available to them that will meet their needs.

 

"We want to empower communities through directing people to solutions right on their doorstep rather than needing to be referred to a professional service. It’s about listening and understanding people’s needs and promoting ways that people can remain independent."

 

Quiz in aid of children's charity planned

Llan Youth Band in the honours

* Youth band winners with their trophies.

Llangollen Youth Band had a highly successful day at the North Wales Brass Band Association Rally in Ruthin on Saturday.

The band, under the leadership of Trevor Williams, won a total of three awards in the competition's youth section.

Their beautiful rendition of William Himes' arrangement of Amazing Grace won them the Eifion Rogers Memorial Salver Best Hymn award, whilst their confident performance of Reginald Heath's London River earned them the Irene Fox Memorial Shield and the Baton of Honour for Best Test Piece.

Adjudicator Dr Brett Baker awarded Owen Graham the Best Soloist award for his trombone solo in London River.

A band spokesperson said: "This is an extremely fine accolade to earn from an adjudicator who has spent much of his own musical career as a trombone player for top bands such as the Black Dyke Band."

* The youth band on stage at Ruthin.

Five die in two Corwen collisions

Five people have died in road traffic collisions in the Corwen area within just a couple of days.

The first tragedy involved a woman in her eighties who was pronounced dead at the scene following a collision on the A5, at the Square, in Corwen town centre on Friday morning.   

Her family have been informed and a full police investigation is underway.

Sgt Alun Davies of the Roads Policing Unit said: “We would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the collision involving a pedestrian and a lorry or who was in the vicinity of the Square in Corwen at 10.57am today, Friday November 20.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Roads Policing Unit on 101 quoting reference S178034.

The second fatal accident came at 11.39am yesterday (Saturday) when

police were called to a report of a two vehicle road traffic collision on the A5 in Corwen, near Druid traffic lights.

A Vauxhall Astra and Vauxhall Zafira were involved.

Police, fire and rescue service, ambulance and the air ambulance attended the scene.

Tragically, three young men from the Corwen area who were in the Astra, died at the scene.

The occupants of the Zafira, two men from the Merseyside area, were treated at the scene for serious injuries and flown to hospital in Stoke.

One of the men was taken to Stoke and later died as a result of his injuries.

The families of all the victims of this incident have been updated.

Investigations into the collision are continuing and officers are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact officers at the Roads Policing Unit on 101, quoting incident number S178591.

Officers say they are particularly keen to speak to a female occupant of a small red vehicle and the two occupants of a black coloured 4 x 4 type vehicle who arrived from the Corwen direction and assisted at the scene.

Local councillor recommends guide to business rates

After being asked by several local businesses about business rates and relief available, Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has recommended them to look at a guide produced by Denbighshire's Economic and Business Department to see what is available.

llanblogger has reproduced the guide below:

Business rates (or National Non Domestic Rates) - payable by all occupiers of non-domestic premises, eg offices, business units and shops. 

While they’re collected by local Councils, business rates are paid to Welsh Government, who then pay them back, under a formula, to local Councils as part of their Revenue Support Grant.  Because of the formula, not all business rates collected in a particular council area will necessarily come back to that Council. 

The rate payable (multiplier) is set by Welsh Government centrally. 

Rateable Value - the amount of rates payable for individual premises are based on property valuations carried out by the Valuation Office Agency and are intended to represent broadly the yearly rent for the property on the open market. The last valuation came into effect in 2010. The next is due in 2017. In between time, Rateable Values can be changed if the circumstances for individual premises change. 

Rate relief - there are a number of circumstances where the amount of business rates normally payable can be reduced:

1. Empty / part empty premises:

No rates for first 3 months if previously occupied for 6 weeks.  No rates for first 6 months on some industrial properties

No rates for first 18 months on newly built, vacant commercial premises if completed before 1st Oct 2016

Zero rate for empty charitable and Community Amateur Sports Clubs premises

‘Section 44a Relief’ for part empty premises

Other exemptions including: Rateable Value under £2,600; previous occupier gone into liquidation / bankruptcy; property part of deceased estate; occupation prohibited by law e.g. Asbestos; listed buildings

2. Charitable organisations and Community

Amateur Sports Clubs:

80% reduction where registered

Additional 20% reduction possible in some circumstances

3. Small Business Rate Relief

Up to 100% where Rateable Value is under £12,000, premises are occupied and the business is trading

4. Wales Retail Relief Scheme

Up to £1,500 off rates in 2015-16 for occupied retail, food & drink premises with a Rateable Value Under £50,000

5. Hardship Relief

Available in some short term circumstances where businesses are facing closure due to financial hardship

In all cases, businesses can obtain further advice from the Council’s website or by contacting the Business Rates Team on 01824 706101.

New rented home rules start on Monday

Rent Smart Wales, the new registration and licensing system in Wales, launches on Monday - and it represents a major change for the private rental sector in the principality.

Under it:

- All private landlords who have a rental property in Wales must register themselves and the addresses of their rental properties in Wales;

- Landlords who undertake defined letting or property management activities at a rental property in Wales must apply for a licence. If a landlord instructs an agent to do such work on their behalf, it is that agent who must become licensed;

- In order to get a licence a person must be adequately trained, and also declare themselves ‘fit and proper’;

- Licensing training will be offered through Rent Smart Wales or people can choose to attend Rent Smart Wales approved training courses delivered by other bodies.

Landlords and agents who need to become licensed will be able to register and apply for a licence from Monday. They will have 12 months from that date in which to comply with the new legislation.

During this first year there will be a focus by the Welsh government on raising awareness of the new requirements and encouraging compliance.

One of the earliest changes is that from Monday agents must openly display all fees including any additional charges or penalties which may be incurred during a tenancy as well as fees, charges and penalties which are referenced in the tenancy agreement and in Terms of Business.

Fees should be displayed including VAT. Agents must display fees at each of their premises and on their websites.

Licence to thrill comes to Pavilion

Llangollen Pavilion will be turning into Casino Royale for one evening only next month when a special James Bond Christmas party night takes over the venue.

The event, entitled Shaken, Not Stirred,  will be held on Saturday December 12 and organisers say tickets are already moving faster than 007's Aston Martin.

* Llangollen Pavilion. 

Guests can live and let die on the roulette and blackjack tables and there will also be live music, a three-course meal and the opportunity to dress up as your favourite Bond character, be it Goldfinger, Dr No, Oddjob, Jaws or even Bond himself.

This special Christmas party evening is organised by Radiant Events, whose very own Man with the Golden Gun, Paul Brown, has worked tirelessly to create a real tribute to one of the most successful film franchises in the world.

Paul said: “The release of the new Bond film Spectre has been the catalyst in putting this evening together and it’s been great fun.

"The whole idea has been to create the atmosphere of a Bond film with the casino, high end dining and live music from Rhythm Train, who wowed a crowd of over 5,000 at this summer’s Under The Arches event, and are looking forward to playing some of iconic themes such as Goldfinger and For Your Eyes Only throughout the evening."

He added: “We’re also offering a special prize for the best Bond fancy dress of the evening, so there’s plenty to go at there and we’ll be keeping a count of the number of white tuxedos on view as well.

"We’re also wondering if anybody will turn up as Christmas Jones out of the World is Not Enough, so get researching!”

* Tickets for the evening are priced at £34.95 each including a three-course meal, with tables available for between four and eight people and larger groups accommodated.

To book either phone 07854 051434, email christmas@radiantevents.co.uk or visit www.radiantevents.co.uk/christmas for further information. Bookings are being taken up until Friday November 30.