Pengwern gets free taxis to beat bus problem

A free taxi service is now running on the bus route between Llangollen town centre and Pengwern.

According to one of the local county councillors, Graham Timms, this has been arranged by Denbighshire until a suitable bus to serve the area can be arranged.

He explained: “There has been an intermittent problem with the service between the town centre and Pengwern due to the lack of availability of a suitable bus.

“I understand that the service will only cover Pengwern if a small bus is used. When a larger bus is used on the service it has been missing out the Pengwern section of the route, causing problems for residents who have been unable to catch the bus into town, or who have been left to find their own way home when the smaller bus is not available for the return journey. 

“I understand that the route is under a Wrexham contract with a financial contribution to the service being also made by Denbighshire.”

Cllr Timms added: “The situation is clearly highly unsatisfactory for local residents who rely on this route.

“easybus are trying to resolve the problems and are likely to have the service back to normal in August.

“Until that time Denbighshire have agreed to put a taxi service on the bus route running at the same time as the easybus timetable to ensure that passengers are provided with public transport according to the timetable provided.

“It will also ensure that passengers can travel on to Llangollen Health Centre should they wish. The taxi service is being provided by Premier Cars and will be free to bus users until the normal service is resumed. 

“Residents have been discouraged from using the service due to the intermittent and unreliable provision at a time when we should be encouraging the use of public transport. 

“There may be some duplication in the service until easybus are able to resolve their problems as they are unable to predict when their Pengwern service will run.

“The taxi replacement taxi service started on Monday 23rd July.” 

Seven fire engines tackle re-newed hillside blaze

* From the Horseshoe Pass at around 9.30pm. Picture: Karen Edwards.  

* The fire just before 9pm Wednesday.

* The fire pictured by Karen Edwards.

* Smoke from the fire drifts across the mountainside. 

Seven fire engines are currently tackling a blaze on the mountainside in Llantysilio.

A story on Leaderlive earlier this evening says: "A fire which experts had under control has flared up again in Llangollen.

"North Wales Fire and Rescue have been attending a blaze on a mountainside in Llantysilio since 2.20pm on Thursday, July 19.

"A spokesman told the Leader this evening that the fire has "re-flared" and more crews are now in attendance.

They said: "Crews have been tackling the fire since last week using dampening methods. It was not completely extinguished from last week but at around 4pm today the fire sparked up again.

"Four fire engines are in attendance an three off-roader vehicles.

"The incident is still ongoing."

New website gives details of local and national services

A new national well-being website will be launched across Wales this week at the Royal Welsh Show.

Dewis Cymru provides information about a wide range of local and national services that can help people take control of their own well-being and make informed choices about the way they choose to live their lives.

The site helps people find the information they need to improve their well-being and access local services across Wales.

The Dewis Cymru website is an important first for Wales – a single, clear and reliable information source that can be used by members of the public as well as care service professionals, information and advice services and others across Wales to help support people achieve their well-being goals.

Cllr Huw David (Bridgend), Spokesperson for Health and Social Care at the Welsh Local Government Association, said: “Finding the right information can be challenging. This new resource aims to cut through the confusion by offering people clear, consistent and up-to-date information and advice on their well-being and what services are available in their local area. The website is a real cause for celebration, and a marker of true regional and national collaboration. It is a resource that has been built in Wales, by Wales for Wales.”

Richard Palmer, Assistant Director of Data Cymru, and project lead for Dewis Cymru, said: “The 2014 Social Services and Well-being Act placed a duty on local authorities across Wales to make information about local services available to the public. Dewis is part of their response to this duty.

"Information is key to enabling people to make their own choices about how to best meet their well-being needs. After my mother died, my father wanted to live independently in the family home. Despite hours on the web, I struggled to find appropriate services to support him – largely due to inaccurate or out-of-date information.

"Dewis ensures that we have a wide range of up to date information which is easily available to the public – enabling them to have choice and take control of their own lives.”

Dewis Cymru has been developed by Data Cymru on behalf of the 22 local authorities in Wales in conjunction with a wide range of national and local stakeholders.

* For more information visit www.dewis.wales or www.dewis.cymru or see our social media pages:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dewiswales Twitter: www.twitter.com/dewiswales  

"Rare" 37-acre site near Llan goes on sale

* Picture of the site for sale (taken from estate agent's website).

The Oswestry Advertizer is reporting to day that a rare 37-acre site near Llangollen has just gone on the market with offers in the region of £100,000.

For the full story see: http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/16373752.rare-37-acre-land-near-llangollen-up-for-sale-for-100000/

* The site which is for sale (taken from estate agent's website).

County presses for free childcare funding

Denbighshire County Council has welcomed the “positive soundings” from Welsh Government Minister for Children, Older People and Social Care, Huw Irranca Davies to work with the county council to aim to introduce the free childcare scheme county-wide from April 2019.

The Council had written to the Minister, expressing disappointment that the county had not been included in the next tranche of areas which will receive the funding

Following positive and constructive discussions, the Minister has pledged, in principle and subjects to a number of factors,  to provide funding to all areas of Denbighshire at the same time, rather than a phased community by community approach.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Cabinet Lead Member for Children, Young People, Education and the Welsh Language, said: “This subject has been making headlines over recent weeks and we want to ensure that we do all we can in Denbighshire to bring funding to the county, to allow the free childcare scheme to progress.

“We want to make sure that the families who need this kind of support can actually receive it sooner, rather than later and at the same time.

“We wrote to the Minister following concerns raised locally about the roll-out of the scheme and the response from the Minister has been positive.  He’s engaged  with us and there have been very positive discussions between the Minister and the Council to work to try and make this happen.

“We will continue to press for the funding until it has been approved and, subject to approval, look forward to letting communities know how they can access the free childcare scheme in April of next year”.

The scheme would be delivered in partnership with Flintshire County Council and the capital funding available for the scheme would be administered through Denbighshire County Council, not individual nurseries.

Couple to spend part of honeymoon at LlanBikeFest

* Celebrating their marriage at LlanBikeFest will be Ian Davies and Debbie Roberts.

Bike mad Ian Davies and Debbie Roberts are celebrating their marriage in style by spending part of their honeymoon at the Llangollen Motorcycle Festival - LlanBikeFest.

The couple, from Penycae, tied the knot yesterday (Monday) at Castle Rushen, Castletown, Isle of Man.

But after dashing back to Wales for a party then returning to the island for a few days they will be at LlanBikeFest to do their bit promoting Blood Bikes Wales.

Part of a nationwide network, Blood Bikes will be at LlanBikeFest, which runs at the Royal International Pavilion on August 4 and 5, to raise awareness of their work and sign up even more volunteers.

The couple are part of a team of volunteers who ride all hours and in all weathers to transport everything from blood plasma to vital documents between NHS facilities.

Debbie said: “Ian proposed to me in the Isle of Man because he’s bike mad – and we are both passionate about supporting Blood Bikes, so we have to be back for the festival.”

LlanBikeFest director John Hutchinson said: “There has been at least one marriage proposal at LlanBikeFest but this could be our first time as a honeymoon destination.

"All good wishes to the happy couple. We are delighted to support Blood Bikes Wales for another year, as well as raising more money for our official charity, Wales Air Ambulance.”

Starring Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness, LlanBikeFest is a great weekend for families as well as bike enthusiasts, with free entry for accompanied children aged 16 and under, and lots to see and do -  hundreds of motorcycles of every type on show, spectacular riding displays, birds of prey, rides and children’s’ entertainments, plus a great line-up of bands both days.

Entertainments will include jaw-dropping stunts by champion trails rider Steve Colley and Savage Skills, the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike team, plus beautiful birds from the Talonted Feathers falconry.

* Follow the event on Facebook at Llangollen Motorcycle Festival.

Day tickets are £10 online at www.llanbikefest.co.uk , or £12 on the gate, with accompanied children 16 and under free. Club stands and exhibitor bookings are free. Contact the Festival office at 07960 693398, office@llanbikefest.co.uk

Clean-up company Kingdom pulls out of county contract

Kingdom Services Group have informed Denbighshire County Council of their intention to withdraw services in the county from August 17 in line with their 28 days contractual notice.

Councillor Tony Thomas, Cabinet Lead Member for Housing, Regulatory Services and the Environment, said: “The Group have partnered the Council in dealing with environmental issues such as littering and dog fouling over the last five years, in response to the Council’s efforts to make its streets cleaner and creating a pleasant environment for people to live in and visit.

“The joint work has made an impact in terms of awareness and there has been a marked reduction in the number of littering and dog fouling incidents.

“Whilst disappointed, we must respect Kingdom’s decision and would like to thank them for their co-operation over the past five years.

The Council says it will now consider how the environmental education and enforcement work will continue in the future, as having clean and tidy streets remains a key priority.