Businesses support county's media campaign

* Pete Carroll, right, of Pro Adventure outdoor shop,

Jan Deeprose of Lily Rose Interiors, and

Steve Jones of Stans Supermarket.

A trio of thriving Llangollen businesses are helping to spearhead a new drive to persuade people to support local businesses.

Stans supermarket, the Pro Adventure outdoor shop and Lilly Rose Interiors have all just joined the small and growing band of official ambassadors for the #LoveLiveLocal social media campaign.

The campaign is being supported by Denbighshire County Council to promote independent local shops, small companies and service providers and help them make the most of social media marketing.

The big idea behind the campaign is that if a customer loves the product they have just bought at their local gift shop or is delighted with the restaurant meal they had, they can spread the word over Twitter or Facebook, simply adding #LoveLiveLocal, to help their business friends and neighbours.

Denbighshire Council leader Hugh Evans has invited businesses across the county to engage with the campaign, use the hashtag to promote themselves and ask their customers to use it too.

He said: “There are so many fantastic businesses here in Denbighshire in all sorts of sectors from food and hotels, to shops selling uniquely made crafts and providers of first class services and unforgettable experiences.

“We need to get the word out and make sure as many people as possible get to know about them and use them.

“We call on the people of Denbighshire to show community spirit by supporting this bid to safeguard the future of our high streets.

"Small businesses help create a thriving regional economy and provide vital jobs for local people.

"That’s why we really want people to share their positive experiences and boost our

#LoveLiveLocal campaign by passing on the message about how much they love

shopping locally.

"It's part of our ongoing drive to develop and expand the local economy, promote shopping locally and encourage businesses to further explore the benefits of using social media."

Among those throwing their weight behind the campaign is Stans supermarket on Berwyn Street where manager Steve Jones said: “I’ll be doing whatever I can to support it as an ambassador.

“At Stans in Llangollen we’re very much in favour of supporting other businesses from the area and we stock items from 15 or 16 local suppliers alongside the main brands.

“We also support local causes and in the four years since we opened in Llangollen we’ve donated about £2,500 to schools, football teams and the area’s Tidy Town team.

“I think #LoveLiveLocal is useful as social media is such a valuable marketing tool and getting feedback about local businesses from the people who use them is very important.”

Another new #LoveLiveLocal ambassador in Llangollen is one of the town’s youngest businesses, Lilly Rose Interiors, which opened in Castle Street just four months ago.

It’s run by Jan Deeprose, who lives in the area and used her considerable background in retailing as a springboard to start her own shop selling a wide range of home and house wear, from candles and cushions to crockery and garden ornaments.

She said: “I’m pleased to become as ambassador for #LoveLiveLocal as I know that social media is so vital for businesses these days. That’s why I’m on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“It’s also so important to be doing something to support smaller local businesses, which is what the county council is doing with this campaign.

“Being local is vital these days. I live and work in Llangollen, so I pride myself on knowing my local market and what people want and being able to pass the word about what businesses have to offer through this campaign all helps.”

Pete Carol, who has been running his Pro Adventure business in Llangollen since 1991 and now trades from the former Post Office in Castle Street.

He said: “I’m pleased to be involved as I regularly use social media to help market my business, which is a specialist retailer for people who love the outdoors.

“It’s not just about clothing and we stock items for walking, camping and bushcraft, such as such as axes and knives.

“Through our presence on social media we pick up on local shares and retweets, which is good for business.

“The #LoveLiveLocal campaign is an extension of that and I’m very pleased to be involved in it as it will certainly help to tell people about what’s good about using businesses in Llangollen and Denbighshire.”          

MP calls for bee protection measures

Susan Elan Jones MP has written formally to call on the Government to protect the bee population by supporting a comprehensive ban on neonicotinoids.

The Clwyd South Labour MP (pictured) said: "Bee-keeping is vital in our local area - and we need to be doing more to support the bee population and the production of honey. That's why I want to see the Government following the science. We need a total ban on harmful pesticides, which have a severe effect on our wildlife.

"Since last spring, I have been questioning the Government on another key environmental issue - the banning of microbeads (the pieces of plastic in products like shower gel and toothpaste that causes major damage to the world's oceans). 

"I am pleased the Government has changed its mind and decided to support a ban on these environmental menaces from 2017. However, we need the same sort of action to ban neonicotinoids. I urge the Government to act now."

St Collen's hosts BBC Radio 4's Any Questions

BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions will be broadcast live from St Collen’s Church in Llangollen on the evening of Friday October 21.

Vicar, the Rev Andrew Sully, said: “This is your chance to ask a question and influence the debate.

“For your free ticket please contact me by emailing and andamary@sullystallard.fsnet.co.uk, or calling 01978 860231.”

Doors open at 6.45-7.15pm on the night.

On Wednesday September 21, St Collen’s is playing host to a Peace One Day event starting at 10.30am.

St John’s Church in Abbey Road will hold its animal blessing service at 5pm on Animal Welfare Sunday, October 2.  

Horseshoe Pass closed after crash

BBC online news is reporting the closure of the Horseshoe Pass today following a road accident.

For more details, see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-37273594

County prepares for cycling spectacular

Final preparations are being made ahead of the Tour of Britain’s return to Denbigh, with Denbighshire County Council urging residents to come out and support the cyclists as they race through the county.

The fourth stage of the Tour ,from Denbigh to Builth Wells will be taking place on Wednesday, September 7^th and will be the longest day for the riders.  

Starting in Denbigh Town Centre, the race will head towards Bodfari and leave Denbighshire into Flintshire. It will head into Mold and through Pontblyddyn, Coed Talon, Treuddyn before it re-enters Denbighshire near Llandegla.

The race will then travel along the A5104 through Bryneglwys and on to the A5 at Corwen before turning for Cynwyd and Llandrillo.

Leader of Denbighshire County Council, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have secured the start of the North Wales stage this year, as we feel it will have great benefits to the tourism industry as well as showcasing what the region has to offer.

“North Wales is fast earning itself a reputation for hosting and staging major events, with the Tour of Britain a prime example of how councils across North Wales and organisers work together to deliver spectacular events. 

“We know that the support provided by the people of Denbighshire in recent years has been phenomenal and we want to encourage the same level of support again this year.

It’s a great opportunity to showcase Denbighshire and the rest of North Wales and we look forward to welcoming thousands to the county to witness one of the most prestigious events in the cycling calendar."

Alastair Grant, Tour of Britain’s Commercial Director, said: “We’re delighted to be returning to North Wales this year with the Tour, year after year we see more people at the roadside coming to watch the world’s best rider pass through their towns and the Welsh crowds never fail to turn out in their masses. We are certainly looking forward to seeing how the peloton tackle what is arguably the hardest stage of the Tour of Britain this year. 

A ‘Park and Walk’ will be located on the Recreation Ground (adjacent to Denbigh Football Club) for people wanting to come out and support the Tour of Britain on Wednesday, September 7.  It can be accessed from Park Street (near Denbigh Infirmary).

There will be stewards on duty marshalling the parking and guiding drivers in and out.  

People travelling in to Denbigh from the Pentrefoelas direction and wanting to support the race will be directed to the town’s rugby club.

For further information, please visit: www.thetour.co.uk

llanblogger takes a short break

llanblogger is taking a short break and will be back in about a week's time ...

Railway's steam gala this weekend

Llangollen Railway's annual Autumn Steam Gala is taking place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday this week and offers fun for all the family.

There will be five historic steam locomotives in operation, working an intensive timetable between Llangollen and Corwen, with many attractions and activities going on along the line.

Visiting the line specially for the weekend is a Victorian-era steam locomotive, No.12322, which was originally built for the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway in 1896 and its normal base in Greater Manchester.

Adults and children alike can explore the railway with the fun quiz, whilst at Carrog station the miniature steam railway will be in operation, offering rides in the station yard. The scenes of yesteryear will be recreated at Berwyn, with demonstrations of parcel loading taking place at 12.20pm and 2pm on each of the three days.

Look out for Walter the prized racing pigeon being loaded onto the train, along with milk churns, parcels and Cuthberts seeds boxes!

On the Friday and Saturday evenings, a special Real Ale shuttle service will be in operation between Llangollen and Glyndyfrdwy stations, where the line's Cambrian Bar will be open.

On the Sunday, two long-scrapped steam locomotives will be recreated. Resident No.7822 'Foxcote Manor' will be running as a sister No. 7811 'Dunley Manor', which was based at Shrewsbury and Wrexham sheds for a time.

The 50th anniversary of the closure of the much lamented Somerset & Dorset Railway will also be marked by the renumbering of resident BR Standard locomotive No. 80072 as former S&D stalwart No.80043. After the gala, No.80072 will be transported south by road to the former S&D station at Midsomer Norton, where it will be in operation on a restored stretch of the route.

Construction work on the railway's new western terminus at Corwen Central can be viewed on all three days of the gala. Guided tours will be on offer at regular intervals, with volunteers on-hand to discuss progress on the new station.

The Souvenir Guide for the gala, including all timetables, events and quiz, is available to download for free from the Llangollen Railway's website: http://www.llangollen-railway.co.uk/event/autumn-steam-gala/

Discounted advance tickets for one, two and three day rover tickets are now available from the railway's website, offering considerable savings (up to £24) on prices on the day.