County urges support for business campaign

Denbighshire County Council is urging residents to get behind their campaign to support local businesses in the county.

The #LoveLocalDenbighshire campaign aims to get people to show their support for local businesses by using the hashtag on Twitter and Facebook to promote good experiences they’ve had and promote products and services locally that they have ‘loved’.

The council also wants Denbighshire businesses to engage with the campaign and use the hashtag to promote their goods and services to help spread the word about the diverse range of products and services that are available in local towns and villages.

Leader of the Council, Hugh Evans OBE, said : “We are calling on the people of Denbighshire to show support for local businesses and show community spirit by making sure we look after our high streets.

“There are so many fantastic businesses here in Denbighshire in all sorts of areas from food and hotels, to shops selling uniquely made crafts and providers of unique services and experiences. We need to get the word out and make sure people use them. 

“They also help create a thriving local economy and support our communities by providing jobs for local people. We really want the people of Denbighshire to share their positive experiences of engaging with local businesses by shopping in them and taking the pledge to love shopping locally.”

Chairman of the Clwydian Range Food Trail and one of Denbighshire’s Tourism Ambassadors, Dave Jones, said: “I think this is a really positive campaign from the Council. Local businesses need to support each other, build networks and promote each other. Engaging with social media is a great way to do this.

“It’s also really important that communities get behind their local businesses and support them too. We have a wealth of fantastic businesses in this County and we need to get the message out that buying locally is good for everyone in so many ways.”

The campaign is also part of the Council’s drive to develop the local economy by supporting vibrant and viable high streets, working to support healthy private businesses.

MP stands up for social enterprises

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones will be championing the cause of local social enterprises in Parliament today (Wednesday).  

Leading a debate entitled Support for Social Investment, she will call on the Government  to amend laws and change accounting regulations to help social enterprises that benefit local communities.

Ms Jones (pictured), who co-chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group for Charities and Volunteering, believes that her proposed changes, if supported by the Government, could be of massive financial help to the 68,000+ social enterprises nationwide.

Local examples of social enterprises include Splash Magic Leisure Centre, Plas Madoc, Glyn Wylfa Ltd at Chirk and, potentially, Llangollen Railway, the Brymbo Heritage Group and Ty'n y Capel Inn and Restaurant in Minera.

She said: "I believe that our country needs much more serious thinking and action about how our communities can be better and stronger.

"Social enterprises - using cost-effective business models to improve communities - are an excellent way of doing this and I think we should be doing much more to support them as they try and access finance.

"My debate on this issue comes as the result of a lot of thinking and discussion with people who work in social enterprises.

"I am very pleased that this debate was selected for discussion and really hope the Government takes on board what we are asking for."

Experts roped in to spread Eisteddfod word

* Llangollen International Eisteddfod banners are placed above the railway line with the help of local company R3 Safety & Rescue using their team of abseilers. Paul O'Sullivan, left, secures the banner with help from Chris Heath, watched by Eisteddfod marketing chairman Ian Lebbon, front right, and railway manager Kevin Gooding.

A team of high ropes experts from Llangollen have swung into action to help spread the word about the town’s iconic music festival.

The intrepid operators swayed out over the River Dee in the town centre to fix a four metre advertising banner to the Llangollen Railway Station bridge to get the message out about next month’s International Musical Eisteddfod.

Now thousands of travellers on the famous steam railway will see that the famous festival runs from Tuesday, July 5, to Sunday, July 10, what’s on and where to get tickets.

It’s also in clear view of the even greater numbers of visitors to the picturesque town who stroll across the famous Dee bridge, one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, and stop to admire the spectacular view upstream.

The idea came from Eisteddfod Marketing Chairman Ian Lebbon who said: “It’s a great example of different organisations in the town working together.

“We asked Llangollen Railway if we could put the banner up on their pedestrian bridge across the tracks and they agreed and we asked our neighbours at R3 Safety and Rescue who rent an office at the Eisteddfod site and they came up with the high ropes expertise to put it up safely.

“The railway station is a prime location and they’ve also allowed us to put more banners up on the stations along the route at Berwyn, Glyndwyfrdwy, Carrog and Corwen.

“We’re very grateful to the railway and to R3 for their help – in a small town like this it’s important that we all work together.”

Llangollen Railway, a heritage line run by enthusiast, operates a mainly steam service the ten miles to Corwen and back with over 1,000 passengers a week during busy periods.

Kevin Gooding, the Railway’s General Manager, said: “We will have thousands of visitors passing through the station so it is in an ideal spot.

“We benefit from the Eisteddfod because the TV often bring artists and performers down here to film them and so we get our share of publicity from that.

“We had Prunella Scales and Timothy West here last year for a cream tea because they were filming on the canal and the next thing we were being inundated with requests from round the country for cream teas.”

The man hanging out over the waters of the fast-flowing Dee was R3 Safety and Rescue Managing Director Paul O’Sullivan watched by Operations Director Chris Heath.

He said: “We’re a safety and rescue training provider and we work across the UK. Ian asked if we’d help out with this and we’re delighted to do so.

“We teach all the emergency services a range of skills including mountain and water rescue and we use the River Dee and even the Royal International Pavilion which is ideal for our high ropes work so we were happy to get involved.”

Tickets sales for the concerts at this year’s Eisteddfod, which begins on Tuesday, July 5, are already going well, especially for the opening night when superstar Katherine Jenkins gets the programme off to a sensational start as she sings Bizet’s Carmen.

Wednesday will be International Children’s Day and will include choral and dance competitions and also a new Under 16s solo competition while the evening will feature the Voices of Musical Theatre.

The great Bryn Terfel will headline the 70^th Classical Gala Concert on Thursday evening while the day will see the crowning of the Children’s Choir of the World.

Friday will celebrate Rhythms of the World and will be a feast of music and dance from the best of the Eisteddfod’s international competitors with the Dance Champions of the World competition climax at the evening concert.

It will open with a Caribbean Carnival Extravaganza, followed by the International Peace message delivered by Theatr yr Ifanc, Rhosllannerchrugog.

In a change of the scheduling Friday will also see the Parade of Nations, led by Eisteddfod President Terry Waite, switched from Tuesday in anticipation of bigger crowds and more competitors being present.

Saturday is dedicated to the top choirs and concludes with the Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy while Sunday sees the Eisteddfod let its hair down for Llanfest before the climactic final concert.

To book tickets and for more details on the 2016 festival go to the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk

250+ homes plan for old Air Products site

Wrexham.com is reporting today that an application has been made to build more than 250 homes on the former Air Products site in Acrefair.

For the full story, see: https://www.wrexham.com/news/250-homes-proposed-for-former-air-products-site-114105.html

Museum's programme of events

Llangollen Museum of Local History has three major events planned over the next few weeks, details of which are below ...

Warning over bogus computer calls

* Now with a message from town councillor Phil Thane at the foot of the story

Denbighshire Trading Standards is reminding residents to be extra vigilant following reports of telephone calls from a company claiming to be from Microsoft Windows. 

These cold callers are usually attempting to get access to your computer or asking for a payment to fix an issue. 

Emlyn Jones, Denbighshire’s Public Protection Manager said: “Residents should be aware that Microsoft, or other computer software providers, do not make unsolicited calls or emails to charge for computer security or fixes.  If individuals need to check then they should go to the official Micorsoft website.”

Trading Standards is offering the following advice to consumers:

* Be suspicious of unsolicited calls related to a computer or other security problem, even if they claim to represent a respected company

* Never provide personal information, such as credit card or bank details, to an unsolicited caller

* Do not go to a website, type anything into a computer, install software or follow any other instruction from someone who calls out of the blue

* If you can, take the caller’s information down and pass it to the authorities, but if you are uncomfortable with the caller, simply put the phone down.

* Use up-to-date versions of your operating and application software

* Make sure security updates are installed regularly

* Make sure the firewall is turned on and that antivirus software is installed and up to date

* If you have any concerns about your computer, take to a local/ reputable expert to check it out

To help reduce the number of unsolicited calls, consumers can register for the Telephone Preference Service on 0345 070 0707.

* Message from Llangollen town councillor Phil Thane:

Saw your blog piece regarding windows scam. I got a call a few years back and recorded it. Worth waiting for the punch line...

http://pthane.co.uk/?s=broken+windows

Town fete shines on through the rain

Crowds braved rain showers to enjoy the annual Llangollen town fete this afternoon (Saturday).

Once again the Rotary Club has joined forces with the ladies of the Inner Wheel to stage the event at Plas Newydd by arrangement with the historic estate's owner, Denbighshire County Council, whose chair, Councillor Ann Davies, headed the VIP guest list along with the Mayor of Llangollen,
Councillor Mike Adams.

* A magician enthralls young spectators.

This year, the newly formed Rotary Club of Dee Valley assisted in organisation and fundraising.

The fete is run as part of the community service programme of the three clubs as an event for the town, as well as being one of their most important fundraisers.  Preparation takes much of the year.

From 2pm the fete offered a range of attractions including traditional stalls and sideshows, a bouncy castle and a round-about for youngsters.

Music was provided throughout the afternoon by Llangollen Silver Band and there was also  entertainment from Punch and Judy and a magician plus a guest appearance by Wrex, the Wrexham FC mascot.

Another highlight was a grand raffle with a £100 first prize.

* Llangollen Silver Band played throughout the afternoon.

* Kids have fun on the bouncy castle.

* Many tried their luck on the darts.

* Face painting was a popular pastime.

* There was growing interest in the flower stall.

* Skittles was a top crowd pleaser.

* Wrex, the Wrexham mascot, put in a

guest appearance.