Splash centre shortlisted for national award

* From left,  Ken Skates AM, Splash Community Trust Secretary Stella Matthews, Mark Drakeford AM, General Manager Denise Chadwick and Mark Tami MP.

Supporters have congratulated staff and volunteers at a thriving leisure centre used by people from Llangollen after it was nominated for a national award.

Wrexham Council closed Plas Madoc down in 2014, but a small band of dedicated supporters worked tirelessly to reopen the much-loved facility as a social enterprise.

Now the volunteer-led Splash Community Trust, which runs the centre, has been shortlisted for this year’s Social Business Wales Awards, which take place in Cardiff on September 26.

Local Assembly Member Ken Skates, who helped co-found the group, visited Plas Madoc on Saturday with fellow AM Mark Drakeford to congratulate the team in person.

Mr Skates said: “Plas Madoc is an amazing local success story and I’m incredibly proud of where it is today, with improvements being made all the time and visitor numbers increasing. 

“Last year a Welsh Government grant of £500,000 helped fund key structural work including a replacement roof, fixing wiring and insulation, replacing pool plant equipment and upgrading the centre’s CCTV and fire alarm, and now a new conference space and spin studio is being created. The main sports hall has also been given a makeover. Improvements are being made constantly and it’s fantastic to see the centre thriving like we knew it could.”

Mr Skates added: “It’s impossible to describe just how much credit the Splash Community Trust and the staff here deserve. They’ve done an incredible job.”

Splash Community Trust secretary Stella Matthews said the centre now employs more than 40 people and has become a thriving community hub.

Mr Drakeford said: “Ken has told me a lot about Plas Madoc and the amazing turnaround in the past few years. I have wanted to visit for some time and it was wonderful to meet the staff and volunteers and to see the centre so busy and bustling on a Saturday morning.

“I wish the trust the best of luck at the awards and for the future.”

Bus service information for route 64

Denbighshire County Council has issued the following information about the 64 bus service which runs through Llangollen:

The operator for service 64 changes on Monday September 10th from Easy Coach to Tanat Valley Coaches.

Tanat Valley had previously undertaken the service before Easy Coach.

There is a minor timetable change for journeys from the Llanarmon/Glyn Ceiriog direction only.

Those from Llangollen remain the same and the times of all journeys to and from Pengwern are also the same as now.

Free business advice sessions on offer

Denbighshire businesses are being given the chance to get free one-to-one expert advice. 

Denbighshire County Council is providing eight day-long sessions throughout the county giving traders the chance for personalised one-hour advice sessions from retail and marketing expert Helen Hodgkinson.

Helen is a business trainer and owner of Indie Business Training and has experience of developing and delivering training sessions and workshops covering areas such as digital opportunities, social media, retail and selling.

Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, leader of Denbighshire County Council, said: “These free sessions will allow businesses to get tailored advice to help build knowledge, skills and confidence, generate ideas and provide assurance and support.

“Supporting businesses and creating resilient communities is part of our work to increase economic prosperity in Denbighshire and providing free training sessions to our businesses helps us achieve this.

“I would encourage businesses in the county to take advantage of this support.”  

The coaching sessions can help get your message to the right customer, offer help with social media as well as visual merchandising, store layout, how to improve sales, customer service, staffing and product range.

* Sessions will be held in Rhyl (September 18); Prestatyn ( 19th); Denbigh (20th); Ruthin (25th); Llangollen (26th); Corwen (27th); Rhuddlan (October 2); St Asaph (3rd) and you can book at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/businessevents

Stamp out this vandalism and crime now

* The broken windows at Proadventure in Castle Street.

llanblogger comment

Llangollen has seen a spate of vandalism and crime over the past week of the sort it does not normally witness.

First, on Thursday, what appeared to be a huge slab of concrete was used to smash the two glass front doors of Proadventure in Castle Street.

The next morning people out early in Castle Street saw that, just a few yards away, a large and heavy planter had to been moved from its position outside the front doors of the Town Hall and then smashed into pieces with its contents being strewn across the pavement.

This morning, Sunday, a resident of Church Street (pictured above) posted on Facebook that they had woken up to find that a window at their home had been broken overnight.

Also this morning we learn from Facebook that the Chainbridge Hotel had been broken into during the early hours.

Its post said: “WARNING TO ALL IN THE LLANGOLLEN AREA - we have been broken into overnight. Three males, in hoods, at 1.00am. If you have any information please pass it on. Please also be vigilant. They left the hotel in a dark hatchback, heading towards Llangollen. The hotel will be open to the public as normal today. Thank you”.

* The vandalised planter in Castle Street.

The incidents on Thursday and Friday is Castle Street – our main thoroughfare and a showcase for the town to visitors – immediately set alarm bells ringing and a number of town councillors rightly called for swift action to nip such undesirable actions in the bud.

There are now likely to be calls for extra police vigilance which llanblogger believes must be heeded.

It is a well-known fact that police resources are under extreme pressure and that, in the general scheme of things, Lllangollen is identified as a low-crime area.

However, that does not take away from the fact that we have a right to receive adequate policing and that these incidents should be thoroughly examined and action taken to see avoid a pattern of lawlessness being established as it has in other areas not too far from here.  

Eisteddfod on the lookout for 2019 competitors

Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod is looking for dancers, singers and instrumentalists from across the globe to enter its group competitions next year.

Successful entrants will compete for a range of prestigious titles including Dance Champions of the World and Choir of the World at the 2019 festival, from July 2-7.

This will also see the return of the Acapella Group, Senior Children’s Choirs, Open Choirs and Traditional Folk Dance Group.

The Eisteddfod's best-known categories include choral, ensemble, dance and non-competitive participation.

The festival is also appealing for female choirs to come forward and showcase their talent on the Royal International Pavilion stage with the chance to win an international medal and cash prizes of up to £3,000 if they progress to the Choir of the World final.

Following the departure of Vicky Yannoula, Edward-Rhys Harry will be stepping into the role of music director.

He has previously been artistic director at both the International Voces Volgograd in Russia and the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs. 

Entries for all choral, ensemble and dance competitions will close on Friday November 23, while solo applications will open in early December.

Applications to follow in the footsteps of non-competitive acts and perform on one of the International Eisteddfod’s outside stages are also open, with the entries also closing on November 23.

Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies said: “Every year, those who take part in the Eisteddfod come away with an unforgettable experience that stays with them forever.

“With the unique opportunity for performers from across the globe to compete on an international stage in a variety of 20 competitions, alongside such talented musicians and dancers, whilst making life-long friendships is something truly special." 

* For more information on all the competitions or to apply through the Eisteddfod participants’ website visit: http://eisteddfodcompetitions.co.uk/

For more information about the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod visit: www.Llangollen.ne

Castle Street planter overturned

A large planter outside the front of the Town Hall in Castle Street has been overturned overnight.

Tyn Dwr Hall to host Christmas charity ball

* Victoria Jones, owner of Tyn Dwr Hall, and her children Charlie, Alastair and Arayah, with Catrin Dowdeswell, area fundraiser for Hope House Children’s Hospice.

Tyn Dwr Hall in Llangollen is to host an exclusive Christmas charity fundraising ball in aid of Hope House Children’s Hospice.
 
The idea is the long-held dream of mum-of-three Victoria Jones who, together with her husband Matt, owns the country hall wedding venue. 
 
The event, on Saturday, December 15, will also see a special guest appearance by singing sensations Belle Voci, famed for appearing on ITVs The Voice The Live Final earlier this year.  
 
The lavish venue has been open less than three years and has already made an impact on the UK wedding scene.
 
To keep both hospice doors open all year round, Hope House has to raise at least £6.3 million, with only one month's worth of income coming from the government. 

Victoria said: “I have wanted to host a charity fundraising event for some time at Tyn Dwr Hall, however the past few years have been hectic refurbishing the hall, developing the business, moving house and having our third baby.

"When Matt and I first talked about such an event Hope House Children’s Hospice was the charity that instantly sprang to my mind because of their good work across North Wales and Shropshire.

“Having children is such a blessing, and as parents we all wish for our children to be in good health and have long and happy lives.

"Unfortunately, for some this is not the case and many families face life changing situations that are devastating for the child and the parents. That’s why Hope House was my first choice, as their support and care is so important for entire families dealing with these things.
 
“We want our guests to have a great time with live music, exquisite food, and top class entertainment. For some guests it will be an opportunity to entertain friends, family, corporate clients or treat their team to an amazing Christmas party whilst raising as much money as possible for Hope House. We are delighted and grateful that Emily and Sophie from Belle Voci will be performing for us during the evening as well.”
 
Cat Dowdeswell, area fundraiser for Hope House Children’s Hospice said: "When I heard that Victoria and Matt were planning an event at Tyn Dwr and that it would be for Hope House, I was over the moon.

"I attended a wedding there last year and cannot wait to see what the finished event will look like. It's guaranteed to be a stunning evening. We are so excited to have Tyn Dwr support us. We have invited the team to visit the hospice to see just where their donations will be spent.

"Amazingly, only two percent of our catchment donate directly to Hope House, so it's wonderful to have new supporters realise how important Hope House is to the families in the local area."

* If you would like to know more about the Tyn Dwr Hall Charity Fundraiser, or would like to offer a prize for inclusion in the charity auction, email to: charity@tyndwrhall.co.uk.