County offers free cyber security help

Businesses are being offered free help to protect themselves from the growing threat of cybercrime.

Denbighshire County Council is providing a workshop to businesses on Cyber Essentials, a UK Government backed, industry-supported, foundation for basic cybersecurity.

The one-day course will be delivered by Ruthin-based cyber and information security specialists Safonda and covers the Cyber Essentials framework, best practice to mitigate cybersecurity risks  and understanding external and internal cyber threats to businesses.

Denbighshire businesses are being offered a free place on this course, normally £70 per person.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “National and global reports of IT security breaches are now unfortunately becoming common place.

“While attacks are increasingly sophisticated, businesses of all sizes remain vulnerable because they are failing to follow simple security measures.

“The course is relevant to any size of business and is intended for company directors, business and finance managers and any staff responsible for the security of IT systems and software.

“This is part of the council’s work on developing the local economy by helping local businesses understand what they can do to make themselves resilient to the growing threat from cybercrime.”

The course will take place at Caledfryn, Smithfield Road, Denbigh on July 27, starting at 9.30am.

* To book visit https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/leisure/events/july-2017/Business-Event-Introduction-to-Cyber-Essentials.aspx or contact 01824 706896.

Mayor to present art competition prizes

* Plas Newydd where the art competition entries will go on show in Y Caban.

Town Mayor, Cllr Sheena Burrell, will present prizes to the winners of this year's Picturesque Art Competition at Y Caban in Plas Newydd at 2pm today (Thursday).

People will also have the chance to winning entries at a special exhibition.  

Once again the competition was organised in conjunction with Llangollen Fringe.    

This year it linked in with the Welsh Year of Legends and extended to the whole of the Dee Valley as represented by the Area for Outstanding Natural Beauty. 

Organisers were looking for any photo or painting/sketch from children or adults with a link to a myth or a legend in this area. 

There are many myths and legends abounding in these beautiful hills and valleys, from King Arthur and the Holy Grail to Giants, Dragons  and magic cauldrons.  

There were two categories this year, one for photos and  one for paintings/sketches.  Both were open to adults and children.

Entries will be on show in The Potting Shed exhibition space in the grounds of Plas Newydd until Saturday August 5. 

Prizes were awarded for children up to 16 and adults in both categories.  

County issues traveller floods warning

Denbighshire County Council is urging people to be extremely cautions if they are travelling in northern parts of the county.

The council says it has seen an increase in the number of calls late this afternoon as a result of the storms affecting northern parts of the county. This is due to the amount of rain that has fallen in a short space of time.

There are reports of flooding affecting parts of Rhyl, Rhuddlan and Prestatyn.  Roads in Rhuddlan have been described as being “impassable”.

Reports have been received of roads affected by flooding:

·        Waterfall Road, Dyserth

·        Pen y Maes, Rhyl

·        Garford Road, Rhyl

·        Ffordd Derwen, Rhyl

·        Vale Road, Rhyl

·        Cefndy Road, Rhyl

·        Oakhill Drive, Prestatyn

·        Ffordd Penrhwylfa, Prestatyn

·        Ffordd Parc Bodnant, Prestatyn

·        Vicarage Lane, Rhuddlan

The council has closed parts of Rhyl  Leisure Centre and Nova, Prestatyn as the storms on the coast have caused water to enter the buildings via the roof and also up through the floor drains which have been unable to cope with the volume of water in such a short space of time.

Prestatyn Leisure Centre will be closed this evening due to flood damage.

There are also problems with flooding at Prestatyn High School, with two classrooms and a corridor affected. The school will be closed on Thursday as a result.

There are also reports of problems at Ysgol Clawdd Offa.

Staff from the council are working with colleagues from the emergency services to respond to the situation and  will monitor weather forecasts for the latest updates.

Railway swings back to the sixties this weekend

* A 1960s Triumph on show at last year's classic car rally at Glyndyfrdwy Station. 

Llangollen Railway is heading back to the Swinging Sixties this weekend.

Saturday and Sunday  will see the eighth year of its special 1960s-themed event, featuring a classic car rally at Glyndyfrdwy Station, free vintage bus rides plus an intensive timetable of steam, diesel and rail cars.

Dr Beeching’s real ale bar will be open all weekend in the Henry Robertson suit on Llangollen station serving nine draught ales, bottled larger, wines and much more.

Saturday evening will be the highlight of the event when musical group Sixties Retro will play live on platform 2 at Llangollen station.

Sharp suited and booted, the group will bring on back the good times with all the hits of the decade, including numbers by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, The Byrd’s, The Searchers, The Beach Boys and many more.

Revised school transport policy approved

Denbighshire County Council’s revised school transport policy has been approved  by the Cabinet.

The current Home to School Transport Policy came into force from September 2015, after agreement by Council in 2014 with a review of the policy planned after 12 months of operation.

Today (Tuesday), at the Cabinet meeting at County Hall, Ruthin councillors were updated on feedback to the recent consultation on the revised policy, now known as Denbighshire’s Learner Transport Policy.

Over 13,000 letters were sent to families, as well as schools, councillors, AMs, MPs, colleges and governing bodies, as well as consultation with 73 students representing Denbighshire’s secondary schools.

79 responses were received to the consultation, with the majority supportive of the draft policy. The issue of Welsh school categorisation was raised, particularly in reference to Ysgol Bro Cinmeirch, with some concerns that pupils may move to Ysgol Pant Pastynog, to be eligible for free school transport to Ysgol Glan Clwyd.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Denbighshire’s Cabinet Lead Member for Education, Children and Young People, said: “Councillors recognised that there were pockets of concern regarding certain elements of the current policy and we have addressed these concerns as and when they have arisen. This  triggered the need to look at the way we executed policy and question if it was fair, flexible and meet the needs of the children and families.

“We agreed when we implemented the policy that it would be reviewed after one year of operating. That review has now taken place and has taken into consideration feedback from schools, parents, councillors and advice through legal discussions.

“The new policy clarifies the Council’s position with regards to pick-up points and hazardous routes, with a previously separate guidance note being incorporated into the latest policy. This is a more flexible and far policy which give a clear appeals process. As with the current policy, the Council would continue to provide free transport to the nearest suitable Welsh language or Faith school, if this was the parental / carers preference.

“We are extremely grateful to people for getting involved in the consultation and this is a demonstration of councillors listening to residents and making the changes for the benefit of our children."

Hamper Llangollen means £8m boost for economy

* A taste of Africa in Wales ... James and Nicola Adedeji from Bim's Kitchen.

One of the first food festivals in Wales is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a record number of stallholders and an £8 million boost for the economy.

Llangollen Food Festival was founded in 1997 and pioneered food tourism by creating a shop window for home grown producers.

Since then the event has gone from strength to strength, annually attracting around 8,000 food lovers from far and wide.

As a result, it's been named as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK by the Independent and Daily Telegraph newspapers.

It's estimated the festival pumps nearly £400,000 into the local economy every year, making a total of £8 million since it started two decades ago.

This year's festival is on October 14 and 15 and once again it will be held at the iconic Llangollen Pavilion.

Committee member Pip Gale said: "We have a wonderful array of fantastic food producers clustered in the area and this year the festival is going to be bigger and better than ever so we'll be celebrating our 20th anniversary in style.

"We're heading for a record number of around 130 stallholders with a fantastic choice of produce, along with demonstrations from the region's finest chefs so there will be plenty to tempt the taste buds.

"I'm glad to say we're also making a positive contribution the local economy with food lovers travelling from far and wide because the festival is now firmly and rightly established as a major highlight in the UK's culinary calendar."

Among the first to congratulate the festival on reaching the important milestone was Ken Skates, the Clwyd South AM who is also the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, whose portfolio includes tourism.

He said: “Llangollen Food Festival is an incredible success and a great annual occasion for the Dee Valley.

"The economic benefits that the festival brings to the area are considerable and underline the region's growing reputation as a go-to destination for food lovers.

"Food tourism is something I believe has huge potential for future growth and it is no wonder that North Wales has been hailed as one of the world's top four must see places to go by The Lonely Planet travel guide."

It was a sentiment echoed by Jim Jones, the managing director of North Wales Tourism, which represents around 1.500 tourism businesses in the region.

He said: "We are entering a golden age for the visitor economy in North Wales and the increasing importance of food tourism is playing its part in our overall success.

"As one of the first and most successful food festivals in Wales, the Llangollen Food Festival has been a trailblazer for culinary excellence and I would like to congratulate them on reaching their 20th anniversary."

The regular stallholders at the festival include a husband and wife team whose African-inspired sauces made at their base in Afonwen have won a wealth of top food industry accolades.

Bim’s Kitchen, the brainchild of James and Nicola Adedeji, are preparing to unveil their latest culinary creations at this year’s event on October 14 and 15.

James said: “The festival offers a direct route to our customers. People are able to taste our products before they buy and you get great feedback from them and can gauge their reaction.”

Another big fan of the festival is artisan bread and pie maker Robert Didier from Wrexham-based Orchard Pigs.

He said: "Llangollen Food Festival is fantastic and it's not difficult to see why it has been named as one of the Top 10 food festivals in the UK by not just one but two national newspapers."

Fringe's Wilko Johnson concert cancelled

Bosses of Llangollen Fringe Festival say that Wednesday's concert by Wilko Johnson at the Pavilion on Wednesday night has had to be cancelled.

The move comes after his management informed them on Sunday afternoon that his bassist and very close friend of many years, Norman Watt-Roy, had suffered a heart attack on Saturday evening and has been hospitalised.

A statement says: "Following the decision to cancel the concert the directors of Llangollen Fringe would like to send Norman Watt-Roy our best wishes for a speedy recovery and have made the following arrangements:

• A concert will be held in Llangollen Town Hall on Wednesday 19th July. It will be a FREE concert and will be headlined by The Delta Radio Band with support from Captain Zed.
• All those who have purchased tickets for the Wilko Johnson will be refunded the full price of the ticket and be invited to attend the free event.
• Refunds will be made via Paypal for all internet sales.
• Those who have purchased tickets from our outlets in Llangollen will be able to get a full refund by returning the tickets to the box office outside Llangollen Town Hall during the festival.
• Those unable to return the tickets for a refund should get in touch with us at:  contact@llangollenfringe.co.uk so that a refund can be arranged.

"We have asked Wilko Johnson’s agent to consider arranging for Wilko to appear at the 2018 Fringe. And they have provided the following statement:

“Firstly thanks for your understanding & good wishes for Norman’s recovery. Wilko never likes to disappoint his fans & looks forward to being able to play Llangollen next year.” Nigel Kerr, ABS Agency

The Fringe statement adds: "Although it is too early to confirm details, we hope that they will be able to arrange for supporters in North Wales and the North West to see Wilko in Llangollen with his band in July next year.

"We know that it will be a huge disappointment to fans of Wilko and Norman but also hope that you will join us in offering our best wishes to Norman for his speedy recovery."