Llan gets into Christmas spirit with annual festival

* The fireworks display which followed the switch-on of the Christmas lights.

* Town crier Chem leads the cheers as the lights are switched on to his right by Ken Simms.

The town centre was packed for today's Llangollen Christmas Festival.

The event began with the traditional parade over the bridge and continued with a wealth of entertainment and attractions, from choirs to specialist food stalls.

In the Town Hall Siôn Corn was on hand to meet young visitors in his grotto.

Rounding off the day at 5pm will be the big Christmas lights switch-on, performed by Ken Simms who is a major supporter of the festival's chosen charity, Wales Air Ambulance, followed by colourful a fireworks display.

* llanblogger will bring you an updated report including switch-on pictures later

* Siôn Corn arrives on his sleigh with his little helper from Wales Air Ambulance.

* A horsey contingent in the parade pleased onlookers. 

* Town crier Chem leads Llan Silver band into town. 

* Festively dressed children play a part in the procession. 

* The Faery Festival is represented by this float.

* Santa's elves get a lift aboard a vintage car.

* A veteran steam engine was a popular sight.

* The town mayor, Cllr Sheena Burrell, gets a lift from a gleaming machine from the Motor Museum.

* More youngsters arrive, including one dressed as a Christmas table groaning with food. 

* The Lions roar past the Town Hall.

* Members of the Young 'Uns, junior section of Llan Operatic Society, perform a selection from their upcoming production of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

* Stalls in the Town Hall selling Christmas gifts do a brisk trade.

* A specialist food stall in Market Street.

* Ready for all the fun of the fair in Market Street.

Stage is set for town's Christmas Festival

* Last year's switch-on of the Christmas lights in Castle Street.

Thousands are expected to come flocking to today's Llangollen Christmas Festival.

The big annual event will feature a parade, street stalls, raffles, a grotto, an appearance by Llangollen Silver Band, and local choirs and singers plus the ceremonial switch-on of the Christmas lights as darkness sets in.

This year the festival also features Llangollen Good Grub Club and an additional stage organised by Llangollen Woman’s Festival.

The parade starts from Mill Street car park at 1pm and later Siôn Corn will be on hand to meet
young visitors in his grotto inside the Town Hall.

Entertainment will be centred on the steps of the library and tourist information centre as
well as the Town Hall and Market Street.

Proceeds from the event will once again be donated to Wales Air Ambulance.

Council premieres Christmas shopping film

* Brass ensemble DMC6, made up of pupils from Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Ysgol Dinas Bran.

Christmas has arrived in Denbighshire with the release of a video showcasing the county’s high streets, including Llangollen.

Denbighshire County Council has released its festive shopping clip to promote the wide range of products available on the county’s high streets.

You can view the clip on the Council’s Facebook, YouTube and Twitter accounts.

The two-minute video features a host of traders highlighting what is available in Denbighshire with scenes filmed in all eight of the county’s towns.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “I would like to thank all the businesses, residents and groups who helped make this video possible.

“Denbighshire has everything shoppers need to help celebrate Christmas coupled with excellent service and friendly staff.

“Shopping locally benefits the local community with money spent locally staying in Denbighshire’s economy, benefiting everyone in the county.

“Denbighshire offers a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience than bigger cities and out of town shopping parks so I would encourage residents to see what Denbighshire has to offer this Christmas.”

Businesses featured in the clip are Nouveau Riche, Prestatyn; Detour menswear, Rhyl; The Oriel Country Hotel & Spa, St Asaph; The Little Cheesemonger, Rhuddlan; State of Distress, Ruthin; Snow in Summer, Denbigh, Rhug Estate Farm Shop, Pethau Tlws, Corwen and Llangollen Baby.

Sandra Griffiths has run Denbigh’s Snow in Summer for the last three years selling vintage items, greeting cards and locally made artisan crafted goods and gifts.

She said: “It was very nice to take part in the shop local video.

“Shopping locally gives customers the opportunity to buy locally designed and made goods, and to purchase unique items for themselves or for the home.”

The video was produced as part of the #LoveLiveLocal campaign which supports local traders by encouraging customers and businesses to post pictures of great products and experiences on social media.

Heather Powell is managing director of Denbighshire Music Co-operative, which provided the senior brass ensemble DMC6, made up of pupils from Ysgol Brynhyfryd and Ysgol Dinas Bran aged 12 to 16.

She said: “The band was delighted and proud to be asked – they always like supporting local events and really enjoyed the event.

“The experience was great for them. As a local business shopping locally is vital – we always support other local businesses and think there are a wide range of lovely local shops.”

The council is providing free car parking in all of its town centre car parks after 3pm until December 31.

Your views sought on Dee Valley planning

The views of the public are being sought on new planning guidelines for the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which includes Llangollen.

The Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is one of Wales’ most treasured landscapes, and officers from Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham have joined together with the AONB Partnership to produce a new Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) note for proposed development in the area.

The purpose of the document is to ensure that new development is designed to fit in with the area to conserve and enhance its natural beauty for current and future generations.

The draft SPG was presented for public consultation commencing on November 20 and ending on January 29 next year.

There will be two drop in sessions, where planning officers will be available to answer questions, at Loggerheads Country Park (A494 Ruthin Road, Loggerheads, CH7 5LH).

These will be on Wednesday December  6, from 10am-2pm, and Thursday January 18, from 2pm-6pm.

The document can be viewed on each of the following websites and copies are also available at Denbighshire County Council libraries and one-stop-shops, at County Hall in Mold and at Contact Wrexham, 16 Lord Street, Wrexham, LL11 1LG:

• www.denbighshire.gov.uk;
• www.flintshire.gov.uk;
• www.wrexham.gov.uk;
• www.clwydianrangeanddeevalley.org.uk

If you wish to speak to a planning officer in Denbighshire, call 01824 706916, send an email to planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk, or meet them at the Council Offices in Denbigh (Caledfryn).

Comments should be forwarded to Flintshire County Council who are coordinating the consultation on behalf of the three Local Planning Authorities. They should be forwarded by 5.00pm on 29th January 2018 using one of the following methods:

• by e-mail to developmentplans@flintshire.gov.uk
• in writing to Flintshire County Council, Andrew Farrow, Chief Officer (Planning and Environment), County Hall, Mold, Flintshire, CH7 6NF

Another competition win for Llan Silver Band

* Members of the youth band who took first prize at Ruthin last Saturday. 

Llangollen Silver Band's youth section took first prize in section 6b at the North Wales Brass Band Association Contest held at Bryn Hyfryd School, Ruthin last Saturday. 

Beaumaris Intermediate Band took second place and Llandudno Youth Band were third. 

Llangollen's chosen test piece for the competition was Rufford Abbey by Drake Rimmer and the chosen hymn tune Fewster was their opener. 

For the third year running Llangollen also took best soloist prize, won this year by cornet player Taya Castley. 

The youth bBand are now  busy getting ready for their upcoming Christmas jobs, Friday December 22 being their last performance of the season and that is their own Sparkle and Shine Cracking Christmas Concert at the Town Hall where they will be performing along with the intermediate band and training band.

Backing small businesses on December 2

Businesses and shoppers in Llangollen are being reminded that they can take part in this year's Small Business Saturday.

The event, which will be held on December 2, Business Saturday UK is a grassroots, non-commercial campaign, which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities.

The day itself takes place on the first Saturday in December each year, but the campaign aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses.

On Small Business Saturday, customers across the U.K go out and support all types of small businesses, online, in offices and in stores.

Many small businesses take part in the day by hosting events and offering discounts.

Steam engine inches out onto Abbey Road

* The engine is backed carefully out into the road and traffic waits in both directions.

* 80072 is slowly inched around parked cars.

*

* The engine out on Abbey Road ready for the off.

Traffic in both directions on Abbey Road was held up for a short while earlier this afternoon when a heavy loader carrying a steam engines from Llangollen Railway had to inch its way onto the roadway.

Thanks to some skillful driving and the ability of the wagon to make some tight moves, BR Standard Four tank No. 80072 eventually made it to the A539 and its onward journey.