Llan Bowling Club notches up a score of 150

* A game in progress on the club's green at Plas Newydd.

Phil Jones has prepared this short but fascinating history of one of the town's oldest and best-loved organisations

This year Llangollen Bowling Club celebrates 150 years of continuous operation making it probably the oldest non-religious organization still active in the town.

Presently based in the beautiful grounds of Plas Newydd, the club’s original home was at the Ponsonby Arms Hotel.

The origins of crown green bowling in the town appear to have been closely linked with the Ponsonby which was opened in the early 1850s and it had a bowling green located to the rear of the hotel between the railway and the river.

The green, the outline of which can still be made out, was the site of the tent for the Eisteddfod of 1858.

The Ponsonby was the headquarters of the bowling club from its formation in 1867 until 1922 when it relocated to the new greens and gardens constructed on the canalside, on the site of the present RAFA Club, by the owner of the Bridge End Hotel.

* Some members outside the clubhouse.

Llangollen Bowling Club should not be confused with its good friends the Llangollen RAFA Bowling Club who now play on a new green alongside.
  
In 1925 a disagreement over proposed rent increases with new owners of the canalside facilities resulted in the club moving to its present location at Plas Newydd using the former lawn tennis court as a bowling green and a building known as “the old picture house” as the clubhouse.

The club’s first season at Plas Newydd opened on April 17, 1926 and after 91 years at this wonderful location the club is still thriving.

The green and clubhouse are leased from Denbighshire County Council and the club enjoys a close working partnership with the council.

In the past decade the club has made a significant investment in the maintenance of the clubhouse and for the first time in many years the green underwent a major programme of renovation together with the erection of new boundary fencing, picnic tables were provided for general use again all funded by the club.

The regular cutting of the green and the spring and autumn maintenance operations are facilitated and funded by the club, however throughout the bowling season the green is open to the public until 6pm after which the club has exclusive use.

Bowling activities are mainly of a social nature as the club is not in a bowling league, but during the course of the season members can play in three individual cup competitions and pairs competitions on the opening and closing days.

Your last chance to see historic hillfort site

* Work taking place at the site.

Liverpool University Archaeology Department, led by Dr Rachel Pope, has been running an archaeological student training school at the Iron Age Penycloddiau Hillfort in the Clwydian Range each summer for the past six years.

This season is the final year and this Saturday (August 5) there's the last guided walk to the site, and your final chance to see what has been happening before it is all covered back up.

If you are interested in coming along to see the remains of the house and find out about the construction of the ramparts, this is your last chance.

Meeting: Llangwyfan car park at 10am (on the road between Nannerch and Llandyrnog) 
When: Saturday, August 5.

Fiona Gale, County Archaeologist, explained: “It has been such an opportunity for the area to have this focus on Penycloddiau, a massive Hillfort in the Clwydian Range. 

“The work here links to work which has been taking place at Moel y Gaer Bodfari and feeds into the recently launched online Hillfort Atlas. Join me for the last ever guided walk to these fascinating excavations, It may be years before there is any further archaeological work at the site!”

* For more information please contact Fiona Gale at Fiona.gale@denbighshire.gov.uk

A video of the project can be seen at: https://youtu.be/9u9Qsrn9j54

Thousands expected at LlanBikeFest

Thousands of bike fans and families are expected to converge on the Llangollen Motorcycle Festival, at the town’s Royal International Pavilion this Saturday and Sunday, with the Met Office forecasting a bright and sunny weekend.

Starring TT legend John McGuinness, LlanBikeFest is a family-friendly festival, with hundreds of bikes on display, tons of trials and mountain bike action, children’s entertainment, music and a Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hurricane flypast on Sunday.

Now in its third year, LlanBikeFest will be open Saturday from 9.00 to 6.00, with an evening party 6.00 to 10.00. Sunday opening is 9.00 to 5.00.

Tickets are available on the gate both days, with adults £10 and accompanied children 15 and under free.

The festival’s official opening ceremony will be performed by the Llangollen Mayor and town crier Chem on Saturday at 11.00. 

* More information on www.llanbikefest.co.uk and  Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival, or contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free.

Art club launches summer exhibition

Llangollen Art Club launched its latest exhibition at the town's library yesterday (Tuesday) evening.

It includes a wide selection of eye-catching work by the club's members which will remain on show at the library until early September and is available for viewing by the public.

* Some of the artwork on display at the exhibition.

* Guests view a selection of the exhibits.

Skates campaigns over future of eyesore site

An AM wants to help bring a town centre ‘eyesore’ back into use.

Clwyd South Assembly Member Ken Skates was contacted for help over run-down Commerce House, on the A5 in the centre of Corwen, by local councillor Huw Jones.

The pair would like to see the Grade II-listed premises – which is privately owned and up for sale – developed for social housing, and Mr Skates has contacted Denbighshire County Council chief executive Dr Mohammed Mehmet to raise the issue.

“This building has been on Denbighshire’s list of eyesore sites for some time, it’s a real shame and I know Huw and Dr Mehmet share my frustration,” said Mr Skates.

In his response to Mr Skates, Dr Mehmet said it had ‘proved particularly difficult’ to find a solution to Commerce House, which he said is in ‘an extremely difficult state’. The council has contacted heritage watchdog Cadw to try and get the building’s listed status removed, which could make it more attractive to potential buyers.

Mr Skates said: “Because of huge cuts to Wales from the UK Government, the council cannot afford to buy the building outright and pay for the extensive work that needs doing. Social landlords have been approached about the viability of a housing scheme to address local need, and this is an option I’d like to see pursued for local people.

“I have offered my full support to Denbighshire County Council to get this matter resolved. Dr Mehmet has said the authority would provide as much support as possible should the right private sector investor comes forward with redevelopment or refurbishment proposals, so I hope this is another avenue which can be explored.”

Plan for new park on former civic amenity site

* A site plan of the proposed pocket park off the A539 approach road to Llangollen.

The river is at the bottom of the picture.

Plans have been unveiled to create a ‘pocket park’ on the former civic amenity site on the A539 road into Llangollen.

The scheme for the council-owned land, which was last used for waste disposal in the late 1990s, has been submitted by the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Team on behalf of the Our Picturesque Landscape Partnership.

According to a development brief, the proposal includes landscaping, tree planting, wildflower meadows and hedgerow planting with the aim of increasing the biodiversity and ecological value of the site.

Work would also be done to eradicate the small stand of Japanese knotweed said to be present on site.

Paths, tracks and parking for 36 cars would be landscaped and screened to minimise any visual impact on the surrounding landscape and immediate site neighbours.

Improved site access/egress is a key part of the proposals. Adjacent landowners and the county’s C highways department have been consulted.

Access to the site would be available for pedestrians and cyclists along pavement from Llangollen to the west and the canal to the east, a bus stop is also located adjacent to the site, providing easy access to the site to users by an alternative means to the car.

The planning brief says: “The proposed new park would be developed along with community groups and other interested parties over a number of years and as this will take time, the ethos for this initial phase was to create a welcoming site for people to enjoy both in its own right but also as a gateway to the wider area.

“The plan has been developed as part of a Heritage Lottery Fund – Landscape Partnership Scheme bid and as part of this process consultation with stakeholders and communities has been ongoing.

“The site is seen as a key gateway into Llangollen and the wider Dee Valley, it will provide a new access point for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site and the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, promoting wider exploration of the area and a longer stay.”

* The full application can be seen on the Denbighshire planning portal. Its reference number is 03/2017/0467. https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/resident/planning-and-building-regulations/search-and-comment-on-applications.aspx

Have your say on new travel maps

Consultations are taking place on the Denbighshire Council draft Active Travel Integrated Network Map (INM).

The INM is a 15-year plan for improving walking and cycling routes within Denbighshire and is a requirement of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013, which places duties upon local authorities to map, plan for, improve and promote opportunities for active travel.

In September 2014, the Welsh Government introduced the Active Travel (Wales) Act which makes it a legal requirement for local authorities in Wales to map and plan for suitable routes for active travel within certain settlements in Denbighshire, as designated by the Welsh Government.

Active Travel means walking and cycling (including electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters) for everyday short-distance journeys, such as journeys to school, work, or for access to shops, services and bus/rail stations. Active travel does not include journeys made purely for recreation or social reasons.

Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) 

The first stage of the act required local authorities to produce Existing Routes Maps (ERMs) to show existing routes in Denbighshire that the council considered suitable for active travel. The ERMs therefore do not show all of the available walking and cycling routes within an area.

Llangollen ERM

Active Travel Integrated Network Maps (INMs)

The second stage of the Act requires the Council to produce Integrated Network Maps (INMs) that set out the local authority’s plans to develop a network of active travel routes and facilities over the next 15 years. Denbighshire County Council is now seeking your views on the walking and cycling proposals that have been developed.

Llangollen INM


View the Denbighshire Integrated Network Map route proposals

How to have your say

You can have your say on this consultation by completing the Active Travel online survey.
Have your say on the Active Travel Integrated Network Map online survey
Or you can;

• Come to one of our drop in sessions to discuss your views with the team. Find out when the drop in sessions take place. 
• Phone 01824 706 922
• Download and complete a copy of the survey and post it to Sustainable Transport Team, Denbighshire County Council, PO Box 62, Ruthin, LL15 9AZ.

The closing date for this consultation is 20 October 2017