County seeks ideas on future development sites

As part of its work on a new Local Development Plan, Denbighshire County Council is inviting landowners, developers and any others with an interest in land in the county to submit suggested sites for future development.

The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out where, and how much, future development will happen in the county, as well as the areas to be protected from development. 

To help inform these decisions, a ‘call for candidate sites’ is being held until November 26.

Submitting a site is not, however, a guarantee of inclusion in the LDP, says the county.

All sites submissions must provide sufficient background information and the council will assess each site before making a decision on its suitability. 

All sites selected for inclusion will be subject to public consultation as part of the Deposit LDP early in 2020.

Guidance and forms for submitting a candidate site are available on the Local Development Plan section of the Council’s website at www.denbighshire.gov.uk. 

All forms must be submitted in full, and accompanied by the necessary maps, before the deadline of November 26.  Incomplete or late submissions will not be accepted. 

* For further information, contact the Strategic Planning and Housing Team:

Email – planningpolicy@denbighshire.gov.uk, phone 01824 706916.

Eisteddfod prize misunderstanding has happy ending

* Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies and his wife Anne on either side of choir musical director Jo Williamson to whom they presented the trophy named in their son Owen's memory.
Picture by Barrie Potter.

A children’s choir which accidentally left Llangollen International Musial Eisteddfod without realising they had won a prestigious competition prize now has its trophy at last.

A misunderstanding meant Cantabile Hereford Cathedral School packed up and left the eisteddfod without realising they had been victorious in the hotly-contested Children’s Choir of the World contest.

And it was only when they were on their way home that they received a frantic phone call from festival organisers to say they had been voted joint winners of the coveted Owen Davies Trophy.

However, by then it was too late to do anything about it.

But now, weeks after the 2018 eisteddfod ended, their leader has been back to Llangollen to pick up the prize that was rightfully theirs.

The choir was founded exactly 10 years ago by former professional opera singer Jo Williamson who is its musical director.

She said: “On the Wednesday of the eisteddfod we’d won the Children’s Folk Song Choirs.

“We competed again the day after in the Children’s Choir of the World contest but we obviously misunderstood things and didn’t think we’d scored sufficiently highly to win it.

“We left in various vehicles to go home to Hereford but whilst my husband Phil and I were driving along the A5 I received a phone call to say we had actually been voted joint winners with the British Columbia Girls’ Choir from Canada. We both had the scores of 89.7.

“This was great news, especially as we are the first English choir to win this competition since it was set up. However, by the time we found out we couldn’t go back to Llangollen as we were all heading for home in different vehicles.”

The trophy they belatedly picked up was donated by the eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies and his wife Anne in memory of their son Owen who died at the age of just 33 in 2016.

“The fact that it’s known as the Owen Davies Trophy makes it particularly poignant for us, so it’s unfortunate that there was this misunderstanding,” said Dr Davies.

“As there were joint winners this year we’ve had an extra trophy made, which I was delighted to hand over to Jo Williamson. It’s great that they have their rightful prize even though it’s just a few weeks late.”     

The choir includes 22 members, aged from 13-18, who are pupils at Hereford Cathedral School.

They have made regular Llangollen Eisteddfod appearances and previously won the Children’s Folk Choir Competition in 2015.

They went on to perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London as part of the BBC Songs of Praise event, The Big Sing.

Other glittering past performances included one before the Duke of Kent alongside Hereford Cathedral Junior School Chamber Choir. 

In 2013 Cantabile won their class at the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts and the previous year ended with rapturous applause at the Three Choirs Festival in Hereford.

They have also frequently taken part in the BBC Songs of Praise Senior School Choir completion and hold the distinction of winning the event in 2015.

MP slams 'shameful' decision to close primary school

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has slammed a decision by Wrexham Council to close Ysgol Pontfadog.

The move comes despite more than 1,000 objections received against proposals to shut the English-medium primary school.

Ms Jones (pictured) said: "Today Wrexham Council’s Executive Board chose to ignore the views of pretty much everyone who lives in the Ceiriog Valley.

"A huge number of people took part in the council’s consultation process and local campaigners are right to be furious. Ysgol Pontfadog should not be closed.

"Today’s appalling decision fails on two counts - it closes Ysgol Pontfadog and it fails to give Glyn Ceiriog the fully Welsh-medium school it needs.

"Ysgol Pontfadog should have been retained as an English-medium school, Ysgol Llanarmon DC as a Welsh-medium school with Ysgol Cynddelw, Glyn Ceiriog becoming a fully Welsh-medium school.

"The Executive Board of Wrexham County Borough Council has treated the communities of the Ceiriog Valley shamefully.

"If local residents now feel that their interests would be best served outside Wrexham County Borough Council area by becoming part of another Local Authority area I will back."

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said

 "The council asked for people’s opinions on their proposals and the people of the Ceiriog Valley responded in their numbers and have made their feelings quite clear. I have made repeated representations to Wrexham Council on behalf of my constituents and completely understand their frustration.”

Art club exhibition preview tonight

Llangollen Art Club is holding its annual exhibition of members work at Langollen Museum in Parade Street, commencing Wednesday August 8 and continuing until the end of the month.

Many works will be available for purchase. First choice will go to those who would like to attend the preview open tonight, Tuesday August 7 at 7.30pm.

The club meets on Tuesday evenings 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall, Market Street, and welcomes new members of all ability (adults over 18 years only).

County helps traders to get business rate relief

Denbighshire County Council is helping 650 traders get business rate relief this year.

The council will be applying the Welsh Government High Street Retail Relief Scheme automatically to businesses’ bills where possible as well as informing them of the help available.

Denbighshire has the third highest number of qualifying businesses in Wales, only Cardiff and Swansea will be awarding relief to more traders, resulting in savings of £284,500 for businesses in the county.

Cllr Hugh Evans, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “We’ve lobbied the Welsh Government on rate relief because we understand the pressures from changing consumer demands and the effects of last year’s change to the Welsh Government multiplier.

“The council is automatically applying rate relief where it is able to and publishing details on our website and social media for businesses, informing them of what schemes are available.

“Supporting businesses is part of our commitment to support economic prosperity in Denbighshire and create resilient communities. Our role in applying the Welsh Government High Street Retail Relief Scheme is one of a number of projects we undertake to support local businesses.”

The council also supports local businesses  for example by holding training sessions throughout the year, as well as during its annual March for Business month, by encouraging residents to shop local through the #LoveLiveLocal campaign and by reducing red tape through the Better Business for All scheme.

Denbighshire County Council collects business rates on behalf on the Welsh Government and then returns the funds to them.

The council does not set the rates. The rateable value is assessed by the Valuation Office Agency, which is part of HM Revenue and Customs and Welsh Government sets the multiplier on which business rate bills are based.

* If you would like the council to review your eligibility for any of the relief schemes you can contact businessrates@denbighshire.gov.uk or 01824 706000 or for more information visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/businessrates

Three Eagles to take off in historic public house

* From left, Llangollen entrepreneurs Vicky and Matt Jones with Tracey Owens.

A new bar and restaurant is set to open in one of the oldest public houses in the heart of Llangollen later this year.

Located on Bridge Street, the Wynnstay Arms building has been standing empty for over 12 months.

Now this historic building is to be transformed into a sophisticated new venue The Three Eagles, following its recent purchase by Llangollen entrepreneur-couple Matt and Vicky Jones.

Already owners of Knights Construction Group and Llangollen’s prestigious wedding venue Tyn Dwr Hall, the couple have joined forces with Matt’s sister, Tracey Owen, for this latest venture, that also marks the launch of a new bar restaurant operator, One Hundred Knights.

According to Matt Jones, the Three Eagles aims to inject new life into the early 18th century listed building and create an aspirational high-end restaurant, bar and cocktail bar over three floors.

This will be complemented with a courtyard area for al fresco dining, with the opportunity for ‘live’ acoustic sets.

Matt and Vicky were behind the extensive refurbishment and re-development of Tyn Dwr Hall, turning it into one of the UKs most exclusive wedding venues, as well as creating 45 jobs and boosting the local economy through increased visitor numbers to the area.

The couple’s latest business venture looks set to inject new life into Bridge Street after the property  fell into disrepair.

Several new full-time jobs will also be generated, boosting their ambition to create a ‘hospitality hub’ in Llangollen which will train and attract talented people looking to embark on a career in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Matt said: “Vicky and I are delighted to have purchased this iconic, Grade II-listed building and we are looking forward to transforming it into a destination venue that will attract guests from right across the region.

“I grew up in the Llangollen area and live here today so I’m really focused on getting this project underway. I’m hugely proud of this town but I believe The Three Eagles will introduce something genuinely new and exciting. Something people will be eager to come and sample.

"Our objective is to provide guests with a lasting impression of quality from the entire experience that will be The Three Eagles. The venue will very much be a lively and vibrant place to dine and meet up with friends.

“This is a very important project for us and we are eager to complete its’ transformation and turn it into one of the premier venues in the region, and a significant and valuable addition to Llangollen."

Tracey believes the business will provide Llangollen with a boost.

She said: “Our impressive food and beverage menu will sit alongside our talented and knowledgeable team, whose passion for providing top level customer service will ensure their guests’ visit to The Three Eagles is an altogether memorable one.

“We believe the hospitality industry is vital to the future economic development of Llangollen and we wholeheartedly embrace the opportunities we can offer to those wishing to aspire to a career with us here at The Three Eagles."

* To find out more about The Three Eagles, Llangollen go to www.thethreeeagles.co.uk

Llan Round Challenge raises record £60,000

* Competitors on the Llangollen Round Challenge.
Picture by Barrie Potter.

The third annual Llangollen Round Challenge scooped a record £60,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Big test for the event, staged on June 2 and 3, was to walk 35 miles over either one or two days.

But as the route included every summit around the Vale of Llangollen it was no stroll in the park.

Last time it was held in 2015 the event raised £45,000 for the cancer charity but this year’s walk topped that total by £15,000, thanks to the scores of walkers who came to take part from across Britain, from Dorset to East Anglia.

One of the organisers, Sandra Woodhall from Llangollen, said: “We have done amazingly well.

“We have now raised over £60,000 from the event which is fantastic.  Money is still coming in so hopefully it will creep up some more.

“I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the walk and the volunteers who helped with the organisation of the event.”