Llan chosen to explore Business Improvement District

Breaking news exclusive

Llangollen is one of 10 partnerships across the country which will share over £260,000 of Welsh Government funding to explore establishing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

The aim is to boost the local economy and to support regeneration efforts.

North Wales South East Wales South West Wales Once the BID is agreed via a legal ballot, each business contributes financially via a levy, which is then used to fund the agreed activities set out in their business plan.

These could include marketing, promotion and events, car parking, tackling anti-social behaviour, improving access to towns, or work to make the area more vibrant and viable.

Other towns apart from Llangollen receiving funding as part of the current programme are Mold, Brecon, Newtown, Barry, Port Talbot, Treorchy and Aberdare.

Sector BIDs across the UK are increasing in number, and Welsh Government is keen to ensure they are encouraged in Wales.

Minister for Housing and Regeneration Rebecca Evans said: “We are seeing BIDs make a real difference to town centres across Wales, but setting them up takes time, effort and support, which is why we provide Welsh Government funding to get them off the ground.

“We are committed to creating lasting economic change in the South Wales Valleys through our Valleys Taskforce, and I hope the BID proposals in Aberdare, Treorchy, Port Talbot and Ebbw Vale, will play a significant role in this.

“BIDs can help to revitalise our town centres and promote regeneration. We have seen existing BIDs delivering increased street cleaning initiatives, tackling antisocial behaviour, reducing crime, offering bespoke business training courses and hosting numerous events and festivals.”

Economy Secretary Ken Skates said: “Collectively, the eight BIDs created in the last programme have generated over £5 million private investment to support their chosen activities. This is a significant return on our investment, helping drive local economic development and supporting our Welsh high streets."

Town councillor Robyn Lovelock, a strong supporter of the BID scheme, said: "I see this as a huge opportunity for town businesses to come together, discuss and agree what actions they think would lift the town's business economy through the development of a business plan. 

" Those discussions will be exciting but no doubt tricky, and the support of an independent consultant will be invaluable helping businesses work through the options, the pros and cons. 

"It seems to me that the question of whether it is feasible or desirable for the business plan to then be funded through a Business Improvement District with the associated increase in rates, or through another mechanism, then comes later - at "the ballot" in 12-18 months - once the business plan and terms are available for all businesses to consider and discuss. 

"This is an exciting opportunity for Llangollen (and its neighbour and fellow Cittaslow town - Mold) to explore new mechanisms for boosting its economy during difficult economic times."

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New Dot to screen Oscar-winning trans drama

* A Fantastic Woman is the next screening by Llangollen's New Dot Cinema.

Coming hot on the heels of their last screening, New Dot's next film offering is being shown on Friday October 19 at Llangollen Town Hall.

A Fantastic Woman won an Oscar this year for Best Foreign Language Film.

This is a powerful tale of love and grief, from Chilean director Sebastián Lelio.

After her older lover unexpectedly dies, Marina (Daniela Vega), a young trans woman, must face questioning from her partner’s family and harassment from the police in order to prove that she had nothing to do with his death — all while trying to come to terms with her loss.

An outstanding, timely work that recalls the very best films of Pedro Almodóvar, it features luminous visuals and elegant flights of surrealism.

It's been described as a "courageous, audacious and defiant declaration of Marina’s status as

a woman – and a fantastic one, at that".

A Fantastic Woman is rated 15. Doors and bar open at 7:30pm with the film starting at 8pm.

Tickets are £8/£6 on the door and £6/£5 plus booking fee online. Tickets also available at

Llangollen Oggie Shop, Castle Street. More information can be found on Facebook, Twitter and at www.newdotcinema.org

New Dot Cinema Llangollen is a not-for-profit community cinema run entirely by volunteers, bringing you the best of independent and world cinema, with some documentary and vintage  classics into the bargain.

Jo's chocolate bar art helps people with dementia

* Chocolatier Jo Edwards.

A chocolatier is launching a new range of chocolate bars featuring paintings by her grandmother who discovered her artistic talent when she was living with dementia.

Jo Edwards will be unveiling them at the Llangollen Food Festival and will be raising money for a dementia charity in memory of her beloved “Nanan”, Pat Rayfield, who was 93 when she passed away last year.

The images of the stunning watercolour pictures have been printed on the chocolate bars and 50p from the sale of each one will go to the Dementia Friendly Wrexham organisation.

Jo, who runs her own artisan chocolate company, Aballu, is a regular at the popular food festival that’s being held on Saturday and Sunday, October 13 and 14.

Remarkably, her grandmother didn’t take up watercolour painting until she was 85 and after she was diagnosed with dementia but went on produce more than 150 stunning works of art.

Earlier this year the family put on an exhibition of Pat’s work and sold the paintings, with the proceeds going to Dementia Friendly Wrexham as a way of raising awareness of the creative potential of people living with the condition.

Jo, who set up Aballu in 2006, has now gone a step further and come up with a technique to depict the pictures on the chocolate bars.

* The late artist Pat Rayfield.

She said: “It’s quite a labour-intensive process using an edible printing system to transfer the art work onto the chocolate bar. The process is quite technical but I lay the print onto white chocolate and set it on the milk or dark chocolate bars which are all hand poured and finished. It looks amazing and I’m really pleased with how it looks. I’ve chosen just five of her paintings; one of lavender fields, toadstools, a woodland scene with sheep grazing, a window with a display of wild flowers and a bee on a flower. These were all painted after her dementia diagnosis.

“Nanan, as she was always known to us, only painted for the last eight years of her life. She painted what she saw on post cards or pictures from books.

“Her water colour paintings were just fantastic. She did some abstracts too, as well as things like meerkats, autumn scenes, anything that she liked the look of.”

“The Llangollen Food Festival is a very special event and I felt it was an appropriate place to launch the new chocolate bars dedicated to Nanan.

“The bars are 100 grams each and retail at £3 with 50p from every bar sold going to Dementia Friendly Wrexham.

“It’s a great way to remember Nanan and to raise awareness of just how devastating dementia can be. However, people living with dementia still have talent and can be creative, as Nanan proved,” added Jo, who’s based in Rossett.  

Llangollen Food Festival committee member Phil Davies is delighted Jo Edwards is launching her new product at the food festival and is raising funds for what is a very good cause.

He said: “Jo has always been a big supporter and exhibitor at the food festival.

“Two years ago Jo set a new world record at the festival for rolling and coating chocolate truffles. She made an incredible 49 on the main stage in just two minutes which beat TV chef Gino D’Acampo’s 47.”

“The festival is all about new and exciting products and Jo’s new chocolate bars are a stunning example of that philosophy and I’m sure they will sell very quickly raising a good sum for Dementia Friendly Wrexham.”   

* To find out more about the Llangollen Food Festival please visit www.llangollenfoodfestival.com

Glyndŵr to host open day for potential students

With the new term underway at Wrexham Glyndŵr University, students considering studying at the institution in 2019 are being given the chance to find out more.

The latest Open Day, aimed at prospective 2019 entry students, is set to take place on October 13.

The event is the latest in an annual series which offer the curious a chance to find out what it's like to study at the University, and the latest developments the University’s campuses have to offer as well as being able to meet with course staff and current students.

The university has a wide range of courses available at foundation, undergraduate and post graduate level, many of which can also be studied part-time.

More than half of current Wrexham Glyndwr students study part-time and includes a wide-variety of age groups.  The University has just been judged the most socially inclusive university in the UK, according to the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019.

Among new developments for students this year is an improved Students’ Union, with an upgraded bar and brand new pizza oven.

Students’ Union President, Angus Hamill-Stewart said: “We’re thrilled to launch our new venue, The Lazy Lion, at Wrexham Glyndwr University. By day the venue is designed to be a relaxing space for students to use socially and we’re serving snack foods as well as drinks – we’ve had a brand new pizza oven installed and have upgraded the existing bar area. For evening and weekend functions we can use the space for up to 200 people; it’s a really versatile space.”

Further improvements in the student experience include a new teaching space equipped with the latest AV teaching techniques, and a social learning space which has proved popular with students since its opening this Spring.

Much more is to follow as part of Glyndŵr’s Campus 2025 transformation, which puts students at the centre of the plans. Vice-Chancellor, Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: “The ongoing work on Campus 2025 will provide an attractive learning environment with stimulating state-of-the-art facilities and the latest in building designs and technology to provide a sustainable and attractive future-proof campus.”

A number of talks are taking place at the Open Day, and there is also the chance to tour the Regent Street campus which houses many of Wrexham Glyndwr’s Creative Arts courses.

The university’s supporting services will also be on hand on the day to speak to prospective students, including the award-winning careers team. The team are the winners of the 2018 AGCAS (Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service) ‘Supporting Student/ Graduate Employability’ award for their ‘Make Summer Work For You’ extracurricular programme. This programme strengthens students’ employment prospects over several months by providing flexible careers-related support and guidance.

Open Day runs from 10am – 2pm with last entry at 1pm. Visitors are welcome to drop in throughout the day – but are advised to check the list of talks and events  to ensure they get the most out of their day.

For more information or to book to attend the Open Day visit: wgu.ac.uk/908p.

Elan Catrin sings praises of Llan Eisteddfod

Elan Catrin Parry is singing the praises of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod for helping her to land a major record deal with the same label as Katherine Jenkins.

And the young Wrexham songstress is urging other performers to enter this year’s competition.

The talented 16 year-old competed in the finals at the Llangollen Eisteddfod two years ago, and along with top marks from festival judges, scored herself an audition with British record label Decca.

* Elan Catrin Parry singing at the eisteddfod.

Completely unaware that she was being watched by the label's talent scouts, she raised the roof of the Pavilion and went on to sign a dream deal with Decca.

Elan’s debut album was released in August and she will be performing at the Royal Albert Hall this month (October 13^th), as a special guest of the London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs, which is directed by Llangollen Eisteddfod Musical Director Edward-Rhys Harry - all whilst studying for her GCSEs.

She said: “Without the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod it is very unlikely that I would be in the fantastic position that I am in now, and for that I feel incredibly grateful.

"I can’t thank the eisteddfod enough for the continued support throughout my exciting journey and want to encourage as many performers as possible to enter the amazing competitions at Llangollen.

“I’ve visited the festival with my family for many years previous to competing, and you can never forget the vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.

“The combination of different cultures, music, dance and costumes and the warm and friendly nature of the festival provides a truly magical experience. In fact, it’s a cultural lesson to the world about international peace and harmony.”

Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies said: “We are very proud of Elan and what she has achieved. We welcome the world to our little piece of heaven here in Wales every summer and pride ourselves on showcasing young and upcoming talent from across the globe.

“After visiting the festival for many years and achieving a finalist position in various competitions here, we are delighted that her talent has been recognised by a worldwide record label and wish her the best of luck in the future, we know she will go on to do very well.”

Eisteddfod music director Edward-Rhys Harry said: "We congratulate Elan on her continued success since singing on the famous Pavilion stage and we know that the international performers and audience who will be attending the sold out performance at the Royal Albert Hall are very much looking forward to welcoming her there.”

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

Railway to end work on memorial locomotive

* The National Memorial Locomotive while under construction at Llangollen. 

Llangollen Railway  has announced "with some sadness" their decision not to undertake further work on the project to build the new National Memorial Locomotive.

Consequently  the heritage railway will not be doing any further work beyond what is currently underway on the project to build a steam locomotive to remember those who died in the First World War. 

Members of the engineering team at Llangollen have been working on the construction of The Unknown Warrior for the LMS Patriot Co. Ltd, since 2008.

Following intensive discussions with the team behind No 45551, a railway spokesperson announced: "We have taken the decision not to tender for any further work in regards to the LMS Patriot Company,  Llangollen Railway has a full order book and is therefore unable to meet with the very tight time scale requirements of the project.

"On October 29 the Patriot locomotive, No. 45551, will be leaving Llangollen for the last time and will travel to Crewe Heritage Centre to have its boiler trial fitted.

"Llangollen Railway wishes the LMS Patriot Company well in the completion of The Unknown Warrior."