Council report gives details of Llangollen BID

The vote on whether Llangollen goes ahead with a Business Improvement District (BID) has been proposed for mid-March.

If eligible businesses decide to back the move it will start this summer and estimates are that it will raise £88,000 a year to boost town centre traders with a range of beneficial projects and a total of £440,000 over its five-year run.    

Details of the scheme are given in a report to be considered by the county council’s cabinet tomorrow (Tuesday).

It is proposed that all eligible businesses will pay a banded levy towards running the BID scheme if it is approved.

Smaller businesses with a rateable value of less than £2,500 and businesses that fall into the industrial, manufacturing, storage, and workshop sectors will be exempt from paying the levy as will the two schools, says the council report.

Members of the cabinet are specifically being asked if the council should vote “yes” to the BID on behalf of its own properties in Llangollen as it would be liable for the payment of the levy contribution on each of them.

The maximum possible levy cost to the council would be £9,980 a year and as schools are excluded then the cost would be £6,230 a year.

The council’s own well-being impact assessment says the BID proposal “contributes positively to the well-being of future generations, working with partner organisations and the business community to maximise positive effects and minimising negative effects where possible”.

The report to the cabinet says BIDs are a well-established model and over 300 have been established across the UK with the majority in town centres.

It adds: “A Business Improvement District gives local business the power to get together, decide what improvements they want to make within a geographically defined area and to raise funds to deliver these.

“For the BID to be established, two conditions must be met. Firstly, a majority of those voting have to vote ‘yes’ and secondly those who vote ‘yes’ have to represent more than 50% of the total rateable value of all votes cast.

“If both majorities are met then the BID can be established and all businesses within the defined boundary are liable to pay the levy irrespective of whether they voted “yes” or “no” at ballot.

“If established, a BID runs for a maximum of five years. Beyond that if the BID wishes to continue then a new proposal must be developed and another ballot held.”

The report goes on: “In June 2018 the council’s Economic & Business Development (EBD) Team were invited by a group of businesses in Llangollen to discuss the idea of a BID and the potential for a Welsh Government grant for BID exploration.

“A grant application was lodged and was successful in securing grant aid.”

Consultants Mosaic Partnership were appointed to work with business in Llangollen to undertake a study into the feasibility of establishing a BID and to develop a proposal to take to ballot.

A task group to oversee the project was formed and, according to the report, has since been undertaking consultation with businesses, market research and project planning to develop the BID Business Plan. This has involved face to face discussions, an online survey, presentations and consultation in the town centre.

The report says: “It is proposed that the BID ballot date  - the final day of the ballot - will be 19th March 2020. In advance of the ballot a final Business Plan will be sent to all eligible voters within the BID area as well as the Local Authority.

“It is the intention that, subject to a ‘yes’ vote at ballot, that the BID will commence in Summer 2020 and that its first term will run for 5 years.

“An incorporated Company Limited by Guarantee will be established to deliver the Business Plan/Proposals. It will be responsible for the delivery of the BID services and it will employ staff as appropriate to implement the BID Board’s programme on a day to day basis.”

Based on the proposed banded levy the estimated revenue for the Llangollen BID is £88,000 annually which is £440,000 over 5 years.

The council report poses the question of what risks there are to the BID process and if there is anything the council can do to reduce them.

It answers itself by saying: “Businesses could vote against the BID. To minimise this risk the Task Group are developing a robust business plan that has had engagement from businesses and demonstrates value for money to all potential levy payers.”

Libraries encourage you to do something different

Denbighshire Libraries are challenging you to ‘Do Something Different’ this January, whether it is doing a craft, hobby, sport, or even reading a book.

There will be lots of activities in local libraries - including Llangollen - to help inspire, including arts and crafts demonstrations, book displays, knitting, and learning how to play chess.

Learning something new is a great way to make you feel good and build your confidence.

As well as learning something new it is important to connect with other people, take time to have a chat with friends and family, and meet new people.

You could join a reading group at the library.

If you can’t get to the library why not download an eBook or eAudiobook from Borrowbox, available for free, from home 24/7, with your library card.

Here are some of the nearest activities that you will find in local libraries, and the service says it can help signpost you to more.

Monday 20^th January 10 -12          Knit, Natter and a Cuppa at Llangollen Library

Monday 20^th January 2-3.30         Make a Mindfulness Jar at Llangollen Library

Monday 20^th January 2-3.30         Make a Mindfulness Jar at Ruthin Library

Thursday 23^rd January 10-12         Arts and craft session at Corwen Library with local artist Jude Wood

Pinocchio's a great panto with no strings attached

* Stromboli (left) is played by Daniel May, 

Tagliatelle (right) is Aled Morris and Macaroni (front) is Shea Ferron. 

Llangollen Pantomime Group are doing a marvellous job with Pinocchio – and that’s no lie.

A massive cast and crew numbering almost 40 are pulling out all the stops to deliver a stylish and amusing portrayal of the tale of the little puppet boy whose nose grows to enormous proportions every time he tells a fib.

The production, based on the nineteenth century Italian book The Adventures of Pinocchio and the 1940s Disney film, has been adapted for the Llangollen stage by the show’s director, Justine Bradey backed by assistant director Samantha Fletcher.  

And a great job they’re doing of this glitzy production which is running at Llangollen Pavilion until this Sunday.

The young girl taking the title role is a mini marvel. Having a whole show revolving around her doesn’t seem to bother the very young Sophie Siddall in the slightest.

The confidence she displays when it comes to delivering her lines – many of them packed with wise-cracks - moving around the stage and interacting with the rest of the cast is just remarkable for her tender years and this is highly unlikely to be her last on-stage appearance.

But Sophie is far from being left to shoulder the burden on her own because backing her is a fantastic bunch of performers, not least of which are the comedy duo of Shea Ferron as Macaroni and Aled Morris as Tagliatelle.

This is not their first successful stage pairing as they’re seasoned veterans of Llangollen Operatic’s shows, both its senior and Young ‘uns junior productions, and always big audience pleasers.

It’s no different with this panto where their quickfire knockabout routines have been polished to perfection.

Old Geppetto, the Italian village carpenter who fashions young Pinocchio from a chunk of wood, is neatly played by Llan panto regular Neil Barrett who appears – in a good way - to have used TV chef Gino D’Acampo as his voice coach. He’s been given some great lines which he delivers with great style.

The other half of his comedy pairing is David Lyne as Prosecco who in usual panto terms would be the dame. The part fits him as comfortably as his deliciously over-the-top costumes.

Every good panto needs a decent villain whom the audience can hiss and boo at their every snarling appearance. And Daniel May doesn’t disappoint as the circus master Stromboli who sees the stringless Pinocchio as a great revenue earner and tries to steal the little chap away for a life in the big top.

Hopping on stage at regular intervals to help keep us briefed on the plot is young Harvey Barrett as the green-clad Jim the Cricket. He’s another Llan panto regular who never fails to impress.

Providing admirable support for the main characters is a small army of fellow performers – mainly youngsters - who act, sing and dance their way through the two acts in great style.

And helping to weld everything together is a live and very lively seven-piece band which lays on some epic numbers from big show material to the novelty Shaddap Your Face in which the audience is encouraged to sing along with Geppetto and Prosecco.

A lot of thought has clearly gone into the colourful set and costumes just as one has come to expect.

Stir in plenty of opportunities for the crowd to yell along with the cast and even a distribution of sweets and you have another perfect panto from this talented outfit.

* Tickets are available online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/llangollenpanto or in person from Gwyn Davies Butchers, Jade Hair & Beauty, Dee Valley Produce or by calling 01978 860297.   

County now 'aims to improve' reprieved youth centre field

* Mike Edwards' recent picture of the youth centre field.

The youth centre field's recent reprieve from being earmarked for housing will allow the county council to improve it and increase its use.

That's the word from Denbighshire in response to a question from llanblogger about why it has just been removed from the list of candidate sites for possible future development.

Earlier this week we reported how a campaign backed by local Assembly Member Ken Skates and the area's two county councillors had urged the council to withdraw proposals which would have seen houses go up on land on Willow Street, including the football pitch next to the youth centre.

The site, covering one hectare, is currently used for youth club and pitches and it had been suggested for residential development when it appeared in the list of candidate sites for Denbighshire's next Local Development Plan (LDP).

Mr Skates wrote to Denbighshire's chief executive Judith Greenhalgh last August to raise his concerns and to call for the site to be withdrawn from the list of 11 proposed plots for new houses.

Mr Skates also said he was concerned that Llangollen county councillors Graham Timms and Mel Mile were not consulted on the plans before they were published last year.

Cllr Graham Timms said earlier this week: “After a long battle I am delighted that the youth club and football field has been saved for Llangollen’s young people."

A spokesman for Denbighshire County Council has since said: “The football pitch site is not included in the LDP as a possible housing site to allow the council to work with partners to investigate whether we can improve the football pitch and increase use.

“The youth club remains in regular use and this important local service will continue.”

Local resident Mike Edwards recently wrote to Cllr Timms to express his concern about the current state of the field.

In an email, a copy of which was sent to llanblogger: "I am very concerned that the football pitch has been out of commission for months being cordoned off where SG Estates have constructed a below-ground soak-away for the Vicarage Road Development.

"The area has remained in this condition for sometime meaning it is unavailable for local youths to use. There is no sign of any final reinstatement work and no consultation or communication with residents to keep them in the picture, it’s our town and our facilities after all."

Steve Griffin, managing director of SG Estates responded: "The final seeding for the football pitch will be carried out when we have suitable weather."

MP gives update on the Kronospan fire in Chirk

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) has sent an update on the fire at Kronospan in Chirk:

I wanted to express my sympathy and concern again to all the residents of Chirk and the surrounding area about the air quality problems that they have experienced over the last days due to the fire at Kronospan. I would also like to thank North Wales Fire & Rescue service for the great work they have done in dealing with the fire.

I had a very helpful meeting with the Town Council in Chirk on Tuesday before returning to Westminster and I am sorry that parliamentary duties today mean that I cannot attend the emergency Chirk Town Council meeting this evening. I am, however, keeping closely in touch with residents who have written to me about the problems and with Chirk Town Council itself.  

I am very pleased that Wrexham Council convened a multi-agency meeting yesterday, 15^th January, with key partners including North Wales Fire and Rescue, North Wales Police, Natural Resources Wales, Public Health Wales and the North Wales Emergency Planning team.  The group has  agreed to the deployment of Air Quality monitoring equipment and personnel provided by Natural Resources Wales to Chirk to provide actual air quality monitoring readings.

I am meeting with the Chief Executive of Wrexham Council tomorrow and with Kronospan shortly. I have also been keeping the Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart MP, in touch with developments at Kronospan. I will be available to meet residents in Chirk from 9am – 5pm on this Saturday, 18^th January, at a walk-in surgery in the Parish Hall, Holyhead Road, Chirk LL14 5NA – please email me at simon.baynes.mp@parliament.uk if you would like to attend or come on the day and hopefully you won’t have to wait long.

Looking to the future, I think it is vital that the planned investigation into the causes of the fire is conducted in an open and transparent manner. We also need to continue the multi-agency approach and ensure that there is independent monitoring of noise and environmental emissions. We all want Kronospan to thrive as a business given the many benefits that it brings to Chirk and the surrounding area in terms of jobs, investment and prosperity and this will be best achieved by open and transparent communication between the company and the surrounding community.

Former Clwyd South MP speaks of her own and party's future

* Former MP Susan Elan Jones on Breakfast TV this morning.

Former Clwyd South Labour MP Susan Elan Jones hasn’t ruled out standing at the next General Election, she has told llanblogger.

But in the immediate future she is planning to return to her old job of charity management.

Ms Jones, who lost the seat to Welsh Conservative Simon Baynes at the December 12 poll by 16,222 votes to 14,983, has been speaking on the BBC about how she would like to see her party recover from its worst defeat in many years – and the type of person who should lead it.

BBC Wales news bulletins during this morning’s (Thursday) BBC Breakfast featured a short interview with 51-year-old Ms Jones, who had been Clwyd South’s MP since the 2010 election.        

She said: “I want us to look at the policies that command widespread support.

“I think some of our policies but not all of them did.”

She added: “I want a leader that people see as Prime Minister and I want a party that’s not obsessed with its internal workings and itself but its first priority is the country.”

After the interview was screened Llanblogger contacted Ms Jones to ask her about her personal plans for the future and she replied: “In terms of next steps, you could say that I have been inundated with cards, letters and emails from constituents and many of these and people I have met while out and about have asked me if I will stand at the next General Election.

“That’s quite a long way away, however! - and I won’t be making any decision on that until nearer the time.

“However, I worked in charity management before I was an MP and that is what I will be hoping to do at present.”

Hospice aims to help with a delicate subject

It may be a subject you want to avoid but, according to Benjamin Franklin, there are two things in life which are said to be certain – death and taxes.

In May Nightingale House Hospice, Wrexham is supporting the national Dying Matters Week. The 2020 theme of Dying To Be Heard will focus on how to help by listening.

Dying Matters is a coalition of organisations who think it is important for people to talk about what is important to them in relation to their death.

In preparation for this special week the hospice is hosting an information evening to help local organisations, institutions, groups or businesses put on their own event with confidence and have the usually-avoided conversation.  

If your organisation, institution or group would be interested in finding out more or feel you might like to be involved next May, come along to Nightingale House Hospice on Thursday, January 30 at 4.30pm-6pm.

Kay Ryan, the hospice's outpatient services coordinator, said: “It sounds like a morbid subject to encourage people to talk about. We all hope for a long and healthy life, but we are not immortal and unfortunately ill health or accidents do happen.

“We can probably all think of circumstances around someone’s death where we thought, ‘I wouldn’t want that to happen to me or, anyone I care about’ or ‘I wouldn’t know what to do if that happened to one of my family or friends’.

“Talking about these things doesn’t make them happen any sooner but it can help people think about what is or would be important to them."

* If you would like to attend, please ring Nightingale House Hospice Reception on 01978 316800 and leave you name and contact details.