Upgrades planned for county leisure centres

Leisure centres across Denbighshire are set to undergo a digital revolution, with a programme of investment being introduced to expand and improve digital services county-wide.

Customers will see an enhanced service with the digital developments providing opportunities to make our leisure centres more modern and fit for the 21^st Century.

The first project is the installation of three ‘fast track kiosks’ at Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen Leisure Centres.

These will complement the facilities already in place at Rhyl Leisure Centre and Nova, Prestatyn and will allow existing members to book into and register for activities in seconds, without the need for any delays at reception. 

In September,  all seven leisure centres (Llangollen, Corwen, Ruthin, Denbigh, St Asaph, Rhyl and Prestatyn) will have wi-fi installed.

As more of the fitness suites migrate onto “the cloud” and many customers use their own personal devices to track their fitness progress, improved connectivity for mobile and smart devices has become a necessity.  In response to customer demand, wi-fi will become available in specific areas in each site. 

October will see the relaunch of the denbighshireleisure.co.uk website.  With a new cutting edge look, the redesigned site will provide improved, but simpler access to information for customers, via an improved layout.  Popular information, such as swimming and class timetables, will be available in a few simple clicks. 

By the end of 2016, the website will also incorporate facilities for online booking of activities and online booking for fitness membership, with both of these initiatives currently being finalised.

Councillor Hugh Irving, Acting Cabinet Lead Member for Leisure, said: “We are delighted to be introducing a range of brand new developments at our leisure centres.  They will be of great benefit to existing and brand new customers, with the latest technology assisting us in our efforts to improve the customer experience.

“More and more people expect to receive services at the touch of a button. Our latest investments will allow people to benefit from this, whilst also maintaining a more traditional approach through a front desk reception area.

“These latest developments support our commitment to keep investing in our leisure offer in Denbighshire."

Funding for community projects announced

Nine projects across Denbighshire are to benefit from funding allocated as part of the Town and Area Plans.

The successful projects include Llangollen Sports Club, £5,400 for new grass-cutting equipment and Pentredwr, £3,000 for Community Centre refurbishment.

This funding will be allocated between now and May 2017.

This was the last tranche of funding for projects.

Llan Youth Choir tuning up for Christmas

Llangollen Youth Choir are looking forward to Christmas already.

They are working hard with Elen Roberts on their festive repertoire, some classic pieces and some requests from the singers too.

With new recruits having joined at the last September rehearsal there are more places available for singers in school years 5,6,7 & 8. 

Monthly Saturday morning rehearsals at Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Please email singing@llangollenyouthchoir.com for any information and find all news on www.llangollenyouthchoir.com and the Facebook page: Llangollen-youth-choir – which is managed by Ceylon Orton-Jones, a year 8 singer.

Board game group has first meeting

A new Llangollen board game group has its first meeting at the town’s RAFA Club this Friday evening.


Running between 7 and 10pm, it’s masterminded by local man Kenny Goodman who said: “This is the first time I've done it and this is the only board game night in Llangollen.


“There will be a good mix of board games including Splendor, Pixel Tactics, Scrabble, Cludo, Pokemon Master and people are welcome to bring their own board games.


“I'm looking to create a family and enthusiast-friendly group.”


Kenny added: “Donations towards the RAFA Club charity and the board game group are much appreciated as this is a free event.  All donations to either goes towards keeping it going.”


* For more details, see:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/LLBGG/


https://www.facebook.com/events/1763059597315157/

Louisa gets back on her bike for a great cause

* Louisa Jones is ready to climb back into the

saddle for a marathon charity challenge.

AN INTREPID Llangollen Operatic Society member is getting back on her bike for another marathon charity challenge.

Back in 2012 Louisa Jones, 37, took part in a gruelling 260-mile cycling expedition through India in aid of three women’s cancer causes, raising over 3,000 along the way.

Now she’s planning to climb back into the saddle for the same three charities - Breast Cancer Care, Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

From February 6-17 next year she will be joining a group of 70 women to cycle 450km (280 miles) from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

* Louisa on her Indian challenge in 2012.

Louisa, who works as a project manager and lives in Chirk, said:  “This is the second time I have taken on such a challenge, having successfully undertaken the Women V Cancer Cycle India event in November 2012, which took a group of us across rural Rajasthan in aid of the same three causes.

“Although fairly fit, I am not a cyclist so the event will require me to undertake quite some training in order to get to the level of fitness and stamina needed to complete six days of cycling in a very different climate and terrain.

“It will be no easy task but I believe it will be extremely rewarding both personally and in terms of the benefit to the charities and the excellent work that they do in the areas of research and support. Without the generosity of donors, they simply could not continue.

“Through sponsorship and fundraising activities, I am aiming to raise at least £1,700, 100% of which will go directly to the charities. I will be paying all tour and administrative costs of about £1,500 myself.”

* To sponsor Louisa, go to her fundraising page at:  https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Louisa-Jones9

llanblogger notches up £200 from Memory Walk

* Phil at the finishing line with his medal.

llanblogger raised £200 to help in the battle against dementia when he strode out in the Alzheimers Society's first ever Memory Walk in Delamere Forest on Saturday morning.

Phil Robinson joined around 3,500 fellow trekkers in the big event, which was part of the current season of walks being held across Britain with the aim of raising £6.4 million to help finance research into the distressing condition which affects 225,000 people in the UK each year.

Phil chose to walk the route around the lake in memory of two close members of his family who suffered from dementia.

He said: "It was a fantastic day which saw upwards of 3,500 people gathering on the car park at Delamere to take part in the first Memory Walk to be held there.

"There was a real carnival atmosphere, with a Zumba warm-up session before we all headed off into the forest, where we found a drum band in a clearing who were helping to set the pace for us.

"On the walk it was amazing to see the little cards attached to people's official teeshirts describing who they were remembering as they marched on - parents, grandparents and spouses.

"There were people of all ages, from tiny tots to more mature walkers and, as they went along they were sharing their stories about why they had decided to get involved.

* Thousands of people gather before the start of the Memory Walk.

"Almost as numerous as the human trekkers were the dogs people had brought along with them - some proudly wearing their Memory Walk teeshirts or Alzheimers Society scarves."

* Out on the trail.

* A four-legged walker proudly wears the official Memory Walk teeshirt. 

He added: "The whole thing was brilliantly organised with walk marshalls dotted along the route to make sure everyone was ok and didn't get themselves lost.

"I understand that the current season of walks will involve around 100,000 across Britain, and if they have as much fun as I did it's something they'll never forget.

* A drum band helps set the pace for walkers.  

"I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me, enabling me to comfortably hit and then better my fundraising target of £150 to make £200 for this extremely worthwhile cause."

* See Phil's Justgiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Philip-Robinson8

Balloons take flight again ...

Another balloon flight this morning ...

   ... and last night's fireworks ...