Council runs social media training courses

Another programme of social media training courses for local businesses is being run by Denbighshire County Council.

Following the enthusiastic response from sessions earlier this year, more Facebook and Twitter courses will be delivered in the county.

The new programme includes both advanced and introductory sessions following requests from businesses attending the last set of sessions.

Tutor Helen Hodgkinson, of Grwp Llandrillo’s Retail Skills Academy, will be providing the courses on behalf of the Council.

She said: “The separate advanced and introduction sessions will mean we can focus on the important topics pitched at the right group.

“In Denbighshire there are some great examples of businesses using social media to build their customer bases and the advanced sessions will help them make the most of that audience using very effective but more technical methods.

“The ‘basics’ sessions will cater for those new to using social media for business purposes, and put them in a stronger position to start engaging existing and new customers online. Turning engagement into potential sales is what theses course are about.”

The popular interactive courses will be held at venues in Rhyl, Denbigh and Llysfasi between November and February.

* You can find out more about the courses at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/businessevents

Crowds gather to honour fallen of two world wars

Hundreds turned out for the annual Service of Remembrance which took place at the town's war memorial this morning (Sunday). Janet Wakefield from Llangollen Museum took these pictures specially for llanblogger

* Youth organisations march in the parade. 

* Flying the flag for the Scout Movement. 

* Poppy wreaths laid at the foot of the war

memorial during the ceremony.  

* The large crowd which gathered for the ceremony.

* Ex-service organisations on parade with their standards.

* Uniformed organisations march into Castle Street.

* Llangollen Silver Band sets the parade tempo (above and below).

Town marks 99th Armistice Day

An Act of Remembrance to mark the 99th anniversary of Armistice Day, which saw the end of the First World War, was held this morning (Saturday) at the town's war memorial in Castle Street.

Led by the Rev Charles Stallard and former town mayor Mike Adams, the ceremony saw the parading of standards by veterans' organisations, the observing of the traditional minute's silence at 11am and the sounding of Last Post by a bugler from Llangollen Silver Band.

Around 50 people attended.

This evening a Festival of Remembrance, in aid of Help for Heroes and local causes, will be held at Llangollen Town Hall.

The programme of light entertainment will feature Llangollen Silver Band, Dinas Bran Chamber Choir, soloists and poetry readings. There will also be a drumhead service.

The event starts at 7 for 7.30pm and tickets are £6 (£5 concessions).

Tomorrow morning will see the annual Service of Remembrance at the war memorial.

Llan pubs take lead in dog friendly table

Pubs in the Llangollen area have taken some of the top 10 spots in a league table of dog friendly pubs.

For the full story see: http://www.rhyljournal.co.uk/home/2017/11/09/gallery/gwynedd-denbighshire-and-conwy-top-wales-doggy-pub-poll-99456/

AM praises work on Corwen station

* Mark Isherwood AM on his visit to Llangollen Railway’s Corwen Central Station.

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has applauded all those involved in a rail project which will boost the local economy after meeting with some of the volunteers and seeing their achievements first hand.

Mr Isherwood revisited Llangollen Railway’s Corwen Central Station site and was hugely impressed by the progress made.

He said: “The dedication and commitment of the team of volunteers who make this happen is incredible, and especially so when I understand that their average age on this site is 68.

“The notional value of the volunteer hours exceeds £200,000 this year, without which the project would be unaffordable. The goal is for this new rail terminus to become operational in 2019, subject to essential continued financial support, where approximately 75% of the project cost has to be raised through Llangollen Railway’s share issue, donations and appeals.”

The aim now is to maintain the temporary platform at Corwen East for another season to have it dismantled in October 2018 in the expectation of the final phase opening the following year.

Mr Isherwood added: “Llangollen Railway Trust is a glowing example of what North Wales has to offer. It already attracts thousands of visitors every year and is key to economic development in the Dee Valley.

"What is being achieved at Corwen can provide the town with a huge boost and, with the train arriving at the end of the line here, enable Llangollen Railway to be able to tap into a new segment of the North Wales Tourism market.

“I would like to thank all the volunteers involved in this project for their role in helping to grow the economy, create jobs and provide more security for people in North Wales.”

Musical event at Fron Community Centre

Campaigners battle to save rangers from axe

* Campaigners gather outside Ty Mawr Country Park. 

Campaigners opposing Wrexham Council’s plans to half its number of park rangers are being backed by their Assembly Member and MP.

Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones have made urgent representations to the authority after fears were raised about the detrimental effect further cuts are likely to have at country parks in their constituency.

The council wants to cut the number of rangers it employees from six to three, which has prompted an angry backlash from residents.

Clwyd South AM Mr Skates said: “A number of constituents have contacted me about this – they’re extremely concerned.

"We desperately don’t want to see school activities cut and untidier parks, but that is the reality we’re facing if these plans go through.

“The rangers look after Wrexham’s 11 country parks seven days a week. This would have a huge impact on the way they are run and what they can offer.”

Derek Wright, county councillor for Cefn Mawr, says he has been inundated with calls from residents worried about the future of Ty Mawr Country Park in his ward, which was visited by nearly 47,000 people last year.

He said: “If the other 10 parks within the county borough area give half as much pleasure – not only to locals, but to visitors from miles around – as Ty Mawr does, they have got to be worth keeping in their present form, including staffing. Let us hope for a full consultation over these proposals.”

The Friends of Ty Mawr group fears its park will be disproportionately affected because of the animals kept there. The others affected in Clwyd South include Brynkinalt, Chirk; Nant Mill, Coedpoeth; Ponciau Banks and Stryt Las in Johnstown.

Cllr Wright added: “I would encourage anyone who’s concerned about their nearest park to contact their local councillor and make their feelings known.”

Ken Bathers, chairman of Cefn Community Council, said: “We know how much pressure Welsh councils are under because of the billions of pounds of cuts to Wales from the Tory Government at Westminster, but people won’t stand for this.

“The £100,000 saving is peanuts to the council’s budget, but they can find £4.5m for an arts hub which will lose £188,000 the first year, then a further 126,000 in the second and another £78,000 in the third. The money the council lost in legal fees over the old Groves School would have funded all 11 parks for the next 20 years!”

Clwyd South MP Ms Jones added: “We are continuing to see record tourism numbers coming to North Wales and our country parks are among the many fantastic things we have to offer. We have 11 in the borough which are the envy of many other areas, and we simply can’t let this happen. Ken and I will support our constituents all the way.”