Magazine highlights opportunities of Llan Railway

* Llangollen Railway volunteers at the end of the station site in Corwen.

A national railway magazine has highlighted the opportunities arising from the expansion of two heritage railways in the Dee Valley area.

Writing in the November 2017 edition of Heritage Railway magazine, a monthly journal reporting on the UK steam railway scene, the editor, Robin Jones, says that extensions to the Bala Lake Railway and the Llangollen Railway will offer a myriad of opportunities at Bala and Corwen, highlighting to local councils the multiple benefits to their economies that heritage railways can guarantee.

Reviewing the development of the heritage railway scene since the first volunteer-led preservation of the Talyllyn Railway in 1951, Robin Jones puts the spotlight on the former rail route between Ruabon and Barmouth, closed by Dr Beeching in 1965.

He says, the two heritage railways on the former track bed in the corridor of the Dee Valley are now adding themselves to the list of lines that go somewhere to somewhere, offering so much more than a steam ride for its own sake in the middle of nowhere. And both of them richly deserve your support at this stage.

Llangollen Railway’s big push into Corwen Central is making rapid strides each month.

It will not only be railway passengers who will benefit, being able to alight and visit the town centre’s shops and pubs, but coach operators who will see the line as a way of getting their customers into Llangollen.

Indeed, coach tour operations will have a big part to play at both of these lines, being able to offer their passengers rides on two heritage railways which pass through some of the most beautiful scenery Britain has to offer, simply by turning off the main road into a car park.

Then there is Bala Lake Railway whch is now just 80 yards short of the land it needs to complete its extension on ‘virgin’ land into Bala town centre, and give passing tourists a big reason to stop off there and spend their money in local establishments.

The scheme will benefit everyone – not least of all the railway, whose current out-of-the-way Bala terminus is by comparison ’finicky’ to find and misses out on much potential custom.

Both lines, says Robin Jones, need further public support in terms of donations or share purchase, and this is the time and place to jump on board.

Commenting on the editorial, Liz McGuinness, Interim General Manager at Llangollen Railway said: “We entirely agree with Robin Jones’s comments as to the prospects for Corwen when our new terminus opens in 2019. 

“Whilst the current temporary platform at Dwyrain Corwen East has become established as our western terminus over the past three years, it is not operationally convenient and lacks the immediacy of access to and from the town centre and car park.

"Terminating trains at a station central to the town, the bus interchange and the car park will open up a new market segment to attract passengers from North West Wales.

"With the Bala Lake Railway just ten miles away, visitors will be able to sample two contrasting lines using the Traws Cymru T3 bus as a connection.

“There are not many places in Britain where a ride on a big standard gauge steam train can be readily contrasted with the smaller train of the narrow gauge in the midst of countryside that can boast an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a National Park.

“We are grateful to Robin Jones for promoting the need for support to assist the completion of our major development project. Businesses in the Corwen and Bala townships would do well to support the ambitions of either line in the expectation of increased economic activities arising from visitors to the railways at their new terminus stations.”

Heritage Railway, edition 235, is now on the shelves and includes progress reports for both the Bala Town station project and the Corwen Central development.

* See: https://www.heritagerailway.co.uk/corwen-gets-new-stairway-to-heaven-but-more-cash-needed/

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

The day I survived David Cassidymania

llanblogger's Phil Robinson recalls a momentous day over 40 years ago

Back in the day David Cassidy, who has just died in Florida, had it all.

In the early 70s he was only a couple of years older than me but he had the looks, the talent and the charisma, all of which ensured he also had the hearts of legions of young girls.

And for a couple of days in the spring of 1973 most of them were outside my office window.   

Not that it had anything to do with me, of course.

* David Cassidy on stage at

Belle Vue in 1973.

In that heady year I was working in the publicity department of the famous Belle Vue leisure centre in Manchester – the place where Cassidy was due to do four shows on March 13 and 14 as part of his smash-hit European tour.

Thanks to his starring role as son Keith in the enormously popular US show the Partridge Family he had rapidly taken on heartthrob status and become one of the hottest properties of the era.

The tour followed and every place he went he was mobbed by thousands of doting, screaming girls.

We’d witnessed a similar phenomenon with Beatlemania a decade earlier but this was much bigger. And louder.

In fact, by ’73 Cassidy’s fan club had more members than either its Beatles or Elvis counterparts.

It was against this crazy background that this handsome young actor/singer was due to take the stage of the Kings Hall arena at Belle Vue.

We knew in advance that the place was going to be thronged by his adoring teenage and sub-teenage female fans. But we weren’t quite prepared for the scale of the invasion.

Nor were we expecting how long it would continue because when I arrived for work on the morning of the first day hundreds of them were already outside the main gates and were tuning up their noisy renditions of his hits, like I Think I Love You, which continued at increasing volume for the next 10 hours or so.

As the day wore on they continued to arrive on buses, in trains and out of cars driven by worried-looking dads.

I could see all this going on from the window of my office (pictured left) which overlooked the car park where they were gathering.

I viewed the unfolding scene with fascination but also growing concern as my treasured Hillman Imp was parked down there amongst the screaming, chanting hordes.

And as its decaying metalwork was held together by plastic filler I began to write off its chances of survival in the face of all the pushing and shoving going on.

Some wag in the office joked that I shouldn’t worry because David would probably fork out for a replacement Imp if this one was destroyed by his army of adherents. Not likely and therefore no consolation.

The cacophony did go on all day, right up to my leaving for home at around 5pm and beyond until showtime when the gates finally opened allowing the barmy girlie army to launch their big push on the Kings Hall. Cassidy, as far as I recall, had been smuggled in through another entrance to the complex so stayed completely untouched.

And no, despite my press office status, I didn’t get to attend the concert or meet the man himself, either that day or the next when the whole mad scene took place again.

My Hillman Imp and my hearing survived but sadly, ultimately, David Cassidy hasn’t now made it beyond the age of 67.

But it was a day I’ll never forget – only to be repeated to a lesser extent that same year when The Bay City Rollers gigged at Belle Vue. But that’s another story.  

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.